Growing up, he listened to the Jackson 5, Prince and the production of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, and Stevie Wonder. He was also influenced by jazz and gospel music. Martin started playing piano, bass guitar, drums and singing when he was 10. He started writing music when he was nineteen.
During the late 1980s he was growing up with close friends Johnny Gill and Stacy Lattisaw and bassist Oteil Burbridge and Kenny Lattimore. He was a member of the group, Masquerade, which included twins, Art and Scott Powell, Sharif Walters and D'Extra Wiley, who later became a member of the 1990s new jack R&B group II D Extreme.
In 1991, the vocal group and Keith joined MC Hammer’s tour. Seeing how Martin was with his songwriting, Boyz Mike McCary finally brought him to Sony, where he eventually put out his first album, “It’s Long Overdue” in 1995. It contained, as its last track, the quiet little song that is “Because of You.” It is the opening track, “I’ll Never Find Someone Like You,” however that created enough stir to be included in the soundtrack of Bad Boys.
After Parting Ways with Sony, Martin moved to California, where he met Producer and Label owner Greg G of GMG Music. He recorded and released "Validated" with GMG, the album contains hits like "Whateva U Need" and "Coming Home" in addition to a remix of "Because of You".
In 2009, Martin returned from the Philippines and worked with POSH, an all-girl group signed to Viva Records. Martin produced "Missing You", one of the singles off their album My Heart.
In 2010, Martin released "This Road", including the song "You Are My Life" released as a single in 2012 that became a popular wedding theme.
In 2013, Martin released "The Vision".
In 2018, Martin released the single, "Return to Me".
To You Oh Lord
Keith Martin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Your face is all I see,
For when your eyes are on this child,
Your grace abounds to me
Oh Lord, you're beautiful,
Your face is all I see,
For when your eyes are on this child
I want to take your word and shine it all around
But first help me to just, live it Lord
And when I'm doing well, help me to never seek a crown
For my reward is giving glory to you
Oh Lord, please light the fire
That once burned bright and clean
Replace the lamp of my first love
That burns with holy fear
I want to take your word and shine it all around
But first help me to just, live it Lord
And when I'm doing well, help me to never seek a crown
For my reward is giving glory to you
Oh Lord, you're beautiful
Your face is all I see
For when your eyes are on this child
Your grace abounds to me
Oh Lord, you're beautiful
Your face is all I see
For when your eyes are on
this child
Keith Martin's "To You Oh Lord" is a beautiful song that speaks of the singer's devotion to God. The lyrics offer a personal conversation with the divine, with the singer repeatedly referring to God as beautiful and seeking his guidance to live a better life. The song is reflective of the Christian belief that God is present in our lives, and his grace and love are what sustain and uplift us.
The opening lines of the song, "Oh Lord, you're beautiful, your face is all I see," illustrate the singer's deep connection to God. He is so dedicated to God that he sees only him, and his face is all that matters. The lines, "For when your eyes are on this child, your grace abounds to me," further emphasize the singer's reliance on God's grace and how it is the only thing that sustains him.
The song also speaks about the importance of spreading the word of God, but it highlights that one must first live by the word before sharing it with others. The verse, "I want to take your word and shine it all around, but first help me to just live it Lord," demonstrates the importance of living a life guided by faith and not just preaching it to others. Here, the singer indicates the humility required when living according to God's will.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh Lord, you're beautiful,
I admire and praise you, Lord, for your beauty and goodness.
Your face is all I see,
I focus on you alone, Lord, and let nothing else consume my thoughts and emotions.
For when your eyes are on this child,
When you, Lord, look upon me with favor and compassion, I am filled with your love and grace.
Your grace abounds to me
Your boundless and unmerited favor sustains me in all areas of my life.
I want to take your word and shine it all around
I desire to share your message of salvation and hope with everyone I meet in my daily life.
But first help me to just, live it Lord
Before I can effectively share your truth, I need your help in fully living it out in my own life.
And when I'm doing well, help me to never seek a crown
Even when I am doing well and making a positive impact, I don't want to seek recognition or glory for myself, but only glorify God.
For my reward is giving glory to you
My greatest reward and joy is to honor and exalt God in everything I do and say.
Oh Lord, please light the fire
Lord, reignite the passion and enthusiasm for you that once burned bright in me.
That once burned bright and clean
The fire I once had for you was pure and genuine, full of zeal and excitement.
Replace the lamp of my first love
Renew my devotion to you, Lord, that I may love you as I did when I first believed in you.
That burns with holy fear
May my love for you be marked by reverential awe and humility, recognizing your holiness and presence in my life.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP
Written by: Keith Gordon Green
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind