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.
Dive
Steven Curtis Chapman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The long awaited rains
Have fallen hard upon the thirsty ground
And carved their way to where
The wild and rushing river can be found
And like the rains
I have been carried to where the river flows, yeah
My heart is racing, and my feet are weak
I know there is no turing back
Once my feet have left the ledge
And in the rush I hear a voice
That's telling me to take a leap of faith
So here I go
[Chorus]
I'm diving in, I'm going deep, in over my head I want to be
Caught in the rush, lost in the flow, in over my head I want to go
The river's deep, the river's wide, the river's water is alive
So sink or swim, I'm diving in
There is a supernatural power
In this mighty river's flow
It can bring the dead to life
And it can fill an empty soul
And give a heart the only thing
Worth living and worth dying for, yeah
But we will never know the awesome power
Of the grace of God
Until we let ourselves get swept away
Into this holy flood
So if you take my hand
We'll close our eyes and count to three
And take the leap of faith
Come on let's go
[Chorus]
[Bridge]
Oh...Come on let's go
[Chorus: x2]
The song "Dive" by Steven Curtis Chapman has a philosophical theme about the transformative power of faith. The first verse draws an analogy between the thirst for water in dry land to a spiritual thirst that can be quenched by taking a leap of faith into the flow of God's love. The singer is ready to abandon their fear and limitations, disregarding the danger that comes with leaving their comfort zone. They are trusting that the flow of the river (symbolic of the "grace of God") will carry them and sustain them. The lyrics reflect a sense of urgency to surrender to God's will, and to experience the transformative power of being vulnerable and trusting.
The chorus is a call to action, imploring the listener to fully immerse themselves in worship and surrender to the divine will of God. Steven Curtis Chapman uses vivid language to describe the experience of being caught in the rush, lost in the flow of the river. There is a hint of danger, yet the singer enthusiastically, even joyfully, submits to it. The bridge acts as a final push to take the leap of faith and trust in God, suggesting that jointly taking that step of faith can lead to great transformation, especially if we open our hearts and minds to the mystery of God's grace.
Line by Line Meaning
The long awaited rains
After waiting for so long, the much-needed rains have finally arrived.
Have fallen hard upon the thirsty ground
The dry and thirsty soil has received the heavy rain in abundance.
And carved their way to where
The rain has created a path leading to
The wild and rushing river can be found
the river which flows freely and rapidly into the path created by the rain.
And like the rains
This compares the artist's experience to that of the rain.
I have been carried to where the river flows, yeah
The path created by the rain has taken the singer to the place where the river flows.
My heart is racing, and my feet are weak
The singer feels nervous and afraid.
As I walk to the edge
The artist walks towards the place where the river is.
I know there is no turning back
The artist understands that once they begin, there's no going back.
Once my feet have left the ledge
Once the artist jumps, there's no way to change their mind.
And in the rush I hear a voice
As the singer falls, they hear a voice.
That's telling me to take a leap of faith
The voice encourages the artist to take a risk and have faith.
So here I go
The singer is about to take the leap.
I'm diving in, I'm going deep, in over my head I want to be
The singer is fully committed and wants to go all the way, even if it means struggling.
Caught in the rush, lost in the flow, in over my head I want to go
The idea of getting lost in the experience is exciting to the singer.
The river's deep, the river's wide, the river's water is alive
The river is powerful and full of life.
So sink or swim, I'm diving in
There is no other choice for the artist but to take the plunge, regardless of the outcome.
There is a supernatural power
Something beyond the physical world exists.
In this mighty river's flow
This incredible force is present in the river.
It can bring the dead to life
The supernatural power can revive and renew life.
And it can fill an empty soul
The same supernatural power can fill the emptiness within a person.
And give a heart the only thing
It is the one and only thing that the heart needs.
Worth living and worth dying for, yeah
This thing is so meaningful and important that it's worth living and dying for.
But we will never know the awesome power
The full power of this force will remain unknown to us.
Of the grace of God
This power is the grace of God.
Until we let ourselves get swept away
We won't experience the full power of this force until we allow ourselves to be carried away by it.
Into this holy flood
The singer is urging others to join them in experiencing the grace of God through the metaphor of a flood.
So if you take my hand
Joining the artist on this journey requires accepting their invitation.
We'll close our eyes and count to three
The artist suggests that the jump requires a leap of faith that requires bravery.
And take the leap of faith
The singer encourages taking this risk.
Come on let's go
The singer is excited and urging others to join them as they take the leap.
[Chorus: x2]
The repetition is emphasizing the call to action and the joy of the journey.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BEN CHAPMAN, FRANCESCA LONGRIGG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@littletexas1882
I'm 28 now. But, I remember to dancing to this with my friend's in the Church van on the way to VBS. 💜💛😁 Praise God! 🙌
@robertvandermay9647
same. we need music like this to make a comeback in the christian music scene
@JosephKannatRaj
So do us. We Loved this Song.
@dylianmcdaniel3503
Bruh same here and I’m 29 lol
@JosephKannatRaj
@@dylianmcdaniel3503 What a memory for us. Reconnecting the memories. Sure we are getting old 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
@elyajustina3752
yes!!!! me too!! I'm 32. we had the CD at home. Ontario
@rogerself9987
I saw Steven perform this song about 10 years ago. Dived in and received God's grace. God's Not Dead!
@brendongeorge73
I love u d song t
@RedBeardedLife
This was the song that got me into Christian music...And still my all time favorite!!
@bearbbb12
Steven Ward Amen