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.
Great Expectations
Steven Curtis Chapman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A place I've been so many times before
Familiar thoughts and phrases that I know so well
But dare I go where I don't understand
And do I dare remember where I am
I stand before the great eternal throne
The one that God Himself is seated on
And I, I've been invited as a son
Believe the unbelievable
Receive the inconceivable
And see beyond my wildest imagination
Lord, I come with great expectations
So wake the hope that slumbers in my soul
Stir the fire inside and make it glow
I'm trustin' in a love that has no end
The Savior of this world has called me friend
And I, I've been invited with the Son
Oh I, I've been invited to come and
We've been invited with the Son
And we've been invited to come and
Believe the unbelievable
Receive the inconceivable
And see beyond our wildest imagination
Lord, we come with great expectations
The song Great Expectations by Steven Curtis Chapman is a powerful and emotional Christian song that talks about the experience of standing before God's throne with both awe and humility. The song starts with the singer talking about the many times that he had been to God's heavenly realm before, but then he questions if he dares go somewhere that he does not understand. The singer stands before the great eternal throne where God himself is seated and realizes that he has been invited as a son. He has been invited to believe the unbelievable, receive the inconceivable and to see beyond his wildest imagination.
The song is all about standing before God's throne and having faith in his plan for us. It is also about letting God wake the hope that slumbers in our souls and trusting in a love that has no end. The singer believes that the savior of this world, Jesus Christ, has called him friend and he is grateful for this invitation to come with the Son. The song encourages listeners to come with great expectations, believing the unbelievable, and receiving the inconceivable.
This song is an incredible reminder for listeners to trust in God's plan and to always have hope. It is a message of faith and courage that encourages us to stand before God's throne with humility, and to always trust in His plan. It also reminds us that we are all invited to come and believe in the unbelievable, receive the inconceivable, and see beyond our wildest imaginations.
Line by Line Meaning
The morning finds me at heavens door
I find myself at the gates of heaven.
A place I've been so many times before
I've been here many times.
Familiar thoughts and phrases that I know so well
I know the usual things said and thought about here.
But dare I go where I don't understand
Do I have the courage to explore the unknown?
And do I dare remember where I am
Will I recall where I really am right now?
I stand before the great eternal throne
I stand before God's throne.
The one that God Himself is seated on
The throne where God sits.
And I, I've been invited as a son
I, as a son, have been invited here.
Oh I, I've been invited to come and
I've been invited to come here.
Believe the unbelievable
Believe things that seem impossible.
Receive the inconceivable
Receive things that are beyond comprehension.
And see beyond my wildest imagination
See things that I can't even imagine.
Lord, I come with great expectations
I come with high hopes.
So wake the hope that slumbers in my soul
Awaken the hope that's sleeping within me.
Stir the fire inside and make it glow
Ignite the passion within me and make it strong.
I'm trustin' in a love that has no end
I trust in a love that never dies.
The Savior of this world has called me friend
The Savior of the world considers me a friend.
And I, I've been invited with the Son
I've been invited as a part of God's family, along with the Son.
We've been invited with the Son
We, as believers, have been invited into God's family along with the Son.
Lord, we come with great expectations
We come to God with great hopes.
Believe the unbelievable
Believe things that seem impossible.
Receive the inconceivable
Receive things that are beyond comprehension.
And see beyond our wildest imagination
See things that we can't even imagine.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: Steven Chapman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Stacie VanTuyl
One of my favorite Christian songs from SCC!! This song makes me cry everytime.
Sandy Pickard
No one writes praise and worship like Steven Curtis. Scriptural, inspirational, uplifting, beautiful.
Alison Morgan
Still one of my favorite SCC songs. So beautiful in message and musically
J. S.
I loved this album. Moving out west from my small town, this was a record that soothed me in times of trouble. God promises are awesome. To Him be the glory!
Tonne L Miessek
Lovely song. God Bless
Sara Polanco
I love this song I hear it every night before I go to sleep
Freddy Vazquez
Me too.
Rhonda Dominguez
THANK YOU FATHER FOR BROTHER CHAPMAN'S GIFT OF MUSIC FROM YOU.THANK YOU FATHER FOR INSPIRING THIS BEAUTIFUL, NURTURING PIECE. THANK YOU FATHER AND BROTHER CHAPMAN.🙏👆💛
Rhonda Dominguez
I listen to this when happy, depressed, when in distress matters not always a comfort always an answer always joyful. Father bless you all
Lina Purtscher
love this song.