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.
Joy to the World
Steven Curtis Chapman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Let Earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare Him room
And Heaven and nature sing
And Heaven and nature sing
And Heaven and nature sing
Joy to the world, the Savior reigns
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
No more let sins and sorrows grow
Nor thorns infest the ground
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found
Far as the curse is found
As far as the curse is found
So sing for joy from the top of the mountains
Sing for joy from the dark valley floor
To the ends of the Earth
Let the news of His birth ring out loud
Bring joy to the world
He rules the Earth
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love
Wonders of His love
And wonders of His love
Oh, the wonders of His love
Sing joy to the world
The lyrics to Steven Curtis Chapman's "Joy to the World" are a celebration of the arrival of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. The opening verse announces the arrival of the Lord, calling on the Earth to receive her King, and urging every heart to prepare a place for Him. The chorus, which is repeated multiple times, calls for Heaven and nature to join in singing and proclaiming the joy that has come to the world with the birth of Jesus Christ.
The second verse acknowledges that the Savior not only has come, but reigns and calls on all men to employ their songs to repeat the sounding joy that is found in the fields, the floods, the rocks, the hills, and the plains. The third verse urges for the end of sins and sorrows, and for the blessings to flow from Jesus Christ, breaking the curse and bringing joy to the world. The song ends with a call to sing for joy, from the top of the mountains and the darkest valleys, to the very ends of the Earth, proclaiming the wonders of Jesus Christ's love.
Overall, "Joy to the World" is a triumphant celebration of the arrival of Jesus Christ, and a call for all to join in singing and proclaiming the joy that comes with the Gospel message.
Line by Line Meaning
Joy to the world, the Lord is come
Let us all join in celebration for the arrival of our Lord
Let Earth receive her King
Let all of Earth welcome our King with open arms
Let every heart prepare Him room
May every heart make space for Him and welcome Him in
And Heaven and nature sing
Even the heavens and nature celebrate our Lord's arrival
And Heaven and nature sing
Even the heavens and nature celebrate our Lord's arrival
And Heaven and nature sing
Even the heavens and nature celebrate our Lord's arrival
Joy to the world, the Savior reigns
Let us all sing in joy as our Savior reigns over us
Let men, their songs employ
Let all people sing songs of praise for Him
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Let all of creation join together in singing His praises
Repeat the sounding joy
Continue to sing with exultation and happiness
Repeat the sounding joy
Continue to sing with exultation and happiness
Repeat the sounding joy
Continue to sing with exultation and happiness
No more let sins and sorrows grow
Let us all strive to live without sin and sorrow
Nor thorns infest the ground
May the troubles and problems of the world not overtake us
He comes to make His blessings flow
He has come to send His blessings to us all
Far as the curse is found
His blessings will reach every corner of the Earth
Far as the curse is found
His blessings will reach every corner of the Earth
As far as the curse is found
His blessings will reach every corner of the Earth
So sing for joy from the top of the mountains
Let us all sing with joy no matter how high or low we are
Sing for joy from the dark valley floor
May we all sing in joy even during dark or difficult times
To the ends of the Earth
May His message and love reach every part of the Earth
Let the news of His birth ring out loud
May His birth be proclaimed loud and clear for all to hear
Bring joy to the world
May we all spread joy and love to the world
He rules the Earth
He is the ruler of all we see
And makes the nations prove
May all nations come to realize and accept His power and love
The glories of His righteousness
Let us all praise Him for His just and moral actions
And wonders of His love
May we all be amazed and moved by His immense love for us
Wonders of His love
May we all be amazed and moved by His immense love for us
And wonders of His love
May we all be amazed and moved by His immense love for us
Oh, the wonders of His love
His love is truly immense and awe-inspiring
Sing joy to the world
Let us all sing with joy and praise for our Lord
Lyrics © HAL LEONARD LLC, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Integrity Music
Written by: Isaac Watts, G Handel, Roger Wagner
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@maryalsop2289
He is amazing after all he & his family has been through he keeps on. He is a living testimony.
@RayPublishing
Another great song by Steven Curtis Chapman-Joy To The World!
@TimOngMusic
One of the Heroes of Christian Contemporary Music of all times :) Always enjoys his twist in different Christmas carols.
@mecwanarron
Man, your guitar skills are just awesome. You inspire me Steven. After going through so much in life, your dedication to Christ Jesus and glorifying Him by your music is amazing. Loved some variations of this song, God bless...
@aranit69
may God always guide your life and your song for His glory ,you are a blessing .
@kayeswanson6915
Awesome version of Joy to the World! I have been a SCC fan for years!
@Markofrespect
Awesome version of a classic Christmas song.... Now all I need is the tuning and the chords!!
@etondelton7094
Awesome!! God gave you a great talent!!
@Herowebcomics
He looks different, but that voice is undeniable!
@DexScene
Love him so much. He has such a cool young man's voice :$