See the Morning (2006)
- Joel Caballero
- 1 day ago
- 5 min read
See the Morning is the fourth studio album by Christian singer - songwriter Chris
Tomlin, released on September 26, 2006 by sixstepsrecords/Sparrow Records. The album was produced by Ed Cash.
Released two years after the success of his breakthrough third release Arriving,
See the Morning continues Tomlin's contemporary worship pop sound. It was released just as Tomlin's previous worship tune "How Great Is Our God" was still playing on Christian radio. The title of the album comes from that idea that "our God is as faithful as the rising sun" and is the "Light of the World." See the Morning was originally released in two versions: one with 11 tracks, the other was an enhanced CD with 4 alternate versions of his songs (including acoustic and demo versions) and a special behind-the-scenes look at the recording of the album. Since then, another version, the tour edition, has been released, which features the standard version, along with music/live videos, along with a sermon by Louie Giglio titled "How Great Is Our God."
The album's lead single "Made to Worship" was released on the same day as See
the Morning was released. The song refers to a fundamental theological
concept in Christianity stating that human beings were intentionally created to
praise God. It was an immediate hit on Christian radio topping both Billboard
and Radio & Records Christian AC charts. "Made to Worship" was nominated for
three Dove Awards in 2007 for Song of the Year, Pop/Contemporary Recorded
Song of the Year and Worship Song of the Year, particularly the latter category
where it lost to another Tomlin track "Holy Is the Lord" (from Arriving).
The second single "How Can I Keep From Singing" is a modern adaptation of a 19th century American hymn. The modern version was arranged and rewritten by Tomlin, Matt Redman, and producer Ed Cash. The song focuses on finding joy, peace, and a reason to praise God regardless of life's circumstances. The third single "Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)" is another adaptation of the well-known historic hymn, originally written by John Newton in 1779. While Tomlin retains the iconic first three verses of John Newton’s original text, he fundamentally transforms the song with two major updates:
The Chorus: Tomlin, along with co-writer and pastor Giglio, added a brand new, soaring chorus that gives the song its subtitle: "My chains are gone, I've been set free / My God, my Savior has ransomed me / And like a flood His mercy reigns / Unending love, amazing grace."
The Final Verse: The song omits the famous "When we've been there ten thousand years..." stanza. Instead, Tomlin restores Newton's original, lesser-known final verse: "The earth shall soon dissolve like snow / The sun forbear to shine / But God, who called me here below / Will be forever mine."
"Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)" was originally written at the request of film producers to serve as the flagship track for the 2006 historical drama movie Amazing Grace, which chronicled William Wilberforce's fight to abolish the slave trade in Britain. The song topped both Billboard and Radio & Records Christian AC charts in late December 2007 and in January 2008. In 2008, it was nominated twice for Song of the Year in 2008 and 2009 at the Dove Awards, in addition to being nominated for Worship Song of the Year in 2008, but lost to Tomlin's "How Great Is Our God," which also won in that category in 2006. The song was Gold certified in February 2014, Platinum in 2017 and as recent as 2023, Double Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for sales of two million downloads. It is one of Tomlin's most streamed tracks by Spotify with over 116 million plays.
See the Morning gave Tomlin his first number one album on the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart. The album also peaked at number 15 on the Billboard 200. It experienced a 113% sales leap over Arrival's first-week numbers as it sold more than 47,000 copies. By June 2007, it has sold over 116,000 copies and was Gold certified in 2008. In 2016, See the Morning was Platinum certified selling over a million copies. In 2007, Tomlin, in addition to winning Worship Song of the Year for "Holy Is the Lord," won four additional Dove Awards for Artist of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year (and again in 2008) and See the Morning winning Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year and Praise & Worship Album of the Year.
An exclusive bonus track titled "Lion Became the Lamb" was made available on iTunes for pre-order of See the Morning. You can listen to the track posted below this article.
Track listing on the Special Edition
1. How Can I Keep From Singing (traditional; new arrangement adapted by
Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman and Ed Cash) -4:17
2. Made to Worship (Chris Tomlin, Stephan Sharp, Ed Cash) -4:19
3. Let God Arise (Chris Tomlin, Jesse Reeves, Ed Cash) -3:48
4. Everlasting God (Brenton Brown, Ken Riley) -4:23
5. Glory in the Highest (Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, Daniel Carson, Jesse Reeves,
Ed Cash) -4:13
6. Awesome Is the Lord Most High (Chris Tomlin, Cary Pierce, Jesse Reeves,
Jon Able) -3:44
7. Glorious (Chris Tomlin, Jesse Reeves) -4:02
8. Uncreated One (Chris Tomlin, J.D. Walt) -4:49
9. Rejoice (Chris Tomlin, Jesse Reeves, Ed Cash) -3:40
10. Let Your Mercy Rain (Chris Tomlin, Jesse Reeves, Ed Cash) -4:43
11. Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone) (based on the 1779 hymn "Amazing
Grace" by John Newton; additional chorus written by Chris Tomlin and Louie
Giglio) -4:29
12. Enough (acoustic version) (Chris Tomlin, Louie Giglio) -3:47
13. Made to Worship (acoustic version) -3:48
14. How Can I Keep From Singing (acoustic version) -4:41
15. Over Me (original demo) (Chris Tomlin, Seth Walker) -3:35
RIAA certifications
See the Morning -Gold certified in 2008.
Platinum certified in 2016.
"Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)" single -
Gold certified in 2014.
Platinum certified 2x in 2023.
Accolades
Dove Award -2007, 2008 Male Vocalist of the Year
2007 Artist of the Year
Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year (See the Morning)
Praise & Worship Album of the Year (See the Morning)
Radio singles
2006 "Made to Worship" -#1 Billboard Hot Christian Songs for 18 weeks, -#1
Billboard Christian Airplay for 18 weeks, -#1 Billboard Christian AC Airplay for
14 weeks, -#11 R&R Christian CHR, -#1 R&R Christian AC for 14 weeks, -#1 R&R
Christian Inspo for 3 weeks
2007 "How Can I Keep From Singing" -#4 Billboard Hot Christian Songs, -#4
Billboard Christian Airplay, -#4 Billboard Christian AC Airplay, -#4 R&R Christian
AC, -#2 R&R Christian Inspo
2007 -2008 "Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)" -#2 Billboard Hot Christian
Songs, -#2 Billboard Christian Airplay, -#1 Billboard Christian AC Airplay for
2 weeks, -#1 R&R Christian for 2 weeks, -#1 R&R Christian Inspo
Previous release: Live From Austin Music Hall (2005)
Next release: Hello Love (2008)
Listen to the iTunes exclusive bonus track "Lion Became the Lamb" here:
Watch the music video of "Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)" featuring clips from the motion picture Amazing Grace:
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