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
The Lord Will Make A Way Somehow
Marion Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Till the Lord comes to call me away
Where the morning is bright and the lamb is the light
And the night is as fair as the day
There'll be peace in the valley for me someway
There'll be peace in the valley for me
I pray no more sorrow and sadness or trouble will be
There the flow'rs will be blooming, the grass will be green
And the skies will be clear and serene
The sun ever shines, giving one endless beam
And no clouds there will ever be seen
There'll be peace in the valley for me someway
There'll be peace in the valley for me
I pray no more sorrow and sadness or trouble will be
There'll be peace in the valley for me
There the bear will be gentle, the wolf will be tame
And the lion will lay down by the lamb
The host from the wild will be lead by a Child
I'll be changed from the creature I am
There'll be peace in the valley for me someway
There'll be peace in the valley for me
I pray no more sorrow and sadness or trouble will be
There'll be peace in the valley for me
No headaches or heartaches or misunderstands
No confusion or troubles won't be
No frowns to defile, just a big endless smile
There'll be peace and contentment for me
There'll be peace in the valley for me someway
There'll be peace in the valley for me
I pray no more sorrow and sadness or trouble will be
There'll be peace in the valley for me
"The Lord Will Make A Way Somehow" is a gospel song written by Thomas A. Dorsey, which was famously performed by Marion Williams. The lyrics talk about the struggles and challenges of life and the faith and hope that the singer has that they will be able to find peace and rest in Heaven, where there will be no more pain, sorrow or trouble. The opening verse expresses weariness and fatigue, but also determination to keep going until the end, when the Lord calls the singer away to a place of rest and beauty, where even the night will be as fair as the day.
The second verse describes the idyllic surroundings of Heaven, where everything is perfect and serene, and there is no darkness, clouds, or any other negative element. The third verse introduces the idea of animals living together in harmony, something that is often associated with the Biblical concept of Heaven, where the lion and the lamb lie down together. The final verse is a summary of everything that the singer is hoping for: no more pain, no more confusion, no more frowns, only peace and contentment and an endless smile.
Overall, the song is a powerful expression of the deep Christian faith and hope that has sustained generations of believers in the face of adversity and struggle, reminding listeners of the ultimate destination of their journey and the promise that awaits them.
Line by Line Meaning
I am tired and weary but I must toil on
Even though I am exhausted, I know I have to keep going
Till the Lord comes to call me away
I will keep doing my best until God takes me to my eternal home
Where the morning is bright and the lamb is the light
In heaven, there will be no darkness and Jesus Christ will be the source of all illumination
And the night is as fair as the day
Even though there will be no sun at night, it will be just as beautiful as the day
There'll be peace in the valley for me someway
I am confident that there will be peace in my life, even if I'm struggling now
There'll be peace in the valley for me
I will find true peace in my heart and soul, thanks to God's grace
I pray no more sorrow and sadness or trouble will be
Please God, let me have joy, happiness, and a worry-free life
There the flow'rs will be blooming, the grass will be green
In heaven, everything will be full of life and beauty, even more than Earth
And the skies will be clear and serene
I will never have to worry about storms, rain, wind or any other atmospheric pressures
The sun ever shines, giving one endless beam
The sun in heaven is always shining, giving us everlasting light and warmth
And no clouds there will ever be seen
There will never be gray or cloudy skies, rain or snow up there
There the bear will be gentle, the wolf will be tame
Even the wildest animals will be calm and peaceful, non-threatening
And the lion will lay down by the lamb
Predators and prey will become friends and coexist peacefully
The host from the wild will be led by a Child
A child will be in charge of nature, everything will be under His control
I'll be changed from the creature I am
I will be renewed, transformed, and become a better version of myself in heaven
No headaches or heartaches or misunderstands
I won't have any physical, emotional, or relational pain or discomfort up there
No confusion or troubles won't be
There will be no chaos, complications, or challenges that come my way
No frowns to defile, just a big endless smile
I'll be always happy, smiling, and full of joy, no reason to be sad or pessimistic
There'll be peace and contentment for me
In heaven, I will finally find the peace and contentment that I crave for
Lyrics © Capitol CMG Publishing, Integrity Music, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: THOMAS A. DORSEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@claudiazamba4413
There''s no one that can sing like this lady she has such a distintive voice. All of these new singers need to take a cue from all of these gospel greats.Words and music are clear,even a 8 yrs old can understand thier words.Also they were humble. something that most of these singers now need to learn.
@bridallejohnson1729
The lord made a way for me, when my mother pass i was so devastate,but God is by my side every step of the way. What would I do without him.Thank you Jesus.
@denevamckinney9967
I feel where you're coming from! 😥It will be 4 yrs. 10/08/17 for my mom too!👼💖 My "God" was & is guiding me through... I would have been ..."completely lost"!🙌🙇 Just allow "Him" to strengthen you!😉
@vickjames003
My mother always sang this song me and my brothers and sister when were going to bed or just feeling bad...It took me a way to find it....love it...this is for you mom...
@sheilaalston2281
LISTENINIG TO THIS BRINGS TEARS TO MY EYES THANK YOU JESUS FOR ALWAYS MAKING A WAY FOR A SINNER LIKE ME.
@philease74
Thank you, Lord, for the opportunity to hear this woman sang THIS song!! :)
@edthesecond
One of the greatest artists in the history of American music.
@claudiazamba4413
Ever morning i start my day with this song.Listening to the words is just as if she is speaking to me in this song.I just lost my dear mother 12/16/12.Jesus is able yes he is.
@HugoVargas-yk9up
Love gospel. I'm so blessed to belong to Crenshaw Christian Center faithdome in Los Angeles CA. Praise the Lord for this song.
@allisonnelom6097
How can someone actually Dislike this pure song for strenght and uplifting???!! :-? Oh Lord forgive them, .... HUGS World!