Lyrics
Hey, let me hear you say, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa
Let me hear you say, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa
It's been a real hard couple of months, you had enough (mm hmm)
But it's been hard for everyone, you're not alone, (uh uh)
You've been hurting way too long, let it go and just move on
Make your way down to the altar, hand it over and leave it there
It's gonna be alright (it's gonna be alright)
It's gonna be alright (it's gonna be alright)
It's gonna be alright (it's gonna be alright)
It's gonna be alright (it's gonna be alright)
So everything that you've been worried about (put it on the altar)
You need Him to work it out, He'll work it out yeah (put it on the altar)
All of your burdens just bring them all down and (put it on the altar)
You're gonna get an answer to your prayer,
If you (put it on the altar)
I know you need a healing (yeah) you're sick of being sick, you need relief
You're tired of the pressure (yeah)
You got all this stress and you need some peace
Come on and get your breakthrough (breakthrough)
Or haven't you been suffering long enough?
Make your way down to the altar, hand it over, leave it there
It's gonna be alright (it's gonna be alright)
It's gonna be alright (it's gonna be alright)
It's gonna be alright (it's gonna be alright)
It's gonna be alright (it's gonna be alright)
So everything that you've been worried about (put it on the altar)
You need Him to work it out, He'll work it out yeah (put it on the altar)
All of your burdens just bring them all down and (put it on the altar)
You're gonna get an answer to your prayer,
If you (put it on the altar)
Oh (oh yes you'll get an answer)
You'll get an answer (answer from the Lord)
Oh yes (oh yes you'll get an answer)
You'll get an answer (answer from the Lord)
So you need to put it on, put it on, put it on (put it on the altar)
So you need to put it on, put it on, put it on (put it on the altar)
Oh prayer (oh prayer) changes (changes things)
See I know it does (oh prayer changes things)
So take it to the Lord in prayer (prayer changes things)
Ask Him anything you want cause (prayer changes things)
Listen, you've been worrying and crying
Crying and worrying
But you're not alone, you're not alone no
See you have a friend in Jesus, and he knows all about it
And He's gonna do what He promised you
So everything that you've been worried about (put it on the altar)
You need Him to work it out, He'll work it out yeah (put it on the altar)
All of your burdens just bring them all down and (put it on the altar)
You're gonna get an answer to your prayer,
If you (put it on the altar)
It's gonna be alright (it's gonna be alright)
It's gonna be alright (it's gonna be alright)
It's gonna be alright (it's gonna be alright)
It's gonna be alright (it's gonna be alright)
So you need to put it on, put it on, put it on (put it on the altar)
So you need to put it on, put it on, put it on (put it on the altar)
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
Put It on the Altar speaks to anxiety, illness, pressure, and prolonged suffering through the language of surrender and prayer. Its repeated direction to bring every burden to the altar portrays prayer as an act of handing distress to God rather than carrying it alone. The assurances throughout the song emphasize God’s nearness and ability to give peace, healing, and an answer according to His care.
The lyric’s claim that prayer changes things is reinforced by its movement from worry and tears toward trust. Its language closely parallels 1 Peter 5:7, which calls for every anxiety to be cast on God because He cares, and Philippians 4, where prayer replaces anxious striving and leads to divine peace. The altar functions as the song’s central image of surrender. By repeatedly returning to that image, the song keeps its attention on honest petition, confidence in Jesus, and the release of burdens into God’s hands.
Related Scripture
- 1 Peter 5:7 The verse directs every anxiety to God because He cares.
- Philippians 4:6-7 The passage joins prayer with freedom from anxiety and God’s guarding peace.
- Psalm 55:22 The psalm calls for burdens to be cast upon the Lord.