Lyrics Page

Praise Opens Prisons

By Zach Williams

1,136 views Sep 26, 2026 updated A Hundred Highways album Verified editorial review

Song Meaning

Zach Williams addresses this one to a specific person rather than a general audience — "are you down? Smiling but empty, anxious and heavy, alone in the crowd... are you bound? Lost in addiction, ya can't seem to kick it." The diagnosis comes before any comfort is offered.

The answer the song gives isn't strategy, it's an unusual claim about what praise actually does: "this is where the walls shake, this is where the ground quakes, this will be your jail break." Singing, in this song's logic, isn't a response to freedom already won — it's treated as part of how the freedom happens.

Paul and Silas are the obvious precedent, singing hymns at midnight in a Philippian jail until an earthquake shook the doors open and everyone's chains came loose. Isaiah's promise of liberty for captives, and Jesus' own claim that whoever the Son sets free is free indeed, both back up the song's confident title — that praise isn't decoration around a rescue, it's part of the mechanism.

Lyrics Verified by Editorial Team

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Are you down? Smiling but empty

Anxious and heavy...Alone in the crowd

Are you bound? Lost in addiction

Ya can’t seem to kick it ...Well I know a way out

So if you’re ready for a breakthrough

There’s one waiting in this place

No more shackles no more shadows no more shame

This is where the walls shake

This is where the ground quakes

This will be your jail break...Praise opens prisons

Feels those chains get looser

Feel your joy get truer...Glory hallelujah

Praise opens prisons

I have lived...Both sides of the story

Rock bottom and glory...So, I understand

Brother it’s time...To lay down your burdens

Sister, you’re hurtin’...So, lift up your hands

Someone shout a hallelujah

Someone lift a song of praise

We can open up the heavens

If we call on Jesus’ name

And if you’re ready for a breakthrough

There’s one waiting in this place

No more shackles no more shadows no more shame

Gonna feel those chains get looser

Gonna feel your joy get truer...Praise opens prisons

Sing it louder...Louder and Louder

Sing it louder...Praise opens prisons

Songwriters: Zach Williams, Jonathan Smith, Mia Fieldes

Music Video

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