Clark Cole's self-titled solo debut, released in 2002, won two Stellar Awards and a Soul Train Lady of Soul Award (Best Female Gospel Artist). The album featured the hit single "I'm Coming Out". Her second album, The Rose of Gospel, was released in 2005. The live portions of both albums were produced by Asaph Ward, famous for his work with Kim Burrell who counts Dorinda as well as the Clark Sisters as a direct vocal influence.
Dorinda was featured on the title track of Kirk Franklin's Hero album.
In addition to being a recording artist and evangelist, Clark Cole is a prominent figure in the Church of God in Christ, serving as president of the First Ecclesiastical Southwest Jurisdictional No. 1 of the Church of God in Christ and vice-president of the COGIC's International Music Department. She is an administrator and instructor at the Clark Conservatory of Music in Detroit (founded by Mattie Moss Clark in 1979), and is an administrator at the Greater Emmanuel Institutional COGIC, pastored by her brother-in-law, J. Drew Sheard (Karen's husband).
If It Had Not Been for the Lord
Dorinda Clark-Cole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If it had not been for the Lord,
who was on my side,
I wanna know where I'd be?
If it had not been for the Lord,
who was on my side,
I wanna know where I'd be?
Verse 1:
When I think about all the many times
that I could have been cast away,
and God's love and grace, sold my destiny
and He kept me from all tragedy.
Each and everyday as I kneel and pray,
and I ask the Lord for one more chance;
new mercy that He let me see,
that's why I can sing and dance.
Chorus
Verse 2:
Remember the time when I thought
that I was just about to lose my mind;
lost in despair, thought no one cared,
headed down the road to nowhere.
I can look back and see
everything God's done for me,
through dangers seen and unseen,
the Lord sho' protected me.
Bridge:
Where would I be
(if He hadn't kept me)?
What would I say
(if He hadn't shown me)?
How would I know
(if the Lord hadn't kept me);
(through all of my ups and downs),
(He's the best friend I have found).
(I don't know what I would do)
(if it had not been for the Lord on my side).
Chorus
Vamp:
If it had not been for it,
if it had not been for it,
if it had not been for it,
for the Lord on my side.
If it had not been for it,
if it had not been for it,
if it had not been for it,
I don't know where I would be.
Dorinda Clark-Cole's gospel song "If It Had Not Been for the Lord" is a song of gratitude and tribute to God. The chorus emphasizes how the presence of the Lord in the singer's life has been instrumental in providing a path towards a meaningful life. This song is a testament to the singer's faith in the beneficent power of God in her life.
The first verse describes the singer's awareness of the many times when she was close to being "cast away" or was in danger, and how God's love and grace saved her from all such setbacks. Every day, the singer prays for one more chance and new mercy, and thanks to God's mercy, she can sing and dance. The second verse talks about the times when the singer was lost in despair and sees how God helped her in such situations. The bridge wonders about where the singer would be if God had not kept her, what she would say if He had not shown her the way, and how she would know that God was by her side through her ups and downs.
The song ends with a vamp which repeats the chorus with an increased emotional intensity. The song is about the singer's trust that God has been the constant guiding presence in her life. It is an inspiring call to anyone to put their faith in a power outside themselves and becomes a source of hope for all who might be feeling lost.
Line by Line Meaning
If it had not been for the Lord,
Without God's divine intervention,
who was on my side,
His support and protection helped me overcome.
I wanna know where I'd be?
I shudder to think where my life would lead without Him.
When I think about all the many times
Remembering all the moments when
that I could have been cast away,
the times when I could have been abandoned
and God's love and grace, sold my destiny
but God's love and mercy altered my fate
and He kept me from all tragedy.
saving me from all the devastating consequences.
Each and every day as I kneel and pray,
Daily, when I humbly seek Him,
and I ask the Lord for one more chance;
pleading for another opportunity from the Lord.
new mercy that He let me see,
I see the fresh goodness and compassion of the Lord.
that's why I can sing and dance.
So, I rejoice and celebrate His kindness.
Remember the time when I thought
Recall the moment when I believed that
that I was just about to lose my mind;
the time when insanity neared.
lost in despair, thought no one cared,
Drowning in hopelessness, feeling abandoned
headed down the road to nowhere.
Heading to a place with no direction or purpose.
I can look back and see
I can reflect and comprehend
everything God's done for me,
all the marvelous things the Lord has accomplished in my life,
through dangers seen and unseen,
protecting me from both visible and invisible dangers,
the Lord sho' protected me.
the Lord surely shielded me.
Where would I be
I wonder where I would be
(if He hadn't kept me)?
If God had not sustained me.
What would I say
I cannot articulate
(if He hadn't shown me)?
If God had not revealed Himself to me.
How would I know
How could I understand
(if the Lord hadn't kept me);
If God had not preserved me from harm,
(through all of my ups and downs),
Despite all my emotional peaks and valleys,
(He's the best friend I have found).
God has been the most reliable companion.
(I don't know what I would do)
I have no idea what I would do
(if it had not been for the Lord on my side).
if it were not for God's unending support.
If it had not been for it,
Without that,
for the Lord on my side.
God sustaining me all along.
I don't know where I would be.
I cannot fathom where I would end up without Him.
Contributed by Bella T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.