Lyrically the album is teeming with the substantive lyrics that have made Chapman the most awarded artist in Christian music with 57 Gospel Music Association Dove Awards, five GRAMMYs, 47 No. 1 singles and approaching 11 million albums sold. Musically there’s a sense of adventure that reflects Chapman’s ongoing willingness to experiment and leap out of his comfort zone. He’s never taken the gift of music for granted and approaches each new project both excited and humbled by the possibilities.
“I’m very, very grateful to be given the opportunity to make music and share the things that I feel like God has entrusted to me,” Chapman says. “I don’t take it lightly. I pray: ‘God, I want to know You and I want to make You known.’ God has continued faithfully to reveal Himself through dark places and reveal His mysteriousness. I get the sense that He’s telling an amazing story. He’s not confused. He’s not biting his nails worrying if the plan is going to turn out okay the way I do. He’s fully confident of His plans and He’s in control. That’s been something that I’ve held onto.”
The Glorious Unfolding is Chapman’s 18th album and his first studio album of all-original material in seven years. However, now, more than ever he felt it was time to express these steadfast messages of faithfulness, while successfully blending his trademark sound with musical creativity. “Musically, I really wanted to find those ways to make something that felt very honest and true, and yet very fresh and relevant,” Chapman says. “I felt like this had to be a little bit more exciting and energetic and I was ready to crank it up. It felt like this is the time to do that and celebrate. With this music, you will hopefully hear that and get a sense of the excitement and joy in this record.”
The album’s lead single, “Love Take Me Over,” is an exuberant anthem with an infectious melody that inspires listeners and gives the instant urge to hit repeat. “Even though it’s in the guise of a very fun, up-tempo sing-along-at-the-top-of-your-lungs song, it’s a message and a lesson that I have continued to be in the process of learning,” Chapman says of the song. “I need to be filled with love so that I can be loving in the way I respond. I’m still learning that the only way I want to love others well in my life is when I come to terms daily, sometimes hourly, sometimes in 15 minute increments, with the fact that I am loved fully and completely, not as I should be, but as I am. That drives me, then, to a place of living a life of love for others when I realize that I am loved first. We love because He first loved us.”
One of the many highlights from the album is “Together,” a beautiful song that Chapman wrote for his wife Mary Beth. “In October, we celebrate our 29th anniversary,” he says, acknowledging that the past five years, since their youngest daughter (Maria Sue) was killed in a tragic accident, have been especially trying. “Statistics show that 90% of marriages don’t survive the loss of a child. The fact that we are together celebrating 29 years of marriage is a testimony to God’s faithfulness and God’s grace.”
Chapman delayed playing this song for Mary Beth until it was completely finished, recorded and mixed. “I sat her down and played this for her as we held hands and wept together through this celebration of God’s faithfulness,” he adds, “I’m really hopeful that this song will encourage and minister to people in a deep way.”
The Glorious Unfolding also includes a special song, “Only One and Only You,” written to encourage his daughter Shaohannah. “She’s 13, which tells you a lot of what you need to know about her,” he says with a grin. “It’s that wonderful, incredibly awful time to try to be a young lady in this world and culture. I’m just very, very proud of her and I wanted to just write a song to tell her how amazing she is.”
Other standout tracks include “Something Beautiful,” an up-tempo, forward-thinking song about the unfolding and promises of God, and watching Him turn broken things in life into something good as He’s promised. “Take Another Step,” is another high-energy declaration that talks of taking those steps of faith in times of uncertainty, when the road ahead is completely dark, whether it be good or bad, and fully trusting what God has in store.
Whether encouraging those he’s closest to in this world to see themselves as God sees them or inviting an arena full of fans to sing along in celebration of God’s faithfulness, Chapman has spent his life creating music that makes a difference. The Glorious Unfolding continues that impressive legacy. In listening to the project, it feels like a landmark album, being musically inventive, yet bursting with truth, integrity and emotional gravitas in much the same way as The Great Adventure did when that ground-breaking album released in 1992.
The latest album installment is his second record since signing with Provident Music Group in 2012. His label debut, JOY, served up holiday classics alongside his engaging original tunes. It became the latest entry in the Paducah, Kentucky native’s beloved Christmas catalog and provided Chapman and co-producer Brent Milligan a chance to explore different sounds in the studio. On The Glorious Unfolding, Chapman and Milligan reveled in the chance to experiment further to provide a fresh framework for these new songs, utilizing different textures and techniques to expand on Chapman’s signature sound.
Recorded at Chapman’s home studio, he enlisted son Will Franklin to play drums on six tracks on the album and also engaged other musical pals such as Delirious? alum Stu G on guitar and acclaimed fiddler Andy Leftwich, a member of Ricky Skaggs’ band, Kentucky Thunder, and a key creative force in the making of Chapman's Cracker Barrel release, Deep Roots. On “Sound of Your Voice,” Chapman recruited surprise guests, wife Mary Beth, daughters Emily and Stevey Joy and daughters-in-law Julia Chapman and Jillian Edwards Chapman to sing background vocals.
Recording The Glorious Unfolding was a labor of love for Chapman, helping him give voice to his own joys and challenges and he’s hopeful it will do the same for others. “The theme was this idea that God will complete the story and in fact, He already has completed it and knows the ending,” Chapman says. “Yet a part of the mystery is that He is revealing it in our lives and it’s this unfolding, incredible tale of His love for us. This album gave me a chance to tell that, to celebrate loss and hope and new life. For all of that, I’m really grateful. It really is my hope that people will hear the sound of God’s voice whispering to them: ‘I know the plans I have for you. Will you trust me? Will you trust me through the hard seasons and through the good seasons? The story is good. Will you trust me and watch it unfold?’”
Beginning in September 2014 until April 2015, Chapman revitalized the well-known concert series "Sam's Place: Music for the Spirit" concert series. The series was once a month and was held at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville with featured performances by the likes of MercyMe, Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith and Third Day.
All About Love
Steven Curtis Chapman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And videos, radios and TV shows
Conferences, retreats
And seminars
We've got books and magazines
To read on everything from A to Z
And a web to surf
But I hope with all this information
Buzzing through our brains
That we will not let our hearts forget
The most important thing
Is love, love, love, love, love
It's all about love, love, love, love, love
Everything else comes down to this
Nothing any higher on the list than love
It's all about love
Now they're fighting in the Middle East
And they're fighting down on 7th street
And there are fights
In my own house on given days
It's like something's lurking deep inside
That can't seem to be satisfied
But life was not meant
To be lived this way
'Cause it's true for every man
And woman, every boy and girl
That our only hope for living
Here together in this world
Is love, love, love, love, love
It's all about love, love, love, love, love
Everything else comes down to this
Nothing any higher on the list than love
This is the reason we were made
To know the love of our creator
And to give the love He's given us away
Yeah, the Maker and the Father
And the God of everything
He says to love love love
He says love love love
Love love love
'Cause after all it's all about love
God says, love, love, love, love, love
It's all about love, love, love, love, love
Everything else comes down to this
Nothing any higher on the list than love
'Cause after all it's all about love
It's all about love, love, love, love, love
It's all about love, love, love, love, love
It's all about love, love, love, love, love
Steven Curtis Chapman's song "All About Love" emphasizes the importance of love in a time when people are continuously consuming information from various sources. Chapman implores us to remember that love is the most critical aspect of life, and everything else revolves around it despite our different backgrounds, cultures, and beliefs. The song's lyrics serve as a reminder that regardless of our differences, we need to come together to love and care for one another to make the world a better place.
The first verse emphasizes the information overload people experience daily from different sources such as books, tapes, videos, radio, and television shows. These sources can be overwhelming, and it's easy to forget that love should be at the forefront of our minds. The second verse outlines several issues that affect humanity, such as wars and fights, reminding us that the world needs love more than ever.
The chorus repeats the phrase "It's all about love" five times, emphasizing the significance of love in our lives. Chapman reiterates that everything else we do should lead us back to love, and love should be our priority. The bridge further emphasizes that love is a message from God and that we were created to love and to show love to others.
Overall, "All About Love" is a beautiful reminder to prioritize love in our lives no matter how busy we get. It reminds us that the world needs love more than ever, and with more love, we can make a positive difference in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
We've got CD's, tapes
We have access to various forms of media
And videos, radios and TV shows
We have access to visual and auditory forms of media
Conferences, retreats
We have access to events where people gather for various reasons
And seminars
We have access to educational events where people learn and discuss various topics
We've got books and magazines
We have access to written materials
To read on everything from A to Z
Written materials cover a wide range of topics
And a web to surf
We have access to the internet, which contains various types of media and information
From anywhere we are
We can access media and information from anywhere with internet coverage
But I hope with all this information
Despite all the access we have to different forms of media and information
Buzzing through our brains
Being absorbed and processed in our minds
That we will not let our hearts forget
We should not neglect the importance of love in our lives
The most important thing
The most vital aspect of our existence
Is love, love, love, love, love
Love is paramount
It's all about love, love, love, love, love
Everything derives its essence from love
Everything else comes down to this
All other pursuits and pursuits are secondary
Nothing any higher on the list than love
Love reigns supreme
Now they're fighting in the Middle East
Conflict and violence are prevalent in some parts of the world
And they're fighting down on 7th street
Conflict and violence can also occur in our neighborhoods
And there are fights
Disputes and conflicts happen
In my own house on given days
Even our personal relationships and households are not immune to conflict
It's like something's lurking deep inside
There may be underlying issues that give rise to conflict and violence
That can't seem to be satisfied
These issues cannot be resolved through violence or conflict
But life was not meant
Our purpose in life is not
To be lived this way
To be filled with conflict and violence
'Cause it's true for every man
This is true for everyone
And woman, every boy and girl
irrespective of age or gender
That our only hope for living
The only way to live a meaningful and fulfilling life
Here together in this world
Together in this world with others
Is love, love, love, love, love
Love is the only way
This is the reason we were made
Our purpose for existence
To know the love of our creator
To experience the love of God who created us
And to give the love He's given us away
To share the love we have received with others
Yeah, the Maker and the Father
God, our Creator and Father
And the God of everything
God, who is sovereign over everything
He says to love love love
God commands us to love
He says love love love
God's message is about love
Love love love
Love is the core message
'Cause after all it's all about love
For all things, love is the most important
God says, love, love, love, love, love
God's message is about love
It's all about love, love, love, love, love
All aspects of our existence are rooted in love
Everything else comes down to this
Love is the foundation of all things
Nothing any higher on the list than love
Love is the highest priority
'Cause after all it's all about love
All things are grounded in love
It's all about love, love, love, love, love
Love is the key element
It's all about love, love, love, love, love
Love encapsulates all
It's all about love, love, love, love, love
Love is truly what it's all about
Lyrics © CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: STEVEN CURTIS CHAPMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind