The son of an Assemblies of God pastor, Gary Chapman grew up in De Leon, Texas. He performed in bands throughout high school and college. After college, he moved to Nashville and was hired as bass player for The Rambos. In 1979, his song "Father's Eyes" was recorded as the title track to Amy Grant's second album. In 1982, his song "Finally" recorded by T.G. Sheppard reached #1 on the country music charts. He also received a Dove Award as Songwriter of the Year from the Gospel Music Association. That same year, he married Grant.
During the rest of the 1980s and the early 1990s, Chapman continued to write, record, and produce music, while touring as an opening act and bass player for Grant. His career reached new heights in the mid 1990s. He was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album in 1994. The Light Inside also resulted in a Dove Award nomination for Male Vocalist of the Year. and also yielded a Contemporary Christian Music chart #1 song, "Sweet Glow of Mercy." He won a second Dove Award in 1994 for co-producing the album, Songs From The Loft, featuring various artists.
In April 1996, Chapman was honored as Male Vocalist of the Year by the GMA. His 1996 album, Shelter, delivered another #1, "One of Two," with "Man After Your Own Heart" resulting in a Dove Award for Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year and being featured on the Dove Award winning Special Event Album of the Year, My Utmost For His Highest. Shelter also received a 1997 Grammy nomination for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album.
In 1996, Chapman was selected as the host of The Nashville Network’s music and talk show, "Prime Time Country." The show experienced improved ratings, but was canceled in 1999.
At the 1998 Dove Awards, his album featuring other artists, Hymns From The Ryman, won Country Album Of The Year.
Chapman and Grant were divorced in 1999. He married Jennifer Pittman in July, 2000.
Chapman was arrested in 2006 for DUI, and after another divorce, recently remarried again, while also caring for his terminally ill father. Despite the many ups and downs of his life, about which he frequently blogs openly on his myspace page, he is still recording and making music.
Man After Your Own Heart
Gary Chapman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I call to You like deep calls to deep over water
Show me Your endless measure of grace
Let tender mercies sine once again
From Your holy face
Deep in my soul there's a craving
To please the One who has saved me
You know that I'm still
A man after Your own heart
I am driven by rivers of pride
You are my rescue
The Maker and Keeper of my life
Lead me by the still waters again
Use me in spite of the prodigal child
That You know I am
Just as a deer runs to water
So does my soul to You, Father
O God, though I have wandered so far
You know that I'm still
A man after Your own heart
I'm still a man after Your own heart
In the song "Man After Your Own Heart," Gary Chapman calls out to God the father in heaven and Earth, seeking his endless measure of grace and tender mercies from his holy face. The first stanza of the song uses beautiful imagery to describe the depths of his calling to God as he compares it to deep calling to deep over water. He seeks to please the one who has saved him despite his many failings and falls, insisting that he is still a man after God's own heart. Chapman uses the metaphor of rivers of pride driving him and acknowledges his wandering from God, but he still craves to run to God just as a deer runs to water.
The second stanza of the song calls out to God as the Maker and Keeper of his life, leading him by still waters despite being a prodigal child. He shares his shortcomings with a sense of humility while acknowledging that he is driven by pride. However, he leans on God as his rescue and source of strength. Chapman's lyrics are a beautiful expression of his human struggles and desire to be close to God.
Line by Line Meaning
O God, Father in heaven and earth
Addressing God as the Father in both heaven and earth.
I call to You like deep calls to deep over water
Expressing a deep desire to connect with God.
Show me Your endless measure of grace
Asking God to show His unending mercy.
Let tender mercies shine once again
Desiring to experience God's tenderness and mercy.
From Your holy face
Seeking God's kindness and care.
Deep in my soul there's a craving
Feeling an intense desire to please God.
To please the One who has saved me
Wanting to make God happy as He has saved the person.
O God, though I have fallen so far
Acknowledging that the person has sinned despite being a believer.
You know that I'm still
Believing that despite mistakes, the person is still a child of God.
A man after Your own heart
Describing oneself as someone who seeks to please God.
I am driven by rivers of pride
Acknowledging that pride can lead one astray.
You are my rescue
Believing that God is the only solution and saving grace.
The Maker and Keeper of my life
Acknowledging that God has control and has given life.
Lead me by the still waters again
Asking God to guide the person to a place of peace.
Use me in spite of the prodigal child
Offering oneself to be of service to God.
That You know I am
Admitting that human beings are inclined to sin.
Just as a deer runs to water
Comparing the person's desire to seek God to a deer's thirst for water.
So does my soul to You, Father
Expressing one's devotion and dependence on God.
O God, though I have wandered so far
Acknowledging that the person has drifted away from God.
You know that I'm still
Believing that despite mistakes, the person is still a child of God.
A man after Your own heart
Describing oneself as someone who seeks to please God.
I'm still a man after Your own heart
Reiterating the desire to be someone who pleases God.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BILLY LUZ SPRAGUE, WAYNE KIRKPATRICK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind