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.
Go Tell It On The Mountain
Steven Curtis Chapman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Over the hills and everywhere
Go, tell it on the mountain,
That Jesus Christ is born.
Jesus is born.
While shepherds kept watching
Over silent flocks by night
There shone a holy light.
Let's go tell it on the mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere
Go, tell it on the mountain,
That Jesus Christ is born
Yeah, He is born
The shepherds feared and trembled,
When lo! above the earth,
Rang out the angels chorus
That hailed the Savior's birth.
Let's go tell it on the mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere
Go, tell it on the mountain,
That Jesus Christ is born
He is born
He is born
Hallelujah
Jesus is born
He's born
The Savior is born
?
Get the word out
Find the highest mountain and shout
He's born
Oh
Down in a lowly manger
The humble Christ was born
And God sent us salvation
That blessed Christmas morn.
Everybody go tell it on the mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere
Go, tell it on the mountain,
That Jesus, He is born, He is born
My Jesus, Jesus Christ is born
He is born
Got to tell it on the mountain
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
The Savior is born
The song "Go Tell It On The Mountain" is a Christmas carol that urges people to spread the news of Jesus Christ's birth. The upbeat tempo and lively rhythm of the song are suitable for celebrating the joyous news of the Savior's arrival. The opening line, "Go, tell it on the mountain," suggests that the news of Jesus' birth should be proclaimed to everyone, including those in distant places. The lyricist uses the image of shepherds watching their flocks by night, who were blessed by witnessing a holy light in the heavens, to bring focus to the momentous nature of Jesus' birth.
The chorus exhorts everyone to join in spreading the news of Christ's birth. The shepherds' fear and trembling at the sudden appearance of the angels proclaiming the Savior's birth emphasize the deep reverence that those who witnessed the event felt. The song's final lines reiterate the urgency of the message, inviting everyone to "Go, tell it on the mountain" and "find the highest mountain and shout," underscoring the importance of making sure the world knows of the arrival of Christ, the Savior.
Line by Line Meaning
Go, tell it on the mountain,
Spread the news of Jesus' birth far and wide
Over the hills and everywhere
In every place and to every person
That Jesus Christ is born.
To inform everyone that the Savior of the world has been born
While shepherds kept watching
The shepherds were carefully keeping an eye on their flock
Over silent flocks by night
During a peaceful and quiet night
Behold throughout the heavens
Suddenly, the sky was filled with an amazing sight
There shone a holy light.
A holy and divine light was seen by the shepherds
The shepherds feared and trembled,
The shepherds were afraid and shaken
When lo! above the earth,
Suddenly, they saw something amazing in the sky
Rang out the angels chorus
The angels sang a beautiful and heavenly song
That hailed the Savior's birth.
This song celebrated the birth of the Savior of the world
Down in a lowly manger
In a humble stable
The humble Christ was born
Jesus, the Savior of the world, was born in that stable
And God sent us salvation
God sent the ultimate gift of salvation to the world
That blessed Christmas morn.
On that special and joyful morning of Christmas
Everybody go tell it on the mountain,
Everyone should spread the news of Jesus' birth
That Jesus, He is born, He is born
To share that Jesus, the Savior, has been born
My Jesus, Jesus Christ is born
Personal recognition of this important event
Got to tell it on the mountain
It is important to spread this news
Hallelujah
Praise the Lord
The Savior is born
The one who will save us all has finally arrived
Lyrics © CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: PAUL BATEMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind