LaShell Griffin was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. She grew up on th… Read Full Bio ↴LaShell Griffin was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. She grew up on the eastside in the projects and had a tough time growing up. Church was always a highlight for her and she knew music was her mission. From the time she was 9, LaShell longed to sing in the choir.
When she was old enough to join at 13, LaShell was given solos on a regular basis. By the time she was in her late teens, LaShell started to gain her confidence. “I started off holding my head down when I sang,” LaShell says. “Then I started looking at the ceiling, then the clock in front of me.
Finally, I just started singing with my eyes closed, so I could tune out everything and everyone and just deliver.” It’s a method that has stayed with her ever since.
When LaShell was 17, she got pregnant and married Lee when she was 18. (Today they have 5 children and have been married for 20 years.) “When I got married, I put my personal ambitions on the shelf and focused on my family,” says LaShell.
She continued to sing at church and at weddings. Her performances became sought after and soon LaShell was juggling several weddings per weekend in addition to her responsibilities at church and at home.

BELIEVE IN YOUR DREAMS
In November 2003, LaShell broke her foot and her schedule slowed down as a result. While watching Oprah, LaShell heard them promote a singing contest. I told my husband, and he said, “This is it.” They recorded her singing “Amazing Grace” at church and sent in a tape. A few weeks after they sent the tape, LaShell was pulling in her driveway after picking up her husband from work. “The phone was ringing and I just assumed it was another bill collector,” says LaShell. “But it was a producer from Oprah’s show!”

The competition was designed to help mature people (age 28 or older) to find the opportunity to fulfill their dream of becoming a professional recording artist. Over 15,000 people sent in their tapes to Harpo Studios.

Only 8 semi-finalists were handpicked by the producers and LaShell was one of them! She performed before a television audience of millions and was judged by celebrities like Alicia Keys, Toni Braxton, Cyndi Lauper, American Idol’s Simon Cowell and Oprah.

She seized the moment by singing “Where Do Broken Hearts Go?,” “The Greatest Love of All,” and “One Moment in Time.” Her amazing renditions caused tears to flow and even Oprah could not keep her composure.

LaShell, 37, says her success was not overnight. “So many people want the same success, but they have to understand that it took time, prayer, submission and obedience to the Holy Spirit,” says LaShell. She loves to share her faith especially to underprivileged children. LaShell says she put her dreams on the backburner when she got married.

She looked after the children and provided a stable home. Her husband also sang in a Gospel male group band and in their church choir. He was also a shoe salesman and owned a commercial cleaning business. LaShell stayed faithful and knew her time would come. About two years ago, she wanted to audition for “Star Search,” and while she was ready and willing, Lee felt it was not the right timing for their family.

In the past, LaShell’s family had their utilities cut off despite her husband working two jobs. Now she’s able to make more on stage in a night than her husband could in a month and a half. Lee is now her full-time manager.

LaShell faced a real struggle when her strong religious beliefs clashed with what the music industry would ask of her. She didn’t want to wear anything too sexy nor sing songs that didn’t celebrate love and Christianity. Record sales didn’t translate into another deal for LaShell, and she got discouraged. “Lee helped me a lot,” she says. “He said, “Whatever is in your heart, you can fulfill them. You’re not supposed to let people hold you down.” So LaShell dried her tears, got off the couch and got back on track again. Lee and LaShell started their own record label and her music is now sold in Wal-mart stores everywhere.

Away In a Manger
LaShell Griffin Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Away in a manger
No crib for His bed
The little Lord Jesus
Lay down His sweet head
The stars in the bright sky
Look down where lay
The little Lord Jesus
Asleep on the hay

The cattle are lowing
The baby awakes
But little Lord Jesus
No crying he makes
I love you Lord Jesus
Look down from the sky

And stay by my cradle
'Til morning is night

Overall Meaning

The first stanza of Away in a Manger speaks of the humble birthplace of baby Jesus. The phrase "no crib for His bed" paints a picture of the poverty and struggle faced by the holy family during the time of Christ's birth while "the little Lord Jesus lay down His sweet head" illustrates the innocence of the newborn. The second line of the stanza "The stars in the bright sky look down where he lay" suggests the birth of a king, as is foretold in the Bible. The last line "Asleep on the hay" paints an image of serenity and peacefulness, despite the uncomfortable circumstances surrounding the birth.

The second stanza brings to mind the arrival of the shepherds in Bethlehem. The phrase "the cattle are lowing" refers to the animals grazing in the field where the stable was located. The line "the baby awakes but little Lord Jesus no crying he makes" depicts the quiet strength and calmness that Jesus displayed since birth. The third line "I love you Lord Jesus, look down from the sky" represents the belief that Jesus is watching over us from heaven, and the line "And stay by my cradle 'til morning is night" expresses a desire for His presence and protection.

Line by Line Meaning

Away in a manger
The child Jesus was born in a stable

No crib for His bed
There was no crib available for Jesus to sleep in

The little Lord Jesus
Refers to the infant Jesus, who is believed to be the son of God

Lay down His sweet head
Jesus rested peacefully in the manger

The stars in the bright sky
The stars shone brightly in the night sky

Look down where lay
The stars cast their light on the manger where Jesus lay

The little Lord Jesus
Refers to the infant Jesus, who is believed to be the son of God

Asleep on the hay
Jesus was sleeping on the hay in the manger

The cattle are lowing
The cows are making soft, mooing sounds

The baby awakes
Jesus wakes up from his sleep

But little Lord Jesus
Despite waking up, Jesus did not cry