Career
Green was born in Portland, Oregon to missionary parents, Charles and Jo Green. He is one of six siblings who spent much of his early life in Argentina. He studied Music at Grand Canyon University, graduating in 1976. He originally broke into Christian music with the Mobile, Alabama based youth worship group Truth. He also sang backup vocals and played bass with Sandi Patti, White Heart and the Gaither Vocal Band. In 1982, he joined the Christian rock band White Heart as a vocalist. But a difference in ministry vision accompanied by a confrontation with his brother, Randy, led to a spiritual renewal in Steve's life in 1983. He signed a solo contract with Sparrow Records, and his self-titled debut album appeared in 1984. In the same year, he established Steve Green Ministries.
His break out year came in 1985 with the release of He Holds The Keys. The album garnered Green a nomination and win as Male Vocalist of the Year in the Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) category. The following year, 1986, saw the release of two recordings, "For God And God Alone," and a high church style worship album entitled "A Mighty Fortress." The following year saw the release of his first Christmas recording, "Joy To The World." In early 1988, he released an album dedicated to his parents called "Find Us Faithful." As the 1980s came to an end, many of Green's songs became recognized standards including "People Need The Lord" and "Broken And Spilled Out." He was often considered the male version of Sandi Patti, using many of the same songwriters and styles as well as the traditional ending the song on a (literal) high note. Green also contributed background vocals to Patti's 1986 hit, "Let There Be Praise."
Green was one of the first artists to be involved with Promise Keepers, performing at their inaugural event at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colorado in July 1993 before 50,000 men. His song "Answer The Call" was inspired by the event and another song, "O Men of God Arise," embodies the Promise Keeper mentality.
Green recorded "The Mission" in 1989 and continued his success with "We Believe" in 1991. As the early 1990s direction of Christian music changed to a more rock oriented format, Green returned to traditional roots by releasing an album of hymns in 1992. Yet Green switched styles in 1994 on his "Where Mercy Begins" album. He also received the first of two career boosts due to outside events.
On September 9, 1994, a US Air jet crashed in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, killing all aboard. One passenger was an up and coming Christian singer named Kirk Lynn. Lynn has just recorded Green's song "As We Sail To Heaven's Shore" from the 1988 "Find Us Faithful" album. Only a rough cut played at the memorial service for the passengers, grieving family members were told where to find the original song by Green, which boosted album sales for the older recording.
Green's style change continued on his 1996 recording, "The Letter." He was also instrumental in attempting to set up an accountability group for Christian artists following the adultery scandals of Michael English, Marabeth Jordan, and Sandi Patty as well as the Mike Warnke debacle. He was helped in this endeavor by Steve Camp, Wes King, and Michael W. Smith. That year also saw the release of his second Christmas album, "The First Noel."
Green changed focus again in 1998 by declaring he would only record songs that honor the Lord - songs that he could be satisfied with should it be his last recording. That year saw the release of "The Faithful" and 2000 saw the release of a devotional song album entitled "Morning Light." Two years later Green released "Woven In Time" and again found himself receiving a career boost.
Space Shuttle Columbia Disaster
Green was a personal friend of Space Shuttle Columbia commander Rick Husband, who was killed along with six others in the February 2003 disintegration during reentry. Green was interviewed by CNN and his song "God Of Wonders" got a boost from the unexpected publicity. He released another album in 2005.
Green's sister is married to Dr. Mark Bailey, president of the evangelical Dallas Theological Seminary, and he helped the seminary celebrate its eightieth anniversary in April 2004. He has also written a thirty day devotional titled, "The Power of the Cross" and has recorded numerous children's videos and songs.
His bilingual abilities have seen the release of two Spanish CDs in the United States.
He is married to Marijean Green, who has testified to her own struggle with bulimia and they have two children, Summer (b. 1984) and Josiah (b. 1986).
Green has expanded his musical ministry to include videos and James Dobson's Focus on the Family.
Broken And Spilled Out
Steve Green Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Driven by love for her Lord
Recklessly poured out a valuable essence
Disregarding the scorn
And once it was broken and spilled out
A fragrance filled all the room
Like a pris'ner released from his shackles
Like a spirit set free from the tomb
Broken and spilled out
Just for love of you Jesus
My most precious treasure
Lavished on Thee
Broken and spilled out
And poured at Your feet
In sweet abandon
Let me be spilled out
And used up for Thee
Lord You were God's precious treasure
His loved and His own perfect Son
Sent here to show me
The love of the Father
Just for love it was done
And though You were perfect and holy
You gave up Yourself willingly
You spared no expense for my pardon
You were used up and wasted for me
Broken and spilled out
Just for love of me Jesus
God's most precious treasure
Lavished on me
You were broken and spilled out
And poured at my feet
In sweet abandon Lord
You were spilled out and used up for Me
In sweet abandon, let me be spilled out
And used up for Thee
The song 'Broken and Spilled Out', sung by Steve Green, is a powerful composition that speaks of devotion and sacrifice to God. The opening lyrics describe the story of a poor village woman who pours out expensive perfume on Jesus' feet, disregarding the disdainful comments of others. The fragrance fills the room, and the act of devotion is likened to a prisoner's freedom and a spirit's release from the tomb.
