Lord, I Lift Your Name on High
Encyclopedia
"Lord I Lift Your Name on High" is a Christian
worship song
. Both lyrics and music were written by Rick Founds
in 1989.
Founds wrote it during his morning devotion, while reading the scriptures on his computer monitor, and watching television, he plucked his guitar at the same time. He thought of the cycle of redemption, comparing it with the water cycle
. Founds played the song as a worship leader in his church. It was picked up by Maranatha! Music
and initially recorded by the Maranatha! Singers followed by the Praise Band.
Promise Keepers
used the song in English
and Spanish
in their drives.
Since the 1990s, it has been one of the most popular Christian songs. In the United States CCLI reported Lord I Lift Your Name on High as the most popular song used in churches every year from 1997 to 2003, and since then has remained in the top ten. Currently it is the sixth most popular. CCLI UK report it as the fifth most popular printed, projected or recorded song in mid 2006. In Australia this song was the seventh most used song by the beginning of 2007
There have been many interpretations of the song by many artists in all styles: gospel, R&B, soul, rock, dance, reggae, rap, soca, a capela amongst others and has been translated to a number of languages and recorded in a number of countries.
Language versions
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
worship song
Worship Music
Worship Music is the tenth studio album by American heavy metal band Anthrax. It is their first album of original material since 2003's We've Come for You All and the first to feature original singer Joey Belladonna since 1990's Persistence of Time...
. Both lyrics and music were written by Rick Founds
Rick Founds
Rick Founds is Christian singer songwriter based in California. He is best known for writing "Lord, I Lift Your Name on High". Other titles that he has authored include "I Love Your Grace", "Jesus, Mighty God", "I Need You" and "Jesus, Draw Me Close"....
in 1989.
Founds wrote it during his morning devotion, while reading the scriptures on his computer monitor, and watching television, he plucked his guitar at the same time. He thought of the cycle of redemption, comparing it with the water cycle
Water cycle
The water cycle, also known as the hydrologic cycle or H2O cycle, describes the continuous movement of water on, above and below the surface of the Earth. Water can change states among liquid, vapor, and solid at various places in the water cycle...
. Founds played the song as a worship leader in his church. It was picked up by Maranatha! Music
Maranatha! Music
Maranatha! Music began as a non-profit outreach of Calvary Chapel in 1971. The Jesus People of the late 1960s and early 1970s began to write new hymns and worship songs with a folk-rock style. Maranatha! Music was founded at this time in order to publish and promote this new type of Christian...
and initially recorded by the Maranatha! Singers followed by the Praise Band.
Promise Keepers
Promise Keepers
Promise Keepers is an international conservative Christian organization for men. While it originated in the United States, it is now world-wide...
used the song in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
in their drives.
Since the 1990s, it has been one of the most popular Christian songs. In the United States CCLI reported Lord I Lift Your Name on High as the most popular song used in churches every year from 1997 to 2003, and since then has remained in the top ten. Currently it is the sixth most popular. CCLI UK report it as the fifth most popular printed, projected or recorded song in mid 2006. In Australia this song was the seventh most used song by the beginning of 2007
There have been many interpretations of the song by many artists in all styles: gospel, R&B, soul, rock, dance, reggae, rap, soca, a capela amongst others and has been translated to a number of languages and recorded in a number of countries.
Versions
- In 1989, the first recorded version was by the Maranatha! Singers on the label Maranatha! MusicMaranatha! MusicMaranatha! Music began as a non-profit outreach of Calvary Chapel in 1971. The Jesus People of the late 1960s and early 1970s began to write new hymns and worship songs with a folk-rock style. Maranatha! Music was founded at this time in order to publish and promote this new type of Christian...
. The recording was done on the album Double Praise 12 of the Praise series and was released on the Maranatha! Music and distributed by WORD Inc. The recording was done in classic style. - Soon followed a version by Praise Band, a separate group of musicians but some of whose members were also members of the Maranatha! Singers. Praise Band's version in contrast is rock/guitar driven.
