"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.
The Lord Has Been Good
Marcus Cole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He's been good, He's been good
He's been good, He's been so good
Jesus, nobody but Jesus
The Lord has been good
He's been good, He's been good
He's been good, He's been so good
When I look back my life
And see the things that I've been through
The only thing my heart can say is
Lord, You've brought me
I don't know why You love me so
And I guess I'll never know
But in spite of me
You keep blessing me
The Lord has been good
He's been good, He's been good
He's been good, He's been so good
Jesus, nobody but Jesus
The Lord has been good
He's been good, He's been good
He's been good, He's been so good
Jesus, nobody but Jesus
Looked at the news today
So much was going on
The only thing my heart could say was
Lord, You've kept me
Through dangers, toils
Toils and snares I have already come
But in spite of me
You keep blessing me
The Lord has been good
He's been good, He's been good
He's been good, He's been so good
Jesus, nobody but Jesus
The Lord has been good
He's been good, He's been good
He's been good, He's been so good
Jesus, nobody but Jesus
You see He woke me up this morning
Started me on my way
A second chance He's given me
So I can live with him eternally, oh
Good, He's been good, He's been good
He's been good, He's been good
He's been so good, Jesus
The Lord has been good
He's been good, He's been good
He's been good, He's been so good
Jesus, nobody but Jesus
Good, He's been so good
Good, He's been so good to me
Good, He's been so good
Good, He's been so good to me
Good, He's been so good
Good, He's been so good to me
You might not know what I'm talking about but I've got to tell it
How God's been good to me, been so good to me, good to me
You might not know what am talking about but I've got to tell it
How God's been good to me, been so good to me
Good, He's been so good, so good, so good, so good
He's been good to me
He's been good to me
He's been good to me
He's been good to me
He's been good to me
He's been good to me
So good to me
The lyrics of Marcus Cole's song, The Lord Has Been Good, express gratitude and appreciation towards God for His blessings and protection. The repetition of the phrase "He's been good" throughout the song emphasizes the singer's acknowledgement of God's kindness in his life. The chorus follows a simple structure with the main message being that Jesus has been the source of all the singer's blessings, and that nobody but Jesus could have done it.
The first verse stresses on the ups and downs of life, but the second stanza sheds light on the news sources that often propagate tragic news. Despite this, the singer acknowledges that God has kept him safe and alive through dangers, toils, and snares. In the bridge and the final chorus, the singer acknowledges the unmerited favour of God, who wakes him up every morning, gives him a second chance, and enables him to live eternally with Him.
Line by Line Meaning
The Lord has been good
God has been kind and gracious in my life
He's been good, He's been good
He has been consistently kind and gracious
He's been good, He's been so good
He has been exceedingly kind and gracious
Jesus, nobody but Jesus
Jesus is the source of all the goodness in my life
When I look back my life
Reflecting on my past experiences
And see the things that I've been through
Remembering the challenges and difficulties I faced
The only thing my heart can say is
My heart is filled with gratitude and thanks
Lord, You've brought me
God has brought me through my challenges and difficulties
I don't know why You love me so
I don't understand why God loves me so much
And I guess I'll never know
I may never fully understand God's love for me
But in spite of me
Despite my weaknesses and shortcomings
You keep blessing me
God continues to bless me abundantly
Looked at the news today
Observing the current events of the day
So much was going on
There is a lot of chaos and turmoil in the world
Through dangers, toils
Through dangerous and difficult situations
Toils and snares I have already come
I have already overcome many obstacles and hardships
You see He woke me up this morning
I am grateful for another day of life
Started me on my way
God has given me direction and purpose in life
A second chance He's given me
God has forgiven my mistakes and given me another opportunity
So I can live with him eternally, oh
I have the hope of eternal life with God
Good, He's been so good to me
God has been incredibly kind and gracious to me
You might not know what I'm talking about but I've got to tell it
Others may not understand my experiences but I feel compelled to share them
How God's been good to me, been so good to me, good to me
How God has been kind and gracious in my life
Good, He's been so good, so good, so good, so good
God has been consistently kind and gracious in my life
He's been good to me
God has blessed me with many good things in my life
So good to me
God has been exceedingly kind and gracious to me
Contributed by Chloe L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.