Lyrics
Chorus
Take the shackles off my feet so I can dance
I just wanna praise You
I just wanna praise You
You broke the chains now I can lift my hands
And I'm gonna praise You
I'm gonna praise You
Verse 1
In the corners of my mind
I just can't seem to find
A reason to believe
That I can break free
Cause you see I have been bound for so long
Felt like all hope was gone
But as I lift my hands
I understand
That I should praise You through my circumstance
(Repeat Chorus)
Verse 2
Everything that could go wrong
All went wrong at one time
See so much pressure fell on me
I thought I was gonna lose my mind
Lord I know You wanna see
If I will hold on through these trials
But I need You to lift this load
Cause I can't take it no more
(Repeat Chorus)
Bridge
Been through the fire and the rain
Bound in every kind of way
But God has broken every chain
So let me go right now
(Repeat Chorus x3)
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
Shackles (Wanna Praise You) is an upbeat gospel song about being freed to praise. The chorus asks for the shackles to be taken off the feet so the singer can dance and says the chains were broken so hands can be lifted, repeating "I just wanna praise You." The first verse describes a mind unable to find a reason to believe, being bound for so long that all hope seemed gone, until lifting hands brings the understanding that God should be praised in every circumstance.
The second verse describes everything going wrong at once, pressure that threatened the mind, and a prayer for God to lift the load. The closing lines say the singer has been through the fire and rain and bound in every kind of way, but God has broken every chain, so the singer asks to be let go. The themes follow Psalm 30:11 on mourning turned to dancing, Psalm 107:14 on breaking chains, and Isaiah 61:1 on liberty for captives. The danceable rhythm gives the song a joyful tone.
Related Scripture
- Psalm 30:11 The psalmist's mourning is turned into dancing.
- Psalm 107:14 The Lord brings people out of darkness and breaks their chains.
- Isaiah 61:1 The Lord proclaims liberty to the captives and opening of the prison.