Gladys Maria Knight (born May 28, 1944 in Atlanta, Georgia) is a legendary … Read Full Bio ↴Gladys Maria Knight (born May 28, 1944 in Atlanta, Georgia) is a legendary American R&B/soul singer and actress. She is best known for the hits she recorded during the 1960s and 1970s, for both the Motown and Buddah Records labels, with her group Gladys Knight & the Pips, the most famous incarnation of which also included her brother Merald "Bubba" Knight and her cousins Edward Patten and William Guest.
Knight started to record solo material due to legal issues that forced her and The Pips to record separately. Her solo debut "Miss Gladys Knight" was released in 1978 followed by "Gladys Knight" on Colombia Records. Knight recorded the title track for the James Bond movie "Licence To Kill." It became a Top 10 hit in the UK, peaking at #6. Knight's third solo album, "Good Woman" was released in 1991 on MCA Records (now Geffen Records). The album quickly climbed the charts to #1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The album features the lead single, "Men" (#2 R&B). Her fourth album, "Just For You" followed in 1995. The album went Gold. Knight most recent album is her critically acclaimed ninth studio album, "Before Me", released in 2006.

Come Sunday
Gladys Knight Lyrics

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Lord, dear Lord above, God almighty,
God of love, please look down and see my people through.

I believe that God put sun and moon up in the sky.
I don't mind the gray skies
'cause they're just clouds passing by.

Heaven is a goodness time.
A brighter light on high.

Do unto others as you would have them do to you.

And have a brighter by and by.

Lord, dear Lord above, God almighty,
God of love, please look down and see my people through.

I believe God is now, was then and always will be.
With God's blessing we can make it through eternity.

Lord, dear Lord above, God almighty,
God of love, please look down and see my people through.

Overall Meaning

In Gladys Knight's song "Come Sunday," she is singing a prayer to God asking for his help and guidance for her people who are going through challenging times. She believes that God has the power to see them through their struggles, and she references his creation of the sun and moon as evidence of his divine power. She continues to express her faith in God's goodness by saying that even in difficult times represented by the gray skies, there is always hope because those clouds are just temporary.

The second verse speaks to the idea of heaven being a place of ultimate goodness and light, and she encourages her listeners to treat others kindly if they hope to receive kindness in return. The song ends with a repetition of her initial prayer, asking for God's guidance and help for her people.

One of the interesting things about this song is that it was written by Duke Ellington, who is more commonly known as a jazz composer and pianist. However, Ellington was a deeply spiritual person and composed several religious pieces throughout his career. He wrote "Come Sunday" in 1943 as part of his larger "Black, Brown and Beige" suite, which was performed at Carnegie Hall in 1943.

Another interesting fact about this song is that it was originally recorded by Mahalia Jackson, one of the most famous gospel singers of all time. Jackson's version of the song became very popular, but Knight's cover brought it to a wider audience and helped cement its status as a classic.

"Come Sunday" has been covered by many other artists over the years, including Ray Charles, Nina Simone, and Al Jarreau.

The song's message of hope and faith in God has resonated with many people over the years, and it has been used in various contexts, including civil rights rallies and church services.

The chord progression for "Come Sunday" is relatively simple and repetitive, consisting of just three chords: Cmaj7, Fmaj7, and Bbmaj7.

Overall, "Come Sunday" is a beautiful and inspiring song that speaks to the power of faith and the importance of treating others with kindness and love. Its timeless message continues to resonate with listeners today, and it has earned its place as a classic of both gospel and jazz music.

Line by Line Meaning

Lord, dear Lord above, God almighty, God of love, please look down and see my people through.
Oh God, the all-powerful and loving creator, please help my people in their time of need and provide them with guidance and support.

I believe that God put sun and moon up in the sky.
I have faith that God created the world and everything in it, including the sun and the moon.

I don't mind the gray skies 'cause they're just clouds passing by.
I am not bothered by the clouds in the sky, as they are temporary and will soon pass by.

Heaven is a goodness time. A brighter light on high.
Heaven is a wonderful place, filled with light and goodness.

Do unto others as you would have them do to you.
Treat others the way you would like to be treated yourself.

And have a brighter by and by.
As a result of treating others with kindness and compassion, we can look forward to a brighter future.

I believe God is now, was then and always will be.
I have faith that God is present in the world today, has always existed throughout history, and will continue to exist in the future.

With God's blessing we can make it through eternity.
If we receive God's blessing, we can endure and thrive for an infinite amount of time.

Lord, dear Lord above, God almighty, God of love, please look down and see my people through.
Once again, I implore God to assist and protect my people in their time of need.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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