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.
Lift Up a Song
Steve Green Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Strengthen yourself
In the joy of the Lord
Let your heart dance
You are His joy
And He's your reward
Lift up your hands
The new temple that follows
His loving commands
We are the temple
The body the bride of the Lamb
He is among us
Dancing and singing
Singing with joy
Over all the redeemed
Who are coming to Zion
Behold His presence
Comes to His temple
As the redeemed
Of the Lord join the dance
Of the passover Lamb
Oh it is Jesus
The Lamb who has saved us
Who now has been raised
And is seated in power
At the hand of the Father
Behold His presence
Comes to His temple
As the redeemed
Of the Lord join the dance
Of the passover Lamb
The lyrics to "Lift Up A Song" by Steve Green speak to the importance of worship and finding joy in the Lord. The opening line, "Lift up a song," is a call to action, urging listeners to lift their voices in praise to God. The following lines further emphasize the importance of finding strength and joy in the Lord. In the chorus, the lyrics shift to a call for unity among believers, recognizing that together they represent the new temple that follows God's commands. The temple imagery is continued as the lyrics describe believers as the body and bride of the Lamb.
The second verse speaks of Jesus' presence among believers, dancing and singing over all the redeemed who are coming to Zion. The focus remains on the joy of worship and the excitement at being a part of the redeemed community. The final lines of the song again assert the power of Jesus, declaring that he has saved believers and is now seated at the hand of the Father.
Overall, the song serves as a celebration of worship and community among believers. It emphasizes the joy found in praising God together and the importance of recognizing one's place within the larger body of Christ.
Line by Line Meaning
Lift up a song
Sing a song of praise to the Lord
Strengthen yourself
Become stronger in faith by singing praises to the Lord
In the joy of the Lord
Find joy in the Lord and express it through song
Let your heart dance
Allow your heart to express joy and happiness through dancing
You are His joy
The Lord finds joy in His people
And He's your reward
In return, the Lord rewards His people for their faithfulness
Lift up your hands
Raise your hands in praise of the Lord
Together we are
As a united group of believers
The new temple that follows
We are the new temple of the Lord, following His commands
His loving commands
Commands given in love that lead to a fulfilled life in Christ
We are the temple
Our bodies are the temple of the Lord
The body the bride of the Lamb
We, the church, are the bride of Christ
He is among us
The Lord is present with His people
Dancing and singing
Rejoicing in His presence through song and dance
Singing with joy
Expressing joy and happiness through song
Over all the redeemed
Finding joy in the salvation of His people
Who are coming to Zion
Those who are coming to the Lord's holy city
Behold His presence
Look and see, the Lord's presence is with us
Comes to His temple
The Lord comes to His people, found in His temple
As the redeemed
Those who have been saved and redeemed by the Lord
Of the Lord join the dance
Rejoicing together in the Lord's presence
Of the passover Lamb
Celebrating the Lord's sacrifice as the Passover Lamb
Oh it is Jesus
Realizing and acknowledging that it is Jesus who saves us
The Lamb who has saved us
Jesus, the sacrificial Lamb, has saved us from our sins
Who now has been raised
Christ has risen from the dead
And is seated in power
Christ is now seated in power at the right hand of the Father
Lyrics © CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP, Universal Music Publishing Group, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: STEVEN LEE FRY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind