Nichole Nordeman was raised in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where she played the piano in church. She got her start when she entered a Gospel Music Association (GMA) contest in Los Angeles, California and was noticed by a music producer. She has won multiple GMA Dove Awards, including two awards for Female Vocalist of the Year. Her best-known songs include "Why," "This Mystery," "Holy", "Legacy," "Brave," and "What If." She also sang a song on the soundtrack Music Inspired by the Chronicles of Narnia, called "I Will Believe"
No More Chains
Nichole Nordeman Lyrics
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What's this that renders me paralyzed?
I lost myself in small pieces
It happened over time
I traded love for a heavy chain
Another link every other day
I pulled it up and down a mountain
No more chains
No more chains
Big and small, watch them fall away
No more chains
Big and small, watch them fall away
I wonder now if the choice was mine
The door was open, I walked inside
Nobody had my arm twisted
Nobody made me stay
The face of freedom can show up small
A tiny crack in a prison wall
A song that rises up from silence
A voice that wants to say?
I should let you give me wings
I should let you set me free
In the beginning of the song, the singer expresses confusion about how they became trapped and paralyzed inside themselves. They feel like they have lost themselves in small pieces over time, and traded love for a heavy chain, which only grew heavier with each passing day. The singer feels like they were climbing a mountain, tugging at the chains as they went, but they start to realize that they don't have to live that way anymore. Slowly, they begin to understand that they have the power to break free from the chains that have been holding them down.
As the song continues, the singer reflects on their journey to freedom, questioning whether they made the choice to be trapped or if they blindly walked into their situation. Regardless, they acknowledge that the face of freedom can come in small and unexpected ways. It can be as simple as a song that breaks the silence or a voice that encourages them to break free. They ultimately come to the realization that in order to truly be free, they need to let go of their chains and allow themselves to be set free.
Overall, "No More Chains" is a song about realizing that we have the power to break free from the things that are holding us back. It's about taking control of our lives and learning to let go of the things that weigh us down. It's a beautiful message of hope and empowerment that reminds us that we can overcome the obstacles in our lives and find true freedom.
Line by Line Meaning
How did I get locked up inside?
I am confused about how I became trapped within myself.
What's this that renders me paralyzed?
I am struggling to move forward and feel stuck in my own life.
I lost myself in small pieces
I gradually lost my sense of self over time.
It happened over time
This process was not sudden, but a gradual deterioration of myself.
I traded love for a heavy chain
I made a compromise in exchange for something that has weighed me down and restrained me.
Another link every other day
The chain did not form all at once, but rather, it kept growing incrementally over time.
I pulled it up and down a mountain
I have struggled to carry the weight of my burden up and down hills that symbolize the challenges of life.
It made me want to say?
As a result of my experiences, I reached a point where I felt compelled to change my life.
No more chains
I have decided that I will no longer carry the chains that have held me back.
Big and small, watch them fall away
Regardless of their size, I will let go of all the things that have kept me from living a full and free life.
I wonder now if the choice was mine
I am questioning if I had the power to make a different decision and avoid where I ended up.
The door was open, I walked inside
Although I had the opportunity to make a different choice, I decided to walk through the door that led to my imprisonment.
Nobody had my arm twisted
No one forced me into the situation I find myself in now.
Nobody made me stay
I had the choice to leave but chose to stay instead.
The face of freedom can show up small
Freedom can come to us in small, almost insignificant ways.
A tiny crack in a prison wall
Even a small opportunity can be the first step in breaking free from an entrenched way of life.
A song that rises up from silence
Sometimes, even in the midst of silence, a voice within us can rise and inspire us to sing our way to freedom.
A voice that wants to say?
A part of me yearns to express the desire to break free and start anew.
I should let you give me wings
I am acknowledging that I need to let go of my chains and allow someone to give me the freedom to fly.
I should let you set me free
I now realize that I cannot do it alone and need someone to help me break free from the chains holding me back.
Contributed by Hannah I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.