He began his career as a comedian during this period. As he waited for the sound technician in the church to change the track, he would have several seconds of time to fill. As he recalls:
'Those few seconds of "dead air" can feel like hours when you're on stage facing a crowd -- so, to fill time, I'd start talking about my life and my testimony. People would laugh... and I finally realized I was on to something.'
Lowry joined the Gaither Vocal Band in 1988 to fill the baritone position. He left the band in 2001, to be replaced by Russ Taff.
During the band's performances, Lowry's antics on stage were well received by the audiences, and they eventually became the highlight of the show. He has co-hosted more than sixty Gaither Homecoming videos with Bill Gaither, and has been Gaither's comic foil in many Homecoming concert dates — so much so that the duo of "Gaither and Lowry" was sometimes referred to as the Christian version of Martin and Lewis.
Also during this period, Lowry performed a number of solo concerts.
Lowry has recorded six comedy and music videos. Mouth In Motion, The Last Word, and Remotely Controlled are certified Gold (more than 50,000 units sold). Mark Lowry On Broadway was certified Gold quickly after its release and later certified Platinum (more than 100,000 units sold). His most recent video is called Mark Lowry Goes To Hollywood, which was released on September 12, 2005. True to form, Lowry joked that all of his videos have gone "aluminum".
Lowry's father Charles is an attorney in Lynchburg, and his mother Beverly speaks and sings around the United States for various conferences. Beverly Lowry has sung duets on video with her son on two occasions.
Additionally, Lowry has two siblings:
* Mike, his older brother who lives in Lynchburg, Virginia with his wife and four children.
* Melissa, his younger sister, who also lives in Lynchburg with her husband and two children.
Let Freedom Ring
Mark Lowry 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 song "Let Freedom Ring" by Mark Lowry speaks to the value and power of freedom. The lyrics assert that freedom is an innate part of the human experience, "breathed into the very soul of life" and recognized by "the prisoner, the powerless, the slave" who have always known it. The song suggests that freedom is something that transcends the individual experience and is a universal human right. The lyrics remind us that the pursuit of freedom is often difficult and fraught with challenges. People have "walked through fire and flood" and "faced hell itself" for freedom's dream. But ultimately, the song is a message of hope and triumph. It proclaims that no matter the obstacles, freedom will prevail. And that we can all be free if we let the "hallelujah anthem of the free" ring out loud for all to hear.
One of the interesting facts about this song is that it was inspired by a speech given by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In his famous "I Have a Dream" speech, Dr. King used the phrase "let freedom ring" in reference to the hope that one day racial injustice and oppression would be eradicated.
Another interesting fact is that Mark Lowry originally wrote this song as a poem. He was inspired by a conversation he had with a Catholic nun who told him about the religious significance of bells and their role in proclaiming freedom.
The song has been covered by several other artists, including Gaither Vocal Band, Aaron Shust, and Avalon. It has also been performed at various events, including the National Day of Prayer and the United Nations General Assembly.
The song was released in 2003 on the album "Life Gets Loud" which also featured other notable songs such as "Mary Did You Know"
Chords: G, C/E, D, Em, C, G/B, Am, Gsus, G
Line by Line Meaning
Deep within the heart has always known that there was freedom
Freedom is an inherent human desire that is felt deep within the heart
Somehow breathed into the very soul of life
Freedom is an essential aspect of life itself
The prisoner, the powerless, the slave have always known it
Those who have been oppressed and restricted are acutely aware of the value of freedom
There's something that keeps reaching for the sky
The human spirit naturally reaches for freedom and yearns to be unbound
And even life begins because a baby fights for freedom
The struggle for freedom begins at birth and is a fundamental part of the human experience
And songs we love to sing have freedom's theme
Freedom is a common theme in music and represents a universal human longing
Some have walked through fire and flood to find a place of freedom
Throughout history, people have endured great hardship in order to obtain freedom
And some faced hell itself for freedom's dream
Many have suffered and sacrificed their lives for the cause of freedom
Let freedom ring wherever minds know what it means to be in chains
Freedom should be celebrated and advocated wherever people understand the pain of being oppressed
Let freedom ring wherever hearts know pain
In places where people experience emotional, physical, or spiritual pain, the hope of freedom should ring out
Let freedom echo through the lonely streets where prisons have no key
Even in the darkest and loneliest places, freedom can be a beacon of hope and a symbol of resilience
We can be free and we can sing, let freedom ring
Freedom is a joyful and empowering message that inspires people to celebrate and advocate for it
God built freedom into every fiber of creation
Freedom is an essential part of the divine plan for human existence
And He meant for us to all be free and whole
God desires that all people should experience freedom and wholeness
When my Lord bought freedom with the blood of His redemption
Jesus paid the ultimate price for humanity's freedom from sin and death
His cross stamped pardon on my very soul
The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross provides complete forgiveness and freedom for all who believe
I'll sing it out with every breath, I'll let the whole world hear it
The message of freedom is one that should be proclaimed with passionate fervor to everyone
This hallelujah anthem of the free
The rejoicing of those who have experienced freedom is a powerful expression of gratitude and hope
That iron bars and heavy chains can never hold us captive
Even when physically bound, the human spirit remains free and unbreakable
The Son has made us free and free indeed
Through Jesus, humanity has been granted ultimate and lasting freedom
Let freedom ring down through the ages from a hill called Calvary
The ultimate expression of freedom was won on a hill called Calvary, and its message has resonated throughout history
You can be free and you can sing let freedom ring
The message of freedom applies to everyone and provides hope for the future
You can be free and you can sing let freedom ring
Freedom is not just a theoretical idea, it is a tangible reality that everyone can experience and celebrate
You can be free and you can sing, let freedom ring, let freedom ring
The message of freedom is so important that it should be repeated and proclaimed with enthusiasm and passion
Lyrics © MUSIC SERVICES, INC., BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: DENNIS L. JERNIGAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jeremy Sears
Anytime my heart needs an adjustment I come to this song by these men. For me this will always be the GVB
Cheryl Mustain Nicoletti
You can not get 3 more perfect voices together than these men!
lawyers9
This was the very best combination of the Vocal band ever.
JORDAN 250
That seems to be most peoples favorite. It wasn’t just the voices that made that particular lineup so iconic. It was because it was 4 very interesting and distinctive characters. You had Bill, (the Boss and fearless leader) Mark, (the funny guy) Guy, (the country boy) and David (the showy tenor singer). The current lineup is ok Vocally but they’re not very interesting characters.
Wilhelmina Pineda
Do you know what album is this? Thanks
JORDAN 250
@Wilhelmina Pineda the song was originally released on the album “God Is Good”, but this particular performance is from “GVB reunion Vol.1”
Devaughnie Wilkie
Russ taff is missing though, lovely singing however
Jean Stewart
Agree 💯%!! They are the best! I like for Wes and Russ to sing with them also!!
Mila P. Watson
Thank you Mr. Bill Gaither for your service to God with your talent of music, that touches souls of God’s children.God loves you! Thank you to David Phelps, Guy Penrod, and Mark Lowrey, you sing with your hearts and souls. You always bring tears to my eyes.God loves you!
Barack Oba
Legendary group and lineup 🎼❤️🎤🎸😍🙏🏾