Contemporary Christian band Go Fish, of the USA’s most respected CCMusicians known for their music and resources for families and children, has released their version of the Mary Mary original Shackles (Praise You) as part of their Vacation Bible School (VBS) curriculum, a program that will reach more than 300,000 children. The duo of Jamie Statema and Jason Folkmann – group member Andy Selness left the group in between now and the most recent single Before the Throne of God Above – will tour the country, with stops in Oklahoma, North Carolina, Illinois, Michigan, Nebraska, Alabama, and South Dakota.
Go Fish’s Shackles (Praise You) is a pretty solid take on the Mary Mary original. It’s the first time I’ve heard a male version of the track, and it sounds pretty good. I’m also quite impressed with the vocal work on this, the back-up “da da’s” remind me a bit of Boyz II Men’s Motownphilly, which is all shades of awesomeness – and I hope it’ll cross over. The production was topnotch and the layering of voices super solid. I love how much attention was given every part of Go Fish’s Shackles (Praise You), even down to the extra bridge, which makes it even more accessible, considering it’s a bunch of guys singing the song. How cool would it be if Go Fish actually scored a Contemporary Christian Top 10 hit?
SHACKLES (PRAISE YOU) Lyrics
Go Fish
Take the shackles off my feet so I can dance
I just wanna praise you
I just wanna praise you
You broke the chains now I can lift my hands
And I’m gonna praise you
I’m gonna praise you
In the corners of my 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 just wanna praise you
I just wanna praise you
You broke the chains now 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 wanna see
If I will hold on through these trials
But I need you to lift this load
Cause I can’t take it anymore
Take the shackles off my feet so I can dance
I just wanna praise you
I just wanna praise you
You broke the chains now I can lift my hands
And I’m gonna praise you
I’m gonna praise you
Gotta break these chains
Gotta break these chains
(Yeah the truth will set you free)
Gotta break these chains
Gotta break these chains
Been through the fire and the rain
Bound in every kind of way
But God has broken every chain
So let me go
Take the shackles off my feet so I can dance
I just wanna praise you
I just wanna praise you
You broke the chains now I can lift my hands
And I’m gonna praise you
I’m gonna praise you
Take the shackles off my feet so I can dance
I just wanna praise you
I just wanna praise you
You broke the chains now I can lift my hands
And I’m gonna praise you
I’m gonna praise you
You broke the chains now I can lift my hands
And I’m gonna praise you
I’m gonna praise you
