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
What Will You Say
Commissioned Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To man is a voice to sing
And some do so well
A voice of golden silk it seems they have
But hearing all none can compare
With one who sings beyond the air
A sound so real
My very mind His voice did heal
The day He sang it was so pure
A sound so clear that I've never heard before
A sound that's refreshing to the soul of man
Lord here I am please sing again
To escape from the cares of this life I need
To hear You sing over and over
Through Your song we all shall live
It seems today some sing
About almost anything and there is no life
With just a rhythm and a rhyme
But if man would take the time to hear
Then tears of joy they all could feel
And love they'd find
To last forever throughout time
But they won't hear
They'll just ignore
A song that says that You're knocking at
their door (You are knocking at their door)
And they would come in and they could dine with You
And You would also sup with them (You would come in and sup with them)
A song of Your Word that puts life in men
To help them stand for You much bolder
This is the only way that we can live
In a time when man's heart cries in
search of an answer to a deeper need
If Your voice they could only heed
Then and only then would they hear You sing
A song of Your love where you died to save
And now You sing so they can live, oh lord
To escape from the cares of this life I need
To hear You sing over and over
A song of your work that puts life in men
To help them stand for You much bolder
A song of repentance from sin and shame
In a world that grows colder and colder
With Your song, we all can live
The lyrics to Commissioned's song What Will You Say? are a reflection on the power of music, particularly the human voice. The song begins by acknowledging the gift of a voice to sing, and the beauty that some people possess when they use it. However, it goes on to say that no human voice can compare to the sound of God's own singing. The lyrics suggest that hearing this voice can be transformative, with the power to heal the mind and refresh the soul.
The song then contrasts this with the shallow music that exists in the world, with just "a rhythm and a rhyme" and no real substance. However, if people were to take the time to listen, they would hear a song that could change their lives forever. The song speaks of a message of love and redemption, and how this message is woven into the music that God sings.
The chorus of the song acknowledges the longing to escape from the stress of everyday life and to hear God's singing voice over and over, bringing peace and comfort. The song also speaks of the power of music to help people stand up for what they believe in, and to repent from their sins.
Overall, the lyrics to What Will You Say? speak to the transformative power of music, and the eternal message that can be conveyed through song.
Line by Line Meaning
A gift freely given
God has given us the gift of a voice to sing without the need for repayment or anything in return
To man is a voice to sing
God has given humans the gift of their own voice to sing
And some do so well
Some people are blessed with exceptional singing abilities
A voice of golden silk it seems they have
The voices of these gifted singers are so smooth that they sound like they are made of silk
But hearing all none can compare
Even with many great singers around, none can compare to the singing of one who is truly gifted by God
With one who sings beyond the air
The singing of one who is gifted by God can transcend beyond the physical sound and create a deeper emotional connection
A sound so real
The music and singing of these people feels so authentic and true
My very mind His voice did heal
Listening to the voice of someone singing with such God-given talent can help heal a person's mind and soul
The day He sang it was so pure
The day that God sang is a day that was filled with perfect beauty and purity
A sound so clear that I've never heard before
The sound of God's singing is unlike anything that has ever been heard before
A sound that's refreshing to the soul of man
The singing of God is so refreshing to someone who is seeking spiritual renewal or upliftment
Lord here I am please sing again
The singer is asking the Lord to sing again so that they can continue to feel the spiritual benefits of listening to His singing
To escape from the cares of this life I need
Sometimes people need to take a break from the stresses and problems of life
To hear You sing over and over
The singer needs to hear God's singing repeatedly to help them through difficult times
Through Your song we all shall live
God's singing offers spiritual life and renewal to all who listen
It seems today some sing
There are many singers in the world today
About almost anything and there is no life
Many songs today lack sincere emotion or depth, and they fail to offer listeners any kind of real spiritual renewal
With just a rhythm and a rhyme
These shallow songs often rely on basic rhythms and rhyming structures without offering any real substance
But if man would take the time to hear
If people would take the time to listen carefully
Then tears of joy they all could feel
They would be moved to tears of happiness by the true spiritual depth and power of God's singing
And love they'd find
Listeners would discover a deep sense of love and connection through God's singing
To last forever throughout time
This sense of love and connection would last for eternity
But they won't hear
Unfortunately, many people choose not to listen to God's singing or to allow themselves to be moved by it
They'll just ignore
They will go on with their lives without understanding or appreciating the spiritual depth and power of God's singing
A song that says that You're knocking at their door (You are knocking at their door)
God's singing is often a call to people to open their hearts and minds to Him; it is a reminder that God is constantly seeking them out
And they would come in and they could dine with You
If people would only listen to God's call and open their hearts to Him, they could begin a close personal relationship with God
And You would also sup with them (You would come in and sup with them)
God would welcome these people into His spiritual home and commune with them in a deep, meaningful way
A song of Your Word that puts life in men
God's singing often imbues people with a sense of greater purpose and direction by reminding them of the power of His Word
To help them stand for You much bolder
God's singing can embolden people to stand up for Him and for what is right in the world
This is the only way that we can live
For many people, living in accordance with God's Word is the only true way to live a fulfilling and meaningful life
In a time when man's heart cries in search of an answer to a deeper need
Many people feel lost or unfulfilled in their lives, and are seeking answers to deeper, more profound questions
If Your voice they could only heed
If only these people would listen to God's singing and pay close attention to His Word
Then and only then would they hear You sing
Only by listening to God's singing and following His Word can we truly begin to hear Him
A song of Your love where you died to save
God's singing is often a reminder of His great love for humanity and of the sacrifices He has made to save us
And now You sing so they can live, oh lord
God's singing is a source of spiritual life and renewal for all who listen and choose to follow Him
A song of your work that puts life in men
God's singing often imbues people with a sense of greater purpose and direction by reminding them of the power of His Work
A song of repentance from sin and shame
God's singing can help people to feel a deep sense of repentance and remorse for their past mistakes and misdeeds
In a world that grows colder and colder
As the world grows more distant from spiritual values, God's singing offers a beacon of hope and warmth
With Your song, we all can live
God's singing is a source of spiritual life and renewal that we can all benefit from
Writer(s): HAMMOND FREDERICK WILLIAM
Contributed by Mateo P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.