Tye has been making bold declarations and bringing forth change within his music for years with Tye Tribbett & Greater Anointing (“G.A.”), his family and ministry. Together they toured and performed with some of the biggest artists in the secular world including Whitney Houston, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, Luther Vandross, Elton John, Justin Timberlake and Jill Scott to name a few. It was during a consecration period in between their first two albums Life (2004) and Victory Live! (2006), where Tye & G.A. made the decision to focus solely on gospel.
The success of Life was bolstered to the Billboard Top 10 Gospel Album chart with the infectious singles “No Way” and “Everything.” Victory Live! entered the Billboard Top Gospel Album chart at #1, generated the #1 Gospel Radio single, “Victory,” and earned Tribbett two Stellar Award wins and three Grammy nominations — Best Gospel Performance (“Victory”); Best Gospel Song (“Victory”); and Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album. With his third installment Stand Out (2008) entering the Billboard Gospel chart at #1, Tye further propelled the goodness of God with his musical message.
It was within the last year, however, that Tye learned much more about God’s goodness and grace while dealing with the issue of infidelity in his marriage. Tye moved through a dark period that led to thoughts of suicide. It was here when he acknowledged he moved far away from his foundation. Ironically it was sixty day sabbatical from his musical ministry that realigned Tye to focus on his personal ministry with God and his family first. Tye recalls, “I turned away from God and as soon as I turned back around He was ready to receive me, and I learned God does not hold grudges at all.”
On the fiftieth day, Tye received a revelation in Isaiah 43:18-19 “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!” The revelation and acceptance opened Tye’s eyes and behold, God set forth the next phase of change. “The Lord restored [my marriage] for the gospels’ sake, not the gossip’s sake.” The process also consisted of transition with Greater Anointing. “There is a season for everything and no matter how great a season is, the next one is always coming. There was nothing wrong with G.A., it was just time for another season,” proclaims Tye. “I had to release everybody to be who they were called to be.” Tye was clear that the Lord restored his marriage to a new position and with obedience and renewed sensibility, his music would also be restored.
With Fresh Tye is clear, the direction of the music and the ministry changed. “It’s opening a door you never opened before and walking through. It’s unfamiliar and new.” While Tye wrote and produced a majority of the album, he also solicited assistance from a small handful of talented individuals along the way for the very first time. “Fresh,” the first single and title track is a personal testimony. The uptempo celebratory dance jam produced by Pablo Vaillatoro of the Group One Crew sets forth a revived form of worship. Sonically, the pulsating rhythm of techno beats serve as the under-current to Tye’s almost auto-tune laden voice as he sings “you can’t even imagine what God has so fresh.” As Tye further proclaims, “it’s a cry out to God for the frustration of the normal, same ‘ole thing, yet celebrating the newness of life.”
Also from the Group One Crew, Manwell Reyes contributed as a writer and producer with the retro “All For You.” Surrendering to the process of being produced versus being the producer, the track excited Tye with its syncopated drum patterns, because it reaches beyond gospel. “I feel like I can go places I have never gone before- beyond the church walls to expand the brand with other inspirational outlets.”
Tye wrote and produced the first song that came during his lowest point in the wilderness, the aptly titled “Good.” The track gives a youthful approach to praise and worship, with its drum pulses and guitar strums as he simply acknowledges, “I love vertical songs and the God we serve is good.” Another personal song to Tye is the old soul, down home bluesy, “Keep Me.” Inspired by his daughter catching two teenagers kissing on television, Tye provided gentle instruction on content for an age-appropriate audience to his young butterfly. Immediately, John 17 entered into Tye’s spirit, acknowledging “Jesus wants us to pray not to be kept out of this world because His power is shown by how he keeps us while we are in the fire. I can’t keep my daughter, but God can.”
Anointed worship musician Israel Houghton contributes to Fresh with “Champion” and “Most High God (Lude).” For Tye the awesome collaboration expresses the sentiment dearest to him, citing “I love songs that brag about how strong and mighty our God is. I can’t wait to perform that song live.” The anthemic “Champion” takes its big piano as “Most High God (Lude)” simplifies is sounds for his vocal praise.
Both “Your Blood (The Communion Song)” and “Take Over” highlight Men of Standard members Isaac Carree and Lowell Pye respectively. “Your Blood” is a big sounding choir song, while “Take Over” is a song of sanctification. While each song amply reflects surrender to God, the humility present and accounted for is in sheer reverence for God’s greatness and grace.
