Pop vocalist and songwriter David Phelps has been given such a talent. Credited by many as having one of today's most spectacular voices, David has seen countless thousands rise to their feet for his inspiring, powerhouse performances. His audiences have included George W. Bush, massive crowds at Billy Graham Crusades, and millions of "ABC News" viewers, and his voice has brought him multiple Grammy and Dove awards. And with the release of his new solo debut for Word Records, Revelation, Phelps is poised to reach an even greater audience of fans around the globe. Yet amid all the acclaim, David has a special person in his life who reminds him to always honor the One who gave that talent to him.
His wife of eleven years, Lori, helps David balance his dual roles as acclaimed vocalist and down-to-earth husband and father of three (soon to be four). "Most of us don't get the chance to have even one standing ovation or round of applause in our lives, so working on a stage of any kind can give you a really unrealistic view of life if you're not careful," David reveals. "In her own loving way, Lori won't let me live in that place of applause, and I'm very thankful for that."
Though not a musician herself, Lori has walked with David all along the long, challenging road as he has pursued his calling to music. Hailing originally from the Houston area, the couple met at Texas' Baylor University over a decade ago, where Phelps earned a degree in line with his passion—music.
Recognized from an early age for his unusual talent, David knew from the beginning that he wanted to perform music for the glory of God. Not everyone understood his commitment to faith, however. "I had several teachers who felt that I should be singing opera, or performing somewhere on Broadway," he recalls. "In college particularly, I had a teacher who kept pushing me strongly toward classical music, but when she finally accepted that Christian music was what God was calling me to do, that became the turning point for me."
From there, as a teenager, David went on become the winner of the 1988 Seminar In the Rockies held in Estes Park, Colorado, the youngest winner of the contest at that time. He then continued his career after graduation with a stint as Artist In Residence for First Baptist Church in Hurst, Texas. Though for a time it appeared that family commitments might prevent David from realizing his dream, he and Lori packed their bags for Nashville, Tennessee, in 1996 with the hope of landing a record deal for David.
Once again, however, he faced a challenge. After six heartbreaking months, David had not found an opportunity, and since he had given up his job back in Texas, the young couple was running out of funds. While visiting his family one weekend back in Texas, David told them, "We really feel like God was calling us to Nashville, but it's just not happening." Instantly, his family gathered around David and Lori and began to pray for a miracle.
A miracle is what God had in mind. The very next day, back in Nashville, David met with executives from Word Records and found out about an opportunity with best-selling vocal foursome Gaither Vocal Band. Two weeks later, he officially joined the group that has brought him four Dove Awards, two Grammy Awards, and over 13 gold and 15 platinum-selling projects.
Throughout the phenomenal success he has experienced with Gaither Vocal Band, David has cherished the dream of releasing a solo album expressing his own style and songcrafting. With the release of Revelation, David has finally fully realized the calling he first felt so many years before.
Featuring songs primarily written or co-written by Phelps, Revelation is a showcase for the impressive vocal and musical training that have shaped Phelps as a performer, swirled into a beautiful sonic blend that reflects the best of 21st century pop. From dramatic ballads to R&B-influenced groove and rock-tinged, energetic pop, Revelation reveals the musical passion and substantive message behind this exceptional singer/songwriter.
"The foundation of this album lies in knowing who Christ really is," explains David. "There's a line at the beginning of the song 'Break Free' that sums it up well—'Forget what you've heard about Jesus, if it doesn't begin and end with love.'
"As a culture, both churched and unchurched, we carry around so many ideas of who Jesus is that are not true," David continues. "We relate Christ to the idea of being judged or compared against an impossible standard. I want people to hear about a God who isn't standing there with His finger in their faces, but is simply there with His arms open wide saying, 'I just want to know you. Come to me, and I'll help you through this journey.'"
Every song on Revelation reveals God's mercy and compassion for His people. "Just As I Am," penned by David and award-winning songwriter Cindy Morgan, expresses Christ's loving acceptance of the broken, while "Arms Open Wide," a cut written by Rita Baloche [wife of Paul Baloche ("Above All," "Open the Eyes of My Heart")], praises the Savior for coming to redeem us. From the story of God's loving care as He shapes our lives and the universe in "Virtuoso" to the promise that "God Will Take Care Of You" and the tender ballad "Love Goes On," Revelation paints a portrait of who God really is, all superbly communicated through the expressive artistry of one of Christian music's finest vocalists.
Producers Regie Hamm (Bob Carlisle, Jaci Velasquez, Clay Crosse) and Chris Harris (Avalon, Anointed, Allen Asbury) had the task of guiding David's musical vision and wide tastes into the cohesive and compelling Revelation. The album's title cut is a dramatic, rock opera-styled song that provides a centerpiece, both musically and vocally, for David's talent. "I'm thrilled about this song, because it's a piece that I've spent a lot of time and effort to write," David says of "Revelation." "It represents so much of what I love about music." The song, which tells the story of a man much like David on the morning of Christ's return, reveals David's imaginative story-telling ability, and combines a myriad of his favorite influences, from rock to classical to "Bohemian Rhapsody."
David is making sure that his kids have the same musical opportunities he had by taking them on the road with him and Lori to his concerts. Lori homeschools their two daughters—eight-year-old Callie and six-year-old Maggie Beth—both at home and on tour in order to let them and three-year-old Grant spend more time with Dad. The couple are preparing for the arrival of a fourth little one, due to arrive just in time for the release of Revelation.
