Kem Owens, professionally known as Kem, is an American R&B/soul singer, son… Read Full Bio ↴Kem Owens, professionally known as Kem, is an American R&B/soul singer, songwriter, and producer. He was born in Nashville, Tennessee and raised in Detroit, Michigan.

After finishing high school, Kem dealt with homelessness, addiction, and isolation from his family. He did not overcome these issues until he turned to spirituality and music, as he has said, "My career didn't take off until I connected with my spirituality. That's why I take time on stage and on the album to administer spirituality to people. That's one of the things that I am most proud of." He has also stated that he does not create music marketed to the mainstream hip-hop-dominated R&B crowd but to people who enjoy his soul/jazz adult contemporary sound and lyrical content. He wrote, produced, and financed his self-released debut album, Kemistry, by singing in a wedding band and waiting tables. He was later signed by Motown Records, who re-released the album on February 25, 2003. The album's first single, "Love Calls", became a hit at urban adult contemporary and smooth jazz radio. He followed his debut release with a sophomore album, Album II, released May 17, 2005. It included the hit single "I Can't Stop Loving You", a #1 at urban adult contemporary radio, and the song "You Might Win" featuring Stevie Wonder on harmonica.

This Place
Kem Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

There's a fountain of hope
Living water for each of us
There are rivers of dreams
Flowin' through the heartache of this place
There are children that flower the trees
There are voices of people who need

This place

There's sorrow and sadness here
But there's heaven and sunshine too
The spirit of peace moves free and clear

Making way for laughter here
There are children that flower the trees
There are voices of people who believe

In this place
They live and breathe
In this place yeah
There are children that flower the trees
There are voices of people who need

This place
They wanna be in this place yeah

They live and breathe in this place
This place

Overall Meaning

The song "This Place" by Kem celebrates the beauty of life and the different emotions that come with it. The opening line, "There's a fountain of hope, Living water for each of us" sets the tone for the entire song. It talks about hope as a source of life and how it sustains us through the different phases of our lives. The second line, "There are rivers of dreams, Flowin' through the heartache of this place" refers to the dreams that we have in life that give us the strength to persevere through difficult times. It represents the theme of hope and optimism that runs throughout the song.

The third line of the song, "There are children that flower the trees" is a beautiful metaphor that suggests that children are like new growth on trees, bringing new life to the world. It also refers to how children are vital to the continuity of life, and how they bring joy and happiness to our lives, even in the midst of darkness. The fourth line, "There are voices of people who need" is a call to action, urging us to be aware of those around us who may need help or support. It speaks to the importance of empathy and compassion in our lives.

The chorus of the song, "This place, There's sorrow and sadness here, But there's heaven and sunshine too, The spirit of peace moves free and clear, Making way for laughter here" acknowledges the duality of life. It recognises the existence of both sorrow and joy, and encourages us to embrace both. The final lines of the chorus, "There are children that flower the trees, There are voices of people who believe, In this place" reinforces the message of hope and optimism that permeates throughout the song.

Line by Line Meaning

There's a fountain of hope
There's a source of optimism and positivity

Living water for each of us
This source nourishes and sustains every individual

There are rivers of dreams
There are endless possibilities and aspirations

Flowin' through the heartache of this place
Despite the challenges, hope and dreams are still present

There are children that flower the trees
There are young ones who bring joy and new beginnings

There are voices of people who need
There are those who are vulnerable and require support

There's sorrow and sadness here
This place has its share of difficulties and pain

But there's heaven and sunshine too
But there are also moments of joy and light

The spirit of peace moves free and clear
A sense of serenity prevails

Making way for laughter here
There is an opening for happiness and levity

There are voices of people who believe
There are those who hold onto faith and hope