Lyrics
I'll praise in the valley, praise on the mountain
I'll praise when I'm sure, praise when I'm doubting
I'll praise when outnumbered, praise when surrounded
'Cause praise is the waters my enemies drown in
As long as I'm breathing
I've got a reason to
Praise the Lord, oh my soul
Praise the Lord, oh my soul
I'll praise when I feel it, and I'll praise when I don't
I'll praise 'cause I know You're still in control
'Cause my praise is a weapon, it's more than a sound
Oh, my praise is the shout that brings Jericho down
As long as I'm breathing
I've got a reason to
Praise the Lord (C'mon), oh my soul
Praise the Lord, oh my soul
I won't be quiet, my God is alive
So how could I keep it inside?
Praise the Lord, oh my soul
I'll praise 'cause You're sovereign, praise 'cause You reign
Praise 'cause You rose and defeated the grave
I'll praise 'cause You're faithful, praise 'cause You're true
Praise 'cause there's nobody greater than You
I'll praise 'cause You're sovereign, praise 'cause You reign
Praise 'cause You rose and defeated the grave
I'll praise 'cause You're faithful, praise 'cause You're true
Praise 'cause there's nobody greater than You
Praise the Lord, oh my soul
Praise the Lord, oh my soul
I won't be quiet, my God is alive
How could I keep it inside?
I won't be quiet, my God is alive
How could I keep it inside?
I won't be quiet, my God is alive
How could I keep it inside?
Praise the Lord, oh my soul
Let everything that has breath (Hey, hey)
Praise the Lord (Hey, hey), praise the Lord
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
Praise builds its message around worship that does not depend on favorable circumstances. Valleys, mountains, uncertainty, opposition, and emotional dryness all become settings for the same decision to honor God. The refrain draws closely from the psalms by calling the soul to praise, while the final line widens that call to everything that has breath. Together, those phrases present praise as a fitting response to who God is rather than a reaction limited to comfort or success.
The later declarations supply the reasons for that response: God is sovereign, faithful, true, and reigning, and Christ has defeated the grave. References to Jericho and enemies drowning use biblical victory images to portray praise as courageous confidence under pressure. The lyrics do not deny doubt or being outnumbered; instead, they place those experiences beneath the conviction that God remains in control. Repetition reinforces an active, public confession of faith rooted in the resurrection and in the continuing life of God.
Related Scripture
- Psalm 103:1 The psalm calls the soul to bless and praise the Lord.
- Psalm 150:6 The closing verse calls everything that has breath to praise the Lord.
- Joshua 6:20 Israel shouts and the wall of Jericho falls in the biblical account.