A native of Fort Worth, Texas, he was raised by his aunt, Gertrude Franklin. He developed a talent for music early, playing the piano at age four and becoming music director of his church at age eleven. After getting kicked out of school in his teenaged years, having a girlfriend become pregnant, and after a friend was shot to death he returned to the church. After leading the DFW Mass Choir at the 1990 Gospel Music Workshop of America Convention, he organized "The Family", a seventeen-voice choir, in 1992 and began his recording career.
He has integrated hip hop styles with gospel themes in albums such as The Nu Nation Project and God's Property, which achieved success on the Billboard Pop Album, R&B and gospel charts.
Franklin has collaborated with the biggest names in gospel music, including Tonex, Donnie McClurkin, Richard Smallwood, Crystal Lewis, Pastor Shirley Caesar, Jaci Valesquez, and Willie Neal Johnson. He also has displayed a willingness to collaborate with artists in the secular realm, including Bono, Mary J. Blige, Crystal Lewis, and R Kelly in the hit single, "Lean on Me."
On October 4, 2005, his new long-awaited album Hero was released, with latest single Looking for You.
Franklin's songs are published by Zomba Music Publishing, a division of BMG Music Publishing.
Declaration
Kirk Franklin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But my feet have finally left the ledge
Like an acrobat
There's no turning back
I'm letting go
Of the life I planned for me
I'm losing control
Of my destiny
It feels like I'm falling and that's what it's like to believe
So I'm letting go
This is a giant leap of faith
Trusting and trying to embrace
The fear of the unknown
Beyond my comfort zone
I'm letting go
Of the life I planned for me
And my dreams
I'm losing control
Of my destiny
It feels like I'm falling and that's what it's like to believe
So I'm letting go
Giving in to your gravity
Knowing You are holding me
I'm not afraid
Feels like I'm falling and that's what it's like to believe
Feels like I'm falling and this is the life for me
The lyrics of Kirk Franklin Feat. Rance Allen's song Declaration deals with the theme of giving up control and trusting in a higher power. The opening lines of the song, "My heart beats, standing on the edge but my feet have finally left the ledge" illustrate the conflict of being in a vulnerable position yet taking the leap of faith to trust in something bigger than oneself. The lyrics reflect a sense of surrender where the singer is willing to let go of the life he planned for himself and embrace the unknown.
The metaphor of an acrobat is used to describe the sense of unease one feels when taking a leap of faith, where there is no guarantee that everything is going to work out. The song expresses the idea that despite feeling like one is falling, that is what it means to truly believe. Giving in to the unknown and the gravity of life is what leads to growth and intrinsic change. Ultimately, the song celebrates the idea of losing control and trusting in a higher power or destiny.
Line by Line Meaning
My heart beats, standing on the edge
I am filled with fear and uncertainty as I embark on a new journey
But my feet have finally left the ledge
Despite my fear, I have taken a brave step forward
Like an acrobat
Just like an acrobat must rely on their skill and training, I must rely on my faith
There's no turning back
I cannot change my decision or go back to my old life
I'm letting go
I am relinquishing control and trusting in a higher power
Of the life I planned for me
I am surrendering my own desires and plans for my future
And my dreams
I am releasing my own aspirations and goals
I'm losing control
I am allowing myself to be vulnerable
Of my destiny
I am letting go of the expectations and outcomes I had envisioned for myself
It feels like I'm falling and that's what it's like to believe
It may be scary and uncertain, but this is what it feels like to have faith
So I'm letting go
I am actively choosing to trust and have faith in a higher power
This is a giant leap of faith
What I am doing requires immense trust and courage
Trusting and trying to embrace
I am attempting to fully accept and welcome this new journey
The fear of the unknown
I am nervous and scared about what lies ahead
Beyond my comfort zone
This is something new and unfamiliar to me
Giving in to your gravity
I am allowing myself to be guided by a higher power
Knowing You are holding me
I trust that I am not alone in this journey
I'm not afraid
Despite my fear, I have faith and trust in a higher power
Feels like I'm falling and this is the life for me
This new path may be uncertain, but I trust that this is the right choice for me
Lyrics © CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP, Universal Music Publishing Group, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: FRANCESCA BATTISTELLI, IAN ESKELIN, TONY WOOD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Pearline Young
I love this song!!!!!
“This is it!! You can’t mess with my mind anymore!!!”
Michael De Boulet
D
TaMara Sgro
🎉
Shannon Owens
I did cry AND I am getting back into that Ring of Life!!! This Is IT!!! Thank You, Jesus.
Elizabeth Smith
look at who he's fighting.. Not the enemy, not another person, but his flesh or his old self. Profound to me!
Jason Davis
Yeah me too
Lore Bay
Yeah, caught that, at times we can be an enemy to ourselves doing that which is not becoming of followers of Christ. If we put self aside and pickup and hold to His words we’ll do just fine.
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Jesus!!! I purposely searched for this song to share on social media because it brought me back to myself ten years ago. I finally really watched the video, rushed to the comments, to confirm he was fighting himself. Wow!!
Anthony Vaughan
AMEN TO THAT !!!!
Saved by Grace
Elizabeth Smith Amen 🙏