Originally from Detroit, Michigan, the six original members were Keith Staten, Fred Hammond, Mitchell Jones, Karl Reid, Michael Brooks, and Michael Williams. In 1991 Staten and Brooks left the group and were replaced by Marvin Sapp, Maxx Frank, and Eddie Howard, Jr.. By 1994 Howard had left the group and Williams left a year later. Hammond also left to pursue a career with the group Radical For Christ. He was replaced by Montrell Darrett. By 2000, Marcus Cole and Chris Poole had taken the place of Sapp and Darrett on the group's last studio album. In 2002 Commissioned released a reunion album which brought back most of the group's former members and featured most of its greatest hits. The group performed live on stage during the 2002 Stellar Awards in Atlanta, Georgia.
(2) An urban Black gospel band with crossover appeal, Commissioned are an extremely evangelistic group in concert who put on such a dramatic show that the altars are routinely packed with repenters following their performances. Members Fred Hammond, Keith Staten, Michael Brooks and Marvin Sapp have all done many successful solo projects as well. They spent most of the '90s pursuing those careers, but found themselves back together in 2001 for a reunion tour and the first of another successful series of albums. ~ Bil Carpenter, Rovi
Secret Place
Commissioned Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To dwell beneath Your
Wings abiding through your shadows
Let me hide in You (oh let me hide)
It's the safest place I know
When my mind is far from ease at the load I cannot bare
There's a place I love to go, because I know I'll find You there
I am so glad to have
A secret place in You where peaceful waters flow
To dwell beneath Your
Wings abiding through your shadows
Let me hide in You (oh let me hide)
It's the safest place I know
With a thousand things to do, there's not enough time in a day
So much responsibility, oh how I'd love to steal away
To the place where I can rest and You can regulate my mind
So glad I found in You
A secret place in You where peaceful waters flow
To dwell beneath Your
Wings abiding through your shadows
Let me hide in You (oh let me hide)
It's the safest place I know
When in the secret place I can find out what in this life I am to do
So since You abide in me I am so glad that I can get away and hide in You
A secret place in You where peaceful waters flow
To dwell beneath Your
Wings abiding through your shadows
Let me hide in You (oh let me hide)
It's the safest place I know
My Secret place
My Secret place
My secret place I love to go special rendezvous
Secret place oh Lord, nobody there but me and You
Secret place I go and there I know I'll find
All the love I've been looking for to ease my troubled mind
That's where I go, that's where I go (oh that's where I go)
My secret place
The lyrics to Commissioned's song Secret Place describe a spiritual and emotional refuge that can be found by seeking the presence of God, referred to as a "secret place." The song begins with the image of peaceful waters flowing, inviting the listener to dwell with God beneath his protective wings and in the safety of his shadow. The songwriter expresses a desire to hide in this secret place, particularly during times of distress or unease. The lyrics express an understanding that life can feel overwhelming at times, and the need to "steal away" to this place of rest and rejuvenation. The lyrics also suggest that seeking time in this secret place can provide clarity and direction, helping the listener to better understand their purpose in life.
The lyrics of Secret Place encourage the listener to seek out a deeper, more personal relationship with God, which can provide a sense of peace and purpose in life. It also acknowledges that the journey towards spiritual fulfillment may not always be easy, with lyrics such as "the load I cannot bear" and "the blues and misery" suggesting that there may be hardships along the way. The song offers comfort and solace in the form of a special place where one can go to find refuge and strength.
Overall, the lyrics to Secret Place offer a message of hope and encouragement for those seeking spiritual refuge on their journey of faith.
Line by Line Meaning
A secret place in You where peaceful waters flow
A place within God where tranquility and peace can be found.
To dwell beneath Your Wings abiding through your shadows
To abide under God's protection and remain in His presence always.
Let me hide in You (oh let me hide)
Asking for God's shelter and protection.
It's the safest place I know
Describing the feeling of security and peace when in God's presence.
When my mind is far from ease at the load I cannot bare
When life feels hard and overwhelming.
There's a place I love to go, because I know I'll find You there
The singer has found refuge in God's presence before and knows they can find it again.
A place where I can rest from the blues and misery
A place of emotional and spiritual rest from negative feelings and experiences.
I am so glad to have
Gratefulness for having access to this secret place in God.
With a thousand things to do, there's not enough time in a day
A busy life that feels overwhelming and stressful.
So much responsibility, oh how I'd love to steal away
Desire to take a break from the responsibilities and pressures of life.
To the place where I can rest and You can regulate my mind
Returning to God's presence to find peace of mind and emotional regulation.
So glad I found in You
Gratefulness for having found this safe haven in God.
When in the secret place I can find out what in this life I am to do
Finding guidance and direction for life when in God's presence.
So since You abide in me I am so glad that I can get away and hide in You
Knowing that God is always with them and feeling grateful to be able to take refuge in His presence when needed.
My secret place
Reiterating the idea of a personal, intimate, and sacred place within God's presence.
My secret place
Repeating the previous line for emphasis.
My secret place I love to go special rendezvous
A special and personal meeting place with God.
Secret place oh Lord, nobody there but me and You
Emphasizing the intimacy and privacy of this special meeting place with God.
Secret place I go and there I know I'll find
Confidence in finding peace, comfort, and guidance in God's presence.
All the love I've been looking for to ease my troubled mind
Finding love and support that can ease emotional and spiritual distress.
That's where I go, that's where I go (oh that's where I go)
Repeating the idea of finding refuge and peace in God's presence.
