Brief Biography
Karen Clark Sheard was born the youngest of six children born to Pastor Elbert Clark and Dr. Mattie Moss Clark, a pioneering gospel choral director. Clark-Sheard is best known for being a member of iconic gospel group The Clark Sisters.
Karen's involvement in the Island Inspirational All Stars' "Don't Give Up" in 1996 (along with Donald Lawrence, Hezekiah Walker, and Kirk Franklin) led to her signing with Island Records.[1] Her solo career began with the release of her debut album Finally Karen in 1997. The album, consisting of half studio recordings and half live recordings, was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album in 1998. The set did however win the Lady Of Soul award for Best Gospel Album the same year.[2]
After Yolanda Adams, Karen Clark-Sheard became the 2nd gospel artist to sign to Elektra Records. She released her Elektra debut album 2nd Chance in 2002 led off by the single "Be Sure". Though Clark-Sheard was in excellent form vocally, the slick, progressive sound of the disc was not received well. The 2003 followup The Heavens Are Telling fared well, but came at an awkward time when Elektra Records was being dissolved into Atlantic Records. In 2005, after a bidding war with several labels, Karen Clark Sheard finally signed with Word Records and issued It's Not Over, the following year.
Singers Mariah Carey, Faith Evans and Beyoncรฉ all count Karen Clark-Sheard as one of their greatest vocal influences.[3]
Personal life
On June 16, 1984, Karen Clark-Sheard wed John Drew Sheard, a minister. Her husband is senior pastor of Greater Emmanuel Institutional Church of God in Christ in Detroit. Together they have 2 children: Kierra, who is also a gospel recording artist, and John Drew Sheard II, a young musician and up-and-coming producer.
In 2001, Clark-Sheard was faced with a life-threatening crisis when a blood vessel burst during a scheduled hernia surgery. Her doctors only gave her a 2% chance of survival due to her complications. After the blood clot was surgically removed, Clark-Sheard fell into a coma. The coma lasted three and a half weeks[4], but Clark-Sheard made a miraculous [5][6]recovery and recorded her sophomore album, 2nd Chance (named so because of the "second chance" given to her by God) [7], in 2002. Clark-Sheard's near-death experience is referenced in her daughter Kierra's song "You Don't Know".
Voice
* 1st Soprano
Highest Note
* Eb6 in "Name it and Claim it" (Gospel, motion picture, 1982) and "Livin'" ("You Showed Me" was a C6 natural)
Lowest Note
* G3 in "So Good" and "Its Not Over" (version from album of same title)
Because of You
Karen Clark Sheard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Blessed (5xs)
Because of who you are and more
I'm Grateful
I'm Thankful
I'm Joyful
I'm overtaken by your grace
I'm overtaken by your mercy bestowed upon me
Full, protected from enemies' harm
Put back together with toil
It's because of who you are
I'm saved
Saved by grace Saved because of who you are and more
The song 'Because of You' by Karen Clark Sheard is a powerful declaration of gratitude and appreciation towards God for all his blessings and mercy bestowed upon the singer. The opening lines set the tone for the rest of the song by exclaiming 'I'm blessed, blessed, blessed', emphasizing the overwhelming feeling of gratitude that is present in the singer's heart. The repetition of the word 'blessed' further emphasizes the depth of thankfulness and the sense of amazement the singer feels towards God.
As the song continues, the singer describes the various ways in which she has been positively impacted because of God's love, grace, and mercy. The lyrics 'I'm full, overtaken by your love' and 'I'm overtaken by your grace' effectively convey the depth of emotion that the singer is experiencing. She feels that she has been protected from harm and that she has been put back together despite the challenges she has encountered along the way.
Towards the end of the song, the singer declares that she has been 'saved by grace' and that it is because of God that she has been able to overcome all obstacles. The lyrics 'saved because of who you are and more' suggests that the singer is aware that her blessings and salvation are not just a result of God's actions but also because of who he is - a kind, loving, and merciful God.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm Blessed
I am fortunate and favored
Blessed (5xs)
I am blessed repeatedly
Because of who you are and more
I am blessed because of your character and additional reasons
I'm Grateful
I am thankful and appreciative
I'm Thankful
I am grateful and obliged
I'm Joyful
I am joyous and happy
I'm full, overtaken by your love
I am filled and overwhelmed by your love
I'm overtaken by your grace
I am overwhelmed by your mercy and favor
I'm overtaken by your mercy bestowed upon me
I am overwhelmed by your compassion and kindness towards me
Full, protected from enemies' harm
I am filled and shielded from harm caused by adversaries
Put back together with toil
I am restored after a difficult struggle
It's because of who you are
All of my blessings and protection are due to your character
I'm saved
I am redeemed and rescued
Saved by grace
My redemption is due to unearned favor
Saved because of who you are and more
My redemption is because of your character and additional factors
Writer(s): Hodges David, Clarkson Kelly Brianne, Moody Ben
Contributed by Lucy J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.