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.
Walk
Steven Curtis Chapman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He gave thirty years to the lumber yard
Loving his family and working hard
Got a faith like a solid rock
He's just doing the walk, yeah
I've got a friend named Larry
He sends me letters from a foreign land
To answer the holy call
He's just doing the walk
Oh, you can run with the big dog
You can fly with the eagle
You can jump through all the hoops
And climb the ladder to the top
But when it all comes down
You know it all comes down to the walk
It all come down to the walk
Now there's a man I know
He said He'd come to show us the way
He died on a cross and He rose from the grave
And proved He was more than talk
He taught us the walk, yes He did
And now I'm singing my songs
Standing up on a big and bright stage, yeah
And I do my dance while the music plays
But when the music stops
Am I doing the walk?
'Cause you can run with the big dog
You can fly with the eagle
You can jump through all the hoops
And climb the ladder to the top
But when it all comes down
You know it all comes down to this
Do justly, love mercy
Walk humbly with your God
Do justly, love mercy
Walk humbly with your God
Do justly, love mercy
Walk humbly with your God
Do justly, love mercy
Walk humbly with your God
Walk humbly with your God
'Cause you can run with the big dog
You can fly with the eagles
You can jump through all the hoops
And climb your ladder to the top
But when it all comes down
You know it all comes down, down, down, down, down
To the walk
To the walk
To the walk
To the walk
Do justly, love mercy
Walk humbly with your God
Do justly, love mercy
Walk humbly with your God
Do justly, love mercy
Walk humbly with your God
You all keep doing the walk
The song "The Walk" by Steven Curtis Chapman is an uplifting and inspiring ballad that highlights the importance of leading a life of integrity and justice. The lyrics describe several people who exemplify this notion of "doing the walk" in their everyday lives. The first verse speaks of the singer's Grandpa Rudd, who spent thirty years working hard at a lumber yard while also being deeply committed to his family and faith. The second verse speaks of the singer's friend Larry, who moved with his family to a foreign land to follow a holy calling. These individuals are held up as examples of what it means to be "doing the walk" - to live a life marked by hard work, commitment, and faith.
The chorus provides the central message of the song: "you can run with the big dog/you can fly with the eagle/you can jump through all the hoops/and climb the ladder to the top/but when it all comes down/you know it all comes down to the walk." In other words, success in life is not just about achieving external markers of success (running with the big dog, climbing the ladder to the top), but also about the inner virtues of justice, mercy, and humility.
The final verse speaks of Jesus as a model for what it means to "do the walk." He is described as the one who "showed us the way" by dying on the cross and then rising from the dead. The verse ends with the singer reflecting on his own performance as a musician - he may be "singing my songs/standing up on a big and bright stage," but he still asks himself whether he is "doing the walk" in his own life.
Overall, "The Walk" is a powerful song that encourages us to lead lives of integrity and purpose. It highlights the importance of practicing justice, mercy, and humility, and reminds us that true success is not just about external achievements, but also about inner virtues.
Line by Line Meaning
I've got a Grandpa Rudd
I have a grandfather named Rudd
He gave thirty years to the lumber yard
He worked at the lumber yard for thirty years
Loving his family and working hard
He took care of his family and worked diligently
Got a faith like a solid rock
He has an unwavering faith
He's just doing the walk, yeah
He is living his life according to his faith
I've got a friend named Larry
I have a friend named Larry
He sends me letters from a foreign land
He writes to me from a different country
He moved there with his kids and his pretty wife Mary
He relocated there with his family
To answer the holy call
To pursue a religious calling
He's just doing the walk
He is living his life according to his calling
Oh, you can run with the big dog
You can be successful and powerful
You can fly with the eagle
You can soar high and achieve great things
You can jump through all the hoops
You can meet all the requirements and expectations
And climb the ladder to the top
You can achieve high status and success
But when it all comes down
In the end
You know it all comes down to the walk
What really matters is how you live your life
Now there's a man I know
I know a man
He said He'd come to show us the way
He claimed to show us the path to follow
He died on a cross and He rose from the grave
He was crucified and resurrected
And proved He was more than talk
He demonstrated that His words were true
He taught us the walk, yes He did
He taught us how to live our lives
And now I'm singing my songs
I am singing my music
Standing up on a big and bright stage, yeah
Performing on a grand stage with bright lights
And I do my dance while the music plays
I am dancing while the music is on
But when the music stops
When the performance ends
Am I doing the walk?
Am I living my life according to my beliefs?
'Cause you can run with the big dog
You can be successful and powerful
You can fly with the eagle
You can soar high and achieve great things
You can jump through all the hoops
You can meet all the requirements and expectations
And climb the ladder to the top
You can achieve high status and success
But when it all comes down
In the end
You know it all comes down to this
What truly matters is this
Do justly, love mercy
Act fairly, show compassion
Walk humbly with your God
Live your life with humility and faith
Walk humbly with your God
Live your life with humility and faith
Do justly, love mercy
Act fairly, show compassion
Walk humbly with your God
Live your life with humility and faith
Do justly, love mercy
Act fairly, show compassion
Walk humbly with your God
Live your life with humility and faith
Do justly, love mercy
Act fairly, show compassion
Walk humbly with your God
Live your life with humility and faith
You all keep doing the walk
Continue living your lives according to your faith
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Steven Curtis Chapman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind