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.
How It Used To Be
Kirk Franklin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can't even count the days
Or the many nights I tried living here alone
A heart full of pride
Couldn't see the enemy was me
I was blind and thought my second chance was gone
A ship without a sail
Battered by the raging sea
While waiting to exhale I finally got on my knees
I know it's been a long time
Do you still remember my name?
Can I go back in time?
Can I have another try?
But I can't change yesterday
[Chorus]
Oh I
Can't take another day without you
Cause this heart don't beat the same without you
I forgot who I was
Got caught up in this world
Jesus I apologize
I should've lost my mind without you
Not another sleepless night without you Jesus
I'm sorry and I'm asking please
Make us how we used to be
I try and try to keep my mind on you
But trouble keeps calling me
Every time a wound heals
Something else takes the healing away
But even when I've gone too far
You don't even call my name
Mama said if you love let it go
And if it comes back then it's back to stay
You already knew I belong to only you
I run to your arms and say
[Chorus]
Never knew a life so cold
Thought that things could fulfill my soul
Tried to find love on my own
It was hard to admit I was wrong
No money, no cars, no fame, no lies, no games my life is taken
Now we've come to the break
Tell me what you gone say (you gone say)
I know (I know)
I give my life right
But you know
You ain't promised tonight
Babygirl
Without you
(I can't breathe)
Without you
(I can't exist)
Without you
(This world ain't got nothing for me
I'm coming home)
[Chorus 2x]
The song "How It Used To Be" by Kirk Franklin tells the story of the singer's journey towards redemption and reconciliation with God. The first verse highlights the struggle of living without God, a heart full of pride that couldn't see the true enemy, which was the singer himself. He tried to escape his pain by seeking refuge in material possessions and other forms of love. In the chorus, the singer realizes that he can't live without God and asks for his forgiveness to make things right. He admits his past mistakes and seeks God's help to become the person he used to be.
In the second verse, the singer acknowledges that he's been struggling to stay focused and keep God in his mind, as the troubles of life keep calling back to him. But despite his transgressions, God always welcomes him back, and he finds solace in knowing he belongs only to God. The pre-chorus sees the singer confessing his sins and that he knows he wants to give his life to God, but he's also aware that there's no guarantee he'll have that chance for another day.
The song's message is of redemption and the power of God's love to transform individuals, no matter how far they may have strayed. The chorus serves as a rallying cry for anyone seeking a way back to God, and the song's overall message is one of hope, forgiveness, and reconciliation.
Line by Line Meaning
I ain't gonna lie
To begin, I must admit that I have been deceptive about my current state
I can't even count the days
I have lost track of the amount of time that has passed
Or the many nights I tried living here alone
I have attempted to survive by myself in the darkness of the night
A heart full of pride
My ego was too large to permit healthy relationships
Couldn't see the enemy was me
I was unaware that my own presence was responsible for my problems
I was blind and thought my second chance was gone
I failed to recognize that I had another opportunity because I was unable to see clearly
A ship without a sail
I was adrift with no direction or guidance
Battered by the raging sea
I was overwhelmed and battered by life's difficulties and challenges
Taking any love I can to try and stop the rain
I attempted to fill the emptiness caused by my struggles, sadness, and loneliness with anything that vaguely resembled love
While waiting to exhale I finally got on my knees
When I couldn't manage it anymore, I fell to my knees and begged for help
I know it's been a long time
It took a long time for me to recognize my faults
Do you still remember my name?
I'm inquiring to know if I'm still on your mind
Can I go back in time?
I wish I could revisit the past and correct my wrongdoing
Can I have another try?
