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.
The Mountain
Steven Curtis Chapman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Way up high where the peaceful waters flow
To quench my thirsty soul
Up on the mountain
My faith is strengthened by all that I see
You make it easy for me to believe up on the mountain
Oh, up on the mountain
I would love to live up on this mountain
And keep the pain of living life so far away
But I know I can't stay
Up on the mountain
My faith is strengthened by all that I see
You make it easy for me to believe up on the mountain
Oh, up on the mountain
I said I'd go, Lord, wherever You lead
For where You are is where I most want to be
And I can tell we're headed for the valley
My faith is strengthened by all that I've seen
So Lord help me remember what You've shown me
Up on the mountain
You bring me up here on this mountain
For me to rest and learn and grow
I see the truth up on the mountain
And I carry it to the world far below
So as I go down to the valley
Knowing that You will go with me
This is my prayer, Lord
Help me to remember what You've shown me
Up on the mountain
Up on the mountain
I cherish these times up on the mountain
But I can leave this place because I know
Someday You'll take me home to live forever
Up on the mountain
In the song "The Mountain," Steven Curtis Chapman sings about his desire to build a house on a mountain where he could escape the pains of everyday life, find peace and rest. He believes that there's something special about being on the mountain that makes it easier for him to believe and strengthens his faith. The singer acknowledges that he can't stay on the mountain forever and that he has to go down to the valley where life happens. However, he prays that God will help him remember all that he's learned while on the mountain so he can carry it with him to the valley, to the world far below.
The mountain represents a place of spiritual retreat, away from the noise and distractions of life, where we can connect with God and receive His guidance. However, we can't stay on the mountain forever, as we have to go back to the valley, to the world where we face the struggles and trials of life. The singer acknowledges that the mountain is just a temporary dwelling place and that his ultimate home is with God in heaven. The song is a reminder that no matter where we are in life, whether on the mountain or in the valley, we can always find comfort and peace in God.
Line by Line Meaning
I want to build a house up on this mountain
I desire a tranquil life secluded from the turmoil of the world.
Way up high where the peaceful waters flow
I want to reside in an elevated place where my soul can be purified and nourished by serene surroundings.
To quench my thirsty soul
I yearn for a place where my innermost desires can be satisfied.
My faith is strengthened by all that I see
The magnificence of nature reinforces my belief in a higher power.
You make it easy for me to believe up on the mountain
The splendors of the natural world make it effortless for me to have faith in God.
Oh, up on the mountain
The peak provides a safe haven for contemplation and introspection.
I would love to live up on this mountain
I genuinely yearn for the peaceful existence that is attainable up high on the summit.
And keep the pain of living life so far away
To escape the hardships of existence, a life detached from the norms of society sounds appealing.
But I know I can't stay
However desirable life on the mountaintop may be, it is a temporary sanctuary that cannot be sustained indefinitely.
I said I'd go, Lord, wherever You lead
I will follow God's plans even if it strays from my own ambitions.
For where You are is where I most want to be
Being in the presence of God provides the most solace and comfort.
And I can tell we're headed for the valley
Life is not always peaceful or easy, and in addition to the mountain, there will be times of hardship in the valley.
My faith is strengthened by all that I've seen
Everything I see on the mountain gives me the ability to carry on through struggles encountered in life.
So Lord help me remember what You've shown me
I ask God to help me retain all of the valuable insights that were gained while on the mountain.
You bring me up here on this mountain
God has blessed me with the privilege of discovering the beauty and stillness that the mountaintop provides.
For me to rest and learn and grow
The mountain exists as a place for me to reflect, educate myself, and mature.
I see the truth up on the mountain
Being on the summit allows me to discern the truth of existence.
And I carry it to the world far below
I want to share the knowledge and wisdom acquired in the mountains with the rest of the world.
So as I go down to the valley
As I encounter the tribulations of the world, both physically and metaphorically, I'll take the memories of the mountains down with me.
Knowing that You will go with me
I am comforted knowing that God will be present with me in the difficult times in the valley.
This is my prayer, Lord
A request to God for guidance in times of hardship.
Help me to remember what You've shown me
As I navigate the valley, I implore God to aid me in retaining the teachings and understandings received while on the mountaintop.
Up on the mountain
A place of safety and refuge.
I cherish these times up on the mountain
Memorials and significant moments treasured with fondness.
But I can leave this place because I know
I can depart the mountain because I am aware that there is more to life than those times.
Someday You'll take me home to live forever
A hope for eternal life in the presence of God.
Up on the mountain
A safe haven and shelter, both physically and metaphorically.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: GEOFF MOORE, STEVEN CURTIS CHAPMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind