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.
Angels From The Realms Of Glory
Steven Curtis Chapman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wing your flight o'er all the earth;
Ye who sang creation's story
Now proclaim Messiah's birth
Shepherds, in the field abiding,
Watching o'er your flocks by night,
God with us is now residing;
Come and worship, come and worship,
Come and worship, Christ the newborn king.
Come and worship, come and worship,
Come and worship, Christ the newborn king.
Sinners, wrung with true repentance,
Doomed for guilt to endless pains,
Justice now revokes the sentence,
Mercy calls you, break your chains
Come and worship, come and worship,
Come and worship, Christ the newborn king.
Come and worship, come and worship,
Come and worship, Christ the newborn king.
Though an Infant now we view Him,
He shall fill His Father's throne,
Gather all the nations to Him;
Every knee shall then bow down:
All creation, join in praising
God, the Father, Spirit, Son,
Evermore your voices raising
To th'eternal Three in One.
Come and worship, come and worship,
Come and worship, Christ the newborn king.
Come and worship, come and worship,
Come and worship, Christ the newborn king.
The lyrics of "Angels from the Realms of Glory" by Steven Curtis Chapman beautifully capture the essence of the Christmas story and the invitation to all people to come and worship the newborn King, Jesus Christ. The song begins by addressing the angels, who were present at the creation of the world and now declare the birth of the Messiah. Their flight over the earth symbolizes their proclamation of this glorious event.
The next verse shifts the focus to the shepherds in the fields, who were the first to receive the heavenly announcement. It emphasizes the significance of God choosing to dwell among humanity by stating, "God with us is now residing." The phrase "yonder shines the infant light" describes the star that guided the wise men to Jesus.
The third verse addresses sinners who are burdened with guilt, offering them hope and freedom through Christ's birth. It acknowledges that justice has revoked the sentence of condemnation, and mercy extends an invitation to break free from the chains of sin.
The final verse looks ahead to Jesus' future reign, as it declares that though He is currently depicted as an infant, He will one day fill His Father's throne. It envisions a future where all nations will gather before Him, and every knee shall bow in reverence.
Overall, the song celebrates the wonder and significance of Christ's birth, inviting all people – the angels, the shepherds, the sinners – to come and worship the newborn King.
Line by Line Meaning
Angels from the realms of glory
Celestial beings from heavenly realms
Wing your flight o'er all the earth;
Swiftly travel throughout the entire world;
Ye who sang creation's story
You who once sang the tale of creation
Now proclaim Messiah's birth
Now declare the birth of the Savior
Shepherds, in the field abiding,
Shepherds, dwelling in the fields,
Watching o'er your flocks by night,
Guarding your sheep during the night,
God with us is now residing;
God, who is now living among us;
Yonder shines the infant light
There, the light of the newborn baby is shining
Come and worship, come and worship,
Come and offer reverence, come and offer reverence,
Come and worship, Christ the newborn King.
Come and pay homage to Christ, the recently born King.
Sinners, wrung with true repentance,
Sinners, filled with profound remorse,
Doomed for guilt to endless pains,
Sentenced to endless suffering due to their wrongdoing,
Justice now revokes the sentence,
Justice now cancels the punishment,
Mercy calls you, break your chains
Mercy beckons you, liberate yourselves from bondage
Though an Infant now we view Him,
Even though we currently perceive Him as an Infant,
He shall fill His Father's throne,
He will eventually occupy His Father's majestic seat of power,
Gather all the nations to Him;
Gather all the peoples of the world to His presence;
Every knee shall then bow down:
At that time, every knee will humble itself by bowing:
All creation, join in praising
Let the entirety of creation unite in adoration
God, the Father, Spirit, Son,
God, the Father, the Spirit, and the Son,
Evermore your voices raising
Continuously lift up your voices
To th'eternal Three in One.
To the eternal Trinity.
Come and worship, come and worship,
Come and offer reverence, come and offer reverence,
Come and worship, Christ the newborn King.
Come and pay homage to Christ, the recently born King.
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION
Written by: James Montgomery
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind