"I grew up in Saginaw, Michigan, the youngest of five children. We had a family group. Singing in church became a release for me," Cole says. "Community Temple Church for God and Christ. I sang in the choir and our family sang as a group in church."
When he was fourteen, the family moved to Danville, Illinois. After school, Cole returned to Flint, Michigan, to work in the music business. One day he saw a girl whom he had not only grown up with but who had lived on the other end of his block.
"I knew who she was right away. I couldn't forget that face," says Cole. "It wasn't until we were dating that I told her I was the guy who used to throw rocks at her to get her attention." That girl, Anissa, became his wife.
Honing his skills as a Gospel and R&B singer, Marcus Cole moved with Anissa to Atlanta for a short time. His big break, though, came once again in Michigan. Singing in a showcase for Jive/Verity Records, he struck up a conversation with Mitchell Jones of the legendary Gospel group 'Commissioned'. "We were just talking about music," Cole explains. "He didn't mention joining the group then."
"A few months later, they called me and asked me to come to Grand Rapids to audition. So I did and then the next thing I know I'm singing with them in a New Year's Eve concert at Radio City Music Hall. That was my first time with Commissioned and Marvin Sapp's last."
That was 1998 and Cole stayed with the group through its breakup, recording a Christmas album, "Time and Seasons," and the famous Reunion album in 2004. "It wasn't really a breakup as much as a dissolve," he says. "With the Reunion album, which I was flattered to be a part of, it was the culmination of the group - for both old members and new members -- and it was time to move on."
Like other members of 'Commissioned', Cole doesn't just sing the Gospel, he preaches it, too. At the invitation of Sheryl Brady and Bishop Joby Brady of The River church in Durham, North Carolina, Cole, Anissa, and their four kids, ages six through sixteen, moved to North Carolina five months ago.
Marcus Cole is a Worship Minister in the nondenominational church. Besides his duties in services, he also joins the Bradys at conferences and in other worship opportunities. He is starting an album next month with The River Church choirs.
He also does concerts around the country as well as joining nine-time Grammy winner CeCe Winans in concert. Winans is head of PureSprings Gospel, which signed Cole last year. He will start working on a worship album in February.
Marcus gets his musical inspiration from a variety of sources. "I have a very eclectic ear," he says. The Winans, Donny Hathaway, Stevie Wonder, Rascal Flatts, James Taylor and Shania Twain are just a few of his favorite artists. "I stay fresh and inspired listening to all kinds of music."
And it is no doubt that both his ministry and his music will remain both fresh and inspired. "The music I sing is about my relation with God," Cole says. "The more I learn about God, the sweeter the music is for me.
Remember To Breathe
Marcus Cole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Would you find it hard to believe?
When tears like waves break through painful silence
And you fall down on your knees
Just remember to breathe, remember to breathe
You have what you need inside and you are still alive
So remember to breathe
When truth you believe leaves you wounded and shaken
And it causes you to retreat
When the wind you depended on is suddenly taken
And the blow that was thrown hurts so deep
Just remember to breathe, remember to breathe
You have what you need inside and you are still alive
So remember to breathe
For every moment is a gift
And every precious day that you're here
Don't forget to breathe deeply
With every breath that you take
Know it's never too late for God will make a way
And with one simple kiss your spirit will live again
If I told you now that the night is almost over
And the sun will shine upon your face
Would you promise me that you will dance before the Father?
Because there is so much in life you must embrace
Just remember to breathe, remember to breathe
You have what you need inside and you are still alive
So remember to breathe
So remember to breathe, remember to breathe
You have what you need inside
Yes, you are yet alive, so remember to breathe
For every moment is a gift
And every precious day that you're here
Don't forget to breathe, deeply
With every breath that you take
Know it's never too late for God will make a way
And with one simple kiss your spirit will live again
The song, Remember to Breathe, by Marcus Cole, is a reminder to take a moment to breathe when life is overwhelming. The opening lines pose a question about whether or not the listener would believe that the singer can get through their pain. The lyrics acknowledge the difficulty of being vulnerable, especially when tears overcome us and we feel defeated. In these dark moments, the singer encourages the listener to remember to breathe, drawing attention to the fact that they are still alive and possess within them what they need to push through the pain.
The second half of the song delves into the idea that each moment is a gift, and that every day that we are alive is precious. The listener is again reminded to breathe deeply and to embrace all that life has to offer. The lyrics attribute the strength to keep moving forward to God, suggesting that through faith, all things are possible. The final lines ask the listener to dance before the Father, emphasizing the importance of recognizing joy amidst sorrow and pain.
Overall, Marcus Cole communicates an uplifting message of hope to his listeners through Remember to Breathe. It is a poignant reminder to take a step back and breathe when life is overwhelming, and an encouragement to keep pushing forward with faith.
Line by Line Meaning
If I told you how I could get through this
If I were to reveal how I am able to overcome this situation
Would you find it hard to believe?
Would you have difficulty accepting my method?
When tears like waves break through painful silence
When sorrow overwhelms and takes over everything else
And you fall down on your knees
And you feel like you can't stand on your own feet anymore
Just remember to breathe, remember to breathe
Remember to take deep breaths and stay calm
You have what you need inside and you are still alive
You have the strength and courage to face this challenge and you are still surviving
So remember to breathe
So don't forget to take deep breaths and stay calm
When truth you believe leaves you wounded and shaken
When something you believed to be true hurts you deeply
And it causes you to retreat
And it makes you want to withdraw from everything else
When the wind you depended on is suddenly taken
When something you relied upon suddenly disappears
And the blow that was thrown hurts so deep
And the impact of the situation causes you a lot of pain
For every moment is a gift
Every moment we have in life is precious and should be cherished
And every precious day that you're here
Every day that we get to spend on this earth is a gift
Don't forget to breathe deeply
Make sure to take deep breaths and stay calm
With every breath that you take
With every deep breath you take
Know it's never too late for God will make a way
Remember that it's never too late for God to make a positive change
And with one simple kiss your spirit will live again
With one simple act of encouragement or kindness, your spirit will recover
If I told you now that the night is almost over
If I were to tell you that the difficult part of the situation is almost over
And the sun will shine upon your face
And things will start to get better
Would you promise me that you will dance before the Father?
Would you make a promise to enjoy your life and be grateful for it?
Because there is so much in life you must embrace
Because there are so many beautiful things in life that you should appreciate and cherish
You have what you need inside
You are capable of facing your challenges and overcoming them
Yes, you are yet alive, so remember to breathe
You are still alive and should remember to take deep breaths
Contributed by William D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.