Carman (Carmelo Domenic Licciardello) was born in New Jersey where he grew … Read Full Bio ↴Carman (Carmelo Domenic Licciardello) was born in New Jersey where he grew up in an Italian home full of music and laughter. As a boy, Carman played the drums and the guitar, and he began singing in his teenage years. As his career developed, Carman played clubs then went on to Las Vegas. It was after seeing an Andrae Crouch concert that Carman gave his life to Jesus Christ and embraced his new found faith in the living Savior. After five years of ministerial preparation, he moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma where he began to develop his ministry headquarters for a worldwide outreach.

During the next two decades Carman changed the face of Christian music and evolved contemporary evangelism into what it is today. Carman established "Carman World Outreach," a non-profit organization that helps touch the lives of literally millions of people worldwide. Billboard Magazine recognized Carman's influence in Christian music by first naming him "Contemporary Christian Artist of the Year" in 1990. He has received numerous gold and platinum albums and videos. Even with all this success, the heartbeat of this Champion for Christ continues to beat strong for the souls of people who need Jesus. As an outflow of this passion, Carman had more than 50,000 people attend his "Music for Peace" crusade in Johannesburg, South Africa. These numbers topped the charts as his largest concert crusade ever, until more than 70,000 people packed the legendary Texas Stadium, making it the largest Christian concert in history.

For over 26 years, Carman has entertained, encouraged and preached the Gospel to millions-crossing denominational, cultural and ethnic lines. During this time, he has never compromised the call to take the Gospel to every person.

Carman died on February 16, 2021 (28 days after his 65th birthday) in a Las Vegas hospital, after a series of complications resulting from surgery to repair a hiatal hernia. He was survived by his ex-wife, five stepchildren and ten step-grandchildren.

Heart Of A Champion
Carman Lyrics

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Heart of a champion
Heart of a champion

I can feel the pressure coming down on me
People say that I'm not destined to succeed
But I have the faith I need to carry on
And I will find the strength in me to prove them wrong

It isn't for the thrill, it isn't for the prize
It's all about a fight to stay alive
Knowing that the dream can still survive

When you're out there on the edge
And the odds you face are life and death
You've got to have the heart of a champion

When your time is running out
And everybody sees you're going down
You've got to have the heart of a champion

When your back's against the wall
And your rival thinks you're gonna fall
You've got to have the heart of a champion

Come on, now listen
I have been through thick and thin and every vice
Standing in the winners circle has its price
I have learned to fight the good fight to the end
And if I had to, I would do it all again

And when the sun goes down, I won't fear the night
I will keep my head towards the sky
Knowing that the Lord is on my side

When you're out there on the edge
And the odds you face are life and death
You've got to have the heart of a champion

When your time is running out
And everybody sees you're going down
You've got to have a heart of a champion

When your back's against the wall
And your rival thinks you're gonna fall
You've got to have the heart of a champion

Heart of a champion
Heart of a champion
Heart of a champion

And when the darkness falls, I won't fear the night
I will keep my head towards the sky
Knowing that the Lord is on my side

When you're out there on the edge
And the odds you face are life and death
You've got to have the heart of a champion

When your time is running out
And everybody sees you're going down
You've got to have the heart of a champion

When your back's against the wall
And your rival thinks you're gonna fall
You've got to have the heart of a champion

Heart of a champion
Heart of a champion

Heart of a champion
Heart of a champion

Overall Meaning

"Heart of a Champion" by Carman is an inspirational anthem to keep fighting for your dreams and proving the naysayers wrong. The pressure and doubts may seem overwhelming, but the faith and resilience in oneself can make all the difference. The lyrics describe the struggles of being on the edge of success and failure, facing life and death situations, and having rivals waiting to see you fall. However, the determination and perseverance to keep going, regardless of the obstacles and failures, is what sets apart a true champion.

The religious imagery in the song is notable, with references to the Lord being on the singer's side and keeping their head towards the sky. The message is clear - one must have faith and hope, even during the darkest times, to rise above the challenges and emerge as a winner. The lyrics also suggest that winning isn't just about getting a prize, but it's about surviving, fighting the good fight, and staying true to oneself.

Overall, "Heart of a Champion" is a powerful song about self-belief and overcoming adversity. It's a reminder to never give up on your dreams and push forward, no matter what.

Line by Line Meaning

I can feel the pressure coming down on me
I am aware of the stress I am under

People say that I'm not destined to succeed
Others doubt my ability to achieve my goals

But I have the faith I need to carry on
Despite doubts, I believe in myself and will persevere

And I will find the strength in me to prove them wrong
I will use my inner resolve to show my detractors I can succeed

It isn't for the thrill, it isn't for the prize
My motivation is not based on external rewards

It's all about a fight to stay alive
My commitment is to keep pushing forward despite obstacles

Knowing that the dream can still survive
I have hope that my aspirations can still be achieved

When you're out there on the edge
In times of high stakes and great risk

And the odds you face are life and death
When the situation is dire and the consequences severe

You've got to have the heart of a champion
You need the inner strength and courage to succeed

When your time is running out
When you feel you are running out of time to achieve success

And everybody sees you're going down
When it seems like others are aware of your impending failure

When your back's against the wall
When you have nowhere else to turn

And your rival thinks you're gonna fall
When your competitor believes you will fail

Come on, now listen
An invitation to pay attention to the following words

I have been through thick and thin and every vice
I have faced a range of challenges and obstacles

Standing in the winners circle has its price
Success often comes with a cost

I have learned to fight the good fight to the end
I have gained experience in how to persevere and succeed

And if I had to, I would do it all again
I would be willing to face the same challenges again for success

And when the sun goes down, I won't fear the night
I will not be afraid of difficult times ahead

Knowing that the Lord is on my side
I have faith that a higher power is helping me

Heart of a champion
An expression of inner strength and courage

And when the darkness falls, I won't fear the night
Even in the most difficult situations, I will not be afraid

Heart of a champion
Inner strength and courage once again emphasized

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JIMMY SANTIS, N CARMAN, STEVE SKINNER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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