Grant made her debut in 1977 under the guidance of Myrrh Records, and became the first Christian recording act to have an album be certified platinum. Following her marriage to Gary Chapman in 1982 and a subsequent deal between her record company and A&M Records, a series of successful pop-crossover records consolidated her position as both Christian music's highest-selling act and a formidable force in mainstream music, and according to Billboard magazine she was the most successful Christian recording artist of the 1980s and 1990s.
After giving birth to her fourth child Corinna Grant Gill, Grant returned to her gospel music roots with the 2002 release of Legacy...Hymns & Faith. The album featured a Vince Gill-influenced mix of bluegrass and gospel and marked Grant's 25th anniversary in the music industry. Grant followed this up with the pop release Simple Things in 2003. The album did not see the success of her previous pop efforts, and soon after the album, Amy and Interscope/A&M parted ways.
Grant released a sequel to her hymns collection in 2005 titled Rock of Ages... Hymns & Faith. Despite publicly musing that life would be easier if she weren't working, Grant joined the reality television phenomenon by hosting Three Wishes, a show in which she and a team of helpers make wishes come true for small-town residents. The show debuted on NBC in the fall of 2005, but was cancelled in November after 10 episodes. After Three Wishes was cancelled, Grant won her 6th Grammy Award for Rock of Ages.
In a February, 2006 webchat, Amy stated she believes her "best music is still ahead".
Amy Grant recorded a live cd/dvd album in early 2006 and it was released later in the year.
To date Amy Grant has sold more than 25 million records worldwide and is a 6 time Grammy winning artist.
Emmanuel God With Us
Amy Grant Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We stoke the fire
We breathe the evergreen
Young ones wait
While the old ones make up
Tales of how it used to be
China dolls
Painted wooden toys
Treasures found
To the wondrous sound
Of carolling the Savior
Born to us on Christmas morn
Emmanuel, God with us
Emmanuel
Emmanuel, God with us
The son of Israel
And still he calls
Through the night
Beyond the days of old
A voice of peace
To the weary ones
Who struggle with the human soul
All of us
Travellers
Through a given time
Who can know
What tomorrow holds?
But over the horizon
Surely you and I will find
Emmanuel, God with us
Emmanuel
Emmanuel, God with us
The son of Israel
And the years they come
And the years they go
Though we may forget somehow
That the child once born in Bethlehem
Is still among us now
(Emmanuel, God with us
The son of Israel)
Emmanuel, God with us (Emmanuel)
Emmanuel
Emmanuel, God with us
The son of Israel
The son of Israel
The son of Israel (Son of Israel)
The lyrics of Amy Grant's song Emmanuel God With Us paint a beautiful picture of the holiday season where families come together, young and old. The first verse sets the scene for the festivities where the light is dimmed, the fire is stoked, and evergreens are breathed in. While the young ones wait impatiently to open their gifts, the old ones reminisce about how Christmas used to be with tales of china dolls, candy corn, and painted wooden toys. The verse is painted with vivid imagery that makes us imagine a beautifully cozy Christmas setting of peace and love.
In the second verse, the focus shifts from the present moment to the past and the future. Despite the years that have gone by, the song reminds us that the voice of peace, Emmanuel or "God with us," is still calling out to us through the night. This message is especially poignant when it comes to our struggles with the human soul. The final verse speaks to all of us being travelers through a given time and that we don't know what tomorrow holds. However, no matter what happens, Emmanuel, the son of Israel, will always be with us.
Line by Line Meaning
We dim the light
We lower the brightness
We stoke the fire
We add wood to the flames
We breathe the evergreen
We inhale the scent of fresh pine
Young ones wait
Children anticipate
While the old ones make up
Meanwhile, the elderly create
Tales of how it used to be
Stories of past holidays
China dolls
Delicate porcelain toys
Candy corn
Tri-colored sweets
Painted wooden toys
Hand-crafted playthings
Treasures found
Valuable discoveries
To the wondrous sound
Accompanied by incredible music
Of carolling the Savior
Singing songs about Jesus
Born to us on Christmas morn
Jesus was born on December 25th
Emmanuel, God with us
God is with us in the form of Jesus
The son of Israel
Jesus is Jewish
And still he calls
Jesus is still summoning
Through the night
Even at night
Beyond the days of old
Outside of ancient times
A voice of peace
A message of tranquility
To the weary ones
For those who are exhausted
Who struggle with the human soul
People who have inner conflict
All of us
Everyone
Travellers
On a journey
Through a given time
During a specific period
Who can know
It's impossible to predict
What tomorrow holds?
What the future will bring
But over the horizon
Beyond what we can see
Surely you and I will find
Certainly, we will discover
The son of Israel
Jesus of Nazareth
Emmanuel, God with us
The Messiah is with us
The son of Israel
Jesus, son of Mary and Joseph
And the years they come
Time passes
And the years they go
The years vanish
Though we may forget somehow
Despite our tendency to forget
That the child once born in Bethlehem
Jesus, who was born in Bethlehem
Is still among us now
Jesus is with us currently
Emmanuel, God with us
God is with us
Emmanuel
God with Us
Emmanuel, God with us
God is with us through Jesus
The son of Israel
Jesus, who is Jewish
The son of Israel
Jesus, son of Mary and Joseph
The son of Israel (Son of Israel)
Jesus, descendant of the Israelites
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Written by: Amy Lee Grant, Chris Eaton, Robert Marshall
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Richard Chappell
Amy always has recorded beautiful songs, especially at Christmas. In my opinion, the #1 Christmas artist of all time.
Shirley Schutt
I have never heard this song before and it's beautiful. It's so awesome.
sparky kitty
Amy Grant used to have the anointing. In her later years it doesn't seem like it's there.
Colin Roberts
Many of the songs from the album "Home for Christmas" (1992) are still heard very commonly throughout the entire season, but in recent memory (at least where I live), one of the only times I ever hear it on live radio is on Christmas Eve and/or in the morning hours of Christmas Day. Particularly at or around 8:30 for some reason. I myself sort of forgot about it until two years ago...
Calogero Fanara
@sparky kitty What does make you think that? Let's not fall in the damaging judgment that divides so many children of God.
Charlotte Rogers
Hello Ms Amy , I've been humming this many days lately . He really is God , He really is with us. Merry Christmas.
Sunshine
I got the pleasure of being your first view and first like. Love it!! I've been a huge fan of yours since I was a teenager. I'd love the chance to sing with you one day!! That would be Amazing!! Merry Christmas Amy!! You are a beautiful soul!! 🙏💓👑🦁💜
Barbara Melville
Merry Christmas
Sunshine
@Barbara Melville Merry Christmas to you as well!
Deb Oresko
How nice for you, Kelly. This is my first Amy search on YouTube in a while. Because I heard this song on the radio today. Just played this for my husband. He is charmed and blessed by it, too. Merry Christmas All.