Step by Step
Livingston Taylor Lyrics


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Step by step
I'm walking my way to Canaan
Step by step
Never more I'll roam
God has a plan to please us
He gave us his son Jesus
Step by step
I'm coming home

I don't know when it started
When I first heard Satan's song
When I broke my mama's heart
By starting to go wrong
But the devil was so silky smooth
That I was taken in
And step by step
I walked the path
Of wickedness and sin

Make no mistake it was plenty fun
When I first turned away
From all the good that I'd been taught
About the righteous way
But a slinky painted woman
Had her arms around my neck
And with a couple of good time buddies
I figured what the heck

I started acting cool
I started skipping school
Started making a couple of bets
Started smoking cigarettes
Repeated gossip that I heard
Started huffing a little herb
Started drinking my uncle's gin
Started lying 'bout where I'd been
Bad crowd in a local bar
Joy ride in a stolen car
Wound up in the county jail
No one 'round to make my bail

Step by step
I walked away from Jesus
Step by step
I took the wrong track
Worldly pleasure and temptation
Became empty degradation
Step by step
I'm coming back

Sitting in that lonely cell
Lost as I could be
No one left on earth
Who'd admit to knowing me
All my friends and family
Completely burned and done
My daddy's words came back to me
When he said this day would come

Then a peace came over me
And I heard a simple voice
That spoke of forgiveness
And atonement for my choice
I fell down upon my knees
And out came all my lies
And the truth of the Son of God
Was right there at my side

Got back to reality
My faults belonged to me
Got rid of the grudge
Took my medicine from the judge
Got rid of the booze and dope
Cleaned my mouth with a little soap
Got a job at the corner store
Paid my debts and a little bit more
Got a copy of the Good Book
Opened it up and I took a look
Said "Devil, I'm not your slave"
Got to church and I got saved

Step by step
I came back to Jesus
Step by step
He opened up and let me in
The promise of his love
Is the promise from above
Step by step
Satan cannot win

Do not think this means
That pain has gone away
Or that heartache and deep sorrow
Cannot visit every day
But Satan has no weapon
No arrow, knife, or sword
That can take away the love
Of Jesus Christ the Lord

Step by step
He was walking right beside us
Step by step
He was with us all the way
From the moment of our birth
He had the measure of our worth




And he's walking us home
To judgement day

Overall Meaning

Livingston Taylor's song "Step By Step" tells a story of a lost soul who strayed away from God and walked the path of wickedness and sin. The singer of the song started out as a good person, but the temptations of the world, such as drugs, alcohol, and women, led him down a dark path. He wound up in jail, alone and lost. But then, a voice spoke to him of forgiveness and atonement, and he fell down on his knees and asked for God's help. He cleaned up his life, got a job, and opened the Good Book. He found solace in his faith, and the promise of God's love helped him face the pain and heartache of the world.


Line by Line Meaning

Step by step
The person is making progress towards Canaan in a gradual manner


I'm walking my way to Canaan
The journey is being made on foot to the land of Canaan that God had promised to his people


Never more I'll roam
The person seeks to settle in Canaan as this is the ultimate destination


God has a plan to please us
God has a plan to make his people happy and make their journey easy


He gave us his son Jesus
God sent his son Jesus to save his people from sin and difficulty


I'm coming home
The person is close to achieving salvation and reaching their ultimate goal


When I first heard Satan's song
The person was tempted by evil and began to sin as a result


By starting to go wrong
The initial decision to sin was a mistake, and it made it easier to continue sinning


But the devil was so silky smooth
The temptation to sin was made to appear attractive and enticing


That I was taken in
The person fell for the devil's tricks and began to follow his ways


Of wickedness and sin
The person was caught up in a life of sin and wrongdoing


Worldly pleasure and temptation
The attractions of the world and the lusts of the flesh caused the person to stray


Became empty degradation
The sinful life was ultimately empty and meaningless


Sitting in that lonely cell
The person was in prison, reflecting on his life choices


Lost as I could be
The person was feeling hopeless and adrift


And out came all my lies
The person confessed his sins and repented


Got to church and I got saved
The person found salvation in Christ and came to faith


The promise of his love
The love of Jesus is a promise of salvation and forgiveness


He opened up and let me in
Jesus accepted the person into his life and saved them from their sins


Satan cannot win
Satan has no power over the love of Christ and cannot overcome it


He had the measure of our worth
God knows the value of his people and the journey that they must undertake to come to him


And he's walking us home
God is guiding his people towards the ultimate goal of salvation and eternal life


To judgement day
All people will answer to God on the day of judgement




Writer(s): Dorothy Coates

Contributed by Arianna L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

americanmum

He's stirring up the Holy Ghost and joy of heaven in my soul. It's -15, Sunday, can't get to church but here comes this song and I am delivered. Thanks to a great artist.

chiefnut48

What a great song. I really enjoyed it

Philip Camara

wonderful performance and song. go Liv!

Carole Donovan

What a great song!  I would love to hear this in person...such joyful words!

William Pitt

Heard him in concert. He just makes you feel good

David Harrison

Love this song!!!!

radar blip

One Voice, One Key Board and it sounds like an orchestra and singers. He makes your mind work,,,Love It !!!!

Ab21684

What a great song...he is one of the artists that DEFINES singer-songwriter, along with his brother James and several other fantastic artists.

Don127NY

He sang this a few years ago at The Apollo at a Carly Simon concert with a full band and blew the audience away.

ElegantPaws01

AMEN!

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