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.
Tonight
Jeremy Camp Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I know I need to be more broken
Then I find
I feel this passion grow
To face all that's been lost
It's not to late to give control now
I don?t know why I wait
Tonight
I will take my cross
Tonight
I will count the cost
Tonight
I realize to take hold of this very moment
In this time
You draw me by these words you've spoken
I feel inside
This never ending hope
I've placed all that I trust in knowing one day I will see you
The only thing worth holding onto is holding onto me
Tonight
I will take my cross
Tonight
I will count the cost
Tonight
I realize to take hold of this very moment
I will take this moment
And I feel that it's closer
And I kneel to show you this desperate heart of mine
Tonight
I will take my cross
Tonight
I will count the cost
Tonight
I realize to take hold of this very moment
The lyrics of Jeremy Camp's song "Tonight" talk about the need for introspection and self-reflection in order to find hope and strength to move forward. The opening lines suggest that the singer needs to be "more broken" in order to face what was lost. The passion that grows inside of him is the result of his desire to reclaim control over his life. He admits to not understanding why he is waiting when he feels that he is being called. The repetition of the word "tonight" gives a sense of urgency and immediacy to the message of the song.
In the following verses, he acknowledges the role God plays in his life, and how his faith provides him with "never-ending hope". He places his trust in God, knowing that someday, he will see Him. He affirms that the only thing worth holding onto is "holding onto me", implying that the most important relationship one can have is with oneself.
The chorus repeats the words "tonight, I will take my cross, tonight, I will count the cost", emphasizing the need for action and sacrifice. The singer knows that this moment is precious and he must seize it to move forward.
Overall, the song's message is one of self-reflection, faith, and action. The singer acknowledges the pain and hardship that life can bring but recognizes that hope and strength come from within and from one's relationship with God.
Line by Line Meaning
In this time
At the present moment
I know I need to be more broken
I understand that I must humble myself further
Then I find
As a result, I discover
I feel this passion grow
I sense an increased admiration and zeal
To face all that's been lost
To confront all that has been taken away
It's not to late to give control now
It is still possible to relinquish authority to a higher power
I don?t know why I wait
I am perplexed as to why I delay
You?re always calling me
You are persistently beckoning me
Tonight
This very evening
I will take my cross
I will bear the burdens of my faith
I will count the cost
I will evaluate the sacrifices required
Tonight
This very evening
I realize to take hold of this very moment
I comprehend the necessity of seizing this opportune instant
In this time
At the present moment
You draw me by these words you've spoken
You attract me through the messages you have communicated
I feel inside
Internally, I sense
This never ending hope
This eternal optimism
I've placed all that I trust in knowing one day I will see you
I have put all my reliance on the expectation of seeing you one day
The only thing worth holding onto is holding onto me
The only valuable thing to grasp is my own faithfulness
I will take this moment
I will seize this instant
And I feel that it's closer
And I perceive that it is nearer
And I kneel to show you this desperate heart of mine
And I kneel to express my fervent and urgent heart to you
Tonight
This very evening
I will take my cross
I will bear the burdens of my faith
Tonight
This very evening
I will count the cost
I will evaluate the sacrifices required
Tonight
This very evening
I realize to take hold of this very moment
I comprehend the necessity of seizing this opportune instant
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Spirit Music Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: FIONA SHEREE KERNAGHAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Savvy Fager
I love Jeremy Camp. This is one of my favorite songs by him.
Jennifer Sawatzky
Jeremy camp is amazing!!!!! I love Christian rock music!!! Especially if it's by Jeremy camp!!!
Richard Alolino
JESUS IS COME TO THE RESCUE TO THOSE WHO EVER LISTEN TO HIS WORD. ❤🙏🙌😎
THE MOVEMENT OF REVIVAL
love singing to this song. never get's old!
TheSora12009
this song is the best song I have ever heard of on air 1
ashley m
omg i love this song :] i hear it on the radio a lot
Schubert Aloysius
1:10 .." i feel inside this never ending Hope..."
Raider Rey
I saw him play this song live!
Ddek Anyi
Woow....this song awsome!!! its burn my spirit to God!! tq for this video
emily vicente
I'll take my cross amen!