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.
We Three Kings
Steven Curtis Chapman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bearing gifts, we traverse afar
Field and fountain, moor and mountain
Following yonder star
Born a king on Bethlehem's plain
Gold I bring to crown Him again
King forever, ceasing never
O Star of wonder, star of night
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding
Guide us to thy perfect light
Frankincense to offer have I
My gift of love and sacrifice
Prayer and praising, all men raising
Worship Him, God on high
O Star of wonder, star of night
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding
Guide us to thy perfect light
Myrrh is mine, it's bitter perfume
Breathes a life of gathering gloom
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying
Sealed in the stone-cold tomb
Glorious now, behold Him, arise
King and God and sacrifice
Alleluia, alleluia
Sounds through the Earth and skies
O Star of wonder, star of night
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding
Guide us to thy perfect light
O Star of wonder, star of night
Guide us to thy perfect light
The lyrics of Steven Curtis Chapman's "We Three Kings" is a retelling of the story of the three wise men who followed a star to find the baby Jesus, as described in the Bible’s account of the Nativity. The song tells of the kings' long journey from the Orient bearing gifts for the newborn King, as they follow the star which leads them to the place where the Christ child is born. The first verse focuses on the wise men's journey, as they traverse vast distances over rough terrain in search of the prophesized king. Throughout the song, the gifts presented by the Magi are described: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. These gifts symbolize Jesus' kingship, priesthood, and ultimate sacrifice as the Messiah.
In the third verse, it describes the gift of Frankincense, which is presented as a symbol of Jesus' priesthood, and the accompanying sacrifice that it represents. The final verse speaks of myrrh, an oil used to anoint corpses and prepare them for burial. Here, it symbolizes Jesus' death and eventual resurrection. The song ends with a triumphant proclamation of Jesus as King and God, with the sound of "Alleluias" ringing throughout the heavens and the earth.
Line by Line Meaning
We three kings of Orient are
We, three wise men from the East, are traveling to see the newborn King.
Bearing gifts, we traverse afar
Carrying presents for the newborn King, we have been on a long and strenuous journey.
Field and fountain, moor and mountain
We have traveled through various landscapes, both natural and man-made.
Following yonder star
Guided by a star in the sky, we are following it in order to find the newborn King.
Born a king on Bethlehem's plain
Jesus Christ, the newborn King, was born in Bethlehem on a plain.
Gold I bring to crown Him again
I bring gold as a gift to recognize and honor Jesus as the newborn King.
King forever, ceasing never
Jesus is and will be the everlasting King, never to be dethroned.
Over us all to reign
Jesus will reign over everyone and everything, like a King ruling a kingdom.
O Star of wonder, star of night
The star that we are following is a wondrous sight to see in the night sky.
Star with royal beauty bright
The star is magnificent in its appearance, befitting a royal occasion.
Westward leading, still proceeding
The star is guiding us in a westerly direction, and we are continuing to follow it.
Guide us to thy perfect light
We are asking the star to lead us to the perfect light of the newborn King.
Frankincense to offer have I
I am bringing frankincense as a gift to offer to the newborn King.
My gift of love and sacrifice
My gift of frankincense is a symbol of my love and devotion to the newborn King.
Prayer and praising, all men raising
We will offer prayers and praises to God, and encourage all men to do the same.
Worship Him, God on high
We will worship the newborn King, who is God, the highest deity.
Myrrh is mine, it's bitter perfume
I also bring myrrh as a gift, which has a bitter and unpleasant smell.
Breathes a life of gathering gloom
Myrrh symbolizes the sadness and tragedy of Jesus' life, and foretells of his death.
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying
These are all actions that Jesus will be subjected to, leading to his eventual death.
Sealed in the stone-cold tomb
Jesus will be buried in a tomb, which will be sealed shut with a stone.
Glorious now, behold Him, arise
Jesus, who is now glorified, has risen from the dead.
King and God and sacrifice
Jesus is not only a King and God, but he is also the ultimate sacrifice for humanity's sins.
Alleluia, alleluia
We proclaim our joy and gratitude towards God and Jesus with this word of praise.
Sounds through the Earth and skies
Our praise and worship is echoed throughout the Earth and the heavens above.
O Star of wonder, star of night
Once again, we marvel at and give thanks for the star that guided us to Jesus.
Westward leading, still proceeding
The star will continue to lead and guide us on our journey.
Guide us to thy perfect light
We ask the star to guide us to the perfect light of Jesus, the newborn King.
O Star of wonder, star of night
We continue to express our awe and appreciation for the star that led us to Jesus.
Guide us to thy perfect light
We ask the star to continue to lead us to the perfect light of Jesus.
Lyrics © HOPE PUBLISHING COMPANY
Written by: JOHN H. H. HOPKINS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind