Born in Orange County son of well-known worship leader John Wickham. He moved to San Diego in the middle of junior high school, which spawned his career. Asked by his youth pastor to lead worship at the age of 12, Wickham accepted, encouraged by his father then a worship pastor at Chuck Smith's Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa.
By 18, Wickham had released his debut CD, Give You My World, including the hit song "Shining." Surprised by its good reception, he began working on twelve new songs for his self-titled album, which was released on April 25, 2006 with Simple Records.Wickham's second release with Simple/INO Records, Cannons, was released in 2007. Cannons was inspired by cannon explosions and C.S. Lewis's book, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader from The Chronicles of Narnia series. Wickham stated in an interview with ChristianityToday.com that the album is "about how the universe is exploding with the glory of God, and how we are compelled to join in with its song." The 10th track from Cannons, "Jesus Lord of Heaven", has been translated into seven different languages. On August 8, 2008 Wickham released a live worship album titled singalong, recorded at Solid Rock Church in Portland, Oregon with 3000 fans present. The album was released as a free download, only available from his website, and received over 8,000 downloads within a week of being released. After the release of his singalong album, his self-titled debut climbed to No. 25 on iTunes Top Christian Albums chart (2 years after its initial release).
Wickham visits churches across the nation to play his music.
He recently (June 2008) performed at the Frenzy one-day Christian music festival, in Scotland.
Tears of Joy
Phil Wickham Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Be my first with You
Where You rob my fear
And You make me new
So whatever comes
Whatever I go through
Let my last breath here
Be my first with You
The bells will ring
Your banner lifted high
Our holy King and we Your holy bride
I'll join with all the saints
And lift my voice
When I see Your face
Through tears of joy
In a million years
We'll have just begun
To explore Your heart
And Your boundless love
Singing endless songs of praise
For who You are and what You've done
In a million years
We'll have just begun
The bells will ring
Your banner lifted high
Our holy King and we Your holy bride
I'll join with all the saints
And lift my voice
When I see Your face
Through tears of joy
So in awe
So amazed
Standing here
Face to face
Let my last breath here
Be my first with You
Where You rob my fear
And You make me new
So whatever comes
Whatever I go through
Let my last breath here
Be my first with You
Oh let my last breath here
Be my first with You
The lyrics of Phil Wickham's Tears of Joy express the desire to have a deep connection with God as the highest priority in life, leading up to the moment of death. The singer yearns for their final breath on earth to be the beginning of a new life with God, where fear is eliminated and their soul is made new. The song implicitly suggests that life is fleeting and incomplete without a meaningful relationship with God. The singer seeks to be ready for that moment, no matter what challenges come their way.
In the second verse, the lyrics describe the eternal waiting for the day when the singer and other believers will meet God face to face. The lyrics here suggest that the worshipper's heart will burst with an unrestrained expression of love and joy. The singer desires to be a part of the holy banner raised high, joining other people of faith and declaring the worth of the one who made them all. They long to see the face of the God who has sustained them through every hardship life presented to them.
Overall, the song is a meditation on the meaning of living and dying. It is a declaration of faith in God and the hope that, no matter what happens in life or in death, the singer will be able to celebrate with tears of joy forevermore.
Line by Line Meaning
Let my last breath here
May my final moment on earth be a gateway to my first moment with You.
Be my first with You
Let my first encounter with You be at the end of my earthly existence.
Where You rob my fear
Where You take away all of my fears.
And You make me new
And where You transform me into a new being.
So whatever comes
I vow to face anything that comes my way.
Whatever I go through
No matter what tribulations I must endure.
The bells will ring
There will be a celebration.
Your banner lifted high
You will be honored and exalted.
Our holy King and we Your holy bride
We are Your devoted and adoring subjects.
I'll join with all the saints
I will be in harmony with all of Your devoted followers.
And lift my voice
I will give praise out loud.
When I see Your face
When I finally get to witness Your visage.
Through tears of joy
I'll shed tears of joy.
In a million years
Even after a million years.
We'll have just begun
We will still be discovering what You are and what You have done.
To explore Your heart
To understand the depths of Your love.
And Your boundless love
And to comprehend the limitless abundance of Your love.
Singing endless songs of praise
Always singing hymns of praise.
For who You are and what You've done
In grateful recognition of who You are and all You have done for us.
So in awe
My heart is filled with amazement.
So amazed
I am in complete wonderment.
Standing here
I am here before You.
Face to face
After having longed to be face-to-face with You, I am finally here.
Oh let my last breath here
May my last breath on earth lead to my first breath with You.
