Vanessa Bell Armstrong made her solo debut on Onyx/Muscle Shoals Sound Reco… Read Full Bio ↴Vanessa Bell Armstrong made her solo debut on Onyx/Muscle Shoals Sound Records in 1983 with the album Peace Be Still. The title track has since became one of Armstrong's signature songs. Armstrong's second album Chosen hit number one on the US Billboard Top Gospel Albums chart.

Bell Armstrong performed on the 1st Annual Soul Train Awards ceremony. Her 1986 album Following Jesus won a Soul Train Music Award for Best Gospel Album - Solo in 1988. She is also a seven time Grammy Award-nominee.

The cover of Armstrong's 1987 Billboard-charting mainstream 7" single "You Bring Out The Best In Me."Vanessa enjoyed a slice of mainstream success in the late 80's. Her self-titled 1987 Jive Records debut yielded the Billboard-charting hit "You Bring Out The Best In Me," as well as the club favorite "Pressing On." [1][3] The next year's follow-up album Wonderful One featured a cover of the Labi Siffre anti-Apartheid anthem "Something Inside So Strong." The song was later remade in 1995 by Armstrong along with Shirley Caesar, Fred Hammond, Tramaine Hawkins, Yolanda Adams, and a host of other gospel artists as a tribute to Rosa Parks. The song was serviced to radio stations to play on the 40th anniversary of the civil rights icon's arrest.

Armstrong appeared on Broadway in 1991 in a production of Don't Get God Started. "Always," a Marvin Winans composition that anchors the play, also appears on Armstrong's 1987 self-titled album. Her Broadway role lead to a cameo appearance in the Oprah Winfrey TV special The Women of Brewster Place. Armstrong was also chosen to record the theme to the popular 80's NBC sitcom Amen.

Vanessa Bell Armstrong took a 3 year self-imposed hiatus from recording before releasing A Brand New Day under a new deal with Tommy Boy Gospel in 2001. Vanessa was presented with a lifetime achievement award during 2004's Gospel Superfest.

Armstrong's 2007 album, Walking Miracle, is her first release in 6 years, and blends traditional gospel fare like "So Good To Me" (produced by Smokie Norful) with contemporary songs like "Til The Victory's Won" (produced by Fred Jerkins III) and the title track (produced by Rodney Jerkins). The latter song was inspired by Armstrong's son who was recently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis

Mary Did You Know
Vanessa Bell Armstrong Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Mary did you know that your baby boy will some day walk on water?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you've delivered, will soon deliver you

Mary did you know that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will calm a storm with his hand?
Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?

And when your kiss your little baby, you have kissed the face of God

Oh Mary did you know

The blind will see, the deaf will hear, the dead will live again
The lame will leap, the dumb will speak, the praises of the lamb

Mary did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary did you know that your baby boy would one day rule the nations?

Did you know that your baby boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?
This sleeping child you're holding is the great I am

Overall Meaning

The song Mary Did You Know is a beautiful hymn that asks Mary, the mother of Jesus, if she knew the amazing things that her baby boy would go on to do during his life. The lyrics evoke a sense of wonder and awe as they describe some of the miraculous feats that Jesus would accomplish through his ministry. The opening lines of the song ask Mary if she knew that her son would one day walk on water and save our sons and daughters. This could be interpreted as a reference to Jesus' ability to perform miracles, such as healing the sick and feeding the hungry.

As the song continues, the lyrics describe how Jesus would give sight to the blind and calm storms with his hands. These verses are likely a reference to specific events recorded in the Bible, such as Jesus healing a blind man and calming a storm on the Sea of Galilee. The next verse asks if Mary knew that her baby boy would one day rule the nations and be Lord of all creation. This line speaks to Jesus' eventual role as the savior of humanity and the king of the world.

The final verse of the song brings it to a close with a powerful statement about the nature of Jesus. It asks if Mary knew that she was holding the great I am, which is a reference to the name that God gave himself when he spoke to Moses in the burning bush in the book of Exodus. This line suggests that Jesus is not simply a man, but a divine being who has the power to save humanity from sin and death.

Line by Line Meaning

Mary did you know that your baby boy will some day walk on water?
Have you ever thought about the fact that your son will perform miracles, even walking on water?

Mary did you know that your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that the son you’ve delivered will save the world?

Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?
Are you aware that your child was born to make you a new person?

This child that you've delivered, will soon deliver you
The child you brought into this world will save you too.

Mary did you know that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?
Do you comprehend that your son will give the gift of sight to the blind?

Mary did you know that your baby boy will calm a storm with his hand?
Are you aware that your son’s power will be so great that he can calm a storm?

Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
Do you realize that your son has been to the place where angels live?

And when your kiss your little baby, you have kissed the face of God
When you kiss your baby, you are also kissing the face of God.

The blind will see, the deaf will hear, the dead will live again
Through your son, the blind will be able to see, the deaf will be able to hear, and the dead will be brought back to life.

The lame will leap, the dumb will speak, the praises of the lamb
The lame will be able to walk, the mute will be able to speak, and they will sing the praises of the Lamb.

Mary did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Do you recognize that your son is the ruler of all creation?

Mary did you know that your baby boy would one day rule the nations?
Did you know that your son is destined to rule the nations?

Did you know that your baby boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?
Are you aware that your son is the perfect Lamb of God?

This sleeping child you're holding is the great I am
The child you’re holding is the great I Am, the one and only true God.

Lyrics © Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: Buddy Greene, Mark Lowry

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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