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.
First love
Kirk Franklin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They saw you stumble but didn't help you
And now they left you
They were quick to pray but slow to move
And now you're empty
Too tired to run, you walk away
In the night there's a voice
Come back to your first love (first love, first love)
Come back home, back where you belong
Come (to your, to your) first love
You didn't make it
You thought your love would last forever
Ain't it funny how a chapter can make a story change
Cold and lonely, you never knew hurt could feel this way
Understand there's a plan if you're patient
Hear the savior say
God is able to heal if you listen
And He'll show you His will if you listen
But you gotta be still and just listen, listen
Come back to your first love, first love
Come back to your first love, first love
Come back to your first love, first love
Come back to your first love, first love
Home, home, home, I'm Home
Home, home, home, I'm Home
In Kirk Franklin's song "First Love," the lyrics depict a story of a person who was hurt by others, abandoned, and left to face their hurt alone. The lyrics express how this person was left feeling empty, tired of running, and unable to continue. The song's chorus encourages the listener to go back to their first love and to come home where they belong. The first love being referred to here is likely a relationship with God, which the person has turned away from in the face of their pain. The song seems to be offering hope and urging the listener to trust in God, who is able to heal and guide them through their struggles.
One of the interesting things about this song is that it was released on Kirk Franklin’s album, “Losing My Religion,” in 2015. The entire album is a statement by Franklin that he is losing his belief in religious structures and dogma, but not his faith in God. While many of the songs on the album express Franklin’s frustration with religion, "First Love" shows that he still values the importance of personal faith in God.
Another interesting fact is that "First Love" reached number 8 on the Billboard Hot Gospel Songs chart in March 2016. This song became Franklin's 17th top 10 hit on the chart.
The song's music video, which features a young woman running away from her pain and fears, was directed by Isaac Deitz. Deitz also created the music videos for several other successful Christian artists such as NEEDTOBREATHE, Switchfoot, and Crowder.
Another notable aspect of the song is its unique use of the chorus sung by a children's choir. This element not only adds a layer of emotional depth to the song but also acts as an acknowledgment from Franklin about the importance of including and nurturing the faith of future generations.
Overall, "First Love" is a powerful message about the healing power of going back to one's spiritual roots and trusting in God's plan for their life.
Chords:
Unfortunately, the chords for "First Love" are not available online as of this writing.
Line by Line Meaning
I know they hurt you
I understand that you have been hurt by someone
They saw you stumble but didn't help you
The people around you witnessed your difficulties but didn't offer their assistance
And now they left you
They have now abandoned you
They were quick to pray but slow to move
Although they prayed for you, they didn't take any action to actually help you
And now you're empty
You are now feeling drained and alone
Too tired to run, you walk away
You cannot bear to continue facing the situation, so you walk away
In the night there's a voice
During the dark times, there is a guiding voice
If you listen He sweetly says
If you pay attention, that voice will guide you affectionately
Come back to your first love (first love, first love)
Return to the love that you have initially received (from God)
Come back home, back where you belong
Come back to the origin (your relationship with God) that you truly belong
Come (to your, to your) first love
Come back to your source of true love
You didn't make it
You may have failed
You thought your love would last forever
You believed that your love would never end
Ain't it funny how a chapter can make a story change
It is surprising how a single event can drastically alter the course of one's life
Cold and lonely, you never knew hurt could feel this way
Feeling alone and heartbroken, you never imagined that pain could manifest like this
Understand there's a plan if you're patient
Realize that there is a greater plan in place, but it requires patience to see it come to fruition
Hear the savior say
Listen to the message that the Savior has for you
God is able to heal if you listen
God has the power to heal you, if you pay attention
And He'll show you His will if you listen
By actively listening, God will reveal His plan for you
But you gotta be still and just listen, listen
You must be calm and focus solely on listening to what God has to say
Home, home, home, I'm Home
Feeling the love of God in your heart, you feel a sense of coming home
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: ELIOT JAMES, CHRIS GAINES, LIAM WILLFORD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Conika Yates
on Something About the Name Jesus
When i heard this song something just comes over me, i just cant explain it, but i has a wonderful feeling to it. i just love it. It's just something about the name Jesus....