In the uiet stillness within, “You Alone” simply sounds like a prayer. Inspired by Contemporary Christian Music and the total devotion to the fullness of God, Tye acknowledges, “I want to grow my audience to a more mature worship experience and atmosphere.” Adding “the words ask you to listen to my heart and not just the music because this is something you can pray when speaking of the Lord or speaking to Him” as the simplicity of the chords invoke the worship atmosphere. Subsequently “Holding On” sounds like the letter to God after the prayer. “This song stretches me and opens the door with its inspiration. When life gets hard, everybody needs something to hold on to.”
All sixteen tracks on the candid Fresh album are simple, “I want everyone to be refreshed because there is a cleansing that takes place in worship. Whatever I was known for, I’m adding to it with this CD. I want my heart to be heard and then you will understand.” Purposeful in the acknowledgement of his testimony, Tye Tribbett’s self-professed “compassion package” is based on growing through the storms of life with full transparency acknowledging God can change someone. Tye is pursuing an acting career and becoming more involved with organizations that target bouncing back and moving forward. “I have a greater compassion coming out of a storm because this love I experience from God, and for my wife and His people, is so big because He first loved us. Know that a relationship with God is possible.” And that is fresh.
Only Help!
Tye Tribbett Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Devil always paint the same picture, sweet frame and all
I wanna change
And you would think by now I'd catch the scenario
Sorta like a old sitcom playing the same show
I wanna change
I'm sick of my own ways
End up in the same place
For my own protection
I can't go on the same way Lord so
I lift my hands to you
You're my only help
I'm sick of living life so predictable, yes I know
I'm saved but sometimes I get really comfortable, Oh Lord
I wanna change
I'm sick of all the ups and downs I want consistency
Tired of all the shaky ground give me stability, Oh Lord
I wanna change
I cast out all pronography uproot that thing up out of me
Devil you no longer have any control over me
While I bare adultery
Looking at my sister lustfully
In Jesus' name you gotta leave, Lord
I lift my hands to you
You're my only help
The lyrics of Tye Tribbett's "Only Help" speak to the struggles of a person seeking to overcome their old ways and find consistency in their Christian walk. The opening lines express the frustration of always falling into the same traps despite knowing better. The devil is depicted as painting a sweet picture, tempting the person into the same old patterns of behavior. However, the singer recognizes that he cannot go on the same way and that he needs help. He acknowledges that his affection needs to be set on God for his own protection.
The chorus expresses the singer's need for divine help. He lifts his hands to God, recognizing that He is the only help he needs. The second verse expands on the desire for change from the ups and downs of life to consistency and stability. The singer is tired of being comfortable in his relationship with God and wants to push himself to grow. He casts out sin from his life and resolves to turn away from lustful thoughts.
Overall, the song speaks to the human struggle of faltering and falling back into old habits. It acknowledges the need for help from a higher power to overcome these obstacles and find consistency in one's Christian walk.
Line by Line Meaning
I can almost tell you each time I'm gonna fall
I can predict my own mistakes and downfall.
Devil always paint the same picture, sweet frame and all
Satan deceives me with the same pleasant facade every time.
I wanna change
I desire to transform myself.
And you would think by now I'd catch the scenario
I should have learned my lesson by now.
Sorta like a old sitcom playing the same show
It feels familiar like a repeated act in a sitcom.
I'm sick of my own ways
I am tired of my repetitive behavior.
End up in the same place
I always end up in the same situation.
Gotta set my affection
I need to focus my affection on something better.
For my own protection
In order to keep myself safe.
I can't go on the same way Lord so
I cannot continue living the same way anymore.
I lift my hands to you
I raise my arms to seek you.
You're my only help
You are the only one who can assist me.
I'm sick of living life so predictable, yes I know
I am fed up of the predictable life, and I know it.
I'm saved but sometimes I get really comfortable, Oh Lord
Even though I am saved, I tend to get too comfortable, Lord.
I wanna change
I wish to change myself.
I'm sick of all the ups and downs I want consistency
I do not want to go through the highs and lows, I want consistency.
Tired of all the shaky ground give me stability, Oh Lord
I am tired of being unstable, Lord. Give me stability.
I cast out all pronography uproot that thing up out of me
I get rid of my pornography addiction from within me.
Devil you no longer have any control over me
I declare that Satan no longer has power over me.
While I bare adultery
Even though I commit adultery.
Looking at my sister lustfully
I have been lusting after someone.
In Jesus' name you gotta leave, Lord
I command Satan to leave in Jesus' name, Lord.
I lift my hands to you
I raise my arms to seek you.
You're my only help
You are the only one who can assist me.
Contributed by Lillian M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.