Contributed by Kaylee I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Luis Donaldo Aceves rodriguez
Let my last breath here
Be my first with You
Where You rob my fear
And You make me new
So whatever comes
Whatever I go through
Let my last breath here
Be my first with You
The bells will ring
Your banner lifted high
Our holy King and we Your holy bride
I'll join with all the saints
And lift my voice
When I see Your face
Through tears of joy
In a million years
We'll have just begun
To explore Your heart
And Your boundless love
Singing endless songs of praise
For who You are and what You've done
In a million years
We'll have just begun
The bells will ring
Your banner lifted high
Our holy King and we Your holy bride
I'll join with all the saints
And lift my voice
When I see Your face
Through tears of joy
So in awe
So amazed
Standing here
Face to face
Let my last breath here
Be my first with You
Where You rob my fear
And You make me new
So whatever comes
Whatever I go through
Let my last breath here
Be my first with You
Oh let my last breath here
Be my first with Yo
Ned
"Tears Of Joy"
Let my last breath here
Be my first with You
Where You rob my fear
And You make me new
So whatever comes
Whatever I go through
Let my last breath here
Be my first with You
The bells will ring
Your banner lifted high
Our holy King and we Your holy bride
I'll join with all the saints
And lift my voice
When I see Your face
Through tears of joy
In a million years
We'll have just begun
To explore Your heart
And Your boundless love
Singing endless songs of praise
For who You are and what You've done
In a million years
We'll have just begun
The bells will ring
Your banner lifted high
Our holy King and we Your holy bride
I'll join with all the saints
And lift my voice
When I see Your face
Through tears of joy
So in awe
So amazed
Standing here
Face to face
Let my last breath here
Be my first with You
Where You rob my fear
And You make me new
So whatever comes
Whatever I go through
Let my last breath here
Be my first with You
Oh let my last breath here
Be my first with You
Scott Rabun
I played this song as I was driving back into my hometown from Orlando. It was an 8 hour drive, and I had been gone from home for the past 3 months. Very emotional time in my life. This song means a lot to me...thank you Phil :)
Lupita Lopez
Used this song for my 12 year old sisters funeral 😢 beautiful......
Luis Donaldo Aceves rodriguez
Let my last breath here
Be my first with You
Where You rob my fear
And You make me new
So whatever comes
Whatever I go through
Let my last breath here
Be my first with You
The bells will ring
Your banner lifted high
Our holy King and we Your holy bride
I'll join with all the saints
And lift my voice
When I see Your face
Through tears of joy
In a million years
We'll have just begun
To explore Your heart
And Your boundless love
Singing endless songs of praise
For who You are and what You've done
In a million years
We'll have just begun
The bells will ring
Your banner lifted high
Our holy King and we Your holy bride
I'll join with all the saints
And lift my voice
When I see Your face
Through tears of joy
So in awe
So amazed
Standing here
Face to face
Let my last breath here
Be my first with You
Where You rob my fear
And You make me new
So whatever comes
Whatever I go through
Let my last breath here
Be my first with You
Oh let my last breath here
Be my first with Yo
Ned
"Tears Of Joy"
Let my last breath here
Be my first with You
Where You rob my fear
And You make me new
So whatever comes
Whatever I go through
Let my last breath here
Be my first with You
The bells will ring
Your banner lifted high
Our holy King and we Your holy bride
I'll join with all the saints
And lift my voice
When I see Your face
Through tears of joy
In a million years
We'll have just begun
To explore Your heart
And Your boundless love
Singing endless songs of praise
For who You are and what You've done
In a million years
We'll have just begun
The bells will ring
Your banner lifted high
Our holy King and we Your holy bride
I'll join with all the saints
And lift my voice
When I see Your face
Through tears of joy
So in awe
So amazed
Standing here
Face to face
Let my last breath here
Be my first with You
Where You rob my fear
And You make me new
So whatever comes
Whatever I go through
Let my last breath here
Be my first with You
Oh let my last breath here
Be my first with You
Claudia White
Oh joy joy joy in my heart !!!! Let my last breath here be my first with you Hallelujah!!! Amen 🙏🏻.,,,, Great song words Amazing voice!!! Bless your heart and soul Phil!!!🙏🏻👍🙏🏻
Caroline Rodriguez
Love this song one of Phil's best!!♡♥
Daniel chucks
Beautiful song... lord let my last breath here on earth be my first in heaven with you.
Noemi Betancourt
love his voice and love of Christ
Erin Merritt
this song... it's amazing
Nat Lowden Editing
Best song on the album