DeGarmo and Key was the first Christian rock group to be nominated for a Gr… Read Full Bio ↴DeGarmo and Key was the first Christian rock group to be nominated for a Grammy for Best Gospel Performance, Contemporary or Inspirational (for 1980's THIS AIN'T HOLLYWOOD) and were inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2010. Additionally, they are notable as the first CCM industry outfit to see airplay on MTV via a video for "Six, Six, Six" (from their release COMMUNICATION).

The group was a Memphis, Tennessee based Christian rock group that started professionally in 1977 as "The Christian Band" before changing moniker. The primary members were keyboardist Eddie DeGarmo and guitarist Dana Key.

Key handled most lead vocals with gruff voiced DeGarmo occasionally taking a turn at the mic as on "Livin' on the Edge of Dyin'" from their second release, 1979's STRAIGHT ON. Other members over the years have included John Hampton, David Spain, Max Richardson, Terry Moxley, Joe Hardy and Ken Porter in the 70s. The 80s saw Tommy Cathey on bass, Greg Morrow on drums as well as Tony Pilcher on rhythm and second lead guitar. Membership has also included Kevin Rodell (drums), Chuck Reynolds (drums), Steve Taylor (guitar) (not Steven Roland Taylor) and Mark Pogue (guitar).

The band was nominated for seven Grammies and five Dove Awards during its over two decade tenure before dissolving in 1995. The group's final show was in 2008 at Illinois' Cornerstone Festival. Key passed away on June 6, 2010.

Emmanuel
DeGarmo & Key Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Some people say Emmanuel
Christ Jesus is His name
He's the Lord of all who live or die
And He died not for His fame
He is Savior
A Prince of Peace on earth
He's our Savior
A Messiah with a peasant's birth

Jesus was a carpenter
And He worked His wands in wood
Yet He lived the perfect will of God
And that is why we should
See what God's done
Our God has come as man
He is God's Son
A Stranger in a strange land

Jesus came to give us life
For God said He must die
He suffered every mortal sin
And it tortured God's own eye

He is Savior
Born of Virgin Birth

He's our Savior
And Jesus will return to earth

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of DeGarmo & Key's song "Emmanuel" speak about the divinity and humanity of Jesus Christ. The chorus states, "Some people say Emmanuel, Christ Jesus is His name. He's the Lord of all who live or die, and He died not for His fame." The term Emmanuel means "God with us," which is a reference to when Jesus is prophesied to be born in Isaiah 7:14. The song describes Jesus as our Savior, Prince of Peace, and Messiah, who was born a peasant and worked as a carpenter. The verses of the song emphasize that Jesus came to give us life and that he suffered for every mortal sin, which was a pain that tortured God's own eye.

The lyrics of "Emmanuel" beautifully convey the message of the Christian faith. They celebrate the miraculous nature of Christ's birth and emphasize his sacrifice for humanity. The song speaks to the idea that Jesus is both fully human and fully divine, and that it is through him that we can all have eternal life. The overall message of the song is one of hope and love, and it encourages listeners to place their faith in God's love and to follow the path that Jesus has laid out for them.

Line by Line Meaning

Some people say Emmanuel
Some individuals refer to Jesus Christ as Emmanuel

Christ Jesus is His name
The name given to Him is Christ Jesus

He's the Lord of all who live or die
Jesus Christ is Lord of all living beings and those who died

And He died not for His fame
The death of Jesus was not for the purpose of gaining fame

He is Savior
Christ is the Savior of humanity

A Prince of Peace on earth
Jesus is considered the Prince of Peace on Earth

He's our Savior
Jesus is the Savior of all believers

A Messiah with a peasant's birth
Despite being the Messiah, Jesus was born as a humble peasant

Jesus was a carpenter
Jesus was a professional carpenter by trade

And He worked His wands in wood
His woodworking skills were demonstrated in his works

Yet He lived the perfect will of God
Jesus lived a life that exemplified the perfect will of God