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.
Much of You
Steven Curtis Chapman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And watch the sun rise
Follow the mountains
Where they touch the sky
Ponder the vastness
And the depths of the sea
And think for a moment
The point of it all was to make much of me
And You are the thunder and
I want to make much of You, Jesus
I want to make much of Your love
I want to live today to give You the praise
That You alone are so worthy of
I want to make much of Your mercy
I want to make much of Your cross
I give You my life
Take it and let it be used
To make much of You
And how can I kneel here
And think of the cross
The thorns and the whip and the nails and the spear
The infinite cost
To purchase my pardon
And bear all my shame
To think I have anything worth boasting in except for Your name
Cause I am a sinner
And You are the Savior
I want to make much of You, Jesus
I want to make much of Your love
I want to live today to give You the praise
That You alone are so worthy of
I want to make much of Your mercy
I want to make much of Your cross
I give You my life
Take it and let it be used
To make much of You
This is Your love, oh God
Not to make much of me
But to send Your own son
So that we could make much of You
For all eternity
I want to make much of You Jesus
I want to make much of Your love
I want to live today to give You the praise
That You alone are so worthy of
I want to make much of Your mercy
I want to make much of Your cross
I give You my life
Take it and let it be used
To make much of You
I want to make much of You
Much of You Jesus
Steven Curtis Chapman's song "Much of You" is a powerful expression of humility and devotion to God. The lyrics express the singer's wonder at the majesty of God revealed in creation, as well as their recognition that their own life is small in comparison. They pledge to use their life to glorify God and make much of Him instead of trying to make much of themselves.
The first part of the song describes the singer's experience of admiring nature and considering its point. They marvel at the sun rising, the mountains touching the sky, and the depths of the sea. However, as they ponder the vastness of creation, they realize that the point of it all was not to make much of them, but to make much of God. The singer humbly acknowledges their own smallness and whispers, while God is like thunder. They then express their desire to live a life that makes much of God, to give Him the praise that He alone is worthy of, and to make much of His love, mercy, and sacrifice on the cross.
The second half of the song shifts to the singer's reflection on the cross and their own sinfulness. They contemplate the cost of their salvation and recognize that they have nothing worth boasting about except for the name of Jesus. The singer acknowledges that they are a sinner and that Jesus is their Savior. The song ends with a declaration that God's love is not for the purpose of making much of the singer, but to send His own son so that we could make much of Him for all eternity.
Overall, "Much of You" is a powerful reminder that the purpose of our lives is not to make much of ourselves, but to make much of God. It challenges us to live a life that glorifies God and acknowledges our dependence on Him.
Line by Line Meaning
How could I stand here
How could I stand here and witness the beauty of nature and not realize that it was created to glorify God?
And watch the sun rise
How could I watch the sun rise, something so beautiful and majestic, and not see it as a reflection of God's glory?
Follow the mountains
How could I follow the mountains, where they touch the sky, and not be reminded of God's power and greatness?
Where they touch the sky
How could I not be moved by the mountains, which touch the sky, and not be in awe of God's greatness?
Ponder the vastness
How could I ponder the vastness of the sea and not be amazed by God's creativity and power?
And the depths of the sea
How could I not be in awe of the depths of the sea, which are so mysterious and unexplored, and not see them as evidence of God's infinite wisdom?
And think for a moment
How could I think for even a moment that the purpose of all this beauty and greatness is to make much of me?
The point of it all was to make much of me
How could I be so self-centered to think that the point of all creation is to glorify me, when in truth it is to glorify God?
Cause I'm just a whisper
Compared to God's power and greatness, I am nothing but a faint whisper.
And You are the thunder
God, on the other hand, is like the sound of thunder, powerful and unstoppable.
I want to make much of You, Jesus
My desire is to live my life in a way that brings glory to you, Jesus, not to myself.
I want to make much of Your love
I want to make it clear to others how amazing and life-changing your love is.
I want to live today to give You the praise
Today, and every day, I want to live my life in a way that brings you honor and praise.
That You alone are so worthy of
Because you, God, are the only one who truly deserves praise and glory.
I want to make much of Your mercy
I want to make it clear to others how undeserving we are of your mercy, and how freely you have given it to us.
I want to make much of Your cross
I want to remember and honor the sacrifice you made on the cross, which made it possible for us to be saved.
I give You my life
I surrender my life to you, God, and seek to live according to your will.
Take it and let it be used
Use my life, God, for your glory and your purposes.
To make much of You
Let my life be a testimony to your greatness and your love, rather than to my own achievements.
And how can I kneel here
How can I kneel before you, God, and not be overwhelmed by your holiness and your grace?
And think of the cross
How can I not think of the cross, where you paid the ultimate price for my sins?
The thorns and the whip and the nails and the spear
How can I not be moved by the suffering you endured on my behalf, the thorns and the whip and the nails and the spear?
The infinite cost
The cost of my salvation was infinite, and yet you willingly paid it because of your great love for me.
To purchase my pardon
You paid the price for my pardon, so that I could be forgiven and made right with God.
And bear all my shame
You took on all my shame and guilt, so that I could be free from the burden of sin.
To think I have anything worth boasting in except for Your name
In light of your great love and sacrifice for me, it is clear that I have nothing to boast about except for your name.
Cause I am a sinner
I am a sinner in need of your grace and forgiveness.
And You are the Savior
Thankfully, you are my Savior, who has redeemed me and made me right with God.
This is Your love, oh God
God, your love for me is not about making much of me, but about adopting me into your family and making much of yourself.
Not to make much of me
Your love for me is not about elevating me or glorifying me, but about showering your love and grace on me.
But to send Your own son
Your love for me was demonstrated by sending your own son, Jesus, to pay the price for my sin.
So that we could make much of You
Your ultimate desire is for us to make much of you, God, by living our lives in a way that reflects your love, grace, and power.
For all eternity
This will be our joy and our purpose for all eternity, to make much of you, God, and to enjoy your love and presence forever.
Lyrics © CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP, BMG Rights Management, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: Steven Curtis Chapman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind