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).
You Are The One
Keith Green Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You are the one,
You are the one.
How I love you,
You are the one for me.
I was so lost,
But you showed the way,
I was so lost,
But you showed the way to me.
How I love you,
You are the one,
You are the one.
How I love you,
You are the one for me.
I was lied to,
But you told the truth,
'Cause you are the truth.
I was lied to,
But you showed the truth to me.
How I love you,
You are the one,
You are the one.
How I love you,
You are the one for me.
I was dying,
But you gave me life,
'Cause you are the life.
I was dying,
And you gave your life for me.
How I love you,
You are the one,
You are the one.
How I love you,
You are the one,
God's risen Son,
You are the one for me.
Hallelujah,
You are the one,
You are the one.
Hallelujah,
You are the one for me.
How I love you,
You are the one,
You are the one.
How I love you,
You are the one for me.
The lyrics to Keith Green's song "You Are The One" are a declaration of love and gratitude to God. The singer states how lost he was until he found God, who showed him the way, the truth, and the life. These lines can be interpreted as a reference to John 14:6 in the Bible, where Jesus says "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Through this song, the singer expresses how much he loves God, how important He is in his life, and how grateful he is for His love and sacrifice for him.
The repeated line "You are the one" emphasizes how God is the singular, most important figure in the singer's life. The last verse ends with "God's risen Son," which is a reference to Jesus and His resurrection, further highlighting the Christian beliefs of the song. The use of "Hallelujah" in the song adds to its religious undertones, as it is a Hebrew word meaning "Praise the Lord."
Overall, "You Are The One" is a testament to the singer's deep love and faith in God. It is a powerful and heartfelt expression of gratitude for the way God has changed his life and an affirmation of his belief in God's power and love.
Line by Line Meaning
How I love you,
Expressing deep affection towards a certain recipient
You are the one,
Acknowledging that the recipient is the only one who can fulfill a certain need or desire
You are the one.
Reinforcing the acknowledgment that the recipient is the only one
How I love you,
Repeating the expression of deep affection
You are the one for me.
Specifying that the recipient is the one and only desired partner
I was so lost,
Expressing a state of confusion or aimlessness
But you showed the way,
Acknowledging that the recipient provided guidance or direction
'Cause you are the way.
Explaining that the recipient is the embodiment of guidance or direction
I was lied to,
Explaining that truth was withheld from the artist
But you told the truth,
Acknowledging that the recipient provided honesty
'Cause you are the truth.
Explaining that the recipient is the embodiment of honesty
I was dying,
Expressing a state of weakness or impending death
But you gave me life,
Acknowledging that the recipient provided a chance at living
'Cause you are the life.
Explaining that the recipient is the embodiment of vitality or life itself
God's risen Son,
Identifying the recipient as Jesus, the son of God
Hallelujah,
An exclamation of joy or praise
You are the one for me.
Repeating the acknowledgment that the recipient is the one and only desired partner
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: SIMON FRANKS, ANNETTE BROWN, JOCELYN BROWN, REGGIE GREEN, SVEINN MARTEINN JONSSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
theresa dyer
I have listened to Keith Green since 1980 or earlier! I loved his study guides also! When I’m down, I listen to his music and praise God outwardly in my home!
Jesus Babe
Amen
Lynn M.
Saints are listening to this precious brother in these end times and the great falling away. Thank you Lord for Keith and His timeless Ministry!!
Karen Hensley
Amen!!!
Daniel Baldwin
This is indeed the great falling away time. Yet another prophecy being fulfilled in a long line of one's that have already come to pass. Brothers and sisters be ready for the time is short.
Christopher Bell
The writer of Hebrews thought he was living in the last days as well. But with Trump, it certainly feels like the end times.
web Surfin
Amen Sis. Lynn!
Misty G
Amen, celebrating the soon coming of the Bridegroom, for His bride, in the rapture event.
SilverWind Studios
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6 Thank You for posting this great song by a true saint, Keith Green. <3
Mark Boerum
I was dying but the ONE came into my life, the ONE that matters JESUS CHRIST