The band began in 2001 as a solo project for Edwards while his primary group, 16 Horsepower, were taking a temporary hiatus. The band's first live shows were performed by Edwards and multi-instrumentalist Daniel McMahon; the debut, self-titled Wovenhand album was released in 2002 on Glitterhouse Records. Performances following this record were executed by Edwards, McMahon, drummer Ordy Garrison and cellist Paul Fonfara. 2003 saw a release of Blush Music, the score to a dance performance mostly composed of reworked material from the first record. Touring behind this album saw Shane Trost replacing Fonfara.
In 2004, Consider the Birds was released on the Sounds Familyre label, who has also released the previous Wovenhand releases domestically. Edwards performed the bulk of the instrumentation in the studio; he and Garrison toured behind the record as a two-piece.
2005 saw both the demise of 16 Horsepower and the Wovenhand debut of guitarist Peter van Laerhoven, a Belgian guitarist - McMahon and Trost were now inactive with the group. 2006's Mosaic album featured more input from Garrison and van Laerhoven, but still read like an Edwards solo album for the most part. Touring behind the record saw the inclusion of Pascal Humbert, 16 Horsepower's founding and long-time bassist. Nonetheless, Edwards also played solo tours at this time billed as Wovenhand.
2008's Ten Stones, conversely, was the first record from the group written and performed collaboratively; the project had thus evolved into a proper band, albeit with Edwards firmly at its head.
Since 2002, they have released 8 albums: Woven Hand (2002), Blush Music (February 2003), Consider The Birds (2004), Mosaic (2006), Ten Stones (2008), The Threshingfloor (2010), The Laughing Stalk (2012) and Refractory Obdurate (2014).
The current members of the live band (as of 2008) are Ordy Garrison (also of Slim Cessna's Auto Club) on drums, Peter van Laerhoven on guitar, and Pascal Humbert (also of 16 Horsepower and currently Lilium) on bass.
http://www.wovenhandmosaic.com
Down in Yon Forest
Woven Hand Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bells of paradise I hear them ring
It's gilded all over with purple and pall
And I love my lord Jesus above anything
Down in that hall there lay a bed
Voices of heaven here in my head
All scarlet the cover that over it spread
Down under that bed there runs a flood
Bells of heaven I hear them ring
Half run in water
Half run in blood
And I love my lord Jesus above anything
Down at the bed feet there grows a thorn
Voices of heaven I hear them sing
It blooms its white blossoms the day he was born
And I love my lord Jesus above anything
The lyrics to Woven Hand's song "Down in Yon Forest" depict a heavenly, mystical scene characterized by stunning imagery that speaks of Christ and his sacrificial love. The singer describes a golden hall that's adorned with purple and pall where the holy bells of paradise ring, seemingly in preparation for the arrival of the "lord Jesus" who the singer loves more than anything. The next verse paints a picture of a bed in the same hall, which the singer seems to be lying on. Here, the singer hears the voices of heaven in his head, and he notices that the bedcover is scarlet, perhaps representing the blood that Jesus shed for humanity’s sins.
The third stanza adds a touch of urgency to the otherwise peaceful setting as the singer divulges that there is a flood running beneath the bed. There are bells of heaven ringing, and half of the flood is blood, possibly signifying the essence of the blood of Jesus that washes away sins, while the other half is water. The last verse of the song describes a thorn that's growing under the bed feet, which blooms into "white blossoms" on the day Jesus was born. The thorn seems to represent the crown of thorns that Jesus wore on his head as he died on the cross for humankind's sins.
Overall, "Down in Yon Forest" is a song that speaks of the singer's love for Jesus and the incredible sacrifice that Jesus made through his crucifixion. The singer paints a vivid picture of a heavenly hall, complete with the bells of paradise ringing and a luxurious bed adorned with a blood-colored cover. The song is spiritually significant and carefully crafted, filled with powerful symbolism that enhances its impact.
Line by Line Meaning
Down in yon forest there stands a hall
In a forest, there is a hall which exists.
Bells of paradise I hear them ring
I perceive the sound of bells, which seems like they belong to paradise.
It's gilded all over with purple and pall
The hall is covered in gold and color purple.
And I love my lord Jesus above anything
I have immense affection and preference for my Lord Jesus.
Down in that hall there lay a bed
Inside the hall, there is a bed which is present.
Voices of heaven here in my head
I hear the delightful and melodious voices of heaven in my mind.
All scarlet the cover that over it spread
The bed is covered with a red cloth.
And I love my lord Jesus above anything
I have deep reverence and adoration for my Lord Jesus.
Down under that bed there runs a flood
Underneath the bed, there is a stream of water flowing.
Bells of heaven I hear them ring
I perceive a sound of bells that seems to originate from heaven.
Half run in water
Half of the stream is made of water.
Half run in blood
Half of the stream is made of blood.
And I love my lord Jesus above anything
My devotion and love for my Lord Jesus are beyond comparison.
Down at the bed feet there grows a thorn
At the bottom of the bed, there is a thorn plant growing.
Voices of heaven I hear them sing
I hear the melodious voices of heaven singing.
It blooms its white blossoms the day he was born
The thorn plant blossomed with white flowers on the day Jesus Christ was born.
And I love my lord Jesus above anything
My utmost love and admiration are reserved for my Lord Jesus.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@fadeskywards1245
The chord that he plays when he signs "I love my Lord Jesus above anything" is Gsus4. Interesting coincidence :)
@gabrielevillani8232
Now THAT'S what I like to know
@sb4040
"I love my Lord Jesus above anything."
@2Times22
To God be the glory..Hail Dave Eugene...awsome and powerfull..!!!
@gregorywilcoxon5134
One of my favorite songs. This version gives me cold chills!
@QuazyRaccoon
Same it is a good song
@kathysenn7664
There's a lot of covers of this beautiful song.. I listened to Joan Baez's version moments ago.. it sounds rushed, where this one, short in duration, seems to go on and on. It feels warm filled with emotion.
I'm wondering what God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen would sound like sung by Mr Edwards? In my mind's ear I can hear him singing, 'His Rest'.
God bless us, everyone~
Let us bless Him..
@Gwmcmi02
Perfect addition to my holiday playlist
@Plattdeutsches
Wow, what a great version of this song!!!!
@Sensenwerk
Wow what the hell! That's some unique powerful music. Awesome.