She was born in Miami, to a religiously devout mother and musically inclined father. As was common in the area, Williams was exposed to African American blues and jazz, alongside Caribbean calypso. Poverty caused Williams to leave school at fourteen, working with her mother at a laundry. She was singing at church and on street corners, inspired by a wide range of musicians including Sister Rosetta Tharpe and the Smith Jubilee Singers. She stuck with gospel, however, in spite of pressure to switch to popular blues tunes or the opera.
Williams was invited to join the Ward Singers when they heard her singing during a visit to her sister in Philadelphia in 1946. Williams did so in 1947, staying with them for eleven years. Her first recording with the group was "How Far Am I from Canaan" (1948), followed by the breakthrough "Surely God Is Able", which launched Williams and the rest of the group into superstardom. Their concerts were mobbed by frenzied fans.
Dissatisfied with the low pay she was receiving while starring for the group, Williams left the Ward Singers in 1958, followed by most of the rest of the group, to form the Stars of Faith. The Stars of Faith was unable, however, to reproduce the success the Ward Singers had enjoyed, as Williams retreated from the spotlight to give other members of the group more opportunity to star.
The group's career recovered, however, in 1961, when it appeared in Black Nativity, an off-Broadway production, and toured across North America and Europe. In 1965, Williams began a solo career but soon returned to Miami for her mother's funeral. While there, she felt reinspired to continue her career and began touring college campuses across the country. Her perhaps best-known hit is from this period -- "Standing Here Wondering Which Way to Go". In 1991, she performed as a gospel singer in the film Fried Green Tomatoes, though her scene is available only in the director's cut. The movie was dedicated to her. She was honored as a MacArthur Fellow in 1993 and died in 1994.
[edit] External links
* http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4784252
He Ain't Heavy He's My Brother
Marion Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With many a winding turns
That leads us to who knows where
Who knows where
But I′m strong
Strong enough to carry him
He ain't heavy, he′s my brother
So on we go
His welfare is of my concern
No burden is he to bear
We'll get there
For I know
He would not encumber me
He ain't heavy, he′s my brother
If I′m laden at all
I'm laden with sadness
That everyone′s heart
Isn't filled with the gladness
Of love for one another
It′s a long, long road
From which there is no return
While we're on the way to there
Why not share
And the load
Doesn′t weigh me down at all
He ain't heavy he's my brother
He′s my brother
He ain′t heavy, he's my brother
He ain′t heavy, he's my brother
The lyrics of "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" by Marion Williams is profound and inspiring. It speaks of selflessness, love, and empathy towards one's fellow human. The words suggest that no matter to what extent challenging, twisted or winding a path one's life journey may take, it is always possible to give or receive help from others.
The lyrics bring out a beautiful portrayal of brotherly love wherein the singer affirms his commitment to carrying his brother and helping him through life's difficulties. He assures his brother that he is not a burden and that his welfare matters to him. No matter how long or twisted the road may be, they will get there together. The lyrics also express a certain amount of lament and sadness that the world seems to be a cold and unfeeling place at times, where people easily forget to extend love and care to each other.
The song communicates the message that we are all connected in some way, and it's incumbent on us to reach out to one another in our hour of need. The beauty of this song is that it can speak to people of all ages and backgrounds, reminding us that one of the greatest gifts we can give one another is the gift of compassion and support. Overall, the lyrics of "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" are a testament to the enduring power of human connection and the importance of empathy towards our fellow human.
Line by Line Meaning
The road is long
This journey through life is full of challenges and obstacles.
With many a winding turn
The path we must take is unpredictable and constantly changing.
That leads us to who knows where
We cannot be sure of what the future holds.
Who knows where
In the face of uncertainty, we must maintain hope and press forward.
But I′m strong
I have the inner strength and resilience to face whatever comes my way.
Strong enough to carry him
I am capable of shouldering the burden of helping others.
He ain't heavy, he′s my brother
The person I am helping is not a burden, but someone I care deeply about.
So on we go
We must continue moving forward, together.
His welfare is of my concern
I prioritize the well-being of others over my own needs.
No burden is he to bear
Helping others is not a burden, but a privilege.
We'll get there
We will eventually reach our destination, no matter the challenges along the way.
For I know
I have faith in my abilities and in our future success.
He would not encumber me
The person I am helping would not burden me with their problems.
If I'm laden at all
If I am struggling or weighed down, it is not because of the person I am helping.
I'm laden with sadness
Instead, my struggles stem from the pain and suffering in the world around us.
That everyone′s heart
I wish that everyone had the capacity for love and compassion.
Isn't filled with the gladness
My sadness comes from the fact that not everyone is able to experience the joy of helping others.
Of love for one another
Love and compassion for our fellow human beings is what truly matters in life.
It's a long, long road
The journey through life is not easy, nor is it short.
From which there is no return
We cannot go back in time or undo our past mistakes.
While we're on the way to there
We must make the most of our time here and now.
Why not share
We should share our burdens and joys with those around us.
And the load
The burden of helping others and navigating life's challenges.
Doesn't weigh me down at all
Helping others actually gives me strength and purpose in life.
He ain't heavy he's my brother
No matter the challenges we face, we are in this together as brothers and sisters of humanity.
He's my brother
The person I am helping is not a stranger, but someone I love and care for deeply.
He ain't heavy, he's my brother
I will never see the person I am helping as a burden, but as someone who is a part of my family and who I will always support.
Writer(s): Bob Russell, Bobby Scott
Contributed by Stella E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
SHAWN WILLIAMS
on Holy Ghost Don't Leave Me
CAN'T FIND HOLY GHOST DON'T LEAVE ME ONLINE ANYWHERE