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.
The Appeal
Kirk Franklin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wanting You and needing You
And I am here and I surrender
All of me so I can see
Your will is where I desire to be
Take all of me
All that I have and all that I do
Just take my hand
And I'll follow You
For all that I am
And all that I do, it's for You
You are my song
It's Your love that keeps me strong
And You are the light
In the darkness of my night
I'm lost without You
Broken without You
Oh, how I need You
Oh, how I need You
You make life worth living
Your grace always keep giving
I'm lost without You
Broken without You
Oh, how I need You
Oh, how I need You
Lord, have mercy, Lord have mercy
Ooh, have mercy
We need Your healing
Please give us healing
Lord, have mercy
Have mercy
Lord, have mercy
Have mercy
Oh Lord, Lord, I come
Broken in this place
Weak and poor
For all I have is Yours, all Yours
This life, these things
They can't compare to You
No wealth, no fame can separate
The one my heart adores
Yet, we take our eyes off You
We're blind in reaching for the truth
And now this whole world cries
Because it realizes
There is none quite like You
The earth, the stars, the universe
They just repeat these words so true
Life begins and life will end with You
Hear me singing
When I die, what will they say about me?
Will the work that I've done
Be enough to help someone?
When I die, will I draw men's hearts to You?
At the setting of the sun
Wanna hear You say
Well done, when I die
Well done, well done
I know He will make me the spirit and the [Incomprehensible]
The Appeal by Kirk Franklin is a song that expresses an intense desire to surrender to God's will. The opening lines of the songs declare the singer's need and desire for God's presence, wanting to give up everything in order to see God's will done in his or her life. The song paints a picture of total surrender to God, becoming lost without Him, and in need of His grace and mercy for healing. The lyrics suggest that life is only worthwhile when God is the center, the light, and the source of strength. The melody and lyrics are a powerful statement of faith, devotion, and humility.
Furthermore, the song's chorus presents a plea for God's mercy, healing and grace making it an appealing song for worship services. The song speaks of a life surrendered to God, where fame, wealth, and achievements pale in comparison to knowing and loving God. The lyrics suggest that at the end of life, the most important question is, "will I have done enough to help others and draw hearts to Christ?" Overall, the Appeal encourages Christians to remain focused on God, surrender all to Him, and find hope and strength in His grace and mercy.
Line by Line Meaning
Lord, I stand in Your presence
I acknowledge Your divine presence in my life, Lord.
Wanting You and needing You
I desire and need You, Lord.
And I am here and I surrender
I submit myself to You, Lord.
All of me so I can see
I offer myself completely to You, Lord, so I can see Your will.
Your will is where I desire to be
I long to be in accordance with Your will, Lord.
Take all of me
I give all of myself to You, Lord.
All that I have and all that I do
Everything that I possess and everything that I do is for You, Lord.
I give it to You, Lord, it's for You
I entrust everything in my life to You, Lord.
Just take my hand
Lord, lead me, hold me.
And I'll follow You
I will go wherever You lead me, Lord.
For all that I am
Everything that constitutes me, Lord.
And all that I do, it's for You
Everything that I do brings glory to You, Lord.
You are my song
You are the melody in my life, Lord.
It's Your love that keeps me strong
Your love is what sustains me, Lord.
And You are the light
You illuminate my way, Lord.
In the darkness of my night
When I am lost and scared, Lord.
I'm lost without You
I am helpless without You, Lord.
Broken without You
I am shattered without You, Lord.
Oh, how I need You
I desperately need You, Lord.
You make life worth living
Your presence gives my life meaning, Lord.
Your grace always keep giving
Your grace and mercy are abundant, Lord.
Lord, have mercy, Lord have mercy
Lord, please have mercy on us.
Ooh, have mercy
Lord, we cry out for Your mercy.
We need Your healing
Lord, we need Your healing power.
Please give us healing
Lord, we beseech You for healing.
Oh Lord, Lord, I come
I come to You, Lord.
Broken in this place
I am broken and vulnerable before You, Lord.
Weak and poor
I am weak and poor without You, Lord.
For all I have is Yours, all Yours
Everything that I possess belongs to You, Lord.
This life, these things
The things in this life, Lord.
They can't compare to You
They cannot compare to Your supremacy, Lord.
No wealth, no fame can separate
Neither wealth nor fame can distance me from You, Lord.
The one my heart adores
You, Lord, are the one whom my heart adores.
Yet, we take our eyes off You
However, we tend to lose sight of You, Lord.
We're blind in reaching for the truth
We are blind in our pursuit of truth, Lord.
And now this whole world cries
The world realizes, Lord.
Because it realizes
That You are matchless, Lord.
There is none quite like You
None can compare to You, Lord.
The earth, the stars, the universe
All of creation, Lord.
They just repeat these words so true
Resounds with words of praise for You, Lord.
Life begins and life will end with You
Life emanates from You and concludes with You, Lord.
Hear me singing
Hear me singing to You, Lord.
When I die, what will they say about me?
When I die, Lord, what legacy will I leave?
Will the work that I've done
Will the work that I've accomplished be significant, Lord?
Be enough to help someone?
Will it have made a positive impact on anyone, Lord?
When I die, will I draw men's hearts to You?
Lord, will my life draw people closer to You even after I die?
At the setting of the sun
At the end of my life, Lord.
Wanna hear You say
I long to hear You, Lord.
Well done, when I die
Well done, good and faithful servant. I want to hear those words, Lord.
Well done, well done
Lord, allow me to conclude my life pleasing You.
I know He will make me the spirit and the [Incomprehensible]
Only God can help me make sense of all things beyond human comprehension, Lord.
Lyrics Β© CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP, Universal Music Publishing Group, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: KIRK FRANKLIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ari Lennox
Oh there is none quite like you
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G E
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Irene Kwangaba
I literally cry everytime I hear this song.
Issac Frye
Me too
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Doesnβt matter how long itβs been since Iβve heard it. Such a beautiful song
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Nina Lopez
Still listening in 2020.. May The Most High Lord Jesus Christ save us and protect us in this time of the caronavirus...
Trace Jamir
@Julio Ty Happy to help :)
Jackson Hamza
@Hayden Cole Thank you, signed up and it seems like a nice service =) I appreciate it !!