Camp has at times been a center of controversy as an outspoken critic of the Contemporary Christian Music industry's association with the mainstream music industry (as a consequence of the major CCM labels purchase by secular media conglomerates) and what he has suggested is a subsequent watering-down of explicitly Christian verbiage lyrically in a bid for mainstream fame and airplay. One such flashpoint occurred when he wrote a symbolic open letter to the industry on October 31, 1998. (That date is known as Reformation Day in Protestantism when Martin Luther is said to have nailed a list of grievances against the Catholic church to a German church door.)
Camp is also seen as a leading proponent of Reformed Theology via his blog and as senior pastor at The Cross Church in Palm City, Florida.
carry me
Steve Camp Lyrics
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All I ever heard about was peace and love
I was told that trouble couldn't touch a child of God
So when the trials came furiously
They nearly sucked the life out of me
Until I prayed...
Carry me through this world
I am weak and You are strong
And I'll be standing on my knees
For only You can carry me
Unto You, oh, Lord, I will lift up my soul
Though the storms surround me, Your grace I know
For the first time in my life, trials are sweet to me
I learn to share in Your sufferings
Jesus, my Lord, my King
Carry me through this world
Lift me up when I fall
I am weak and You are strong
And I'll be standing on my knees
Only You can carry me
I almost gave up hopelessly
Then Your Word brought new life to me
Carry me through this world
Lift me up when I fall
'Cause I am weak, You are strong
I'll be standing on my knees
Oh, Lord, You got to carry me
(Carry me)
You got to carry me
(Carry me)
Lift me up, lift me up
(Life me up when I fall)
Lift me up, dear Lord, when I fall
(I am weak)
'Cause I am work
(You are strong)
And You are strong
I'll be standing on my knees
Only You can carry me
Oh, You're all I'll ever need
Only You can carry me
In the song “Carry Me,” Steve Camp delves into the idea of an often-unspoken truth about the Christian faith: that sometimes, even after professing belief in God and living a life that honors Him, trials and tribulations still come. The first verse of the song talks about how the singer was never prepared for the difficult times, as all he ever heard about was the “peace and love” that would come with Christianity. When faced with hard times, he begins to feel as though his life force is being sucked out of him, until he decides to turn to God with a plea for help.
The chorus speaks of the singer’s ultimate desire for God to carry him through the world, to lift him up when he falls. He acknowledges his own weakness and leans into the strength of God, humbling himself before Him by saying he’ll be standing on his knees. The second verse of the song is full of hope, as the singer declares that he will lift his soul to God despite the storms that rage around him. More than that, he comes to see that these trials and sufferings are a way for him to become closer to Jesus, learning to share in His experience of pain and still cling to hope all the while.
“Carry Me” is a powerful song that resonates with many Christian believers who have experienced difficulties in their lives, reminding them of the strength that can be found when they call out to God. Through the lyrics of the song, Steve Camp is able to give voice to those who may be going through trying times, letting them know that it is okay to feel overwhelmed at times and that it is not a sign of weakness to ask for help. By acknowledging his own shortfalls and declaring his reliance on God, the singer sets an example for all who hear the song.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a hard, hard place nobody ever told me of
I have encountered a difficult situation that nobody warned me about
All I ever heard about was peace and love
I only heard about the good things and was not prepared for the hardships that come with being a Christian
I was told that trouble couldn't touch a child of God
I believed that being a child of God would protect me from trouble, but that was not the case
So when the trials came furiously
When I was faced with hardships
They nearly sucked the life out of me
I was almost defeated by these hardships
Until I prayed...
But then I turned to God for help
Carry me through this world
I need God to guide me through life
Lift me up when I fall
I need God to help me when I stumble
I am weak and You are strong
I am not strong enough to do this on my own, I need God's help
And I'll be standing on my knees
I will humbly pray and rely on God
For only You can carry me
Only God can truly help me
Unto You, oh, Lord, I will lift up my soul
I will entrust my soul to God
Though the storms surround me, Your grace I know
Despite hardships, I trust in God's grace
For the first time in my life, trials are sweet to me
I have learned to find value in hardships because they bring me closer to God
I learn to share in Your sufferings
I learn to understand and empathize with God's suffering
Jesus, my Lord, my King
Jesus is my leader and ruler
I almost gave up hopelessly
I was about to give up with no hope
Then Your Word brought new life to me
But reading the Bible gave me new hope and strength
Oh, Lord, You got to carry me
I need God to take care of me
You got to carry me
God is the only one who can truly support me
Lift me up, lift me up
I need God to lift me up
Lift me up, dear Lord, when I fall
I need God to help me when I stumble
'Cause I am work
I am not strong enough to do this myself
And You are strong
I know that only God is strong enough to help me
Oh, You're all I'll ever need
God is everything I need in my life
Only You can carry me
Only God is capable of helping me
Contributed by Victoria D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.