For an artist who makes nearly 150 concert appearances every year, the decision to educate their kids themselves was the only right one for them. "I'm gone pretty much every weekend, so I would never get to see my children!" says David. "Homeschooling allows us to pick up and go when we need to, and as a result, our kids have been able to see some wonderful things around the country."
And though one of the things his kids often see are the thousands of people who flock to hear him sing, David is careful to remind them that the walk of Christian faith, even when it's lived out before a national audience, is one of humble obedience. In the regal ballad "Live Like a King," written by Bob Halligan, Jr. (Kathy Mattea, Michael Bolton, Rebecca St. James), David beautifully conveys the paradox that marked Christ's reign here on earth, and that he hopes will always prove to be the example for his own life:
My thirst for the things of this earth, isn't quenched by diamonds or pearls/One man lived the life I want—He's the One they said ruled the world/Though He only wore a crown of thorns, and He never owned a thing…I want to live like a King!
Those words also reveal the purpose behind the tremendous talent God has placed in David's own life. Despite being given such great ability and opportunity, David Phelps is a man who will forever invest that gift in honor of its Giver.
Angel
David Phelps Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For that second chance
For a break that would make it okay
There’s always some reason
To feel not good enough
And it’s hard at the end of the day
I need some distraction
Memory seeps from my veins
Let me be empty
And weightless and maybe
I’ll find some peace tonight
In the arms of the angel
Fly away from here
From this dark cold hotel room
And the endlessness that you fear
You are pulled from the wreckage
Of your silent reverie
You’re in the arms of the angel
May you find some comfort here
So tired of the straight line
And everywhere you turn
There’s vultures and thieves at your back
The storm keeps on twisting
You keep on building the lies
That you make up for all that you lack
It don’t make no difference
Escaping one last time
It’s easier to believe
In this sweet madness
Oh, the glorious sadness
That brings me to my knees
In the arms of the angel
Fly away from here
From this dark cold hotel room
And the endlessness that you fear
You are pulled from the wreckage
Of your silent reverie
You’re in the arms of the angel
May you find some comfort here
You’re in the arms of the angel
May you find some comfort here
This song, "Angel", is a beautiful ballad about finding comfort and solace during a difficult time. The first stanza talks about waiting for a chance to make everything okay, while constantly feeling like you are not good enough. It is a powerful reminder of the struggles we all face and how we often feel alone, especially at the end of the day. The next stanza, "I need some distraction, Oh beautiful release," speaks to the idea of wanting to escape from these difficulties and find some peace. The hope of being weightless and empty is a way of forgetting, just for a moment, the burdens that you are carrying.
The chorus speaks to the idea of being held and comforted by an angel, as a way of flying away from the darkness and the endlessness of your fears. The comfort and reassurance, that someone is there to take care of you, is the sort of strength that pulls you through the toughest of times. The second verse talks about being tired of the straight lines and facing vultures at your back as you keep building lies to cover up your vulnerabilities. It's a poignant reminder of the pressure to constantly perform and present oneself as strong and infallible.
The third and final stanza talks about how it doesn't matter if you try to escape one last time, the relief won't last. It's easier to believe in the sweet madness of it all, the glorious sadness that brings you to your knees. The bridge and chorus reiterate the words of the first, telling you that you are being pulled from the wreckage of your silent reverie and that in the arms of an angel, you may find some comfort. This song is a touching tribute to anyone who has ever needed to be held and comforted in their darkest hours.
Line by Line Meaning
Spend all your time waiting
You keep waiting for an opportunity to fix everything
For that second chance
You hope for a chance to make things better
For a break that would make it okay
You're hoping for something that can undo everything that's wrong
There’s always some reason
You always have a reason to feel bad about yourself
To feel not good enough
You don't feel like you're enough in any way
And it’s hard at the end of the day
It's hard to deal with everything at the end of each day
I need some distraction
You want to forget about everything bothering you
Oh, beautiful release
You desire a beautiful release from all the pain
Memory seeps from my veins
Your memories are painful and affect your inner self
Let me be empty
You want to be empty and free from everything that's bothering you
And weightless and maybe
You hope to feel free and light
I’ll find some peace tonight
You hope to find some peace before the night is over
In the arms of the angel
You're embraced by an angel, which brings you comfort
Fly away from here
You fly away from your problems and sorrows
From this dark cold hotel room
You're in a dark, cold hotel room where nothing feels right
And the endlessness that you fear
You fear that this endless cycle of pain won't end
You are pulled from the wreckage
You are saved from the wreckage of your pain and suffering
Of your silent reverie
You suffered in silence, but you are now rescued
You’re in the arms of the angel
You are comforted by an angel
May you find some comfort here
You hope to find some comfort alongside the angel
So tired of the straight line
You are tired of the monotony and predictability of your life
And everywhere you turn
No matter where you look, you find problems and difficulties
There’s vultures and thieves at your back
There are always people waiting to harm you and take advantage of you
The storm keeps on twisting
The trouble in your life keeps growing and twisting your life
You keep on building the lies
You constantly have to lie to yourself to keep going
That you make up for all that you lack
You come up with lies to feel like you have what you lack
It don’t make no difference
It doesn't matter whether you escape or not
Escaping one last time
Even if you try to escape one last time, it won't solve your problems
It’s easier to believe
Believing something is easier than trying to fix everything
In this sweet madness
You find comfort and madness in believing something
Oh, the glorious sadness
You find some glory in your sadness and pain
That brings me to my knees
It's too much to bear, and you break down
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BEYONCE KNOWLES, FALONTE D MOORE, ROB FUSARI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind