Embracing an effortless eloquence and cocoa butter smooth persona, the music of Brian McKnight has defined the true meaning of an American soul-man since 1991. Like his spiritual Motown godfathers, this upstate New York native has a velvety voice and silky style that captures the vibe of vintage soul without being old fashion. On his latest disc Ten, that blend can be clearly heard.
While Brian’s aspirations might have seemed like a lofty ambition, the longevity of his career is a testament to the purity of his vision. With the release of Ten, McKnight’s first disc for his new label Warner Bros Records, the Grammy-nominated singer could not be more pleased with the outcome. Without a doubt, the landscape of soul music has gotten younger, but that fact did not hinder McKnight’s creative process.
After 16 million albums sold since his self-titled debut, it would have been too easy for McKnight to simply follow the R&B template of rote romanticism. But on Ten, the artist in him felt the need to be more revealing. Though McKnight has been friends with producers Tim & Bob for over ten years, this is the trio’s first collaboration.
Though Brian has never been the kind of singer/songwriter that one would call political that didn’t stop him from penning “Red, White & Blue,” a heart wrenching ode for the men and women currently at war, teaming up with country star Rascal Flatts.
Currently working on a variety of projects including a talk show and soundtracks for two upcoming Tyler Perry projects, the veteran soul singer could not be happier with the outcome of Ten. For fans of real music, Ten is the perfect addition to the soul cannon.
When The Chariot Comes
Brian McKnight Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, oh, gidyup
All of these flowers
For this friend of ours, it's such a shame
All of these people
All of them equally feel the same
There's silence and weeping
They say he was ready, I hope he was ready
Is the prayer I'm praying
When Gabriel begins to blow
Victory shall be mine
When the horses get ready to go
Angels won't leave me behind
[Chorus]
I'm gonna be, got to be ready
When the chariot comes
(When the chariot, when the chariot comes)
I'm gonna be, got to be ready
When the chariot comes
(Giddyup)
Over the prairie
The pallbearers carry and lay him to rest
Satan's a cheater, Christ is the teacher
And life's the test
Oh Lord, take me higher
Never liked fire, I can't stay here
I gotta get ready, gotta get ready
Time has drawn near
When Gabriel begins to blow
Victory shall be mine
When the horses get ready to go
The angels won't leave me behind
[Chorus]
As I lay me down to sleep
I pray my soul you keep
If I die before I wake
I pray my soul you'll take
'Cause I gotta be, gotta be ready, when Jesus comes
When that chariot comes
Got to be , got to be ready, when the chariot comes
[Repeats]
Said I've got to be, got to be ready
When the chariot comes
The song "When The Chariot Comes" by Brian McKnight is a gospel song about death and the preparation for the afterlife. The opening lines, "Hey ho, hey ho, Oh, oh, gidyup," serve as a call to action inviting listeners to prepare for the journey to the afterlife. The flower references in the song speak to the beauty and fragility of life as people mourn and honor a friend who has passed away. Furthermore, the children's belief that the departed might only be sleeping further highlights the delicate balance of life and death. The theme of being ready for the journey continues through the song with references to Gabriel blowing his horn to signal the start of the journey to heaven.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the importance of being prepared for the chariot's coming, which in this case represents the end of life. The reference to horses and angels speaks to the concepts of divine intervention and hope. The final verse is a prayer in which McKnight asks for his soul to be taken if he dies before he wakes up. The overall theme of the song is that of hope and faith in a life after death.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey ho, hey ho [Repeats]
The singer repeats this phrase to create a rhythmic and uplifting atmosphere.
Oh, oh, gidyup
The singer uses this phrase to encourage listeners to join him in getting ready for the chariot to come.
All of these flowers
For this friend of ours, it's such a shame
The singer mourns the loss of a friend and acknowledges the sadness of the situation.
All of these people
All of them equally feel the same
The singer recognizes that many people are affected by the loss and everyone is feeling the same pain.
There's silence and weeping
Looks like he's sleeping, the children say
The singer describes the atmosphere of grief and how even the children try to understand the loss.
They say he was ready, I hope he was ready
Is the prayer I'm praying
The singer prays that his friend was prepared for the afterlife and has found peace.
When Gabriel begins to blow
Victory shall be mine
The singer has faith in the power of the archangel and believes that he will be saved.
When the horses get ready to go
Angels won't leave me behind
The singer believes that angels will help him get ready for the journey to the afterlife and will not leave him behind.
[Chorus]
I'm gonna be, got to be ready
When the chariot comes
(When the chariot, when the chariot comes)
I'm gonna be, got to be ready
When the chariot comes
The singer emphasizes the importance of being prepared for the afterlife and believes that the chariot is a symbol of salvation.
(Giddyup)
Over the prairie
The pallbearers carry and lay him to rest
The singer describes the funeral procession and how the pallbearers carry his friend to his final resting place.
Satan's a cheater, Christ is the teacher
And life's the test
The singer contrasts Satan with Christ and reflects on the challenges of life.
Oh Lord, take me higher
Never liked fire, I can't stay here
I gotta get ready, gotta get ready
Time has drawn near
The singer prays to God for salvation and expresses his desire to avoid Hell. He urges himself to prepare for the journey to the afterlife.
As I lay me down to sleep
I pray my soul you keep
If I die before I wake
I pray my soul you'll take
'Cause I gotta be, gotta be ready, when Jesus comes
When that chariot comes
Got to be , got to be ready, when the chariot comes
The singer offers a prayer for his soul and reiterates the importance of being prepared for the afterlife.
[Repeats]
Said I've got to be, got to be ready
When the chariot comes
The singer repeats the chorus to emphasize the importance of getting ready for the chariot to come.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BRIAN KELLY MCKNIGHT, MICHAEL BRANDON BARNES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind