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.
Dreams
Youth Choir Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
About how it used to be
When life was full of promise
And love was fantasy
They tell me that the hurt will fade
But it just won't go away
I tried so hard to see the sun
But everything is gray
All my dreams are falling down
There was a time I trusted you
To help me bear the pain
But I look out my window now
And all I see is rain
If only I could turn back time
To my dreams of yesterday
If only I could stay a child
And trust in you that way
All my dreams are falling down
The lyrics to Youth Choir's song Dreams speaks of the struggles of life as one matures and grows older. The singer reminisces about a time when life was full of potential and love was a distant fantasy. The hurt and pain of life seems to have taken over, and the singer is unable to shake it off. The lyrics reflect a sense of hopeless nostalgia, where the singer yearns to go back to a simpler time when dreams and aspirations seemed more feasible. The line "All my dreams are falling down" serves as the chorus and further emphasizes the singer's feelings of disillusionment and despair.
The song speaks to a universal experience of growing up and realizing that life isn't as easy or hopeful as it once seemed. The lyrics highlight the disappointment that comes with realizing that adult life doesn't always live up to one's expectations. The song's melancholic tone evokes a sense of longing for a time that has long passed, and the use of the rain as a metaphor for the emotional turmoil emphasizes the song's emotional depth.
Line by Line Meaning
Lately I've been thinkin'
I've been contemplating deeply on recent events
About how it used to be
On how things were in the past
When life was full of promise
When life was full of hope and potential
And love was fantasy
When love was an idealistic concept
They tell me that the hurt will fade
People say that the pain will disappear in due time
But it just won't go away
But it's just not stopping
I tried so hard to see the sun
I put in so much effort to be optimistic and positive
But everything is gray
But everything seems dull and gloomy
All my dreams are falling down
All my aspirations and hopes are collapsing
There was a time I trusted you
In the past, I had faith in you
To help me bear the pain
To assist me in coping with emotional agony
But I look out my window now
But currently, as I peep through my window
And all I see is rain
All I can observe is rain falling from the sky
If only I could turn back time
I wish I could go back in time
To my dreams of yesterday
To the aspirations I had in the past
If only I could stay a child
I wish I could remain a child
And trust in you that way
And have the ability to trust you like I did before
All my dreams are falling down
All my aspirations and hopes are collapsing
Contributed by Harper J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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One Voice Children's Choir: Keeping hope alive in challenging times.
Chloe Creel
@Lauren Keegan 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉
Lauren Keegan
Totally!!! These kids rock!!!! They remind us not to fear even in these challenging times. Thank you, OVCC!!!!!
Chloe Creel
🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
Mariann Simon
This was heavenly. Soloist was a great choice and the harmony was an absolute pleasure to listen. Keep up the good work.
Marina
I'm a simple person: I see the angels with the most beautiful voices ever, I click
Thank you for making my day better!❤️❤️
Marina
@Sally Whoopsie doopsie, you're right 😅
Sally
*angels
One Voice Children's Choir
Thanks for making our day better with your kind words❤️
aphi Loyi
Thier teacher must be a legend...
They sounds so enjoyable...I want to join them too...wow...