About “Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)”
Matt Crocker, Joel Houston and Salomon Ligthelm wrote Oceans for Hillsong UNITED's 2013 album Zion, with Ligthelm steering the theme toward stepping into the unknown, drawn from Peter walking on the water toward Jesus in Matthew 14. Houston developed the melody over roughly ten days at his apartment in New York while the band worked on the record. Taya Smith, then a little-known member of the team, sang the lead vocal, much of it captured in a single take, and her performance helped carry the song to churches worldwide.
Written by Matt Crocker, Joel Houston and Salomon Ligthelm · Released 2013 on Zion · CCLI #6428767
- Spent a record 61 weeks at No. 1 on the US Hot Christian Songs chart
- Certified 4x Platinum by the RIAA
- Won Song of the Year at the 2014 GMA Dove Awards
Scripture Matthew 14:22-33
Churches that sing it
Real churches in our map with this in their worship playlist — 15 you can watch on YouTube.
Where in the world
If your church sings this, they also sing
Frequently asked
Who wrote “Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)”?
Matt Crocker, Joel Houston and Salomon Ligthelm. It was first released in 2013 on Zion.
What is “Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)” about?
Matt Crocker, Joel Houston and Salomon Ligthelm wrote Oceans for Hillsong UNITED's 2013 album Zion, with Ligthelm steering the theme toward stepping into the unknown, drawn from Peter walking on the water toward Jesus in Matthew 14. Houston developed the melody over roughly ten days at his apartment in New York while the band worked on the record. Taya Smith, then a little-known member of the team, sang the lead vocal, much of it captured in a single take, and her performance helped carry the song to churches worldwide.
How many churches sing “Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)”?
71 churches in the playlist.church map have it in their worship playlists, most often for God's Presence — one of the most-adopted worship songs today.
What Bible verses inspired “Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)”?
It draws on Matthew 14:22-33.