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.
Roses
Steve Green Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As self indulgence rules our land, some children just don't fit the plan and so we pluck them from God's hand. Is our destruction looming? Precious buds of God's design, grand a gift of love divine where earth and heaven intertwine, yet their rose is kept from blooming.
May we learn to hold as dear what God Himself has planted here. And may we make the choice in fear, lest we keep God's rose from blooming.
The joys this earth will never know, little smiles that never glow, lives left longing to unfold. It's a tragedy we're choosing. The sweetest gift that God could give, He made to grow, to love, to live. So help us Lord to let them live for they're roses meant for blooming. May we learn to hold as dear what God Himself has planted here. And may we make the choice in fear, lest we keep God's rose, we keep each precious rose. Lest we keep God's rose from blooming.
The song "Roses" by Steve Green may seem like a simple ballad about flowers, but it actually holds a much deeper meaning. The title "Roses" is a metaphor for human life, specifically the lives of children who are neglected or overlooked by society. The first stanza describes how in a cruel world, even the most precious and fragile things (like flowers) can be destroyed or go unnoticed. The second stanza delves deeper into the theme of the song, discussing how some children are discarded or ignored because they don't fit into societal plans or expectations. The final stanza is a plea to cherish and allow these children to bloom, for they are gifts from God meant to be loved and nurtured.
The lyrics of "Roses" are powerful and emotive, but they take on an even deeper significance when considering the context of the song. Steve Green wrote this song as part of his involvement with Compassion International, an organization that aims to advocate for children in poverty around the world. The song speaks to the unjust treatment of children who are neglected, hurt, or deprived of opportunities in life. It is a call to action for society as a whole to prioritize and cherish the lives of all children, not just those who fit into predetermined molds.
Line by Line Meaning
Budding roses come and gone, a callous world still carries on vainly trying to look beyond a pain that knows no soothing.
Despite the fleeting beauty of life, the world remains indifferent to the pain and suffering that exists and cannot find a solution to ease it.
Little flowers hid from sight, many colors dark and light are seized and swept into the night. Roses kept from blooming.
The innocence and uniqueness of individuals are often overlooked and discarded, rendering them unable to fulfill their potential.
As self indulgence rules our land, some children just don't fit the plan and so we pluck them from God's hand. Is our destruction looming?
In a society driven by selfish desires, some children are marginalized and excluded, raising concerns about the potential consequences of such actions.
Precious buds of God's design, grand a gift of love divine where earth and heaven intertwine, yet their rose is kept from blooming.
Every individual is created by God with a unique purpose and potential, but many are prevented from realizing their full worth.
May we learn to hold as dear what God Himself has planted here. And may we make the choice in fear, lest we keep God's rose from blooming.
We should recognize and cherish the inherent value of every individual and make sure we do not hinder their growth and potential.
The joys this earth will never know, little smiles that never glow, lives left longing to unfold. It's a tragedy we're choosing.
By failing to nurture and support every person's growth, we are missing out on the potential for joy and happiness and are causing unnecessary suffering.
The sweetest gift that God could give, He made to grow, to love, to live. So help us Lord to let them live for they're roses meant for blooming.
Life is a precious and beautiful gift from God, and we must allow every individual to grow, love, and thrive, in order to fulfill their purpose and potential.
Contributed by Leo I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.