Camp was raised in a Christian home and drew musical inspiration from worship music and secular tunes alike. Touchstone albums in his artistic development include U2's The Joshua Tree, Delirious?' King of Fools , Jars Of Clay's debut album, Jars of Clay, and Steven Curtis Chapman's The Great Adventure.
When one of the worship leaders at the school heard Camp playing with some friends at his dormitory, he urged him to become involved with their music ministry program, and soon he was performing at Christian music events all over California, recording a self-released disc called Burden Me in 2000.
At one such appearance, Camp met a young woman named Melissa, and the two struck up a friendship that blossomed into a romance. When Melissa broke off the relationship after a few months, Camp was crushed, but when he next saw her, her life had taken a serious turn -- she had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer and was in the hospital. When Melissa went into remission, Camp married her, but after their honeymoon, they discovered the cancer had returned, and in early 2001 she passed on; she was only 21.
Camp poured both his sorrow and the faith that helped see him through into his music, and in 2002 he was signed to BEC Recordings, who released his first nationally distributed album, Stay; it was both a critical and commercial success, and five songs from the disc reached the top of the Christian singles chart. While touring in support of Stay, Camp met singer Adrienne Leisching, former singer with the Benjamin Gate; the two hit it off, and in 2003 they were married, and have since been blessed with two daughters.
In 2004, Camp released his second album for BEC, Carried Me: The Worship Project, which matched the gold record success of Stay, and Camp won two Dove Award trophies for Best Male Vocalist and Best New Artist. In 2005, Camp released two albums -- a studio set, Restored, which rose to number 45 on the Billboard Top Albums chart and spawned three number one Christian singles, and a live disc, Live Unplugged from Franklin TN. Camp also recorded the song "Open Up Your Eyes" for the soundtrack of the hit film The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, which earned him another Dove Award. The fall of 2006 brought another studio set from Camp, Beyond Measure, which reached number 29 on the Billboard charts and produced two more hit singles.
Speaking Louder than Before, his sixth album, was released on November 25, 2008.
The Way Songfacts reports that his seventh album, We Cry Out: The Worship Project , was released on August 24, 2010, and peaked at #1 on the Billboard Christian Albums Chart.
I'm Alive
Jeremy Camp Lyrics
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I don't know how many times that I'd fight it
Well, I tried it and barely survived it
I fell in the nearest pool of shame
Took the blame and everything that surrounds it
Well, I found it and I drowned in it
Oh, I never thought I'd erase this
Oh, but my whole life changed
When You saved me and forgave me now
I'm alive, I'm alive like I've never been
Been revived from the lies that were deep within
It's the past now, it's the past
'Cause Christ has given life where I'll never thirst again
I'm alive, I'm alive like I've never been
Been revived from the lies that were deep within
It's the past now, it's the past
'Cause Christ has given life where I'll never thirst again
I lost everything I had
But I'm glad 'cause I would never have found you
Well, it rings true, the words that spoke through
You've given more than I can say
And I know that I could never repay You
But I thank you, I can't wait to embrace You
Oh, I spun around for a long time
And I always felt so blind
Oh, I never thought I could feel it
Well, I feel it now
I'm alive, I'm alive like I've never been
Been revived from the lies that were deep within
It's the past now, it's the past
'Cause Christ has given life where I'll never thirst again
I'm alive, I'm alive like I've never been
Been revived from the lies that were deep within
It's the past now, it's the past
'Cause Christ has given life where I'll never thirst again
Oh, I can feel it now every time I turn around
Knowing I have been set free from the pain and misery
Oh, I will make the most of this hope I have
I'm alive, I'm alive like I've never been
Been revived from the lies that were deep within
It's the past now, it's the past
'Cause Christ has given life where I'll never thirst again
I'm alive, I'm alive like I've never been
Been revived from the lies that were deep within
It's the past now, it's the past
'Cause Christ has given life where I'll never thirst again
I'm alive, I'm alive like I've never been
Been revived from the lies that were deep within
It's the past now, it's the past
'Cause Christ has given life where I'll never thirst again
Oh, I'll never thirst again
Oh, I'll never thirst again
I'll never thirst again
I'm alive
I'm alive, I'm alive like I've never been
Been revived from the lies that were deep within
It's the past now, it's the past
'Cause Christ has given life where I'll never thirst again
I'm alive, I'm alive like I've never been
I'm alive, I'm alive like I've never been
In "I'm Alive," Jeremy Camp sings about his transformation from a life of guilt and shame to a new life given by Christ. The song begins with Jeremy expressing his feelings of being overwhelmed with guilt and having fought it so many times. He eventually succumbed to it and fell into a pool of shame, where he drowned in it. However, he later found life in Christ, and his whole life changed. He describes his new life as being alive like he had never been before, having been revived from the deep lies that were once within him.
