Mighty Clouds of Joy was formed in 1954 and started out in a tradition-based style. Eventually they added soul, R&B, and rock flourishes into their musical mix (one of their early hits was produced by Gamble and Huff) without diluting the essential religious essence of their material. The long-lived group flourished throughout the rest of the 20th century, scoring numerous Grammy Awards and nominations, as well as several hit albums along the way.
Based in Los Angeles, California, the original group members include Joe Ligon (d. 2016), Johnny Martin (d. 1987), Ermant Franklin Jr., Artis Turnbough (d. 1999), Elmo Franklin (d. 2008), Richard Wallace, Leon Polk and David Walker (who also recorded several tracks with Link Wray under the name Bunker Hill).
Also performed as: The Mighty Mighty Clouds of Joy, Joe Ligon & the Mighty Clouds of Joy
I Know I've Been Changed
Mighty Clouds Of Joy Lyrics
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Oh, I know you're good tonight
On the "Pray for Me Album", you heard me talk about the young man that left the choir
Oh, I need some Holy Ghost folk here now
I need somebody to talk to me tonight
Somebody say "Amen"
Somebody say "Thank you, Jesus"
Ohohohoh, that young man went back to the club where he was a Rock-N-Roll singer
They said "Would you sing us a song"
Y'all know on the "Pray for me Album"I told ya he told 'em he couldn't sing thise other kind of songs
He couldn't sing no BB King somgs no more
He couldn't sing Bobby bland and Johnny Taylor's song
Ah... he told 'em
He went in tgat little club that night and told 'em "Pray for me""
They were kind of wondering why he came in there asking them to pray for him
Ah Lordy. Let me explain myself
After he got through saying "Pray for me"
You know you can't please some folk
Somebody say "Amen"
Ohohoh yeah. A man wrote down a request and walked up to him, and passed it to him and said sing this song for me
See, you remember how well you used to sing it
He said, no, no, I can't sing that song
Well, well, the young man looked at him and said, why you can't sing it
Youn know what he told him? Since you saw me last, something happened to me. Things I used to do, I... don't do 'em no more
I don't wanna take all night on this thing, but before he left that club that night, he told that young man
I... know I've been changed
I... know I've been changed
He told 'em I (I know I've been changed) I know I've been changed
The Angels in Heaven done signed my name
Kept on telling him I... I know I've been changed
How many can say you've been changed tonight (I...) I know (know I've been changed)
Ohohoh I (I...) I know (know I've been changed)
Said the Angels (The Angels in Heaven done signed my name)
Listen, he said this
I went down, in the water
He said, the watah, was so, chilly and cold
It chilled my, natural body
But you know what he said, the water didn't hurt my soul
Ohohoh, can you say I (I...) I know (know I've been changed)
Oh I (I...) I know (know I've been changed)
Ohohohohoh I (I...) oh, I've been changed (know I've been changed)
The Angels in Heaven done signed my name
Y'all come down a little bit
I wanna tell you about me tonight
I'm not what I wanna be, but since the lat time you saw me, I ain't nothing like I used to be
God has changed my life
Somebody keep asking me, what are you gon do next
I tell 'em, please, be patient with me
God is not through with me yet
But, I'm glad I say again tonight
I... I know I've been changed
Ohohoh I (I...) I know (know I've been changed)
Ohohohohohoh I (I...) Glad I know (know I've been changed)
The Angels in Heaven done signed my name
God bless you, I've been changed, I've been changed
The Mighty Clouds of Joy's song "I Know I've Been Changed" is a classic gospel track that invokes a powerful message of redemption and healing. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a young man who has turned his life around, and tells the story of his journey and the feeling of transformation that has come over him. The song starts with the crowd chanting "yeah" and the singer acknowledges that he knows they are good tonight. He then refers to the young man he had talked about in his earlier album, who had left the choir and went back to the club where he used to sing Rock n Roll.