My secret place
Closing the song with a final emphasis on the idea of a personal and intimate place within God's presence.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: FRED HAMMOND, ANSON R. DAWKINS, EDDIE HOWARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
David Childs
A secret place in You where peaceful waters flow
To dwell beneath Your
Wings abiding through your shadows
Let me hide in You (oh let me hide)
It’s the safest place I know
When my mind is far from ease at the load I cannot bare
There’s a place I love to go, because I know I’ll find You there
A place where I can rest from the blues and misery
I am so glad to have
A secret place in You where peaceful waters flow
To dwell beneath Your
Wings abiding through your shadows
Let me hide in You (oh let me hide)
It’s the safest place I know
With a thousand things to do, there’s not enough time in a day
So much responsibility, oh how I’d love to steal away
To the place where I can rest and You can regulate my mind
So glad I found in You
A secret place in You where peaceful waters flow
To dwell beneath Your
Wings abiding through your shadows
Let me hide in You (oh let me hide)
It’s the safest place I know
When in the secret place I can find out what in this life I am to do
So since You abide in me I am so glad that I can get away and hide in You
A secret place in You where peaceful waters flow
To dwell beneath Your
Wings abiding through your shadows
Let me hide in You (oh let me hide)
It’s the safest place I know
My Secret place
My Secret place
My secret place I love to go special rendezvous
Secret place oh Lord, nobody there but me and You
Secret place I go and there I know I’ll find
All the love I’ve been looking for to ease my troubled mind
That’s where I go, that’s where I go (oh that’s where I go)
My secret place
Ssebidde Kiryowa
MikeMicable, may God richly bless you for this write-up. I have learnt so much about the group and this particular song from this than 10 articles I could have Googled.
I was born and raised in Africa. I only discovered Commissioned when Angelo and Veronica Petrucci came down for a tour and performed Commissined's "When Love Calls You Home". I thought it was the most beautiful song I'd ever heard.
Intrigued, I took an interest and looked up their music. Years later (about 2 months ago - May 2021), I landed on and listened to this song for the first time.
It sounded like no other Commissioned song I've heard before. It also transported me to this secret place. It's wrought with so much meaning.
Then I discovered that it was co-written by Anson Dawkins (of Dawkins and Dawkins). Apparently, the brothers wrote or co-wrote 5 of the 13 tracks on their album and assisted musically on keyboards, drum programming and even arranging at times.
Since I discovered it, I go to sleep on this song. It has also helped me appreciate the role of prayer in getting close to God. I'm thankful for Commissioned.
MikeMicable
This album dropped in Nov of 1991. It was cold and snowy night when I went into Cornerstone Christian Bookstore to pick up this album that everyone in my circles was raving about. This was the release date and by this time, I was working on weekends making my own money while still in the 10th grade, this was the first Commissioned album I personally purchased. For this album, no songs were pre released so no one knew what the album was going to sound like. I walked in and asked the store rep where to find the new Commissioned album. "I didn't even know what it was to be called." He directed me to the aisle, and there it stood. "Number 7." I was like "whoaah, this is different." You have to think too, most of the previous Commissioned albums had that Commissoned font for every album dating back to "Go Tell Somebody." Most of the covers had them posing on the front too. This one didn't. Not only that but it's design was smooth. Very artistic, almost like a fusion Jazz album. Very colorful. I bought the cassette and took it home. That was when you bought music and opened up the cassette or cd and read the liner notes and credits and lyrics. People were actually excited about albums dropping back then. The album definitely made a sound switch from "State of Mind." Michael Brooks was no longer with the group and neither was Keith Staten. I was eager to hear how this sound would transition. Enter Marvin Sapp. His introduction wasn't in your face. He sang hardly any slow songs except when he sang a bit on "I Love Thinking of You." Most of it was the fast songs. Kinda put me in the mind of when Johnny Gill joined New Edition. No one knew what it was going to sound like without Bobby Brown. (Back to the album though) The first side was very up tempo'd and I sorta liked it, (it would eventually grow on me) but maaannn, when the slow jams came on.... I was hooked. "Hold Me was the first jam by Mitchell and it rocked me. The first side ended with the song "Please You More." I remember listening to that song, while reading the lyrics thinking "where is this song going?" I loved the changes it was making. That's music!!! The second side had some other slow jams I loved. Including this timeless masterpiece. Secret place is smooth, smooth, smooth. Karl Reid took the lead and Fred brought us home. 27 years later, this song still sounds as good as the day it dropped. I was able to see Commissioned perform this album 2 years later. You should have seen them perform this live. Fred's Bass was killing it!!!! I miss those days and I miss this group. I am so glad I got the chance to live in my prime during that time period serving the Lord. Times have changed. The climate is different and I almost feel bad for the youth today. Gospel music isn't the same anymore. It's become a show. Commissioned were real soul winning brothers with a talent that should've earned them multiple Grammy's. True talent. They deserve a Lifetime Achievement award and a spot on "Unsung." Even a biopic.
Ian Burke
Praise the Lord. & remember the verse
Angela
Thank you for sharing this I always wonder when songs came out
Marty Fisket
I was just saying they needed an unsung documentary a couple days ago !
Cooker Mom
Wow 🤩 u remember that...I was only 10, 🥺 but I LOVE Commisioned ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️😀❤️
Ryan Benn
Awesome song to keep you in tune with your Savior the lord Jesus Christ! God’s blessings to you all! Thanks 🙏🏾
Gail Caprietta
still love this song after so many years. These songs kept me saved as a teen in high school thank you Lord
Classical Retroback
Glory to Jesus. Keep holding on to Him who never leaves nor forsakes us.🤗🙏
FavouredLady
Beautiful Song! He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty! So glad of that secret place. ❤ You Lord!
Stephanie McKinnon
This song reminds me of family road trips. I love my secret place with my heavenly father. Thank you for your unconditional love Lord. I love you!!!! 💜