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.
Another Heart
Youth Choir Lyrics
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Sometimes we live like we're the only ones
We close our eyes and turn way
We fail to see the hurt that's all around
All this while another heart lies bleeding
All this while another life must end
We tell ourselves there's nothing we can do
To justify our apathy
This song by Youth Choir titled "Another Heart" delivers a powerful message that has been relevant for generations. It talks about the harsh reality of how human beings tend to ignore the pain of others and live their lives as if their problems are the only ones that matter. The song highlights how people turn a blind eye to the hurting hearts of others, and instead of taking action to alleviate their suffering, they become indifferent.
The lyrics convey the message that while people go about their daily lives, hurting hearts go unnoticed, which can lead to terrible consequences- lives can be lost, and souls can be shattered. The verse that reads, "All this while another heart lies bleeding, all this while another life must end" is deeply poignant and highlights the sense of urgency that is needed to help others in their time of need.
Apathy, the thread that runs through the song's lyrics, is a call to action for listeners to feel empathy for those around them and not only for those in their inner circle. Sometimes, change can be as simple as showing kindness, being there for a friend, or standing up for what's right, and that is what this song is all about.
Line by Line Meaning
We live our lives from day to day
Every day we go about our routine without much thought
Sometimes we live like we're the only ones
We forget that there are other people in the world who need our help
We close our eyes and turn way
We ignore the suffering of those around us
We fail to see the hurt that's all around
We are so caught up in our own lives that we don't notice the pain of others
All this while another heart lies bleeding
While we are oblivious, someone else is suffering deeply
All this while another life must end
We don't realize that the consequences of our inaction may lead to someone else's death
We see them hurting all around
We do notice when people are in pain
We tell ourselves there's nothing we can do
We come up with excuses to justify our inaction
To justify our apathy
We make excuses for why we don't try to make a change in the world
Contributed by Madelyn R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.