A native of Danville, Kentucky[1], Harris started playing the piano by age 9. His first formal vocal training came when he attended college at Western Kentucky University, from which he graduated in 1969. He later became a part of the popular Gospel touring group "The Spurlows." He gained fame with both his solo work, and his work as part of the Gaither Vocal Band, headed by Gospel musician and recording executive Bill Gaither.
His many live and televised appearances include Live with Regis and Kathie Lee, The 700 Club, several Billy Graham crusades, the Trinity Broadcasting Network, numerous Gaither Homecoming shows, and his own Christmas special. In his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, Harris has made many appearances on the WHAS Crusade for Children, a long-running local telethon benefitting children's charities.
Of his many chart-topping songs, perhaps his best-known are his duets with Sandi Patty called, "More than Wonderful" and "I've Just Seen Jesus." His song, "Mighty Spirit" was featured in a 1993 television campaign for the Points of Light Foundation, headed by President George H. W. Bush; he performed the song for Bush and his wife Barbara at the White House.
Harris has received an honorary doctorate of music from Campbellsville University in central Kentucky. He was inducted into the Western Kentucky University Hall of Distinguished Alumni in 1993.
Harris, his wife Cynthia, and children Lonnie and Teresa have lived in Louisville for more than three decades. Despite his schedule, Harris serves as a deacon in his home church, and previously served as its treasurer. Harris is well-known within the Gospel music industry for his reluctance to schedule performances that take him away from his family for any length of time.
from Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larnelle_Harris
Were It Not For Grace
Larnelle Harris Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Life carried me along
In my soul I yearned to follow God
But knew Id never be so strong
I looked hard at this world
To learn how heaven could be gained
Just to end where I began
Where human effort is all in vain
[Chorus:]
Were it not for grace
I can tell you where Id be
Wandering down some pointless road to nowhere
With my salvation up to me
I know how that would go
The battles I would face
Forever running but losing this race
Were it not for grace
So here is all my praise
Expressed with all my heart
Offered to the Friend who took my place
And ran a course I could not start
And when He saw in full
Just how much His would cost
He still went the final mile between me and heaven
So I would not be lost
[Chorus:]
Forever running but losing this race
Were it not for grace
The song "Were It Not For Grace" by Larnelle Harris touches on a common experience for many people - the feeling of being lost and searching for direction, only to ultimately find salvation and peace through the grace of God. The opening verses describe the journey of a person who yearns for a connection with God but feels incapable of achieving it through human effort alone. The world is scrutinized in search of the pathway to heaven, but all attempts end up being futile. The chorus affirms that without the grace of God, the singer would be lost and aimlessly wandering down a path to nowhere. The image of running but continually losing the race conveys the futility of attempting to achieve salvation without the help of divine intervention.
In the second verse, the focus shifts to gratitude and praise for the Friend who took the singer's place and ran the course to heaven in his stead. The sacrifice of Jesus is acknowledged, with the lines "And when He saw in full / Just how much His would cost / He still went the final mile between me and heaven / So I would not be lost." The final chorus returns to the image of running and losing the race, but with the added knowledge that the singer is now saved by the grace of God.
Overall, "Were It Not For Grace" is a testament to the transformative power of faith and an acknowledgement that salvation is attainable only through the grace of God. The lyrics speak to those who have struggled with their faith, felt lost or disconnected from a spiritual path, and found comfort and redemption through divine intervention.
Line by Line Meaning
Time measured out my days
The passing of time has determined the length of my life.
Life carried me along
I have been moving forward in life without control over the circumstances.
In my soul I yearned to follow God
I have a deep desire in my spirit to pursue God and follow His ways.
But knew Id never be so strong
I was aware that I am not capable of doing this on my own, without God's help.
I looked hard at this world
I searched diligently in the world for answers.
To learn how heaven could be gained
In my quest for answers, I wanted to know how I could get to heaven.
Just to end where I began
My search led me back to where I started, with no answers.
Where human effort is all in vain
I came to realize that no matter how hard I try, I cannot earn my way to heaven on my own strength.
[Chorus:] Were it not for grace
If it were not for God's undeserved favor, I would not be where I am now.
I can tell you where Id be
I am certain that without God's grace, I would be lost and wandering aimlessly.
Wandering down some pointless road to nowhere
I would be stuck in a meaningless and purposeless journey.
With my salvation up to me
I would have to depend on myself to find a way to be saved.
I know how that would go
I am aware of how things would turn out if I had to rely on myself.
The battles I would face
I would have to fight many struggles alone without any assistance.
Forever running but losing this race
I would be running endlessly without gaining any ground forward.
[Chorus:] Were it not for grace
If it were not for God's undeserved favor, I would not be where I am now.
So here is all my praise
I am expressing all my gratitude and adoration.
Expressed with all my heart
My praises come from deep within my soul.
Offered to the Friend who took my place
I am giving my gratitude to Jesus who sacrificed Himself on my behalf.
And ran a course I could not start
Jesus fulfilled the mission that was impossible for me to complete.
And when He saw in full
When Jesus saw the full extent of the assignment, which included the cost of His life.
Just how much His would cost
The price that Jesus had to pay was great.
He still went the final mile between me and heaven
Jesus went the extra mile to ensure that I could have access to heaven.
So I would not be lost
Thus, I would now have direction and my life will be guided.
[Chorus:]
The chorus reiterates the emphasis on the fact that God's grace is the sole reason for where the singer is today.
Forever running but losing this race
Without God's grace, the singer would have been stuck in a never-ending struggle to save himself.
Were it not for grace
Again, the chorus emphasizes that without the grace from God, the singer would have no hope in life of gaining the salvation.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DAVID HAMILTON, PHILL MCHUGH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind