Born: November 9, 1959

Styles: Black Gospel, Contemporary Gospel, Ur… Read Full Bio ↴Born: November 9, 1959

Styles: Black Gospel, Contemporary Gospel, Urban

Biography:
Donnie McClurkin is a gospel vocalist with the soul of Andraé Crouch and the contemporary flair of Kirk Franklin. Born into a home filled with domestic violence and drug abuse, McClurkin was saved by an aunt who sang background vocals with Crouch himself. After staying close to Crouch throughout his boyhood, he began to play piano and sing with his church youth choir. He formed the McClurkin Singers by the time he was a teenager, and later formed another group, the New York Restoration Choir.

Hired as an associate minister at Marvin Winans' Perfecting Church in 1989, with his vocals during a seminar, McClurkin endured a bout with leukemia that year. A friendship with a Warner Alliance executive resulted in his signing to the label for his 1996 self-titled LP, with producers Mark Kibble (of Take 6), Cedric and Victor Maxwell plus Andraé Crouch. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide
http://music.msn.com/music/artist-biography/donnie-mcclurkin/

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Donnie McClurkin is a Gospel superstar whose voice is recognized around the world. His voice has already transcended the Sunday morning pulpit to the top of record charts where his music has remained steadfast while reaching gold and platinum status.

While on an airplane, God gave him the words for the song “Stand,” and, he says, in 20 minutes the words flowed inside his head. “How do you deal with the shame of your past…you stand,” he continues repeating the words.

McClurkin has been able to overcome and excel to the point that fans, celebrities and a cross section of music lovers recognize his talent as “special.”

In 1983, while working with the choir, McClurkin met the Reverend Marvin L. Winans. Impressed by McClurkin’s performance a gospel workshop seminar, Winans invited McClurkin to Detroit to help start a ministry. Six years later, in 1989, McClurkin moved to Detroit, became an associate minister at Perfecting Church and began touring and singing at different churches across the country.

At age 31, Donnie was diagnosed with leukemia. But at 36, with church, music and an unyielding faith, Reverend McClurkin hit gold with his debut album and changed his life.

McClurkin is head pastor at Perfecting Faith Church, a nondenominational Pentecostal church in Freeport, New York with a 1,000-plus congregation. He is home for the services every Sunday unless traveling overseas.

This Grammy award winning artist may sing for presidents, but he’s known for “being real.” And whether in his local church pulpit or on a stage before thousands, he preaches a forthright, often-provocative message about his troubled past, and his faith in God. Music, he says, is his sermon.

Alright
Donnie McClurkin Lyrics

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If there were no gates of pearl
If there were no streets of gold
If there was no other world
And a land where we won't grow old

I'm not thinking about those sites
Won't be there to enjoy the view
I think heaven will be alright

As long as Your there, as long as there is You

If I never hear an angel sing
In a far off holy land
If I never hear a joy bell ring
Sing a in a Christian band

I'm not thinking about those sites
Won't be there to enjoy the view
I think heaven will be alright
As long as Your there, as long as there is You

I'm not thinking about the sites
Won't be there to enjoy the view
I think heaven will be alright
As long as Your there, as long as there is You

When we all get to heaven
What a day of rejoicing that will be
When we all see Jesus
We will sing and shout the victory

I'm not thinking about the sites
Won't be there to enjoy the view

I think heaven will be alright
As long as Your there, as long as there is You

Overall Meaning

Donnie McClurkin's song "Alright" is a hymn of reassurance and faith in the promise of heaven. The lyrics speak of the eternal paradise promised to Christians, but the singer emphasizes that the details of that paradise are not what's important. Even if there were no gates of pearl, streets of gold, or other world, the singer is not concerned with those things. Rather, what matters is the presence of God in heaven. As long as God is there, the singer believes everything will be alright.

The second verse follows a similar pattern but speaks specifically about the music of heaven. The singer acknowledges that the sound of "an angel sing" or "a joy bell ring" would undoubtedly be beautiful, but those details are not what's important to the singer. Again, what matters is being in the presence of God.

The final stanza brings in the classic hymn "When We all Get to Heaven" which emphasizes the joy and celebration that will accompany the arrival of believers in heaven. However, even in this moment of celebration, the focus is on the presence of Jesus and the reassurance that everything will be alright as long as He is there.

Line by Line Meaning

If there were no gates of pearl
If heaven lacked physical beauty

If there were no streets of gold
If heaven lacked material wealth

If there was no other world
If there was only this earthly life

And a land where we won't grow old
And therefore, we won't experience decay and death

If I never hear an angel sing
If I never experience the most beautiful sounds imaginable

In a far off holy land
In a place most can only dream of

If I never hear a joy bell ring
If I never experience pure happiness

Sing a in a Christian band
While surrounded by fellow believers

When we all get to heaven
When we finally reach our eternal home

What a day of rejoicing that will be
What a glorious occasion it will be

When we all see Jesus
When we finally come face to face with our Savior