Few worship songs travel as fast as “I Thank God” — what started as a spontaneous moment in a recording session turned into an anthem sung in churches worldwide. Released in 2021 by Maverick City Music and UPPERROOM on the album Move Your Heart, the track quickly became a contemporary worship staple. But a surprising amount of confusion has built up around who actually recorded it and what the lyrics say. This guide sets the record straight, giving you the full lyrics, chords, meaning, and a look at the misattribution that keeps tripping people up.

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Released: 2021 ·
Artists: Maverick City Music & UPPERROOM ·
Album: Move Your Heart ·
Duration: 7:45 ·
Genre: Contemporary Christian / Worship

Quick snapshot

1Original Version (Maverick City & UPPERROOM)
2Misattributed Versions
  • Often credited to Hillsong or Elevation Worship – no official release exists (Essential Worship – song resource platform)
  • Likely due to similar worship style and shared artists
3Chords & Sheet Music
  • Key: Db (or C with capo 1) (Essential Worship – song resource platform)
  • Tempo: 130 BPM (Essential Worship – song resource platform)
  • Chords: C, G, D, Em, Am (simplified key)
4Translations
  • Spanish fan translations exist online
  • No official translated version from Maverick City Music

Below is a quick reference of key facts about the song.

Key facts about “I Thank God”
Label Value
Release Date January 22, 2021
Performers Maverick City Music & UPPERROOM
Album Move Your Heart
Length 7 minutes 45 seconds
BPM 130

What Are the Lyrics to “I Thank God” by Maverick City Music?

Full lyrics of the original Maverick City & UPPERROOM version

  • Verse 1: “Wandering into the night / Wanting a place to hide” (PnW Chords – community chord database)
  • Chorus: “He picked me up / Turned me around / Placed my feet on solid ground” (PnW Chords – community chord database)
  • Bridge: “Hell lost another one / I am free, I am free, I am free” (PnW Chords – community chord database)
  • Verse 2: “From now till I walk the streets of gold” (PnW Chords – community chord database)
Why this matters

The bridge — “Hell lost another one” — is the song’s emotional peak. It’s the line that turns a personal testimony into a corporate declaration of freedom.

This call to freedom makes the song a powerful congregational tool.

Key takeaway: The song’s lyrics follow a clear redemption arc from wandering to freedom, with the bridge as its emotional peak.

Key phrases and themes in the song

  • The opening line sets a scene of desperation: “Wandering into the night” (PnW Chords – community chord database)
  • The chorus repeats “He picked me up, He turned me around” — a clear redemption narrative
  • The bridge repeats “Get up out of that grave” (Will It Worship – worship analysis blog)
  • Overall themes: redemption, gratitude, praise, restoration (YouTube – Guitar Mann tutorial)

The pattern: every verse traces a movement from lost to found, and every chorus explodes with thanks. The song doesn’t hint at gratitude — it declares it.

Who Originally Sang “I Thank God” – Maverick City, Hillsong, or Elevation Worship?

Which version is the original

  • The original recording is by Maverick City Music & UPPERROOM, released January 22, 2021, on the album Move Your Heart (Essential Worship – song resource platform)
  • Songwriters: Aaron Moses, Chuck Butler, Dante Bowe, Jesse Cline, Maryanne George (Essential Worship – song resource platform)
  • Neither Hillsong nor Elevation Worship has an official release of this song (Essential Worship – song resource platform)

This comparison clarifies which versions are official and which are misattributed.

Three versions – only one is official
Version Artist Release Lyrics / Details
Original Maverick City Music & UPPERROOM 2021, Move Your Heart Full lyrics as published on chord sites (Essential Worship – song resource platform)
Misattributed Hillsong None No official Hillsong release; confusion may stem from shared label or similar artists
Misattributed Elevation Worship None No official Elevation Worship version; likely a fan misattribution (Essential Worship – song resource platform)

The implication: if you see “I Thank God” credited to Hillsong or Elevation Worship, it’s a mistake. The original comes from Atlanta-based Maverick City Music and the UPPERROOM community, and that’s the only official version.