The young man tells the people to pray for him, and later a man walks up to him with a request to sing a song that he used to perform well. The young man refuses, saying that something has happened to him and he doesn't do those things any longer. The climax of the song comes when the young man tells the people that he knows he has been changed, and that the angels in heaven have signed his name. The song ends with the singer telling the crowd that he has also been changed, and that God is not done with him yet.
The song's theme is redemption and healing, and it has a universal message that speaks to people of all ages and backgrounds. It's an uplifting song that reminds people that it's never too late to turn their lives around. The song has a powerful, soulful rhythm that gets people up and dancing, and it's easy to see how it has become such a classic in the gospel music genre.
Line by Line Meaning
Somebody say "yeah"
The singer is starting the song and asking for audience participation.
Oh, I know you're good tonight
The singer is acknowledging that the audience is doing well tonight.
On the "Pray for Me Album", you heard me talk about the young man that left the choir
The singer is referring to a previous album where he talked about a young man who left the choir and later returned.
Oh, I need some Holy Ghost folk here now
The singer is requesting that people filled with the Holy Spirit be present.
I need somebody to talk to me tonight
The singer wants someone to connect with or communicate with during the performance.
Somebody say "Amen"
The singer is asking the audience to affirm what they are saying by saying "Amen".
Somebody say "Thank you, Jesus"
The singer is asking the audience to express gratitude to Jesus for his goodness and mercy.
Ohohohoh, that young man went back to the club where he was a Rock-N-Roll singer
The singer is continuing the story of the young man who left the choir and returned to a club where he used to sing Rock-N-Roll music.
The people got up and began to cheer for him
The crowd at the club started cheering for the young man when he returned.
They said "Would you sing us a song"
The crowd at the club requested that the young man sing a song.
Y'all know on the "Pray for me Album" I told ya he told 'em he couldn't sing these other kind of songs
The singer is reminding the audience of what happened on a previous album when the young man refused to sing certain types of songs.
He went in that little club that night and told 'em "Pray for me"
The young man went to the club and asked for prayer before singing.
After he got through saying "Pray for me"
The singer is continuing the story of the young man's return to the club.
You know you can't please some folk
The young man realized that not everyone will be happy with his choices.
Ohohoh yeah. A man wrote down a request and walked up to him, and passed it to him and said sing this song for me
Someone from the crowd requested a song from the young man.
See, you remember how well you used to sing it
The man reminded the young man of how well he used to sing the requested song.
He said, no, no, I can't sing that song
The young man refused to sing the requested song.
Well, well, the young man looked at him and said, why you can't sing it
The man from the crowd asked the young man why he couldn't sing the requested song.
Since you saw me last, something happened to me. Things I used to do, I... don't do 'em no more
The young man explained that he had changed since the last time the man heard him sing, and he no longer does some of the things he used to do.
He told 'em I (I know I've been changed) I know I've been changed
The young man proclaimed that he had been changed and was a different person now.
The Angels in Heaven done signed my name
The singer believes that his transformation was acknowledged by the angels in heaven.
How many can say you've been changed tonight (I...) I know (know I've been changed)
The singer is asking the audience if they can relate to the young man's story of transformation.
Said the Angels (The Angels in Heaven done signed my name)
The singer again affirms that his change was acknowledged by the angels in heaven.
Listen, he said this
The singer is transitioning to a personal reflection on his own journey.
I went down, in the water
The singer describes being baptized or immersed in water.
He said, the water, was so, chilly and cold
The water was a shocking and uncomfortable experience.
But you know what he said, the water didn't hurt my soul
Although the water was cold, the singer's soul was unharmed by the experience.
Ohohoh, can you say I (I...) I know (know I've been changed)
The singer emphasizes the idea of being changed.
Oh I (I...) I know (know I've been changed)
The singer affirms that he himself has been changed.
Ohohohohoh I (I...) oh, I've been changed (know I've been changed)
The singer further reinforces his own transformation.
God bless you, I've been changed, I've been changed
The singer concludes the song by blessing the audience and reaffirming that he has been changed.
Contributed by Madelyn W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.