Rebecca was born in Sydney, Australia, to David and Helen Smallbone. She is the oldest of seven children, and currently lives in Los Angeles with Jacob. Rebecca took the name St. James from her grandmother, as it was her maiden name. Her album ‘’God’’ was certified Gold by the RIAA in 1995. Also, ‘’Pray ‘’ was certified Gold by the RIAA on the last week of September 1999.
Rebecca's musical career began in 1990 at age 13 when she began opening shows for CCM (Christian Contemporary Music) artist Carman during his Australian tour which was promoted by her father's company, David Smallbone Promotions. That same year she recorded her first album, Refresh My Heart. In 1991 she moved to the United States upon signing with ForeFront Records, and took her stage name at the label's request.
In 1999 Rebecca received a Grammy Award for her album ''Pray'' in the Best Rock Gospel Album category. Rebecca is the eighth Australian artist or group to win a Grammy Award.
In 2003 she played the part of Maggie (Mary Magdalene) in the !HERO rock opera.
Rebecca is an open supporter of teenage sexual abstinence, and has become an unofficial spokesperson for True Love Waits. The single "Wait for Me", from her 2000 album Transform, encourages waiting to have sex until after marriage. Later that year it also became the title and focus of a 46-city tour. James wrote the song herself on a tour bus, and it became instantly popular. The song was also used on the TV program The O.C. Rebecca's first book, titled Wait for Me: Rediscovering the Joy of Purity in Romance, was published in 2002 and further addressed the issue.
In November of 2005, Rebecca released her highly anticipated album If I Had One Chance To Tell You Something. After not putting out a new pop/rock album since 2000, this album combines Rebecca's overall versatility in vocal and song writing to the finest degree.
Rebecca sang a song on the 2005 soundtrack, Music Inspired by the Chronicles of Narnia called "Lion" for which she won a Dove Award.
A Special Edition of If I Had One Chance To Tell You Something was released in November 2006 and included two acoustic tracks and other special features.
In 2007. Rebecca released her live CD\DVD aLIVE In Florida featuring some of her No. 1 hits as well as fan favorites.
In 2008, two compilation albums, The Ultimate Collection (Double Disc) and Greatest Hits featuring some of her biggest hits were released. The same year she also released a new book called Pure: A 90-Day Devotional for the Mind, Body, & Spirit which broke into Top 10 at #9 on the CBA bestseller's list in Feb 2009. Pure is also nominated among the Top 3 books of 2009 for the youth/teen market.
The September 09' release of Loved, (Hachette/Faithwords) and the fall national film release of Sarah’s Choice capped 2009 as one of Rebecca’s most creatively diverse years.
My Hope
Rebecca St. James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And my bridges are broken
I will remember You
When the flowers are blooming, skies are bluer than ever
And everything's well
I will remember You
Oh Lord my God, You walk beside me
Oh Lord my God, You hold and You hide me
Because of your love, I have nothing to fear
You are my hope You are my joy
You are my savior and You are my God
You are my love You are my life
And I will praise you forever my God
The deepest part of me is crying out
Just to know You more
So I remember You
Now I will draw nearer to who You are
And I see you clearer
As I remember You
In Rebecca St. James's song, "My Hope," the lyrics depict the singer's unwavering faith in God. The song is an ode to divine love, with the artist stating that when the weight of the world seems too heavy to bear, and her bridges are broken, she will remember God. The metaphorical representation of the bridge breaking sparks a feeling of hopelessness in the listener. However, it's the memory of God that pulls her through. Similarly, when everything seems to be going well, and the sky is blue, she will still remember God.
The lyrics of "My Hope" are a testament to the unshakeable faith and trust that the singer has in God. It's a reassurance that no matter what life deals out, God is still there, walking beside her through the laughter and tears. It illustrates that God is hiding and holding her close, and because of his infinite love, she has nothing to fear. The song can be seen as a lover's heart cry to God, talking about how God is everything to her - hope, joy, savior, and God, love, and life. The final verse of the song speaks of the singer's desire to know God more and draws nearer to who He is, effectively creating a connection between the listener and God.
Line by Line Meaning
When the weight of the world is on my shoulders
In times of great responsibility or pressure, when the burden feels too heavy to bear alone
And my bridges are broken
When important connections or relationships are damaged or lost
I will remember You
I will turn to God for support and remember His presence in my life
When the flowers are blooming, skies are bluer than ever
During moments of happiness or contentment, when everything seems to be going well
And everything's well
In times of peace and prosperity, when life is good and worry-free
I will remember You
I will acknowledge the role of God in my blessings and thank Him for His grace
Oh Lord my God, You walk beside me
God is a constant companion, offering guidance and comfort through all of life's experiences
Through the laughter, through the tears
God is present and responsive through all emotions, joyful and difficult alike
Oh Lord my God, You hold and You hide me
God offers a sense of safety and protection, and comforts those who seek shelter in Him
Because of your love, I have nothing to fear
God's love offers reassurance and strength, allowing believers to move forward unafraid
You are my hope You are my joy
God offers hope and happiness that can be found nowhere else
You are my savior and You are my God
God is the one true salvation, offering forgiveness and redemption to believers
You are my love You are my life
God is the source of all love and provides the meaning and purpose that believers seek
And I will praise you forever my God
Believers seek to give thanks and offer praise to God for all of His blessings and endless love
The deepest part of me is crying out
The soul aches for a connection with God, a desire that runs deeper than physical needs or wants
Just to know You more
The ultimate goal is to intimately understand and connect with God, beyond mere belief or surface-level understanding
So I remember You
By focusing on God, believers can find peace and comfort in all situations
Now I will draw nearer to who You are
Believers seek to deepen their relationship with God, using every opportunity to grow closer to Him
And I see you clearer
As believers put forth the effort to strengthen their faith, they gain a clearer understanding of God's character and purposes
As I remember You
The act of remembering God is a continual process, providing a constant source of strength and motivation
Lyrics © CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP, Capitol CMG Publishing
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