Matt Redman is a British Christian songwriter, and was one of the main wors… Read Full Bio ↴Matt Redman is a British Christian songwriter, and was one of the main worship leaders associated with the Soul Survivor organization. He is now with Passion Conferences and an artist for Six Steps Records. He has authored and edited multiple books on Christian worship, including "The Unquenchable Worshipper" and the book Facedown which accompanied the album. Some of his most popular songs include Heart Of Worship, Let Everything That Has Breath, Once Again, and Blessed Be Your Name, the latter winning the "Worship Song of the Year" award in the 2005 GMA music awards.

He has since launched another album, Beautiful News, and continues to write many more popular songs such as You Never Let Go and Shine.

Songfacts states that Redman's eighth album 10,000 Reasons, was co-written with several of his friends. He then recorded the songs live in Atlanta, leading worship for over 1,000 worship leaders during LIFT: A Worship Leader Collective, put on by Passion City Church and sixstepsrecords on February 18 and 19, 2011. It sold nearly 7,000 units its first week in the US, almost doubling Redman's previous album release We Shall Not Be Shaken. The LP entered the Billboard 200 at #66, his biggest debut to date.

Can I Ascend
Matt Redman Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Can I ascend the hill of the Lord?
Can I stand in that holy place?
There to approach the glory of my God
Come towards to seek Your face
Purify my heart and purify my hands
For I know it is on holy ground I'll stand

I'm coming up the mountain, Lord,

I'm seeking You and You alone
I know that I will be transformed
My heart unveiled before You
I'm longing for Your presence, Lord
Envelope me within the cloud
I'm coming up the mountain, Lord
My heart unveiled before You
I will come

Can I ascend the hill of the Lord?
Can I stand in that holy place?
There to approach the glory of my God
Come towards to seek Your face
Purify my heart and purify my hands
For I know it is on holy ground I'll stand

I'm coming up the mountain, Lord,
I'm seeking You and You alone
I know that I will be transformed
My heart unveiled before You
I'm longing for Your presence, Lord
Envelope me within the cloud
I'm coming up the mountain, Lord
My heart unveiled before You
I will come

I'm come to worship
I'm come to bow down
I'm come to meet with You (You, You, my Lord)

I'm come to worship
I'm come to bow down
I'm come to meet with You

I'm come to worship
I'm come to bow down
I'm come to meet with You

I'm come to worship
I'm come to bow down
I'm come to meet with You

I'm coming up the mountain now, Lord,
I'm seeking You (I'm seeking You alone) and You alone
I know that I will be transformed
My heart unveiled before You
I'm longing for Your presence, Lord
Envelope me within the cloud
I'm coming up the mountain, Lord
My heart unveiled before You
I will come
I will come, Lord

I'm come to worship
I'm come to bow down
I'm come to meet with You

I'm come to worship
I'm come to bow down
I'm come to meet with You

I'm gonna give it, I'm gonna give it to You, Lord
I'm gonna give it, I'm gonna give it to You
I'm gonna give it, I'm gonna give it to You
I'm gonna give it, I'm gonna give it to You, Lord

I've come to seek you
I've come to seek you
I've come to meet with You

I'm come to worship
I'm come to bow down
I'm come to meet with You

I'm come to worship
I'm come to bow down
I'm come to meet with You

I'm gonna give it, I'm gonna give it to You, Lord
I'm gonna give it, I'm gonna give it to You

I'm gonna give it, I'm gonna give it to You
I'm gonna give it, I'm gonna give it to You, Lord

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Can I Ascend" express the singer's desire to approach the Lord and worship Him in His holy place. The first verse asks if the singer can ascend the hill of the Lord and stand in His holy place. The singer acknowledges that it is on holy ground where he will stand in the presence of God. The singer then requests that his heart and hands be purified as he knows that he will approach God's glory.

The chorus repeats the same theme of the singer approaching the holy place of the Lord with a heart that is unveiled before Him. The singer longs for God's presence and to be enveloped within the cloud. The singer declares that he will worship God, bow down before Him, and meet with Him.

The second verse follows the same theme as the first, with the singer coming up the mountain seeking God alone. The singer acknowledges that he will be transformed and his heart unveiled before God. The singer's longing for the presence of God is expressed again as he seeks to be enveloped within the cloud. The song ends with the singer declaring that he will give everything to God and come to meet with Him in worship.

Line by Line Meaning

Can I ascend the hill of the Lord?
Is it possible for me to climb the Lord's hill?

Can I stand in that holy place?
Is it possible for me to stand in that sacred place?

There to approach the glory of my God
So I can see the magnificence of my God

Come towards to seek Your face
I come to find and see You, Lord

Purify my heart and purify my hands
Cleanse my heart and hands

For I know it is on holy ground I'll stand
Because I know I'll be standing on sacred land

I'm coming up the mountain, Lord,
I am ascending the mountain, Lord,

I'm seeking You and You alone
I'm only seeking You, Lord

I know that I will be transformed
I'm confident that I'll be changed

My heart unveiled before You
I reveal my heart to You

I'm longing for Your presence, Lord
I am yearning for Your presence, Lord