Darwin Hobbs is especially popular for his spirit moving song 'He's able' which has taken the breath of Nigerians away. The song indeed has been an inspiration for many, many, many gospel singers.
- Sheffieldhottie
His debut solo project (Mercy) was characterized by an anointing pieced together in soulful song with the help of producers Fred Hammond and Victor and Cedric Caldwell (see review).
Darwin Hobbs turns around swiftly on Vertical, his sophomore project with EMI Gospel, by combining both some of the same, and some fresh twists too.
Production mainstays Victor and Cedric Caldwell return to the fold, and join forces with Tommy Sims, whose Positive Movement production house has blown notorious in recent years. A fascinating choice of guest artists also marks this effort.
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Crucial to the album is the groovified "Cast All Your Cares", which harnesses the writing hooks of Angie Winans and the brothers Caldwell, is powered by the guitar finesse of Paul Jackson Jr., and features a strong chorus supporting Hobb's soulful delivery on lead.
The familiar voice of Donna Summer graces "When I Look Up". It's a softly soaring AC ballad about the liberty that Jesus brings, with Hobbs intertwining his pipes with Summer's exquisite phrasing over subtle bird twittering effects and a soft rhythm track. Written by the Caldwells with up-and-comer Hallerin Hill, it's a quiet full force gale, complete with backing vocals from Angie Winans.
Continuing on the guest artist theme, former Doobie Brother turned solo artist Michael McDonald joins his husky soul with Hobbs' rich tones on the head-bob track, Everyday. Fueled by musical elements of the Gap Band's "Outstanding", the Tommy Sims composition is an urban delight. Check these lines:
Surely the mercy of your love is in this place
I know that every day, come rain or shine
That it's mine all mine.
—from "Everyday"
On "So Amazing", Hobbs turns the tables on those who can't refrain from constantly comparing his vocal vibe to that of Luther Vandross. With his Gospel cover of this Vandross hit, Hobbs boldly tackles this comparison issue head on. No doubt he could easily be mistaken for the crooner, but with Hobbs' spirit of sensitivity infused throughout, there's no comparison on the deeper level. Virtue softly provides sweet backing vocals.
Michael McDonald
Michael McDonald contributed vocals to a couple of The Winans' projects (Decision and Back 2 Back) back when.
He's primarily known for his work with The Dobbie Brothers and Steely Dan, plus his own solo work.
Other hits have come in collaborations with James Ingram, Aretha Franklin, Kenny Loggins, Christopher Cross and Donna Summer (who also appears with Darwin Hobbs on this Vertical project).
Hobbs has stated that on this project, "every song was written strategically to represent some aspect of our relationship to God and His relationship to us" —hence the title Vertical, indicating that relationship.
So it's no surprise then, that the jewel in this CD jewel case is the medley of praise and worship ("Praise Medley"). It's on this soft, 8-minute, vocals-focused cut that Hobbs truly astounds with his range and selection of expression. The fact that he doesn't need vocal dramatics to do this speaks volumes to his gift. Holy praise tunes included are "El Shaddai", "You Are Holy", "You Are My Hiding Place" and "Great Is Your Mercy".
Set your alarm clock now, because you certainly don't want to sleep on this project. There's so much to love on this disk that you may not be able to handle it in one listen.
I'm still reeling.
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You're The One
Darwin Hobbs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like the time You raised my life up from the grave
You'd think that I'd be cook by now
But I am still amazed
At each and every time
You do what You do
I'm in awe of You
No one comes close
Above my expectations
You outdo everything
No one else like You
And when I say this I'm done
Lord, I'm simply saying that
You're the one
With You I can defeat and conquer each foe
Without You I am a disaster from head to toe
I find it's better when to You I just yield
I find the rest I need when I am in Your will
I can't find no one, no one like You
Nobody else comes through
This is the honest truth
Nobody else
When I needed a fortress
You were my strong tower
All I'm simply saying is that
You're the one,
You're the one
You are, You are
You are, You are
You are, You are
And I heard all the people say
The lyrics of Darwin Hobbs's song You're The One speak of the singer's deep admiration and gratitude for God's incredible work in his life. Hobbs acknowledges that he has witnessed God's power and strength firsthand, such as when God raised him up from the grave. Despite expecting to have become accustomed to God's remarkable ability by now, Hobbs remains awestruck and amazed every time God performs miraculous deeds. The singer is humbled and in awe of God, recognizing that there is no one else comparable to Him.
