Steven Curtis Chapman - Living Color (feat. Boise Holmes) Live from the Grand Ole Opry

Back in November I shared a story about meeting a new friend & brother, the incredibly talented Boise Holmes who was (& still is currently) on tour playing the role of Dr. Dillamond with Wicked The Musical. I shared about how during some visits/meals together I told him about my song “Living Color”…a song I wrote about my best friend, Carlton Bell, when I was in the 7th grade. Our conversations resulted in Boise creating a powerful & profound “spoken word” response to the message of the song, and a few days later I got to invite him to join me on the Opry to perform the song…it brought the audience to their feet! It was a really special & powerful moment with my new friend & I’ve been looking for the right time to share a recording of what happened that night! Boise and I agreed that the day celebrating the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King would be a great day to share this song/performance about unity & the power of friendship.
Follow Steven Curtis Chapman:
Facebook: / stevencurtischapman
Twitter: / stevencurtis
Instagram: / stevencurtischapman
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@stevencurtisc...
KZbin: / sccchannel
Spotify: spoti.fi/2svubDG
Text: my.community.com/stevencurtis...
Website: www.stevencurtischapman.com
Lyrics:
Whatever happened to Carlton Bell
My best friend in the seventh grade
We played our snare drums side by side
In the middle school marching band Disney parade
We raised our money to ride the bus to Orlando
Knocking on doors up and down the street
Selling those bars of the world’s finest chocolate
And splitting every third one between him and me
And his skin was Black
And my skin was white
And the sky was blue
And the future was bright
And our blood ran red
In both our veins
And we were looking at the world
In living color
He moved away the first year of high school
No phones
No internet
So, we just lost touch
But I’d think about him every now and then in marching band
Laughing loud, windows down
In the back row of the bus
And his skin was dark
And my skin was light
But all we saw was a friend in each other’s eyes
And our blood ran red
In both our hearts
And we were looking at the world
In living color
So, I did a little search
And I found his picture
I recognized his smile immediately
He moved out west
Raising kids working in a factory
Got sick and passed away in 2016
Looking at his face as a grown man got me thinking
How different life can be
While so much stays the same
His friends said he was a good man
Loved his God and loved his family
Did not surprise me
That his good heart remained
But his skin was Black
And I wonder did my friend
Feel judged and afraid in ways that I’ve never been
And it weighs heavy on my heart
But then I think of where he is now
In living color
Well, I know these things are all way more complicated
So much is broken
Beyond fixing it can seem
And if I’m honest I’m scared
To even write and sing this song
I don’t wanna somehow say the wrong thing
But I was thinking maybe
If I told our story
Maybe I could help someone remember and believe
There’s a lot of goodness
And wonder left in this broken world
Just like there was back then for Carlton and me
And his skin was Black and my skin was white
And the sky was blue and the future was bright
And the blood ran red in both our veins
And we were lookin’ at the world
In living color
Songwriters: Steven Curtis Chapman
© 2022 ViewFrom22 Music (BMI) (admin. at EssentialMusicPublishing.com)
Music by Steven Curtis Chapman performing “Living Color (Visualizer).”
(C) 2022 Provident Label Group LLC, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
#StevenCurtisChapman #ChristianMusic #LivingColor #SCC

[@cbradiospronto8781]

The 2nd time I listened to this I couldn’t stop the tears.

[@andrewvillarrealable]

This song always makes me emotional. EVERY time I hear it. 😢😢😢😢😢😢

[@bethbarber4391]

my favorite CCM artist, bar none. amazing songwriter and storyteller. he has had his share of heartache but always points folks to Jesus

[@Tandoolie2]

Such an amazing story teller! I seem to cry at every song! Thanks SCC! ❤‍🔥👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼🙌🏻

[@kmannewyork]

that is a truly beautiful song with a very powerful message. You always write great songs with wonderful messages and stories. Thank you so much once again Steven Curtis Chapman God bless you, my brother and your family always 0:02 the

[@TravisGinther]

I love this song so much. Has me sitting here in tears. SCC this song is incredible and deeply moving. God bless you my brother in Christ

[@satminthang]

I love how SCC sing stories about life. Living Legend in true color

[@710blodgett74]

his music gets me through a lot

[@kshansmith4880]

that’s facts

[@nezkeys79]

Facts are facts

[@kathynaylor4357]

a good hearted forever brother friend, painted with Love

[@2honia741]

Exactly the message we need in these very difficult times of race relations in America and across the globe. This should be our prayer to help us love in living colour and ultra high definition where we see others through God’s eyes over our biases. What a great way to start 2024. God bless!

[@FireAwayProductions]

Beautiful. Expertly written and tied together brilliantly. Nearly brought a tear to my eye. It's no wonder SCC has so many #1's.

[@dougweaver6091]

Another instant hit. The message, the heart, the cadence, such an amazing story brought to music! Tears of Joy, feeling the words flow through you. You've painted a picture that tugs at the heart, and makes the goose bumps grow. Fresh, smooth, comforting like a warm embrace. Thank you again Steven Curtis Chapman, looks like #51 in the making! Doug~

[@cathymog]

I am astonished and amazed:) And in tears as usual for many of your songs. Bless you SCC ❤

[@geertje1947]

A moving performance. Beautiful.

[@donnataylor3up]

AWESOME..... GLORIOUSLY AWESOME ❤!!!! Thank you Steven for your expression of a simplistic TRUTH... LOVE knows no color.

[@tinafulmer4870]

ONE DAY THERE WILL BE NO JUDGING !!!!!!!

[@game_master_rukia]

this is a great song with a wonderful message

[@renleo2836]

What a wonderful performance

[@josephokopionyilokwu6391]

Such pure 🎶, just so inspiring 💕

[@joanegeneau4899]

Beautiful 🫶 Blessings ✨👏🏻

[@ACPerry3]

Beautiful. Crying

[@marcwilliams4097]

WoW!

[@BNHAalltheway]

Great song

[@kennethfaught8754]

Killer! Great song from a great album! 👏👏🙏🏻

[@Hubbs10]

Just great, SCC. Amazing as always. The Lord uses you so much to bless others.

[@elianarnoud8986]

Fantástico!! Glória a Deus!!!!

[@user-nn9ng3er6l]

𝕃𝕠𝕧𝕖 𝕚𝕥

[@shanerhouse1986]

Gospel Croce🎶

[@laurenmlopez6640]

Beautiful!!

[@wellingtonfreitas2566]

Maranata🌏🌍🌎👐

[@jeangraceNpeace6767]

So awesome!

[@KarissaAnderson-lx1dt]

This song is so powerful, one of my favorites!! Great performance!!👏❤️🧡

[@philbax]

♥

[@lopear111]

Been a SCC fan since his early career. If he had released this song even 15-20yrs ago, I would’ve thought it was just another typical heartfelt honest thoughtful song I’d come to expect from Mr Chapman. Now, with everything happening in this country over the last 8 yrs… cities & businesses burned down over a drug addict, the blm fraud, the scam of inclusivity used to exclude whites, & the anti-white/white supremacy rhetoric being pushed by Hollyweird & politicians, this song just makes me wanna barf. So tired of celebrities jumping on the “whites are so privileged” bandwagon. I’ll pass.