The band's first official recording was the track "It's So Wonderful", released in 1983 on the compilation album What's Shakin', which also included early work from Undercover, Altar Boys and The Lifters. This song was one of the few times that lead singer Derri Daugherty wrote both lyrics and music; as the band developed, the majority of The Choir's lyrical output would come from drummer/percussionist Steve Hindalong. As Youth Choir, they released their debut album Voices in Shadows in 1984, with Mike Saurerbrey on bass; their first EP Shades of Gray followed a year later, when Dan Michaels joined the band.
The Choir made a high-profile move to Myrrh Records in 1986 with their next release, Diamonds and Rain. Dropping the "Youth" from their moniker, they would be known as The Choir from that point forward. This was followed by three more albums for Myrrh, which featured musical contributions from an array of Christian performers, including Charlie Peacock, Mark Heard, Steve Griffith of Vector and Gene Eugene and Riki Michele from Adam Again. The Choir's lineup also changed. Tim Chandler was the primary bass player until 1989's Wide-Eyed Wonder, as Robin Spurs replaced him on that album and tour, but she left the band during the recording of 1990's Circle Slide. Mike Sauerbrey returned to the band briefly for these recording sessions. Chandler would rejoin the lineup for the independently-released Kissers and Killers. Spurs would not play with the band again until 2017, when she performed on the Wide-Eyed Wonder reunion tour.
The Choir toured extensively during this time, notably as the first band on stage at the inaugural Cornerstone Festival in Chicago in 1984. They also performed at the Greenbelt Festival in England in 1986, and opened for Russ Taff on his nationwide tour in 1989. References to the band's tour experiences would remain an ongoing source of lyrical inspiration. During their Southern California period, The Choir's music was described by the Los Angeles Times as "magical songs that combine strains of murky psychedelia with pure pop." Billboard praised the band for its "dark poetic leanings, effects-laden guitars and strong melodic hooks". Hindalong's lyrics became known for their vulnerability and honesty, particularly about the challenges inherent in romantic relationships and the simple joys of family life.
All Night Long
Youth Choir Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But the sky is black above me
And I see in shades of gray
I hear voices in the shadows
And I wonder what is true
I hear laughing, I hear crying
And sometimes I know it's you
I've been looking out my window
All night long
I've been hoping to see you
All night long
I've been praying for the morning
I've been looking out my window all night long
When I finally see the Son
Will I know You as my friend?
If I fail to see you now
Will I recognize you then?
I see faces in the shadows
And I wonder what to do
I see dancing I see dying
And sometimes I know it's you
All night long
I've been looking out my window
All night long
I've been hoping to see you
All night long
I've been praying for the morning
I've been looking out my window all night long
The lyrics of Youth Choir's song "All Night Long" convey themes of longing, searching for meaning, and ultimately, hope. The first stanza begins with the lines "It's enough to light the way / But the sky is black above me," suggesting that there is some source of hope or guidance, but that the world can still feel bleak and uncertain. The singer sees the world in "shades of gray" and hears "voices in the shadows," representing uncertainty and the mystery of the unknown.
The second stanza introduces a spiritual element, as the singer wonders about their relationship with God: "When I finally see the Son / Will I know You as my friend?" This line is followed by a question of recognition - if the singer fails to see God in their current life, will they be able to recognize God later on? The stanza ends with the same uncertainty as the first, questioning what to do in the face of the many conflicting and seemingly conflicting experiences of life.
Through all of this searching, however, there is the thread of hope that runs throughout the song. The chorus repeats the line "All night long / I've been looking out my window / All night long / I've been hoping to see you," implying that even in the midst of confusion and uncertainty, the singer is still hoping and searching for something. And the final lines of the song, "I've been praying for the morning / I've been looking out my window all night long," suggest that even in the darkest moments, there is hope for the light to come.
Line by Line Meaning
It's enough to light the way
There is some light available, which could be helpful.
But the sky is black above me
Despite the light, the sky appears dark.
And I see in shades of gray
It's difficult to see things as clearly as they really are.
I hear voices in the shadows
There are sounds coming from unknown sources.
And I wonder what is true
It's hard to discern what's real and what's not.
I hear laughing, I hear crying
There are sounds of joy and sadness intermingled.
And sometimes I know it's you
The sounds can be identified as being caused by a specific person.
All night long
Throughout the entire night.
I've been looking out my window
Watching and waiting for something to happen.
I've been hoping to see you
Wishing to catch a glimpse of someone specific.
I've been praying for the morning
Anticipating the arrival of a new day.
When I finally see the Son
When I am face-to-face with the divine.
Will I know You as my friend?
Will I have a relationship with the divine?
If I fail to see you now
If I don't recognize the divine in current circumstances.
Will I recognize you then?
Will I be able to recognize the divine in the future?
I see faces in the shadows
There are people around, but they can't be clearly seen.
And I wonder what to do
Uncertainty about how to proceed in the situation.
I see dancing I see dying
There are both celebration and tragedy in the world.
And sometimes I know it's you
Recognizing the divine in both joyful and sorrowful moments.
I've been looking out my window all night long
A repeated action of watching and waiting throughout the night.
Contributed by Adam P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Hampoon
I'm singing this song for my choir soon.
Bella McKendree
Gorgeous song
wolfflow
Best version I could find with decent audio and no babies crying so far :)
Caidenn
I’m singing this song right now. I’m the only solo person that actually cares to sing the songs! 🙂
Tooru Oikawa
I sang this song