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.
He's Alive
David Phelps Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I spent the night in sleeplessness and rose at every sound,
Half in hopeless sorrow half in fear the day,
Would find the soldiers crashing through to drag us all away.
Then just before the sunrise I heard something at the wall,
The gate began to rattle and a voice began to call,
I hurried to the window and looked down to the street,
Expecting swords and torches and the sound of soldiers feet,
There was no one there but Mary so I went down to let her in,
John stood there beside me as she told us were she'd been,
She said they moved him in the night and none of us knows where,
The stones been rolled away and now his body isn't there.
We both ran toward the garden then John ran on ahead,
We found the stone and the empty tomb just the way that Mary said,
But the winding sheet they wrapped him in was just an empty shell,
And how or where they'd taken him was more than I could tell.
Something strange had happened there but what I did not know,
John believed a miracle but I just turned to go,
Circumstance and speculation couldn't lift me very high,
Cause I'd seen them crucify him and then I'd watched him die,
Back inside the house again all the guilt and anguish came,
Everything I'd promised him just added to my shame,
But at last it came to choices I denied I knew his name,
Even If he was alive it wouldn't be the same.
But suddenly the air was filled with a strange and sweet perfume,
Light that came from everywhere drove shadows from the room,
Jesus stood before me with his arms held open wide,
And I fell down on my knees and clung to him and cried,
He raised me to my feet and as I looked into his eyes,
Love was shining out from him like sunlight from the sky,
Guilt and my confusion disappeared in sweet release,
And every fear I'd ever had just melted into peace.
He's alive, He's alive, He's alive and I'm forgiven,
Heavens gates are open wide.
He's alive, He's alive, He's alive and I'm forgiven,
Heavens gates are open wide.
He's alive, He's alive, He's alive and I'm forgiven,
Heavens gates are open wide.
He's alive!
The lyrics of David Phelps's song "He's Alive" narrate the story of Jesus' resurrection from the perspective of one of his disciples. The song begins describing the setting, where the gates and doors were barred, and the windows fastened down, creating a state of fear and insecurity. The singer spends the night in sleeplessness, anticipating the soldiers' arrival to take them away. But as he listens to a voice calling and the gate rattling, he discovers that it was Mary at the door, announcing that Jesus' body was no longer in the tomb. The singer, alongside John and Mary, find the empty tomb and, in a moment of confusion and uncertainty, he returns to the house, feeling guilty and ashamed for having denied Jesus.
But, the lyrics take an unexpected and extraordinary turn when Jesus appears in front of him, filling the room with light and offering forgiveness, love, and peace. The singer finally understands the miracle that John believed in and accepts Jesus as his savior, proclaiming "He's Alive." The song's hopeful and uplifting message serves as a reminder of the power of faith and the transformative effects of Jesus' resurrection.
Line by Line Meaning
The gates and doors were barred and all the windows fastened down,
I was barricaded in fear and anxiety, locking myself away from danger.
I spent the night in sleeplessness and rose at every sound,
My exhaustion kept me awake, nerves heightened, waiting for the inevitable danger.
Half in hopeless sorrow half in fear the day,
I was overwhelmed with grief and fear in equal measure, dreading what was to come.
Would find the soldiers crashing through to drag us all away.
I feared persecution and death at the hand of those who opposed us.
Then just before the sunrise I heard something at the wall,
Right before dawn, I detected something unusual happening outside.
The gate began to rattle and a voice began to call,
The gate was shaking and someone started to speak.
I hurried to the window and looked down to the street,
I rushed to the window to watch what was happening outside.
Expecting swords and torches and the sound of soldiers feet,
Assuming that soldiers were coming to arrest us with weapons and fire.
There was no one there but Mary so I went down to let her in,
Only Mary was there, so I went down to unlock the door for her.
John stood there beside me as she told us were she'd been,
John was close by as Mary shared her story with us.
She said they moved him in the night and none of us knows where,
She told us they had taken him while we were sleeping, and nobody knew his whereabouts.
The stone's been rolled away and now his body isn't there.
She revealed that the stone blocking the tomb was gone and Jesus's body was no longer inside.
We both ran toward the garden then John ran on ahead,
We both hurried to the garden where the tomb was, but John arrived first.
We found the stone and the empty tomb just the way that Mary said,
We indeed found the stone removed and the tomb empty, as Mary had reported.
But the winding sheet they wrapped him in was just an empty shell,
The burial cloth that had covered Jesus's body was there, but empty and meaningless.
And how or where they'd taken him was more than I could tell.
I couldn't figure out how or why Jesus's body was gone.
Something strange had happened there but what I did not know,
Something out of the ordinary had occurred, but I couldn't grasp what it was.
John believed a miracle but I just turned to go,
John was convinced that a miracle had occurred, but I had my doubts and was ready to leave.
Circumstance and speculation couldn't lift me very high,
I couldn't rely solely on what I saw or heard to give me hope.
'Cause I'd seen them crucify him and then I'd watched him die,
Having witnessed Jesus's crucifixion and death, I had lost all hope.