The song continues with Hobbs expounding on the fact that with God, he is able to overcome his enemies and succeed in life's battles. However, without God, he is a mess from top to bottom. Yielding to God's will brings him peace and tranquility. Hobbs declares that he cannot find anyone else like God, no one else who comes through in times of need. He testifies that God has been his fortress and strong tower through every difficult situation he has ever encountered. The overall message of the song portrays an individual who acknowledges God as the one true source of strength, hope, and victory.
Line by Line Meaning
I've seen Your mighty works and there is no doubt
I have witnessed Your amazing miracles and power, leaving no room for doubt
Like the time You raised my life up from the grave
Just like how You gave me a new life when I was at my lowest point
You'd think that I'd be cook by now
One might expect that I'd have become accustomed to Your works by now
But I am still amazed
Yet, even after all You have done, I am still filled with awe and wonder
At each and every time
Every single instance of Your power and grace
You do what You do
Each time You reveal Yourself in Your divine nature
I'm in awe of You
I am filled with admiration and reverence for You
No one comes close
There is no one who can measure up to Your greatness
Exceeding above all I ask or I think
You have gone beyond my expectations and beyond what I could have imagined
Above my expectations
You have surpassed any hope or dream I had for You
You outdo everything
You excel all things and triumph over everything
No one else like You
There simply is no one else like You in all of existence
And when I say this I'm done
I declare this truth and end what I have to say
Lord, I'm simply saying that
I'm conveying my thoughts by expressing that
You're the one
You alone are the one I place my faith and trust in
With You I can defeat and conquer each foe
By Your strength and power, I can overcome any adversary
Without You I am a disaster from head to toe
If I don't have You, I will fail and be ruined in every way
I find it's better when to You I just yield
I realize it's best to surrender to You and follow Your lead
I find the rest I need when I am in Your will
I am at peace and feel fulfilled when I am following Your plan for me
I can't find no one, no one like You
I cannot find anyone who compares to You or is like You
Nobody else comes through
No other person can follow through on their promises like You can
This is the honest truth
I'm being truthful when I say
When I needed a fortress
During a time of great danger or need
You were my strong tower
You were my protector and stronghold
All I'm simply saying is that
All I truly mean to say is that
You're the one,
You are the only one who truly matters and who I rely on
You are, You are
You exist in all Your glory and majesty
And I heard all the people say
And everyone around me echoes in agreement with me
Contributed by Alyssa L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
zhanae
on Heal the Land
(Chorus)
(Oh!
If my people
Who are called
By my name would
Humbly pray
Seek my face and change
their ways
I'll heal the land)
Oh!
Let's talk about the problems
Please tell me how we solve them
There has to be a brighter day.
Ohhhh!
On your mark, get set, let's go now
Lights, Camera, Action showed now
Seems like this is what we've become
What do we do, Ohhhhh
(Chorus)
(Oh!
If my people
Who are called
By my name would
Humbly pray
Seek my face and change
their ways
I'll heal the land
Oh!)
We've got to find our way back
To the idea that we first had
Somehow we've gone and lost our way
Ohhhh
Wake up and smell the brew now
Make this our finest hour
All faces turn into the ground
This is the answer!
(Chorus)
(Oh!
If my people
Who are called
By my name would
Humbly pray
Seek my face and change
their ways
I'll heal the land)
Why? Oh Why?
is the question, tell me.
Who will stand?
Wanna know how did we end up here?
Or when will it end?
Lord, tell me where do we go from hereee?
(Chorus)
(Oh!
If my people
Who are called
By my name would
Humbly pray
Seek my face and change
their ways
I'll heal the land)
Oh OH Oh OH Oh OHhhh (8x)
HEAL THE LAND!
Pray, seek my face!
(Chorus)
(Oh!
If my people
Who are called
By my name would
Humbly pray
Seek my face and change
their ways
I'll heal the land)
Paula Carr
on My Promise To You
Why don't they have lyrics to this song