Make Way – Lyrics & Chords

This song serves as a royal proclamation, calling believers to “fling wide the gates” of their hearts to welcome the reign of Christ.

English Lyrics

Stanza 1:
Make way, Make way,
For Christ the King.
In splendor arrives, Fling wide the gates,
And welcome Him, into your life.

Chorus:
Make way, Make way (2)
For the king of kings (2)
Make way, Make way (2)
And let His kingdom in.

Stanza 2:
He comes the broken hearts to heal,
The prisoners to free, the deaf shall hear;
The lame shall walk;
The blind shall see.

Stanza 3:
Those who mourn with heavy heart;
Who weep and sigh,
With laughter joy and royal crown;
He’ll beautify.

Guitar & Piano Chords

Author: Graham Kendrick (1986) Scale: G Major | Tempo: 116 BPM (Majestic & Processional) Strumming: D – D – U – U – D – U

(Stanza 1)

(G) Make way, (D) make way, for (C) Christ the (G) King
(C) In splendor ar(G)rives, (A) fling wide the (D) gates
(G) And wel(D)come Him, (C) into your (G) life.

(Chorus)
(G) Make way, (C) make way (D)
(G) For the (C) King of (D) Kings
(G) Make way, (C) make way (D)
And (C) let His (D) kingdom (G) in.

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Explanation & Meaning

Author:

Graham Kendrick is a pioneer of modern worship music. He wrote this song specifically for “March for Jesus” events to symbolize the church taking the presence of God into the streets.

Theology:

• The Royal Entry: The song mirrors the Triumphal Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, but applies it to the individual heart and the modern world.
• The Messianic Signs: Stanza 2 lists the specific signs that Jesus used to prove He was the Messiah—healing the blind, lame, and deaf.
• Divine Exchange: Stanza 3 describes the “beauty for ashes” exchange, where Christ replaces human sorrow with His “royal crown” of joy.

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Bible Verses & Meaning

Lyric Line	Bible Verse	Spiritual Meaning
Make way… Fling wide the gates	Psalm 24:7	“Lift up your heads, you gates… that the King of glory may come in.”
King of kings	Revelation 19:16	Affirms the supreme authority of Jesus over all earthly powers.
Broken hearts to heal… prisoners to free	Luke 4:18	Jesus quoted Isaiah to declare His mission was to bring freedom and healing.
The blind shall see	Matthew 11:4-5	Jesus pointed to these miracles as proof that the Kingdom of God had arrived.
Mourn… with laughter joy	Isaiah 61:3	To provide for those who grieve—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes.

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Sources

• Kendrick, Graham. Make Way for the King of Kings. Eastbourne: Kingsway Music, 1986.
• The Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV). Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2011.
• “The Great Proclamation,” Worship Resource Database, accessed March 29, 2026.

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Footnotes

1. Graham Kendrick, “The Story Behind Make Way,” Graham Kendrick Official, accessed March 29, 2026.
2. Holy Bible, NIV, (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2011), Psalm 24:7.
3. “The Messianic Miracles,” Bible Study Tools, accessed March 29, 2026.