- In 1997, US Christian band PetraPetra (band)Petra is a music group regarded as a pioneer of the Christian rock and contemporary Christian music genres. Formed in 1972, the band took its name from the Greek word for "rock"...
in their album Petra Praise 2: We Need JesusPetra Praise 2: We Need JesusPetra Praise 2: We Need Jesus is the seventeenth studio release of the Christian rock band Petra and their second praise album. It was released on February 18, 1997.... - In 1998, Christian ska-punk band The InsyderzThe InsyderzThe Insyderz are a Christian ska-punk band from Detroit, Michigan. They formed in 1996 and disbanded in 2005, but have recently reunited and are working on new music. The Insyderz are one of the "big three" bands which represented the Christian ska scene, alongside the Supertones and Five Iron Frenzy...
in their album Skalleluia!Skalleluia!Skalleluia!, also called "The Insyderz Present Skalleluia!", is the second album by the Christian third-wave ska band, The Insyderz. Released 5 May 1998, it is the first of their albums dedicated to ska renditions of worship songs... - In 2000, American Christian singer Lincoln BrewsterLincoln BrewsterLincoln Brewster is a contemporary Christian musician and pastor. As a guitarist, singer, and songwriter, Brewster became a sought-after session guitarist in the early 90s. Brewster is the senior worship pastor at Bayside Church in Roseville, California.-Biography:Brewster has been musically...
in his album Live to WorshipLive to WorshipLive to Worship is a Christian worship music album by Lincoln Brewster released on May 17, 2000 by Vertical Music.- Track listing :#"You Alone" - - 4:06#"Lord, I Lift Your Name on High" - - 3:32... - In 2001, US Christian Contemporary band SONICFLOOdSonicfloodSonicflood is an American Christian Worship band from Nashville, Tennessee. Originally under the name Zilch, the band formed in 1997. The group took the name Sonicflood in 1998 as they became known as a praise and worship band following some line-up changes...
released a live rock version of the song on their album SonicpraiseSONICPRAISeSonicpraise is SONICFLOOd's second album, and is a live release. It was recorded mostly at the 1999 Flevo Festival, but its release was delayed until 2001 due to legal issues surrounding the semi-breakup of the band.-Track listing:...
. It was recorded in 1999 during the Flevo FestivalFlevo FestivalThe Flevo Festival is an open air Christian music festival held each August in The Netherlands. The festival was first organized as the Kamperland Festival in 1978 by the Dutch arm of Youth for Christ and became a private foundation in 2002.... - In 2004, South African-UK musician and singer Jonathan ButlerJonathan ButlerJonathan Butler is a singer-songwriter and guitarist. His music is often classified as R&B, jazz fusion or worship music.-Biography:...
released a soul cover version on his worship album "The Worship Project." - In 2005, the Christian pop group Worship JamzWorship JamzWorship Jamz is a series of albums featuring popular songs sung by children. It can be seen as a Christian version of Kidz Bop, which is produced by the same company, Razor & Tie.-Track listing:#I Love You Lord 3:20#Enough 3:41...
recorded a pop version in their self-titled album Worship Jamz - It has also been covered by Jamaican singer Chevelle Franklyn.
- In 2009, Coffey AndersonCoffey AndersonCoffey Anderson is an American singer-songwriter originally from Bangs, Texas. His unique brand of country music blends in distinct influences from pop, contemporary Christian, gospel and soul that has attracted many. He came to fame through his YouTube videos and in 2008 took part in Nashville Star...
covered it in his album Worship Unplugged Vol. 1
Language versions
- In 2005, the song was done as "Yo Wuti" in Lingala by the Dutch-Congolese band MakomaMakomaMakoma is an award-winning Christian, pop, R&B and dance musical group originating from Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo and established in the Netherlands. It is made up of 6 siblings : Nathalie Makoma, Annie Makoma, Pengani Makoma, Tutala Makoma, Duma Makoma, Martin Makoma and a non-family...
. It appeared on Makoma album Na Nzambe Te, Bomoyi Te (also known as No Jesus, No Life). - The song was also translated into:
- DutchDutch languageDutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
- "Heer, ik prijs uw grote naam" (Lord, I praise Your great name) - FrenchFrench languageFrench is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
- "Je loue ton nom, Eternel" - GermanGerman languageGerman is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
- "Herr, dein Name sei erhöht" (Lord, Your name is exalted) - SpanishSpanish languageSpanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
- "Dios, Tu Nombre Exaltaré" - SlovenianSlovenian languageSlovene or Slovenian is a South Slavic language spoken by approximately 2.5 million speakers worldwide, the majority of whom live in Slovenia. It is the first language of about 1.85 million people and is one of the 23 official and working languages of the European Union...
- "Povzdigujem tvoje ime" - There are also versions in Chinese, Japanese and Tamil
- Dutch