Lyrics
Whoo!
It sure is hot out here
Ya know?
I don't mind thought
Just glad to be free
Know what I'm saying, uh!
Take the shackles off my feet so I can dance
I just wanna praise you
(What'cha wanna do?)
I just wanna praise you
(Yeah, yeah)
You broke the chains now I can lift my hands
(Uh feel me?)
And I'm gonna praise you
(What'cha gon do?)
I'm gonna praise you
In the corners of mind
I just can't seem to find a reason to believe
That I can break free
Cause you see I have been down for so long
Feel like the hope is gone
But as I lift my hands, I understand
That I should praise you through my circumstance
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
Everything that could go wrong
All went wrong at one time
So much pressure fell on me
I thought I was gon lose my mind
But 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 anymore
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
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
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
repeat x3
Take them off
What'cha gonna do, yeah
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
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
“Wanna Praise You” presents praise as a response to freedom, even when hardship has made hope difficult to see. Images of shackles, chains, pressure, fire, and rain give the song a clear movement from confinement toward grateful worship. The repeated desire to dance, lift hands, and praise God keeps the focus on liberation rather than on the trials themselves. Its language is direct and accessible, fitting a children’s gospel setting while still acknowledging fear, exhaustion, and discouragement.
The song’s central picture closely echoes biblical accounts in which God releases captives and turns distress into praise. Its insistence on praising through difficult circumstances also aligns with worship that is not dependent on comfort. Rather than denying pain, the lyrics describe praise as an act of trust while the burden is being carried. The final declaration that God has broken every chain gathers the song’s images into a confident confession of divine help and renewed freedom.
Related Scripture
- Acts 16:25-26 Paul and Silas praise God in prison before their chains are loosened.
- Psalm 30:11-12 The psalm connects deliverance with dancing and unceasing praise.