Norful, a minister who is also the son of an African Methodist Episcopal Church minister, was born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas but grew up in Muskogee, Oklahoma, deeply involved in his father's church. He was interested in music from a very young age, reportedly picking out one-finger piano melodies from the age of two. His parents supported him with music lessons, and, unusually for his background, allowed him to experiment with and listen to the current R&B and soul music of the day as well as gospel music. Norful graduated from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff as a History major and spent four years teaching high school. In 1998 he felt "called" to the ministry, and pursued a Masters of Divinity degree at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois. Upon graduation and ordination, he took a position as assistant pastor at a church in Chicago. He participated in an album release by the Thompson Community Choir, a well-known gospel group, and contributed a song as well as solo vocals. He was then offered the opportunity to make a solo album for EMI Gospel, I Need You Now. The album was a slow starter but eventually went gold, spending two years in the upper reaches of the Billboard Gospel Charts.
He was nominated for and won a Grammy in 2005 for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album. He is also signed to EMI-CMG Publishing and his own Norful Music Publishing as a songwriter. He performed on June 6, 2005, for President George W. Bush in a concert honoring Black Music Month.
Norful's music is best described as a fusion between gospel, 70's soul and contemporary R&B; the influences of artists such as Stevie Wonder, Donny Hathaway and other male soul/R&B vocalists of the 70's and 80's is clear.
Norful is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc.
On October 3rd 2006, Norful released his 3rd album, Life Changing.
I Need You Now
Smokie Norful Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Or another minute
Not an hour or another day
But at this moment with my arms out stretched
I need you to make a way
As you have done so many times before
Through window or an open door
I stretch my hands to theeCome rescue me
I need you right away
I need you now
I need you now
I need you now
I need you now
Not another second or another minute
Not an hour or another day
But Lord I need you right away
If I never needed you before
To show up and restore
All of the faith that I let slip
While I was yet searching the world for more
The truest friend I have indeed
You're my best friend I know in need
I stretch my hands to thee
Come rescue me
I need you right away
The agony of being alone
Fear of doing things on my own
The test and trials that come to make me strong
The feelings of guilt, hurt, shame and defeat
But to know, Lord, that in you I've got victory
I need you now, Lord
I need you now, oh
I need you right now, right now, right now
I need you now
Oh, not another second
Not another minute, Lord
Can't wait another day, Lord
Oh no
Please make a way
Oh Lord
The song "I Need You Now" by Smokie Norful is a soulful and emotional cry for the help of God in a time of need. The lyrics of the song express an urgency for God to intervene immediately and to make a way out of a difficult situation. The artist sings about how in the past, God has been there to help him through difficult times when he did not know what to do. He admits to feeling alone, afraid, and defeated in the present but acknowledges that he can find victory in God's intervention.
The repetition of the phrase "not another" emphasizes the immediate need for God's help. The songwriter is recognizing that time is of the essence and that waiting another minute, hour, or day is not an option. He goes on to recognize that in God, he has a true and faithful friend who will always come to his rescue. The phrase "come rescue me" is repeated multiple times throughout the song, emphasizing the songwriter's desperation for God's intervention.
The last stanza of the song expresses the weight of the trials and tribulations of life and how in God, the songwriter has the strength to face them. The artist expresses that victory is found in the Lord and that he needs God now to help him overcome the fears, guilt, and shame of his current situation. The lyrics of this song are deep and relatable to anyone who has gone through a difficult time and needed the Lord's help.
Line by Line Meaning
Not a second
I need God's help right now, not even a second later.
Or another minute
Waiting an additional minute is out of the question.
Not an hour or another day
I can't bear to wait any longer than an hour or another day.
But at this moment with my arms out stretched
In this specific moment, I am desperately reaching out to God for help.
I need you to make a way
I am requesting God's assistance to pave a path for me.
As you have done so many times before
I am aware of God's history of helping me during times of need.
Through window or an open door
I am confident that God will find a way to help me, whether it’s through a figurative window or an actual open door.
