Green took to music at a young age, and his talents were noted by major newspapers by the time he was only eight years old. Following a performance of Arthur Laurents' The Time of the Cuckoo, the Los Angeles Times wrote that "roguish-looking, eight-year-old Keith Green gave a winning performance," one that "stole the show". Green went on to play "Kurt Von Trapp" in a major production of The Sound of Music.
At the age of eleven, Green became the youngest person ever to sign with the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) when he published, recorded and released the song "The Way I Used to Be".
In his early teens, with more than 50 original songs under his belt, Green was signed to Decca Records. Decca had plans to make Green a teen-idol, regularly getting the young man featured in fanzines like Teen Scene and on popular television shows like The Jack Benny Show and Steve Allen's show. Time Magazine called Green "a prepubescent dreamboat". His dreams of stardom were shattered, however, when Donny Osmond stole his short-lived spotlight and Green was quickly forgotten.
By his mid-teens, Green became heavily involved in drug use, eastern religion, astrology, and mysticism. After experiencing a really horrifying "bad trip", he abandoned drug use and also became bitter towards philosophy and theology in general. In the midst of his skepticism, as Green described it, God's love 'broke through' his 'calloused heart'. He began on a new path 'with Christ as his guru', but had many 'spiritual struggles' and hardships along the way. He married his wife Melody in 1973, and the two became involved in the Vineyard fellowship in Southern California, where they were introduced to Bob Dylan.
The Greens began an outreach program to their community by purchasing two homes (and renting five) to provide housing and care for prostitutes, drug addicts, and homeless people. Eventually, the couple and the rest of their group relocated to Lindale, Texas, where the Greens founded Last Days Ministries.
Green began to release a series of albums in the new Contemporary Christian music market in 1977, after being signed to Sparrow Records and working on their Christian musical album Firewind (1976) with 2nd Chapter of Acts, Terry Talbot, John Talbot, and Barry McGuire. Two years later, Keith would shock many in the industry by refusing to charge money for concerts or albums. He insisted that his new label, Sparrow Records, let him out of his contract. The Greens then mortgaged their home to privately finance the album So You Wanna Go Back To Egypt? (with a guest appearance by Bob Dylan), which was then offered through mail-order and at concerts for "whatever you could afford". As of May of 1982, Green had shipped out more than 200,000 units of his album - 61,000 for free.
Last Days Ministries also began publishing a self-described "small, colorful magazine" called the Last Days Newsletter. The magazine featured articles by Keith and Melody as well as contemporary authors such as David Wilkerson, Leonard Ravenhill, and Winkie Pratney, all of whom lived in the area, as well as reprinting work by earlier Christian workers such as Charles Finney, John Wesley, and William Booth and his wife Catherine. The newsletter had such an impact on the Christian community at the time that many of the articles were reprinted as tracts.
Green was killed on July 28, 1982, when a small airplane owned by Last Days Ministries crashed on takeoff. Green had planned to give visiting friends an aerial view of the Last Days Ministries compound. Two of Green's children, three year old Josiah, and two year old Bethany, were also on board the plane, as was pilot Don Burmeister, and friends John and Dede Smalley and all six of their children. All passengers were killed in the crash. Crash investigators determined that the aircraft was nearly 500 lb (230 kg) overweight with 12 passengers and only 6 seats. Keith, Josiah, and Bethany Green are interred at Lindale Cemetery.
In 1992, several artists joined together to re-record many of Green's most well known songs for a tribute album called No Compromise: Remembering the Music of Keith Green, on Sparrow Records. Artists contributing to that record included Charlie Peacock, PFR, Susan Ashton, Margaret Becker, Michael Card, Rich Mullins, and Russ Taff. BEC Records released a second, more modern, tribute record Start Right Here: Remembering the Life of Keith Green, in 2001. That tribute was produced by Derri Daugherty and included performances by MxPx, Joy Electric and others. In 2002, upon the twentieth anniversary of Keith's death, Sparrow Records released another tribute album. Your Love Broke Through: The Worship Songs of Keith Green contains re-recordings by Rebecca St. James, Michelle Tumes, Chris Tomlin, Twila Paris, Darlene Zschech, Jason Upton, Martin Smith, Charlie Hall, Joanne Hogg, Matt Redman, Paul Oakley, and Sarah Sadler. This album also includes "There Is One" performed by Michael W. Smith, which was an unfinished work completed by Michael W. Smith and Martin Smith.
Since the time of his death, the only known unreleased Christian song recorded by Keith was "Born Again". This song was finally released 17 years later in 1999 on the First Love compilation video and CD, which also features a two-song tribute to Keith by other artists. Keith was working on other songs at the time of his death, but these are in the sole-possession of his widowed-wife, Melody Green, and not available to the public. Melody inherited Keith's writings as well, and she has released many excerpts of these as books: Cry In The Wilderness (Sparrow, 1993), If You Love the Lord (Harvest House, 2000), and Make My Life a Prayer (Harvest House, 2001).
On November 27, 2001, Green was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. Keith's mother, Char Green was present with a heavy heart but very proud of her son.
Since 1982, Melody Green has continued to operate Last Days Ministries from Oceanside, California, and has "become an internationally known speaker and author". She now ministers as a Christian prophet and a touring evangelist.
The land in Lindale, Texas (more specifically, Garden Valley, Texas) where Last Days Ministries was once located is now occupied by Teen Mania Ministries. Teen Mania has dedicated one of its dormitories, Green Hall, in memory of Keith.