The lyrics then shift to describe the ultimate act of love and sacrifice that God made for humanity through Jesus Christ, who is described as God's precious treasure and perfect Son. The song speaks of the selfless offering of Christ who willingly gave Himself up for the redemption of mankind without sparing any expense.
The chorus of the song echoes the desire to follow in this kind of selfless devotion, as Green sings, 'Broken and spilled out, just for love of You Jesus, my most precious treasure lavished on Thee. Broken and spilled out, and poured at Your feet, in sweet abandon let me be spilled out and used up for Thee.' The singer expresses the willingness to be poured out and used up for God, offering everything to Him in response to His overwhelming love.
Line by Line Meaning
One day a plain village woman
A woman from an ordinary town was feeling very strong love for Jesus at one point in time.
Driven by love for her Lord
She was motivated solely by her love for Jesus Christ.
Recklessly poured out a valuable essence
She was so moved by her love for Jesus that she carelessly gave away something valuable - possibly a perfume or anointment.
Disregarding the scorn
She ignored criticisms from onlookers and focused on giving to Jesus.
And once it was broken and spilled out
After she had given away the essence, it was broken and poured out.
A fragrance filled all the room
The scent filled the entire space where it was given - possibly the home of a host.
Like a pris'ner released from his shackles
The fragrance filled the space like the release of a prisoner who has been freed from captivity.
Like a spirit set free from the tomb
The fragrance represented freedom, like a spirit being released from the bonds of the grave.
Broken and spilled out
This phrase refers to the essence that was given away and poured out in the act of love.
Just for love of you Jesus
She gave the essence out of pure love and dedication to Jesus Christ.
My most precious treasure
The essence was a valuable possession that she highly valued.
Lavished on Thee
She gave it in abundance and with great generosity to Jesus.
And poured at Your feet
The essence was given in a very humble manner at the feet of Jesus Christ.
In sweet abandon
The woman gave herself up completely and without restraint to Jesus.
Let me be spilled out
This phrase shows willingness to give everything of oneself to the mission of Jesus.
And used up for Thee
She desires to be completely used up for the good of Jesus' mission.
Lord You were God's precious treasure
Jesus Christ himself is a beloved and invaluable possession of God the Father.
His loved and His own perfect Son
Jesus Christ was perfectly beloved by God, and he was the Son of God.
Sent here to show me
Jesus was sent to earth to demonstrate and reveal something to the woman and all people.
The love of the Father
Jesus came to teach humanity about God's love for them.
Just for love it was done
Jesus came down to live and die for humanity purely and solely for the loving purpose of saving them.
And though You were perfect and holy
Despite being entirely without flaw, Jesus was still sacrificed for humanity, who were unworthy.
You gave up Yourself willingly
Jesus gave himself up sacrificially and voluntarily as a gift for humanity.
You spared no expense for my pardon
Jesus was willing to pay any cost in order to forgive the woman and all others of their sins.
You were used up and wasted for me
Jesus was willing to be completely used up and sacrificed for the woman and all people.
God's most precious treasure
Jesus is God's supreme and priceless possession.
Lavished on me
Jesus has given his love and his sacrifice abundantly to the woman and all people.
And poured at my feet
Jesus offers his love and grace humbly, like the woman who gave at Jesus' feet.
In sweet abandon Lord
The woman gave completely and without constraint to Jesus, and the Lord exemplifies that same generosity.
You were spilled out and used up for Me
Jesus offered all of himself for the woman and all others to bring salvation.
In sweet abandon, let me be spilled out
The woman wants to continue giving completely and without restraint to Jesus, just as he gave everything for her.
And used up for Thee
The woman desires to be completely expended for the good of Jesus' mission.
Lyrics © Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: Bill George, Gloria Gaither
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
inHIStrength
OH! THANK YOU SO MUCH for posting this! I have been wanting to listen to it FOR YEARS! God bless! Also love the one posted for "Wounded Soldier!"! GRATEFUL! YES! it did me much good and MORE as I pass it along to others! love in Jesus to you...
Candace Green
That is soooo beautiful!
loewewn99
What a beautiful way to prepare for the Easter celebration!
mary smith
How beautiful! Thank you for posting it!
dksmith999
does this not strip you bare?