To say that I grew up listening to the music of Steven Curtis Chapman would be an understatement. In fact on family car trips, whether it was to my grandparent’s house out in the farm country of Minnesota or our family vacations out to the west coast, SCC ( as he’s known by his fans) was on a constant rotation alongside the likes of Michael W. Smith, Amy Grant, Carman, Petra, dc Talk and Rich Mullins. Thanks to his excellent guitar riff, Chapman’s “Great Adventure” was almost perfect for a road trip while “Dancing with the Dinosaur” brought a smile to this life-long dinosaur enthusiast, and his “Dive” was commonly used by my church for youth group retreats and embarrassing fall kick off videos of the pastoral staff. That song was great and all, but one of my favorites was his song “Bring it on” from Declaration that made for the perfect work out-jam, on par with anything from Rocky or Batman on my playlist. I even felt his Christmas song “Christmas is all in the Heart” would be perfect for the end credits of a Christmas movie.
His music has always taken on an even more thoughtful and reflective nature as he contemplates the big questions of faith, life, death, loss, age and letting go. Life may certainly be a great adventure but so much can happen, along that journey. In fact, one only needs to listen to his album Beauty will Rise written after the tragic accidental death of his daughter to see his truth depths as an artist as he not only holds tight to his faith, but comforts his family through the loss. Even is original Christmas Songs “Going Home for Christmas” deals with coming go terms with the loss of a mother around that first Christmas time without her, while “All I Really Want For Christmas” reflects the experience of the many children in the foster system waiting and hoping for a forever home, and as a result are filled with real, genuine human emotion that illicit real tears.
It’s in those moments, when faith can sometimes be the only thing that can get you through each day to the other side, as you remember that the one who goes with you is greater than the one who is in the world, as is perhaps best reflected in his anthem “More than Conquerors”, while his song “Meant to Be” feels like the sort of advice only a loving father committed to Christ could give his children reminding the, and us, of God’s purpose for our lives.
Thus, when I saw that he was contributing a song to the Inspired By album for The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, I was excited. Between his ability to not only craft memorable songs that appeal to young and old, and at the same time, deal with those complex moments of life, he made for a perfect musical fit for the land of Narnia. It actually wasn’t his first foray into setting the work of CS Lewis to music, as his album Declaration featured the song “See the glory” that began the liner notes with by quoting Lewis’ passage from God in the Dock about “making mudpies in the slums when we could be enjoying a holiday at the beach” to point the strange irony in how we settle for lesser things at the experience of fully experiencing God’s glory and His Grace.
I was surprised to learn that prior to signing on to the project Chapman admitted he hadn’t grown up reading the Narnian books, but was more familiar with Lewis through his apologetics, and upon getting the chance to write a song for the Inspired by Album, he dove into the books, and it clearly shows. Throughout the song “Remembering You” Chapman perfectly tells the story of Narnia, with the first verse capturing Lucy’s feelings in discovering Narnia in the first verse, Peter and the feeling in hearing Aslan’s name in the second while the bridge perfectly captures Edmund contemplating Aslan’s sacrifice for him. Co-authored with his son, Caleb, Chapman related that the song is meant to reflect the love the characters have for Aslan as they leave Narnia holding onto hope they’ll see Him again and remember all He did for them with the change of every season.
It begins with an upbeat, energetic penny whistle solo, like an Irish jig making the listener think of Tumnus playing his pan pipes. This song is a true celebration, not only of the story, but of the love the characters have for Aslan and the land of Narnia and how they’ll always remember Him and hold everything He did for them in their hearts. The characters in the story know that even if it might appear like He’s gone away for a while, He’ll always be with them and He’ll return for them one day.
But here’s what makes the song so perfect for Narnia. It isn’t just how it begins with an pennywhistle and the use of instruments like a dulcimer to give it a fantasy feeling. It’s how it makes me feel as a Christian. Lewis felt that as a child he often struggled with how he didn’t “feel “the right way about Jesus’ death and sacrifice and wanted to find some way in story to make that feeling come alive. Chapman does the same in music, and I can admit the bridge of “Remembering You” always sends a chill up my spine even more then it did the first time I heard it 20 years ago and for good reason.
It’s not just a song about a magical fantasy land. It isn’t even about a magical talking lion. In diving into the feelings of the Pevensie children, Chapman takes believers on a musical journey to allow them to contemplate their own relationship, not with Aslan, but the one who He reflects. As I think about the lyrics to the song, I find myself thinking about the gifts God gave me, how His very presence in my life ignited my heart, all as I reflect on His love for me and how I remember when He did for me on the Cross, and how He’ll come back for me one day.
“Remembering You” may not have been featured in the credits of the film, but as it reflects not only the love the characters have for Aslan, but allows me to reflect upon my Savior’s love for me, it becomes all the more appropriate that it was not only released as a single, but even had a music video created. This song, is in its essence “Narnia.” Like the books themselves, it redirects you to the true, deeper magic of the story and makes you not only think, but feel about the story and it’s meaning in a way you never thought possible.
Retro Narnia Rocks Play List Tracks:
SIDE A- “Remembering You”
“See the Glory”
SIDE B- “Meant to Be”
“More Than Conquerors”