Pam Thum was the only child of traveling evangelists Bruce and Ruth Thum, producers of the very popular and unique drama, Heaven's Gates and Hell's Flames. The experience, which never kept them in the same place for more than a month, had both positive and negative effects on Pam.
Thum's parents were very dedicated Christians and carried Jesus into every aspect of their lives. They taught her a great deal about prayer and helped give her the assurance that Jesus was always with her. Still, Thum grew up in a very adult world and often felt quite lonely. She learned to depend on Jesus at a very early age and often made up little songs to sing to Him to help her not feel so lonely and scared. Jesus was one of the only constants in her life and she knew she never wanted to leave Him.
Pam's music career began when she was three years old and started singing on stage. As the years went on, Pam began to realize the effect music had on people and the hope that the words she sang often gave them. "I wanted them to feel the peace I did when I sang to God. I wanted them to feel as though Jesus were hugging them through my music."
And so it began. Pam Thum started writing songs when she was 16 and decided to pursue songwriting and performing as her own full time ministry. In 1987, Pam was offered a songwriting contract after her song "We Are An Army" was recorded by Trace Balin. She was offered a recording contract in 1992 and released her self titled debut album in 1993. The record was a huge success, with six of the songs making the top ten. She also received a Dove Award nomination for New Artist of the Year.
Pam Thum's albums:
Pam Thum, 1993
Faithful, 1994
Feel the Healing, 1995
Believe, 1997
Thum's geatest influences have been her parents and her Aunt Myrtle. Aunt Myrtle was a bundle of energy and was always hugging someone, taking people to church, baking cookies, teaching Sunday School, or singing joyfully to the Lord. Thum's greatest desire in her music is to be like her Aunt Myrtle and to love others where they're at and point them to Jesus.
Perhaps one of the most surprising things that came out of Pam's immediate success was her popularity in South Africa. Shortly after the release of her first album, the readers of JOY Magazine, a Christian publication in South Africa, named her Best International Female Artist of 1993. On her first trip there, she was greeted by an enormous group of fans and a hotel room filled with flowers. Thum believes that God has given her a special platform in South Africa and she desires to use it for His glory.
Today, Pam is married to Stephen Marshall and together they have built Pam Thum Ministries, which is partnered with several other "world-changing" ministries. Her mission remains the same - to fearlessly share the Good News of Christ with the world and encourage others to do the same. "We have the greatest news for this world," says Pam, "and we've spent too many years acting as if we're in some kind of secret club. People are living and dying without Jesus -- hurt, hatred, sickness, and fear have ruled for too long. I just feel an urgency that we've got to shake off the apathy in our lives and get bold and direct about our faith."
IF I WERE
Pam Thum Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'd fall down around you
And build you a home where you
Could be safe and warm
I'd keep out the cold
Yes, I'd be your shelter
If I were a wall
If I were
I'd gently pass over
And send down my rain, sweet, rain
To cover your tears
I'd fade till the sun
Could shine down upon you
If I were a storm
If I were
I'd seal every promise
And follow the softest words
To fall from your lips
And I would live on forever
In only a moment
If I were a kiss
If I were
If I were a prayer
I'd rise without ceasing
Lifting you higher with
Each breath that I'd take
I'd cover your soul
With only a whisper
If I were a prayer
The song "If I Were" by Pam Thum is a touching and heartfelt portrayal of the lengths someone would go to protect and care for their loved one. The lyrics express the desire to be a protective force, a shelter against the cold, a calming presence during the storm, and a source of comfort during sadness.
The opening lines, "If I were a wall, I'd fall down around you / And build you a home where you could be safe and warm" speaks to the protective instincts of the singer. They want to provide comfort and safety to their loved one. The use of the imagery of a wall emphasizes the sense of protection, as walls are strong and stable structures that offer protection from the outside world.
Similarly, the imagery of a storm in the second stanza is used to convey a sense of control over what can often be an unpredictable and intense force. The singer notes that if they were a storm, they would only bring gentle rain, and would ultimately fade away to allow the sun to shine down on their loved one. It shows the desire to be a force that can both calm and renew.
The following stanzas express a desire to be a promise, a kiss, and a prayer, all with the intent of showing love and care for the other person. The use of these different images underscores the depth of the singer's love and the lengths to which they would go to make sure their loved one is protected and cared for.
Overall, "If I Were" is a song that speaks to the deep love and care that one person can feel for another, and the lengths they will go to show that care, comfort, and protection.
Line by Line Meaning
If I were a wall
If I were a wall, I would fall down around you and build you a home where you could be safe and warm. I would keep out the cold and be your shelter.
If I were a storm
If I were a storm, I would gently pass over and send down my sweet rain to cover your tears. I would fade till the sun could shine down upon you.
I'd seal every promise
I would seal every promise and follow the softest words to fall from your lips. I would live on forever in only a moment if I were a kiss.
If I were a prayer
If I were a prayer, I would rise without ceasing and lift you higher with each breath that I take. I would cover your soul with only a whisper.
Contributed by Leo E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.