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.
I Can See
Steve Green Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like He′d been there all along
Not a stranger but a Father
Who can sense when something's wrong
And He answered all my questions
And He understood my fears
That somehow vanished now that He was here
Can't you hear who speaks your name
Can't you feel something stirring in your heart How His words ring strong and true
Like a once familiar strain
Can the paths we follow from now on be the same
I couldn′t bear for Him to leave me
So I begged Him please to stay
Spend the evening, a few moments
Before He went His way
Then like a host He stood and blessed me
Broke the bread and poured the wine
Then I knew there was something there I recognized
Yes, I can see who walks with me
I can hear who speaks my name
I can feel something stirring in my heart
How His words ring strong and true
Like a once familiar strain
And I know I′ll never be the same
I can see
And from that moment in time
I felt the emptiness subside
And all the wonder of creation shining through And for that first time in my life
I really looked into His eyes
And saw eternity and suddenly I knew
Yes, I can see
The lyrics of the song "I Can See" by Steve Green describe a powerful encounter with God and the transformative impact it has on the singer's life. The song begins by expressing the sudden presence of God, walking alongside the singer as if He had always been there. This presence is not distant or unfamiliar but rather that of a loving Father who can sense the singer's distress and understands their fears.
The lyrics emphasize the significance of recognizing and acknowledging the presence of God in one's life. It urges the listener to open their eyes, ears, and heart to perceive His presence and the truth in His words. The mention of a "once familiar strain" suggests that there is a deeply ingrained connection between the listener and God, potentially hinting at a spiritual bond that has been neglected or forgotten.
As the song progresses, the singer expresses their desire for God to remain with them, not just for a fleeting moment but for an extended period. The imagery of breaking bread and pouring wine signifies a communion-like experience, symbolizing the intimate connection between God and the singer.
The chorus reinforces the singer's conviction that they can see, hear, and feel God's presence, acknowledging the profound impact it has on their life. It signifies a turning point, a realization that they can never be the same again after encountering God.
In the final verse, the singer reflects on the lasting impact of this encounter. They describe the emptiness they felt prior to this moment, and how it dissipates in the presence of God. The singer emphasizes the awe-inspiring nature of this encounter, recognizing the divine beauty and eternal significance in God's eyes. This newfound understanding deepens their faith and instills a sense of clarity and purpose in their life.
Overall, the lyrics of "I Can See" by Steve Green convey the transformative power of encountering God's presence and the lasting impact it has on one's faith and perspective.
Line by Line Meaning
All at once He walked beside me
Suddenly and unexpectedly, He came and walked alongside me, as though He had been there all along.
Like He'd been there all along
His presence felt so familiar, as if He had always been by my side.
Not a stranger but a Father
He was not a stranger to me but rather a Father figure, someone who knows and understands me deeply.
Who can sense when something's wrong
He has the ability to perceive and understand my troubles and concerns.
And He answered all my questions
He provided answers and guidance to all the doubts and uncertainties I had.
And He understood my fears
He empathized with and comprehended the fears that plagued my heart.
That somehow vanished now that He was here
Those fears miraculously disappeared in His presence.
Can't you see who walks with you
Have you not realized the one who accompanies and supports you?
Can't you hear who speaks your name
Can you not perceive the voice that calls you by name, guiding and leading you?
Can't you feel something stirring in your heart
Is there not a stirring and awakening within your heart, moving you to action?
How His words ring strong and true
His words resound with strength and truthfulness, leaving a deep impact.
Like a once familiar strain
Similar to a melody that was once known and cherished.
Can the paths we follow from now on be the same
Is it possible for us to continue walking on the same path together?
I couldn't bear for Him to leave me
The thought of His departure was too painful for me to bear.
So I begged Him please to stay
I pleaded with Him, desperately asking Him to remain with me.
Spend the evening, a few moments
I requested that He spend a little more time with me, even if just for the evening.
Before He went His way
Before He continued on His own journey.
Then like a host He stood and blessed me
He assumed the role of a host, standing and bestowing His blessings upon me.
Broke the bread and poured the wine
He symbolically broke the bread and poured the wine, representing a sacred act of communion.
Then I knew there was something there I recognized
In that moment, I realized there was something familiar and deeply meaningful present.
Yes, I can see who walks with me
Indeed, I can perceive the presence of the one who accompanies me.
I can hear who speaks my name
I can clearly hear the one who addresses me by my name.
I can feel something stirring in my heart
I am aware of a powerful awakening and stirring within my heart.
How His words ring strong and true
His words resonate with strength and undeniable truth.
Like a once familiar strain
Similar to a melody that holds deep familiarity and significance.
And I know I'll never be the same
I am certain that I will undergo a profound transformation and never remain unchanged.
And from that moment in time
Starting from that specific moment in my life
I felt the emptiness subside
I experienced a decrease and fading of the emptiness within me.
And all the wonder of creation shining through
The splendor and beauty of the world and its creation became brilliantly evident.
And for that first time in my life
For the very first time in my existence
I really looked into His eyes
I truly gazed into His eyes, making a profound connection.
And saw eternity and suddenly I knew
In that instant, I glimpsed eternity, and a sudden understanding enveloped me.
Yes, I can see
Undoubtedly, I can perceive and comprehend.
Writer(s): Gloria Gaither, David Meece
Contributed by Noah G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.