Back inside the house again all the guilt and anguish came,
As soon as I returned home, guilt and pain overwhelmed me.
Everything I'd promised him just added to my shame,
All my promises to Jesus just made me feel more guilty and ashamed.
But at last it came to choices I denied I knew his name,
Finally, I was faced with a decision to confess Jesus's name and identity, which I had previously denied.
Even If he was alive it wouldn't be the same.
Even if Jesus was alive, things would never be the same as before.
But suddenly the air was filled with a strange and sweet perfume,
Suddenly, an unusual and pleasant aroma filled the air.
Light that came from everywhere drove shadows from the room,
An immense light emerged from every direction, dispelling all darkness.
Jesus stood before me with his arms held open wide,
Jesus appeared in front of me with his arms extended wide open.
And I fell down on my knees and clung to him and cried,
I fell to my knees, embracing Jesus and crying.
He raised me to my feet and as I looked into his eyes,
Jesus lifted me up, and as I gazed into his eyes,
Love was shining out from him like sunlight from the sky,
I saw immense love radiating from Jesus, like the sunlight from the sky.
Guilt and my confusion disappeared in sweet release,
All my guilt and confusion vanished, giving way to a freeing sensation.
And every fear I'd ever had just melted into peace.
All the dread and anxiety I had ever felt melted away, replaced by a sense of calm and tranquility.
He's alive, He's alive, He's alive and I'm forgiven,
Jesus is alive, and I'm forgiven of my sins.
Heavens gates are open wide.
The gates of heaven are open.
He's alive!
Jesus is alive!
Lyrics © CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP
Written by: ALLEN COLLINS, RONNIE VAN ZANT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@duluthguy8227
He's ALIVE
The gates and doors were barred And all the windows fastened down
I spent the night in sleeplessness And rose at every sound
Half in hopeless sorrow And half in fear the day
Would find the soldiers breakin' through To drag us all away
And just before the sunrise I heard something at the wall
The gate began to rattle And a voice began to call
I hurried to the window Looked down into the street
Expecting swords and torches And the sound of soldiers' feet
But there was no one there but Mary So I went down to let her in
John stood there beside me As she told me where she'd been
She said they might have moved Him in the night And none of us knows where
The stone's been rolled away And now His body isn't there
We both ran toward the garden Then John ran on ahead
We found the stone and empty tomb Just the way that Mary said
But the winding sheet they wrapped Him in Was just an empty shell
And how or where they'd taken Him Was more than I could tell
Oh something strange had happened there Just what I did not know
John believed a miracle But I just turned to go
Circumstance and speculation Couldn't lift me very high
'Cause I'd seen them crucify him Then I saw him die
Back inside the house again The guilt and anguish came
Everything I'd promised Him Just added to my shame
When at last it came to choices I denied I knew His name
And even if He was alive It wouldn't be the same
But suddenly the air was filled With a strange and sweet perfume
Light that came from everywhere Drove the shadows from the room
And Jesus stood before me With his arms held open wide
And I fell down on my knees And I just clung to Him and cried
Then He raised me to my feet And as I looked into His eyes
The love was shining out from Him Like sunlight from the skies
Guilt in my confusion Disappeared in sweet release
And every fear I'd ever had Just melted into peace
He's alive yes He's alive Yes He's alive and I'm forgiven
Heaven's gates are open wide He's alive yes He's alive
Oh He's alive and I'm forgiven Heaven's gates are open wide
He's alive He's alive Hallajua He's alive
He's alive and I'm forgiven Heaven's gates are open wide
He's alive
He's alive
He's alive
I believe it
He's alive
@helenrigmaiden6375
It's Resurrection Day 2024🎉 Hallelujah 🖐🏽🖐🏽
@kaidystokes4344
My grandpa passed February 17th, 2022 due to kidney failure. My dad and all his brothers sang this song at his funeral. When I tell you I had never felt so calm and pure when there angelic voices sang this song. I thank the Lord for all he's done for us. God Bless you all.
@kevinmorrill8347
Sorry to hear of your loss, but glad to hear that because of Jesus, you recognize we can see Jesus and all who trusted in Him someday.
@betajeyaraj2183
Jesus is Alive. That is enough for me.
@gretchenball2599
David Phelps, Joseph Larson,Grace Larson,Kim Coleman, Sandi Patty and Larnell Harris are the faces of Christian music.
I dont know if the singers of today are singing for the Lord .
@ginastone9251
I lost my husband July 4th to suicide. I had been listening to David for a while. I can't say I'm getting through this well but listening to David helps. Just attended my first Barn Bash last Friday. It was good medicine for my soul.
@16viperdriverf
All prayers of comfort and love from all of us. Even us as strangers care and love you, you aren't alone in his world. You matter!
@teddawson5923
My arms are wrapped around you in Love 🥰
@THGATEKEEP
I’m so sorry for your loss. ❤
@cherylbanks530
We lost our son to suicide 8 years ago this week. We certainly understand your loss, but God will always be there to see you through. Will be praying for you!