Jeremy lost everything he had, but he was glad because he would never have found Christ if he hadn't. He acknowledges that he could never repay Christ for giving him more than he could say. But he is thankful for his new life and can't wait to embrace Christ. Throughout the song, Jeremy expresses his newfound hope and freedom in Christ. He knows that he has been set free from the pain and misery of his past and will make the most of this hope he has found.
In conclusion, "I'm Alive" is a song of transformation, redemption, and hope. Jeremy Camp sings about his journey from a life of guilt and shame to a new life given by Christ, where he is alive like he has never been before. The song encourages listeners to seek hope and freedom in Christ, no matter how difficult their pasts may have been.
Line by Line Meaning
I felt so overwhelmed with guilt
I was consumed by the weight of the guilt that I carried
I don't know how many times that I'd fight it
I kept trying to push away my guilt, but it always came back
Well, I tried it and barely survived it
I attempted to deal with my guilt on my own, but it was too much for me to handle
I fell in the nearest pool of shame
I succumbed to my guilt and felt deep shame for my actions
Took the blame and everything that surrounds it
I accepted responsibility for my mistakes and all of the consequences that came with them
Well, I found it and I drowned in it
I allowed my guilt to consume me completely
Oh, I never thought I'd erase this
I believed that my guilt could never be fully erased
Or replace this feeling now
I didn't think I could ever be free from the weight of my guilt
Oh, but my whole life changed
My entire outlook on life was transformed
When You saved me and forgave me now
My life was changed forever when I was saved and forgiven by Christ
I'm alive, I'm alive like I've never been
I am alive and refreshed in a way I have never been before
Been revived from the lies that were deep within
My soul has been restored from all the lies and falsehoods that had weighed me down
It's the past now, it's the past
My old life and the burdens that came with it have been left behind
'Cause Christ has given life where I'll never thirst again
Christ has given me eternal life with him where I will never feel spiritually thirsty ever again
I lost everything I had
I lost everything when I was consumed by my guilt
But I'm glad 'cause I would never have found you
Although I lost everything, I am grateful because that was the only way I could have found and received Christ
Well, it rings true, the words that spoke through
I recognize that the truth in the words spoken through Christ has given me hope and peace
You've given more than I can say
Christ has given me more than I could ever express or repay
And I know that I could never repay You
I understand that I can never fully repay Christ for all that he has done for me
But I thank you, I can't wait to embrace You
I thank Christ for all his blessings and look forward to being with him one day
Oh, I spun around for a long time
I spent a long time feeling lost and confused
And I always felt so blind
I was always blind and unable to see the truth
Oh, I never thought I could feel it
I didn't think I could ever experience the truth and freedom that Christ brings
Well, I feel it now
But now I have found that truth and feel it deeply within me
Oh, I can feel it now every time I turn around
Now everywhere I turn, I feel that truth and goodness surrounding me
Knowing I have been set free from the pain and misery
I am aware that I have been set free from the suffering and pain that I used to carry
Oh, I will make the most of this hope I have
I will use the hope and new life I have been given to make a positive difference in the world
Oh, I'll never thirst again
I will never feel spiritually thirsty again, as Christ will always provide for me
I'm alive, I'm alive like I've never been
I am reborn and renewed with a true zest for life and living
Been revived from the lies that were deep within
I have been revived and reawakened from the falsehoods and deception that had weighed me down
It's the past now, it's the past
My past life and its struggles are now behind me
'Cause Christ has given life where I'll never thirst again
Christ has granted me eternal life and will always provide for me
Lyrics © CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP, Capitol CMG Publishing
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