Jeremy Camp was born in Lafayette, Indiana on January 12,
1978. He put out his first studio album
BURDEN ME in 2000. He released his
second studio album and first major label studio album STAY in 2002 via BEC
Recordings. It was produced by Adam
Watts and Andy Dodd and executive produced by Brandon Ebel.
First up is ‘Understand’, an adult rock song that was his
debut single. This #1 hit finds Jeremy
talking to God: “Every time I fall down on my face/I see the One who bore all
my shame/Well, to know that You are everything I need You to be/You’re my ever
present help in time of need/I know You understand it all/So why don’t I get
back on my feet again?” ‘Right Here’ hit
#1 on the Billboard Hot Christian Songs airplay chart. This is a song of gratitude for God’s
faithfulness: “The many times that I have felt alone/the many times that I have
felt the world was crashing down upon me/You always stood here by my side/You
were always there/Everywhere I go I know You’re not far away/You’re right here,
You’re right here”.
‘Walk By Faith’ was also a #1 hit! Strings on it were composed, arranged, and
conducted by Brandon Roberts. Jeremy
wrote the song during his honeymoon. It
puts full trust in God: “Well, I will walk by faith even when I cannot
see/Well, because this broken road prepares Your will for me/Well, I’m broken
but still I see Your face/Well, you’ve spoken, pouring Your words of
grace”. The title track, ‘Stay’, is a
song of spiritual encouragement: “Come on now stay right here in the light/So
that you won’t walk away, away, yeah/Well, come on now stay right here in the
light/Throw your burdens all away, away, yeah/Throw your burdens all away”.
‘All The Time’ extols God: “All the time, all the time,
yeah/You have given me love more than I know (2X)/All the time (2X)/The way
that You have planned it/It’s more than I can see/I’ll never understand
it/Until I live with You in eternity”.
Jeremy wrote ‘I Still Believe’ after the death of his first wife Melissa
from ovarian cancer when she was 21, and he, 23. It is a beautiful anthem of great faith in
God: “Scattered words and empty thoughts seem to pour from my heart/I’ve never
felt so torn before/Seems I don’t know where to start/But it’s now that I feel
Your grace fall like rain/From every fingertip, washing away all my pain/Cause
I still believe in Your faithfulness/Cause I still believe in Your truth/Cause
I still believe in Your holy Word/Even when I don’t see, I still believe”.
‘One Day at a Time’ is a gritty rock song that makes it
clear life isn’t always easy, even for Christians: “I’ve been shut up, shut down, held out,
held down/In ways I never knew I would/But I can feel Your fullness in my
life/Well, I’ve been burnt out, broken, torn out, torn down/In ways I never
knew I would/But I can feel Your faithfulness in my life/In all these things I
will press on, yeah/I’ll be with You/I know it won’t be long”. ‘Breaking my Fall’ includes these poetic
lyrics: “How precious are Your thoughts/The many that You think about
me/Faithful are Your ways/I always feel Your grace abounding/Quickly will I
call, quickly will You answer my cry/Carefully will You bring everything I need
in my life/How many times You make the waves calm down/So, I won’t be afraid
now”.
‘Nothing’ speaks words of truth: “Well, nothing I can
do/Well, nothing I can say/Can make You love me more/Your love remains the
same/Well, You gave it all for me/Well, You gladly took my place/Well, to rid
myself of all/Well, all my guilt and shame, all my guilt and shame”. ‘I Know You’re Calling’ is a wonderful song
of spiritual invitation: “And I know You’re calling/And I see Your arms
stretched wide/And I feel You drawing, drawing me back again”.
‘Take My Life’ was co-written by Camp and Jean Luc
Lajoie. It is a manly rocker of
spiritual surrender: “Laying all down before my King/Offering all my
everything/Laying all down before the One I serve/I can understand the reasons
why/You came on this earth and died/And now I give it all to You/So take my
life, well, take my mind/Well, take my soul/Well, take my will/Cause I am Yours
now and I give it all to You”. Finishing
things off is ‘In Your Presence’, a ballad of worship: “As I bow my head before
You/I lay my burdens down at Your nail pierced feet/Every ounce of You radiates
Your glory/With You I know that I’m complete/And I sing ‘Hallelujah, You are my
God, Maker of the heavens/Hallelujah, You are my Lord/I bow before Your
presence’”.
STAY is a terrific major label debut! It is the album of one young man who has
faced life’s hardships and yet not turned his back on the Lord Jesus
Christ. If anything his faith has been
strengthened by walking through life’s trials!
It is this that makes this an album of great encouragement to others
going through life’s valleys.
Disappointments in life do not have to rob you of your faith in God and
relationship with Him. The twelve songs
here are a combination of rock and adult contemporary music. Camp is good at both genres. I recommend this CD to fans of Third Day,
Creed, and Kutless, and am rating it 89%.
For more info visit: www.jeremycamp.com
and www.becrecordings.com.