Chords + Lyrics | Shackles (Praise You)
Intro
| G5 | C5 (C#) |
Whoo! It sure is hot out here. Ya know? I don’t mind though.
| D5 | G5 |
Just glad to be free. Know what I’m saying, uh!
Chorus 1
| G5 | C5 (C#) |
Take the shackles off my feet so I can dance.
| D5 | G5 |
I just want to praise you (What ya want to do?) I just want to praise you (yeah, yeah).
| G5 | C5 (C#) |
You broke the chains now I can lift my hands (uh, feel me?).
| D5 | G5 |
And I’m gonna praise you (what ya gon’ do?), I’m gonna praise you.
Verse 1
| Gm7 | Cm7 |
In the corners of mind, I just can’t seem to find a reason to believe.
| D7 | Gm7 |
That I can break free, cause you see I have been,
| Gm7 | Cm7 |
down for so long, feel like the hope is gone but as I lift my hands,
| D7 | Gm7 |
I understand that I should praise you through my circumstance.
Chorus 2
Take the shackles off my feet so I can dance (so I can dance).
I just want to praise you (just want to praise you), I just want to praise you (just want to praise you).
You broke the chains now I can lift my hands (I can lift my hands).
And I’m gonna praise you (oh, oh, oh, oh), I’m gonna praise you.
Verse 2
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.
Chorus 3
Take the shackles off my feet so I can dance (so I can dance).
I just want to praise you (whoa whoa, whoa), I just want to praise you (yeah, hey).
You broke the chains now I can lift my hands (whoa, yeah, yeah).
And I’m gonna praise you (I’m gonna, I’m gonna), I’m gonna praise you (I’m gonna praise you).
Middle 8
| Gm7 | Cm7 |
Been through the fire and the rain, bound in every kind of way
| D7 | Gm7 |
But God has broken every chain, so let me go right now.
Chorus 4
Take the shackles off my feet so I can dance (so I can dance).
I just want to praise you (whoa whoa, whoa), I just want to praise you (I wanna praise you).
You broke the chains now I can lift my hands (I can lift my hands).
And I’m gonna praise you (praise you, praise you), I’m gonna praise you (praise you, oh yeah).
Chorus 5
Take the shackles off my feet so I can dance.
(‘Cause I just wanna) I just want to praise you (cause I just wanna), I just want to praise you (yea, hey).
You broke the chains now I can lift my hands (I can lift my hands).
And I’m gonna praise you (praise you, yeah), I’m gonna praise you (come on, praise with me).
Chorus 6
Take the shackles off my feet so I can dance (I just wanna praise you).
I just want to praise you (just come free tonight), I just want to praise you (just come free, yeah)
You broke the chains now I can lift my hands (I can lift my hands).
And I’m gonna praise you (yeah), I’m gonna praise you (yeah, yeah).
Outro
Take em off, take em off, huh.
What ya gonna do, ha, yeah, what you doing?
You broke the chains now I can lift my hands (broke off the chain).
And I’m gonna praise you (what you gonna do), I’m gonna praise you (what you gonna do).
Shackles (Praise You) Backing Track | Chord Analysis
Above, you’ll find backing tracks to use when learning Shackles (Praise You). I’ve used stem separation to extract the guitar while keeping the drums, bass, keys, and vocals intact.
After studying the chords and TAB, use my backing tracks to prepare for playing this tune with a band.
Should you want to play along with the original recording instead, you need to tune your guitar sharp to 447Hz. In the backing track, I’ve done this job for you by detuning it to 440Hz.
Chord Progression – What’s Going On?
There’s a lot of lyrics in Shackles (Praise You), but at least the chords are simple! The song moves from VI – II (number 10 on my chord progression list), clearly in the key of G minor.
Next, we have a D7, which is a IIIx chord—essentially a modified III chord. By being major, it creates a stronger resolution back to chord VI.
The full progression for Shackles (Praise You) is:
||: Gm7 (VI) | Cm7 (II) | D7 (IIIx) | Gm7 :||
This means that as long as the singer(s) know all the lyrics, it’s a perfect tune for jamming.
The advantage of keeping a simple chord loop
Instead of switching between multiple chords or constantly reading a chart, the band could focus on dynamics for variation, just like Mary Mary does in the original recording.
The only issue might be if the singer oversings, as it could quickly turn from a fun jam into a challenge if they can’t stay in tune!
My top tip before adding Shackles to your next band’s setlist: Make sure the singer can carry a tune!
Here’s a chord chart, mainly for you to keep track of the layout— the chords never change!
Shackles (Praise You) Chord Chart | PDF + iReal Pro Download
You can download this seemingly pointless chord chart either as a PDF or as an iReal Pro file. With the iReal Pro version, you can even change the key!
Shackles (Praise You) | TAB
Let’s start with that distorted guitar riff on the original recording. Here’s how I think you should play it:
Personally, I would play this for the chorus as well in order to create excitement, just make sure you don’t play too loud, the vocals need to be heard.
Verse
On the original, there is no guitar for the verse. It’s very empty in general which is cool on a record but in a working band, we may need to play some clean funky rhythms.
I’ve designed four examples here for you to try, they become more and more busy. My aim is that you find a suitable part for your band once these are absorbed.
The first idea is super minimalistic.
Let’s add to this, make sure you make the third beat lazy and in time with the snare, you don’t want to rush it!
The third idea is very buys, make sure you lay back on the beat, rush it and it will sound terrible.
Lastly, lets add some slides and remove the last hit.
As you practice these, ensure you are playing exactly as written and find the pocket.
When you feel comfortable, try playing along with the backing tracks. You may find that the less you play, the better it sounds!
Praise on the Radio: The Gospel Songs That Reached the Wider World
Gospel music has long been one of the deepest roots of popular music, and throughout the 20th and early 21st centuries, certain gospel songs have crossed over into the mainstream, reshaping popular culture while carrying spiritual messages to much wider audiences.
One of the earliest and most important crossover moments came with This Little Light of Mine, a traditional gospel song that became widely known through the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 60s. Sung at protests and gatherings, it moved beyond church walls and into the public consciousness as a symbol of hope and resilience.
In 1969, Oh Happy Day by the Edwin Hawkins Singers became a genuine pop hit, reaching No. 4 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Its joyful arrangement, handclaps, and modern groove made it accessible to secular audiences while remaining unmistakably gospel. This success proved that explicitly religious music could thrive on mainstream radio.
The 1970s and 80s saw artists like Andraé Crouch bridge sacred and secular worlds. Tunes such as My Tribute (To God Be the Glory) were covered by pop and soul artists, while Crouch himself worked with Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, and Madonna, quietly embedding gospel harmony and structure into popular music.
A landmark moment arrived in 1985 with He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands re-entering popular awareness through films, adverts, and children’s television, demonstrating how traditional gospel could remain culturally relevant across generations.
In the 1990s, gospel’s crossover accelerated. Kirk Franklin’s Stomp”(1997) fused gospel choirs with hip-hop beats, reaching MTV and urban radio, and redefining gospel for a younger audience without diluting its message.
This evolution reached a new peak in 2000 with Shackles (Praise You) by Mary Mary. Blending gospel lyrics with contemporary R&B and dance production, the song became an international hit, charting across Europe and the US. Its infectious groove allowed it to thrive in clubs and on pop radio while remaining firmly rooted in praise and worship.
In more recent years, artists such as Kanye West Ultralight Beam and H.E.R. have continued to bring gospel themes into mainstream music, proving that the genre’s emotional power and communal spirit remain timeless.
Shackles (Praise You) Chords: Continue Learning
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