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.
Riverside
Kirk Franklin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My 3 month old baby need some shoes
Can you feel what I'm going through
Clock on the wall keeps ticking tockin
No stoppin and somebody's knockin
On the do tellin me to go
Brotha I can't take no mo
So with my knees I hit the flo
[Chorus]
Let's go down by the riverside
Leave your problems all behind
You can rest troubled minds
Down by the riverside
If I concentrate on all the bad
And all the things I wish I had
How can the dark clouds ever pass
Weeping may endure for a night
But joy comes in the morning light
God he keeps me right
So no matter what the people say
Ain't nobody takin this joy away
In spite of all I've been through I can say
Thank you Jesus, Thank you Jesus, Thank you Jesus
[Chorus]
Let's go down by the riverside
Leave your problems all behind
You can rest troubled minds
Down by the riverside
(3 x)
Well, Well, Well
There's a blessing in the water ya'll
By the riverside, Say what now
There's a healin in the water
By the riverside, Say what now
The song "Riverside" by Kirk Franklin carries a message of hope and faith in the midst of difficult times. In the opening verse, Franklin describes the struggles he faces as a provider for his family, with bills due and a baby in need of shoes. The clock on the wall serves as a constant reminder of the passing time and the urgency of his situation. As he feels overwhelmed by the challenges he faces, someone knocks on his door, telling him to go. With no other option, he kneels down and asks for help from Jesus.
The chorus of the song serves as a call to action for those facing similar struggles. By going down to the riverside and leaving our problems behind, we can rest our troubled minds and find peace in the presence of God. The verse reminds us that focusing on the negative things in our lives only prolongs our pain and suffering. Weeping may endure for a night, but by turning to God, we can find joy in the morning. Despite what others may say or do, our faith in Jesus is an unshakable foundation that brings us through every difficulty.
Overall, "Riverside" is a powerful reminder of the importance of faith in times of trial. By leaning on Jesus and turning to God for comfort, we can find the strength to face whatever challenges come our way.
Line by Line Meaning
It's Friday and my bills are due
I'm feeling overwhelmed because it's Friday and I need to pay my bills
My 3 month old baby need some shoes
I also need to buy shoes for my 3 month old baby and it's putting additional stress on me
Can you feel what I'm going through
I'm wondering if anyone else can understand how I'm feeling
Clock on the wall keeps ticking tockin
The clock on the wall is a constant reminder of the time going by and my struggles
No stoppin and somebody's knockin
There's a sense that life won't pause for me and someone is knocking at my door, adding to my stress
On the do tellin me to go
Someone is at my door, telling me to go somewhere, but I'm feeling unable to move
Brotha I can't take no mo
I've reached my limit and can't handle any more pressure
So with my knees I hit the flo
I feel so overwhelmed that I get on my knees to pray
And say help me Jesus, help me Jesus
I pray to Jesus to help me with my struggles
Let's go down by the riverside
I want to escape my problems and find peace by going to the riverside
Leave your problems all behind
I want to leave my problems behind and find solace in the peaceful environment of the riverside
You can rest troubled minds
I hope to find rest for my anxious mind by the riverside
If I concentrate on all the bad
I realize that if I focus only on the negative things happening in my life, I'll never find peace
And all the things I wish I had
I also realize that if I focus on the things I don't have, I'll never find contentment
How can the dark clouds ever pass
If I stay focused on the darkness in my life, I'll never see the light
Weeping may endure for a night
I acknowledge that it's okay to cry and feel pain for a short time
But joy comes in the morning light
But I know that joy will come with the new day and I'll find peace
God he keeps me right
I rely on my faith in God to keep me going and provide me with strength
So no matter what the people say
I know that other people's opinions and negativity won't stop me from finding peace and joy
Ain't nobody takin this joy away
I'm determined to hold onto my joy and not let anyone take it away
In spite of all I've been through I can say
Despite my struggles, I'm able to say
Thank you Jesus, Thank you Jesus, Thank you Jesus
Thank you Jesus for helping me find peace and joy amidst my struggles
There's a blessing in the water ya'll
I believe that there are blessings and healing in the water by the riverside
By the riverside, Say what now
I'm emphasizing the importance of being by the riverside to find peace and healing
There's a healin in the water
I believe that being by the water can provide healing and comfort
By the riverside, Say what now
I'm reiterating the importance of being by the riverside
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: KIRK FRANKLIN
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....