Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Clark Cole began singing at an early … Read Full Bio ↴Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Clark Cole began singing at an early age with her sisters Karen, Twinkie, Jacky, and Denise. The sisters sang in their pastor father's church and usually performed songs written and composed by their mother. Clark Cole, who is referred to as the "jazzy sister" of the group, helped develop what is known as "The Clark Sound", which often features high and fast melismas, riffs, runs, and soulful growls.Dorinda sang lead on "Overdose Of The Holy Ghost", the B-side to The Clark Sisters' biggest single "You Brought The Sunshine".

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).

You Can
Dorinda Clark-Cole Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I went to London town
To clear up my mind
Then on to Paris
For the fun I couldn't find
I found I couldn't leave my memories behind
Where can I go without you?

Tried seeing Singapore

But that wouldn't do
Went to Vienna
But I found you there, too
Even in Switzerland, your memory came through
Where can I go without you?

I wanted travel, I wanted romance
I chased that rainbow across the sea
I'm tired of faces, and quaint old places
If you can't be there with me

Back on the boat again
And farewell to France
Farewell to London town
They haven't a chance
I'll trade the sights I've seen
For just one loving glance
Where can I go without you?

I'm tired of faces, and quaint old places
If you can't be there with me

Back on the boat again
And farewell to France
Farewell to London town
They haven't a chance
I'll trade the sights I've seen

For one loving glance
Where can I go without you?

Overall Meaning

Dorinda Clark-Cole's "You Can" is a song that explores the theme of the unbreakable bond between two people. The persona in the song has traveled to various cities in different parts of the world in search of adventure, fun, and perhaps a new chapter of life without the other person. However, in every city, she finds that the memories of her loved one are still with her, and there is nowhere she can go without thinking of him. Despite her desire to explore new things and meet new people, she realizes that her happiness lies with her partner.

The first verse, "I went to London town, to clear up my mind, then on to Paris, for the fun I couldn't find," shows the persona's search for happiness and fulfillment. She has traveled to Europe in search of new experiences and adventure but realizes that those things mean nothing without the love of her life. The theme continues in the next stanza, "Tried seeing Singapore, but that wouldn't do, went to Vienna, but I found you there, too, even Switzerland your memory came through." The persona has traveled far and wide seeking refuge from the pain and longing she feels, but all she finds is his memory at every stop.

The chorus, "Where can I go without you?" underscores the emotional pain of separation and the realization that being with the loved one is where true happiness lies. The line "I'm tired of faces and quaint old places if you can't be there with me," shows that the persona wants to experience life with their partner and that nothing else will suffice.

Line by Line Meaning

I went to London town
I traveled to London to try and clear my thoughts

To clear up my mind
I needed to find mental clarity

Then on to Paris
Next, I went to Paris for some fun

For the fun I couldn't find
However, I couldn't find the enjoyment I was looking for

I found I couldn't leave my memories behind
I realized my memories were inescapable

Where can I go without you?
I couldn't find a place where I wasn't reminded of you

Tried seeing Singapore
I attempted to go to Singapore

But that wouldn't do
But that didn't solve my problem

Went to Vienna
So I traveled to Vienna

But I found you there, too
But your memory was still with me

Even in Switzerland, your memory came through
I couldn't escape my memories of you, even in Switzerland