cece winans holy forever (with lyrics, meaning and chord progression)
Holy Forever now considered as a worship “anthem” for Christians worldwide was written by a group of writers in 2023.
Originally recorded and released by American singer Chris Tomlin on March 10 2023. The songwriters include Chris Tomlin, Brian Johnson, Jason Ingram, Jenn Johnson and Phil Wickham.
On the 6 October 2023 American singer Cece Winans released a version of the song which had garnered over 153 million views on YouTube. The lyric video she released also got 18 million views on YouTube. Thins makes her cover version the most listened to version of all time.
We’d like to discuss something that makes this song so powerful given it a deep rooted place in gospel music. Let’s take a look at the lyrics.
holy forever the lyrics
[Verse 1]
A thousand generations falling down in worship
To sing the song of ages to the Lamb
And all who’ve gone before us and all who will believe
Will sing the song of ages to the Lamb
[Pre-Chorus]
Your name is the highest
Your name is the greatest
Your name stands above them all
All thrones and dominions
All powers and positions
Your name stands above them all
[Chorus]
And the angels cry, ho-holy
All creation cries, ho-holy
You are lifted high, ho-holy
Holy forever
[Verse 2]
If you’ve been forgiven and if you’ve been redeemеd
Sing the song forever to thе Lamb
And if you walk in freedom and if you bear His name
Sing the song forever to the Lamb
We’ll sing the song forever and amen
[Chorus]
And the angels cry, ho-holy
All creation cries, ho-holy
You are lifted high, ho-holy
Holy forever
Hear your people sing, ho-holy
To the King of kings, ho-holy
You will always be, ho-holy
Holy forever
[Pre-Chorus]
Your name is the highest
Your name is the greatest
Your name stands above them all
All thrones and dominions
All powers and positions
Your name stands above them all
Jesus, Your name is the highest
Your name is the greatest
Your name stands above them all
Above all thrones and dominions
All powers and positions
Your name stands above them all
[Chorus]
And the angels cry, ho-holy
All creation cries, ho-holy
You are lifted high, ho-holy
Holy forever
Hear your people sing, ho-holy
To the King of kings, ho-holy
You will always be, ho-holy
Holy forever
[Post-Chorus]
You will always be, ho-holy
Holy forever
You will always be, ho-holy
Holy forever
[Interlude]
You will always be, holy
You will always be, holy
You will always be, ho-holy
Holy forever
So I’m gonna stay right here
‘Cause You will always be (Ho-holy)
You will always be (Ho-holy)
I’m gonna keep worshipping You
‘Cause You will always be (Ho-holy)
Holy forever
I’m gonna keep my wing down
I’m gonna keep worshipping
‘Cause You will always be (Ho-holy)
You will always be (Ho-holy)
You will never change, ho-holy
Holy forever
I’m gonna keep praising Your name
Because You will always be, ayy (Ho-holy)
Nobody like You, we praise Your name
Because You’re holy (Ho-holy)
You’re worthy, You’re righteous
You will always be (Ho-holy)
Holy forever
[Refrain]
Holy, holy, holy, Lord, God Almighty
Early in the morning my song shall rise to Thee
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty
God in three persons, blessed Trinity
[Outro]
You will always be, ho-holy
You will always be (Ho-holy)
You are lifted high (Ho-holy)
Holy forever
Lord, we praise Your name (Ho-holy)
We join with Heaven and we sing (Ho-holy)
You will always be (Ho-holy)
Holy forever
biblical meaning of the lyrics
This worship anthem is actually talking about the “marriage supper of the Lamb” found in Revelations 16″6-9
“And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.”
The second part of the first verse which says: “And all who’ve gone before us and all who will believe”, refers to the people the calls “a cloud of witness” found in Hebrews 12:1 “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.”This refers to believers who have lived their lives on earth and gone to be with Jesus and are cheering us on to keep the faith and do the work of God.
As you can see this song carries a very strong biblical meaning and significance that all believers in Christ can connect with.
I believe 2026 is a year of prayer, praise and breakthroughs so I’ve recorded a 45 minute version of the song Holy Forever in a solemn intimate soaking worship style you can use for prayer, work and meditation. You can listen to it here:
holy forever chords
[Intro]
F Bb Dm C
F Am Dm C F
[Verse 1]
F
A thousand generations
Bb F
Falling down in worship
Dm C Bb
To sing the song of ages to the lamb
F
And all who’ve gone before us
Bb F
And all who will believe
Dm7 C Bb
Will sing the song of ages to the lamb
[Pre-Chorus]
Bb Dm
Your name is the highest
C
Your name is the greatest
Dm Bb
Your name stands above them all
Bb Dm
All thrones and dominions
C
All powers and positions
Dm Gm7
Your name stands above them all
[Chorus]
Bb Dm C
And the angels cry, holy
Am Dm
All creation cries, holy
Gm7 Gm Dm C
You are lifted high, holy
F
Holy forever
[Verse 2]
F
If you’ve been forgiven
Bb F
And if you’ve been redeemed
Dm C Bb
Sing the song forever to the lamb
F
And If you walk in freedom
Bb F
If you bear his name
Dm C Bb
Sing the song forever to the lamb
Dm C Bb
We’ll sing the song forever and amen
[Chorus]
F Bb Dm C
And the angels cry, holy
Am Dm
All creation cries, holy
Gm C
You are lifted high, holy
F
Holy forever
Bb Dm C
Hear your people sing, holy
Am Dm
To the king of kings, holy
Gm Dm C
You will always be, holy
F
Holy forever
[Pre-Chorus]
Bb Dm
Your name is the highest
C
Your name is the greatest
Dm Bb
Your name stands above them all
Bb Dm
All thrones and dominions
C
All powers and positions
Dm Bb
Your name stands above them all
Jesus
Bb Dm
Your name is the highest
C
Your name is the greatest
Dm Bb
Your name stands above them all
Dm
Above all thrones and dominions
C
All powers and positions
Dm Dm7 Gm7
Your name stands above them all
[Chorus]
Gm Bb Dm C
And the angels cry, holy
Am Dm
All creation cries, holy
Gm Dm C
You are lifted high, holy
F Bb
Holy forever
Bb Dm C
Hear your people sing, holy
Am Dm
To the king of kings, holy
Gm Dm C
You will always be, holy
F
Holy forever
Gm7 C
You will always be, holy
F Bb F
Holy forever