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.
Let Freedom Ring
David Phelps Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Somehow breathed into the very soul of life
The prisoner, the powerless, the slave have always known it
There's something that keeps reaching for the sky
And even life begins because a baby fights for freedom
And songs we love to sing have freedom's theme
Some have walked through fire and flood to find a place of freedom
Let freedom ring wherever minds know what it means to be in chains
Let freedom ring wherever hearts know pain
Let freedom echo through the lonely streets where prisons have no key
We can be free and we can sing, let freedom ring
God built freedom into every fiber of creation
And He meant for us to all be free and whole
When my Lord bought freedom with the blood of His redemption
His cross stamped pardon on my very soul
I'll sing it out with every breath, I'll let the whole world hear it
This hallelujah anthem of the free
That iron bars and heavy chains can never hold us captive
The Son has made us free and free indeed
Let freedom ring down through the ages from a hill called Calvary
Let freedom ring wherever hearts know pain
Let freedom echo through the lonely streets where prisons have no key
You can be free and you can sing let freedom ring
Let freedom echo through the lonely streets where prisons have no key
You can be free and you can sing let freedom ring
You can be free and you can sing, let freedom ring, let freedom ring
The lyrics to David Phelps’ song Let Freedom Ring speak to the universal human desire for freedom and the human tradition of fighting for it. The song acknowledges that even from birth, there is something within us that reaches for the sky, a longing for freedom that is deeply ingrained within our souls. The lyrics acknowledge that people from all walks of life, including prisoners, the powerless, and the enslaved, have always known this longing for freedom. The song also recognizes that many have had to endure difficult and traumatic experiences, such as walking through fire and flood, or facing hell itself, to achieve the elusive dream of freedom.
The song celebrates the idea that freedom is a fundamental aspect of God’s creation, and that Jesus Christ himself bought freedom for humanity by shedding His blood on the cross. The lyrics also acknowledge that freedom can take many different forms, and that it is important not only to fight for political freedom but also for freedom of the heart and soul. Overall, the song is a stirring tribute to the human spirit and the powerful desire for freedom that animates it.
Line by Line Meaning
Deep within the heart has always known that there was freedom
The human psyche has always been aware of a concept called freedom
Somehow breathed into the very soul of life
Freedom is an inherent part of living
The prisoner, the powerless, the slave have always known it
Even those who have been oppressed have an awareness of the idea of freedom
There's something that keeps reaching for the sky
There is a natural inclination to strive for freedom, to reach for something higher
And even life begins because a baby fights for freedom
Even the struggle for freedom begins at the earliest stages of life
And songs we love to sing have freedom's theme
Freedom is often a theme in the music we enjoy
Some have walked through fire and flood to find a place of freedom
Some people have endured great hardships to attain freedom
And some faced hell itself for freedom's dream
Some have suffered unimaginable horrors to achieve the goal of freedom
Let freedom ring wherever minds know what it means to be in chains
The call for freedom should be heard wherever people are oppressed and understand the experience of being in chains
Let freedom ring wherever hearts know pain
The presence of pain and suffering should be a catalyst for the pursuit of freedom
Let freedom echo through the lonely streets where prisons have no key
Even in the absence of physical prisons, there still may be places where people feel trapped and in need of freedom
We can be free and we can sing, let freedom ring
Freedom is attainable and worth celebrating with music and song
God built freedom into every fiber of creation
Freedom is not only a human construct, but a part of the natural world as well
And He meant for us to all be free and whole
God's intention was for all people to be free, physically and spiritually
When my Lord bought freedom with the blood of His redemption
Through the sacrifice of Jesus, freedom from sin and death was made available
His cross stamped pardon on my very soul
Salvation through Christ's death on the cross provides spiritual freedom
I'll sing it out with every breath, I'll let the whole world hear it
The message of freedom is something worth shouting about and sharing with everyone
That iron bars and heavy chains can never hold us captive
Even physical captivity cannot fully suppress the human desire for freedom
The Son has made us free and free indeed
Jesus has provided true spiritual freedom for those who believe in him
Let freedom ring down through the ages from a hill called Calvary
The ultimate symbol of freedom is the cross of Christ and the redemption it represents
You can be free and you can sing let freedom ring
Freedom is available to all and should be celebrated with music and song
You can be free and you can sing let freedom ring
The call to freedom is for every individual and should be heard by all
You can be free and you can sing, let freedom ring, let freedom ring
The message of freedom is an important and necessary one that should be repeated and celebrated
Lyrics © MUSIC SERVICES, INC., BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: DENNIS L. JERNIGAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@redstateforever
When you have freedom in Jesus, no tyrant on earth will ever truly oppress you.
@texetera
????????
@tyttebarnsen7482
sadly yes i have been oppress in all my live
@thedynamicsolo4232
5:07 Where DP belts out "LEEEEEETTTT" you see Russ Taff jumping up and down. That is vocal excellence!!!
@ToniM10
That's called the Holy Ghost man!!!!...
💖😎👍👍
@ElenTuf
Check out the guy behind him, his face is gobsmacked!!! LOVE it!!!
@TheMistysFavs
My FAVORITE part of this video! But WILL we ever sing about freedom again?
@ahveiseilah2537
@ElenTuf Just a young Jason Crabb.. =D
@Wxlkie
Effortlessly
@pamllewellyn8029
Does anyone else back up this video to 4:40, when Guy just nails his solo part? And then David brings it on home!!! (I do it about 5 times each time!)This is one of the best renditions, ever! God Bless you, GVB!! Pray for freedom!!