There is a biography of Keith Green's life written by Melody Green with David Hazard called No Compromise: The Life Story of Keith Green (Harvest House Publishers, 1989; revised and expanded in 2000) and a documentary film called Your Love Broke Through: The Keith Green Story (available from www.keithgreen.com and serialized on youtube.com).
There Is A Redeemer
Keith Green Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Jesus, God's own Son
Precious Lamb of God, Messiah
Holy One
Jesus my redeemer
Name above all names
Precious Lamb of God, Messiah
Thank you, oh my father
For giving us Your Son
And leaving Your Spirit
'Til the work on Earth is done
When I stand in Glory
I will see His face
And there I'll serve my King forever
In that Holy Place
Thank you, oh my father
For giving us Your Son
And leaving Your Spirit
'Til the work on Earth is done
There is a redeemer
Jesus, God's own Son
Precious Lamb of God, Messiah
Holy One
Thank you, oh my father
For giving us Your Son
And leaving Your Spirit
'Til the work on Earth is done
And leaving Your Spirit
'Til the work on Earth is done
Keith Green's "There is a Redeemer" is a song about Jesus Christ as the Savior of humanity. The first verse describes Jesus as the "redeemer" who is the Son of God, a "precious lamb of God, Messiah, Holy One." The second verse refers to Jesus with the personal pronoun "my redeemer" and emphasizes his unmatched qualities, with the name above all names as the "precious lamb of God, Messiah, Oh, for sinners slain." The chorus then thanks God, the Father, for His gift of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit whose presence will remain until God's work on earth is done. The last two verses are identical to the first and second verses, and highlight the same characteristics about Jesus as the Son of God, our redeemer, and the precious lamb of God.
The lyrics of "There is a Redeemer" expresses faith in the Christian belief that Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation and eternal life. The song reminds Christians of God's sacrifice and the saving grace that Jesus Christ has brought to humanity through His death and resurrection. The song’s powerful message and simple yet catchy melody have made it a staple in Christian worship music and has been covered by countless Christian artists.
Line by Line Meaning
There is a redeemer
The belief that there is a person who can save people from their sins and bring them to a better light.
Jesus, God's own Son
Jesus is the son of God in Christianity and he is considered to be the savior of people.
Precious Lamb of God, Messiah
Jesus is considered to be a holy and important being, who is also referred to as the Messianic figure or the lamb of God.
Holy One
Jesus is regarded as divine, holy, and sanctified.
Jesus my redeemer
The personal relationship that a person has with Jesus, who has been their redeemer.
Name above all names
Jesus is a powerful and divine figure whose name is above all other names.
Oh, for sinners slain
Jesus was crucified and died for the sins of humanity.
Thank you, oh my father
Thanking God for giving us Jesus, his son.
For giving us Your Son
Acknowledging that Jesus was a gift from God.
And leaving Your Spirit
God has given us the Holy Spirit who is always with us.
'Til the work on Earth is done
God will continue to guide and give us strength until the end of time.
When I stand in Glory
The hope of standing before God in heaven.
I will see His face
The idea of being in the presence of God and seeing his face.
And there I'll serve my King forever
Being in heaven means serving and worshiping God forever.
In that Holy Place
Heaven is referred to as a holy and sacred place.
Lyrics © CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: Melody Green
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@steviesvideos319
There is a Redeemer
Jesus, God's own Son
Precious Lamb of God
Messiah, Holy One
Jesus, my Redeemer
Name above all names
Precious Lamb of God
Messiah, O for sinners slain
Thank You, O my Father
For giving us Your Son
And leaving us Your Spirit
'Til the work on earth is done
When I stand in glory
I will see His face
And there I'll serve
My King forever
In that holy place
@leobeadle4658
I was saved in 1980. Saw Keith in concert as my first "Christian" concert. Did not disappoint. His music and ministry basically mentored me as a new believer. I miss him a lot. Play on in heaven brother!
@jaynefrain-montgomery1308
You are so very fortunate to have seen him live!!
@Crabtree1844
After Jesus resurrects him, only then will Keith play/sing in haven. In the meantime, all dead are in their graves until Jesus comes.
@lynnehalbert
Who is still loving Keith Green and his heavenly Father, in 2022?
This brings tears to my eyes and causes me to weep, in Jesus name! I know he is at peace with The Father, Holy Spirit and Jesus His son.
@setapartforHim
Amen! I love our beloved brother Keith! There's no music like this nowadays. Truly spirit filled and biblical.
@lynnehalbert
@@setapartforHim Truly. That's the reason his life was cut short on this earth. Great is his reward in heaven.
@Jameslopez5682
@@lynnehalbert hello Lynne how are you doing hope you’re having a great time with your family may God bless you and your family
@longandshort6639
And in 2023 too. Happy Easter!!!
@jamest5014
@@setapartforHim Obviously everyone has there own tastes and all that, but I would try to encourage you that there is still gospel centred music produced even today by the likes of City Alight, the Gettys, Sovereign Grace Music, Stuart Townend etc
@jaynefrain-montgomery1308
My always faithful sister suffered and died from cancer on Valentine’s Day this past year. She had me hooked on Keith green as a child. I am 18 years younger than her. As I cared for her during her last days at home on hospice, I played this song by her bedside and sang along. I am struggling with my faith as I mentally process what I saw such a giving and faithful soul went through.