What Are the Chords for “I Thank God”?

Basic chord progression for guitar or piano

  • The song is in the key of Db (original), or C with capo 1 (Essential Worship – song resource platform)
  • Essential Worship shows a repeating Db / Dbsus pattern for the intro (Essential Worship – song resource platform)
  • Simplified chords (in C): C, G, D, Em, Am
  • Tempo: 130 BPM (Essential Worship – song resource platform)

Where to find reliable chord charts

  • Essential Worship (song resource platform) – official chord and lyric chart
  • PnW Chords (community chord database) – alternative arrangement with capo suggestion
  • Ultimate Guitar (user-submitted tabs) – multiple transcriptions

The trade-off: official charts from Essential Worship are the most accurate; community sites like Ultimate Guitar offer more versions but vary in quality.

Is There a Spanish Version of “I Thank God” Lyrics?

Translated lyrics in Spanish

  • Fan translations are available on lyric sites but not officially published by Maverick City Music
  • The chorus translates roughly as “Él me levantó, me dio la vuelta, puso mis pies en tierra firme”

Where to find them

  • Websites like Letras.com and LyricTranslate carry user-submitted Spanish versions
  • No official bilingual or Spanish-language recording exists

If you’re looking for ways to express gratitude in other languages, you might also find our guide on saying “Thank You” in Mandarin useful. And for other celebratory occasions, our Happy New Year Wishes article complements the theme of gratitude well.

What Does the Song “I Thank God” Mean?

Message of salvation and gratitude

  • The song narrates a conversion experience: from wandering lost in sin to being found and given new life in Jesus (Will It Worship – worship analysis blog)
  • God is addressed as “Master,” “Savior,” and “God” (Will It Worship – worship analysis blog)
  • The repeated line “I am free” underscores deliverance from sin and death

Biblical references in the lyrics

  • “Placed my feet on solid ground” alludes to Psalm 40:2 (“He set my feet upon a rock”) (Will It Worship – worship analysis blog)
  • The call to “get up out of that grave” echoes the resurrection power described in Romans 6
  • “Forever free, I’m not the same” reflects 2 Corinthians 5:17 – new creation identity (PnW Chords – community chord database)
The upshot

“I Thank God” doesn’t just talk about gratitude — it names the specific rescue and identity shift that fuel it. For worship leaders in English-speaking congregations, the song works best when paired with a clear explanation of the Psalm 40 reference.

Understanding the biblical foundation deepens the song’s impact for leaders and listeners alike.

Additional sources

praisecharts.com, youtube.com

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Frequently asked questions

Is “I Thank God” by Elevation Worship?

No. The original is by Maverick City Music & UPPERROOM. Elevation Worship has no official release of this song.

Is “I Thank God” by Hillsong?

No. Despite common misattribution, Hillsong has never recorded or released “I Thank God.” The confusion likely arises from the song’s popularity in the same worship sphere.

What key is “I Thank God” in?

The recommended key is Db major. You can also play it in C with a capo on the 1st fret (Essential Worship).

Where can I download “I Thank God” chords?

Reliable chord charts are available from Essential Worship, PnW Chords, and Ultimate Guitar. See the chords section above for direct links.

Who wrote “I Thank God”?

The song was written by Aaron Moses, Chuck Butler, Dante Bowe, Jesse Cline, and Maryanne George (Essential Worship).

What does “I Thank God” mean in the Bible?

The song references Psalm 40:2 (“He set my feet upon a rock”) and themes of deliverance and new identity found throughout the New Testament.

For worship leaders and church musicians searching for “I Thank God” lyrics, the choice is simple: stick with the original Maverick City & UPPERROOM version. It’s the only one that carries the full arrangement, the precise lyrics, and the emotional arc that made this song resonate globally. Misattributions will keep circulating, but now you have the facts to set the record straight — and the chords to lead your congregation in gratitude.