According to the FAQ section on her website, the name on her birth certificate is Sandra Patty. A printer's error on the labeling listed her name as Sandi Patti, and she used this moniker as her stage name for the next fifteen years, before returning to her given name of Sandi Patty.
Her career excelled after she won her first two GMA Dove Awards in 1982, and began singing backup for Bill Gaither and the Bill Gaither Trio. She headlined her first national tour in 1984, and reached national acclaim after her rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner" was included during the ABC Statue of Liberty rededication broadcast on July 4, 1986. This exposure led to multiple mainstream television appearances including The Tonight Show, Christmas in Washington, and Walt Disney Fourth of July Extravaganza.
At the peak of her career, her concerts were so heavily attended that she performed in often sold-out mainstream arenas and concert halls. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, she averaged over 200 concerts a year, and supported a staff of over 30 that managed her career. During this time she was noted, often critically, as the highest paid singer in the Christian music industry, largely due to massive touring and high-profile public appearances. In 1992, her surprising divorce from manager John Helvering rocked the Gospel Music industry, and this was later followed by an infidelity scandal that subsequently stalled her career in the mid-'90s. However, she slowly rebuilt her career through expanding her musical appeal, performing pops concerts with symphony orchestras including the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, the Cincinnati Pops, and repeatedly served as master of ceremonies for the Yuletide Celebration with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.
Awards
Gospel Music Hall of Fame inductee in 2004
39 GMA Dove Awards: 1982 (x2), 1983 (x1), 1984 (x4), 1985 (x4), 1986 (x1), 1987 (x3), 1988 (x3), 1989 (x5), 1990 (x2), 1991 (x3), 1992 (x4), 1994 (x1), 1995 (x1), 1996 (x1), 1998 (x2), 1999 (x2)
5 Grammy Awards: 1984, 1986, 1987(x2), 1991
4 Billboard Music Awards
5 Gold albums (RIAA)
3 Platinum albums (RIAA)
Peace Be Still
Sandi Patty Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the star has faded
And the angels fly
I will look at You with wonder
Dreaming of this first night
When I heard You cry
Someday, You'll take Your tiny fingers
Someday, You will walk with strangers
But, tonight, I'll rock You
Stay awhile with me
Someday, they will call You Savior
Hope of all the people light and life divine
Someday, You will speak the words
And touch the hearts of many
As You now touch mine
You will speak in love and wisdom
Prison doors will open
We all will be set free
Someday, You will walk among us
But, tonight, I'll rock You
Just stay awhile with me
My son, let me rock You
Stay awhile with me
The lyrics to Sandi Patty's song Peace Be Still speak of a parent's love for their child and the hope and wonder that comes with the birth of a new baby. The opening lines of "Someday, when this night is over, and the star has faded, and the angels fly, I will look at You with wonder, dreaming of this first night, when I heard You cry" create a sense of anticipation and wonder for the newborn child. The song addresses the baby as "You" and speaks of the love and hope that the parent feels for their child.
The song transitions from the present moment to the future, as the lyrics read "Someday, You'll take Your tiny fingers, and with just a touch will cause the blind to see". These lines suggest that the child being rocked by the parent in the present will one day grow up to do great things and touch the lives of many. The final verse speaks of the child as a savior, with hope and light for all people. It is a beautiful tribute to parenthood and the hope that parents have for their children.
Line by Line Meaning
Someday, when this night is over
At some point in the future, once this dark time has passed
And the star has faded
When the celestial body in the sky is no longer shining bright
And the angels fly
The moment where the messengers of God take flight
I will look at You with wonder
I'll stare at You in amazement and awe
Dreaming of this first night
Reflecting back on this initial evening
When I heard You cry
The moment where I knew You were present and vocalized Your existence
Someday, You'll take Your tiny fingers
At some point in the future, You will use Your small hands
And with just a touch will cause the blind to see
By the simple act of touching, You will grant the gift of sight to those who cannot see
Someday, You will walk with strangers
In the future, You will stroll through life with people You do not yet know
But, tonight, I'll rock You
But for now, this evening, I'll cradle You in my arms and sing You to sleep
Stay awhile with me
Just be present in this moment with me for a little longer
Someday, they will call You Savior
At some point in the future, people will refer to You as the person who saves them
Hope of all the people light and life divine
You will be the beacon of hope and the embodiment of divine life for everyone
Someday, You will speak the words
At some point in the future, You will use Your voice to communicate powerful messages
And touch the hearts of many
Your words will impact and influence the emotions and beliefs of countless individuals
As You now touch mine
Just as at this moment you affect my heart
You will speak in love and wisdom
Your voice will express things with love and knowledge
Prison doors will open
Your words will be so powerful that they will break down the metaphorical walls of confinement
We all will be set free
All of humanity will finally be free from the things holding them back
Someday, You will walk among us
In the future, You will be present in our daily lives
But, tonight, I'll rock You
However, for now, I'll just sing You to sleep
Just stay awhile with me
Please stay here with me just a little bit longer
My son, let me rock You
You are my child, and I want to hold and comfort You in this moment
Stay awhile with me
Please stay here for a little longer before moving on
Contributed by Ellie W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.