I request another opportunity to make things right
But I can't change yesterday
I understand that I cannot alter the events of the past
[Chorus]
Refrain from the piece that speaks to the overall theme of the song
Oh I
I'm about to communicate something significant
Can't take another day without you
I can't survive if you're not here with me
Cause this heart don't beat the same without you
My heart is incomplete without you
I forgot who I was
I became lost in my struggles and lost sight of my identity
Got caught up in this world
My focus was on worldly pleasures
Jesus I apologize
I'm apologizing to Jesus
I should've lost my mind without you
I recognize that I would have gone insane without your presence in my life
Not another sleepless night without you Jesus
I am unable to sleep because I need His presence in my life
I'm sorry and I'm asking please
I'm seeking his forgiveness and mercy
Make us how we used to be
I'm requesting that He restores our prior relationship
I try and try to keep my mind on you
I strive to keep my focus on Jesus
But trouble keeps calling me
Chaos is always trying to pull me back in
Every time a wound heals
Although I attempt to recover from past injuries and wounds
Something else takes the healing away
I experience additional wounds, hindering the healing process
But even when I've gone too far
Despite my failures and setbacks
You don't even call my name
God never abandons me
Mama said if you love let it go
As a child, I was taught that true love is often releasing someone
And if it comes back then it's back to stay
If true love is present, it will never depart permanently
You already knew I belong to only you
God already knew that I only had one purpose - to serve Him
I run to your arms and say
I come to you for comfort and protection, Lord
[Chorus]
Refrain from the piece that speaks to the overall theme of the song
Never knew a life so cold
I never had such a cold, dark, and lonely life before
Thought that things could fulfill my soul
I believed material things could make me happy
Tried to find love on my own
I tried to discover love through my own power
It was hard to admit I was wrong
It was challenging for me to acknowledge my mistakes
No money, no cars, no fame, no lies, no games my life is taken
Without God's presence in my life, all of life's enjoyable aspects are meaningless
Now we've come to the break
Now we've arrived at the point of separation
Tell me what you gone say (you gone say)
Tell me what you'll say, my love
I know (I know)
I am aware
I give my life right
I promise that I will give my life to you
But you know
However, you are aware
You ain't promised tonight
Nobody has the assurance of living until tomorrow
Babygirl
I'm appealing to my lady love
Without you
I cannot live without you
(I can't breathe)
My life becomes meaningless when you're not around
(I can't exist)
I am unable to exist without your love
(This world ain't got nothing for me
The world holds no true pleasure for me
I'm coming home)
I'm coming back to you, Lord
[Chorus 2x]
Refrain from the piece that speaks to the overall theme of the song
Lyrics © CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP, Universal Music Publishing Group, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: KIRK FRANKLIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
livin4jc67
This is the song that brought me back to Christ and back to life. At the time, I was tired and ready to just give up on life. I had left Him and I didn't think that I would ever be able to return to Him. But I was on youtube one night and saw this video and I had always liked Kirk Franklin so I clicked on it. By the end of the song I had made up my mind to return home and return to Christ. And now I have been given so many blessings that I can't thank Him enough and I am forever grateful!!
MrAveryBrown
livin4jc67 , powerful. Praying that The Lord continues to sustain you, and that your future continues to prosper. Continued grace to you! ✊❤💯
EVETTE THOMPSON
Amen
Joseph Sichangwa
We bless the Lord for your life!
Christy Of Battle Born Believers BBB
ME TOO! brought me back! and I couldn't find this song for a quite a while!! just found it today by going through like 5o Kirk Franklin songs cause I couldn't remember the name!
Sheldon Jones
One of the greatest and realest, gospel songs I've ever heard. This song will help return your connection to the one true GOD!
Warren Ricardo
You probably dont care but if you're stoned like me atm you can watch pretty much all the new movies and series on Instaflixxer. I've been streaming with my brother for the last couple of weeks :)
Daxton Rhett
@Warren Ricardo definitely, I've been using Instaflixxer for years myself =)
Latonia Jackson
Powerful words!! The whole truth and nothing but the truth!!
Devonta' Travis
man this song really helped me through my senior year of high school last year. I really messed up lost my way and felt alone.LOVE THIS SONG