In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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 want to praise you
(What ya want to do?)
I just want to praise you
(Yeah, yeah)
You broke the chains now I can lift my hands
(Uh feel me?)
And I'm gonna praise you
(What ya 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 can dance)
I just want to praise you (I just want to praise you)
I just want to praise you (I just want to praise you)
You broke the chains now I can lift my hands (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 want to 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
Take the shackles off my feet so I can dance (so I can dance)
I just want to praise you (woo-hoo-hoo)
I just want to praise you (yeah)
You broke the chains now I can lift my hands (woah, yeah)
And I'm gonna praise you (I'm gonna)
I'm gonna praise you (I'm gonna, 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 (so I can dance)
I just want to praise you (woo-hoo-hoo)
I just want to praise you (I wanna praise you)
You broke the chains now I can lift my hands (I can lift my hands)
And I'm gonna praise you (praise you)
I'm gonna praise you (praise you)
Take the shackles off my feet so I can dance ('cause I just wanna)
I just want to praise you ('cause I just wanna)
I just want to praise you (yeah, yeah)
You broke the chains now I can lift my hands (I can lift my hands)
And I'm gonna praise you (praise you)
I'm gonna praise you (c'mon dance with me)
Take the shackles off my feet so I can dance
(I just want to praise you) I just want to praise you
('Cause I'm free tonight) I just want to praise you (yes I'm free)
You broke the chains now I can lift my hands (I can lift my hands)
And I'm gonna praise you (yeah, yeah, yeah)
I'm gonna praise you (yeah, yeah, yeah)
Take them off, take them off
What ya gonna do, yeah
You broke the chains now I can lift my hands (broke off the chains)
And I'm gonna praise you (what ya gonna do?)
I'm gonna praise you (what ya gonna do?)
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 want to praise you
(What ya want to do?)
I just want to praise you
(Yeah, yeah)
You broke the chains now I can lift my hands
(Uh feel me?)
And I'm gonna praise you
(What ya 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 can dance)
I just want to praise you (I just want to praise you)
I just want to praise you (I just want to praise you)
You broke the chains now I can lift my hands (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 want to 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
Take the shackles off my feet so I can dance (so I can dance)
I just want to praise you (woo-hoo-hoo)
I just want to praise you (yeah)
You broke the chains now I can lift my hands (woah, yeah)
And I'm gonna praise you (I'm gonna)
I'm gonna praise you (I'm gonna, 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 (so I can dance)
I just want to praise you (woo-hoo-hoo)
I just want to praise you (I wanna praise you)
You broke the chains now I can lift my hands (I can lift my hands)
And I'm gonna praise you (praise you)
I'm gonna praise you (praise you)
Take the shackles off my feet so I can dance ('cause I just wanna)
I just want to praise you ('cause I just wanna)
I just want to praise you (yeah, yeah)
You broke the chains now I can lift my hands (I can lift my hands)
And I'm gonna praise you (praise you)
I'm gonna praise you (c'mon dance with me)
Take the shackles off my feet so I can dance
(I just want to praise you) I just want to praise you
('Cause I'm free tonight) I just want to praise you (yes I'm free)
You broke the chains now I can lift my hands (I can lift my hands)
And I'm gonna praise you (yeah, yeah, yeah)
I'm gonna praise you (yeah, yeah, yeah)
Take them off, take them off
What ya gonna do, yeah
You broke the chains now I can lift my hands (broke off the chains)
And I'm gonna praise you (what ya gonna do?)
I'm gonna praise you (what ya gonna do?)
Lyrics submitted by urbabikaty
Shackles (Praise You) Lyrics as written by Trecina Atkins-campbell Erica Atkins-campbell
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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That I just wanna praise god!!! And also that "god has broken every chain."
Being able to dance and praise the Lord no matter who is looking at you, or what they are saying. Beeing free of being captive of the world of overbearing people
so many times i have lost faith and than had it returned now when i hear this song i give thanx to the universe and the lord(whatever u concieve him to be)ive seen to many miricals to ever turn my back on my faith again.
The song means that a person has been through many trials and troubles and they want God to take the shackles or burdens away !
I'm not Christian and I only just learned that this is a Christian kinda song... but strangely that makes me like it more than I thought I did! I could say this is the most groovy religious song I've heard - it's got such excellent simplicity and honesty. I just wanna praise it...