I stretch my hands to thee
I am reaching out to God for help.
Come rescue me
I implore God to come to my aid.
I need you right away
I need God's help without delay.
If I never needed you before
This is a time of desperation, and I have never felt such a need for God's help as now.
To show up and restore
I need God to make an appearance and rectify my current situation.
All of the faith that I let slip
I have allowed my faith to diminish somewhat and need God to help restore it.
While I was yet searching the world for more
I temporarily misplaced my faith while seeking things in the world.
The truest friend I have indeed
God is my most trusted friend and confidant.
You're my best friend I know in need
God is the best person to turn to in a time of need.
The agony of being alone
The pain of being by myself and not having anyone to turn to for aid.
Fear of doing things on my own
The anxiety of performing tasks without any support or assistance.
The test and trials that come to make me strong
The challenges that I face in life are intended to make me stronger and more resilient.
The feelings of guilt, hurt, shame and defeat
I am experiencing negative emotions, including regret, pain, humiliation, and failure.
The waves of trials that beat upon me
The difficulties that I encounter are overwhelming and seem to be hurting me.
But to know, Lord, that in you I've got victory
I have faith that with God's help, I can overcome any obstacle and achieve victory.
Oh, not another second
I reiterate my plea to God for immediate help.
Can't wait another day, Lord
I cannot endure waiting one more day for assistance from God.
Oh no
The urgency of my request is palpable.
Please make a way
I beg God to create a path for me to move through my troubles.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Smokie Norful
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@yanir1698
I PRAY FOR THOSE WHO
HAVE LOST A LOVED ONE
I PRAY FOR ANYONE STRUGGLING EMOTIONALLY
I PRAY FOR ANYONE STRUGGLING WITH ADDICTION
I PRAY FOR ANY BROKEN FAMILIES
I PRAY FOR THOSE WHO NEED FAITH AT THIS VERY MOMENT
IF YOU NEED SOMEONE TO TALK TO AND HAVE NO ONE, I'M HERE AND SO IS GOD AT ALL TIMES, ALWAYS.
WITH FAITH, LOVE ❤️
@JoaoPedro-pl2be
I Need You
Not a second
Or another minute
Not an hour or another day
But at this moment with my arms out stretched
I need you to make a way
As you have done so many times before
Through window or an open door
I stretch my hands to thee
Come rescue me
I need you right away
… I need you now
I need you now
I need you now
I need you now
… Not another second or another minute
Not an hour or another day
But Lord I need you right away
… If I never needed you before
To show up and restore
All of the faith that I let slip
While I was yet searching the world for more
The truest friend I have indeed
You're my best friend I know in need
I stretch my hands to thee
Come rescue me
I need you right away
… The agony of being alone
Fear of doing things on my own
The test and trials that come to make me strong
The feelings of guilt, hurt, shame and defeat
The waves of trials that beat upon me
But to know, Lord, that in you I've got victory
… I need you now, Lord
I need you now, oh
I need you right now, right now, right now
I need you now
… Oh, not another second
Not another minute, Lord
Can't wait another day, Lord
Oh no
Please make a way
Oh Lord
Fonte: LyricFind
Compositores: Smokie Norful
@ariellebrooks5519
My 87 year old Grandma is getting worse by day
Im 23, I stopped my life to help her. &
I have issues inside of me & have been to the doctor multiple times & they tell me nothing is wrong
Father give me the strength & power to find a Good job to get on my feet
Pray for my brother who can never keep a job with 4 children.
Pray for my 70 yr old Aunt who is lonely and miserable
@rachelallete8750
Not a second
Or another minute
Not an hour or another day
But at this moment with my arms out stretched
I need you to make a way
As you have done so many times before
Through window or an open door
I stretch my hands to thee
Come rescue me
I need you right away
I need you now
I need you now
I need you now
I need you now
Not another second or another minute
Not an hour or another day
But Lord I need you right away
If I never needed you before
To show up and restore
All of the faith that I let slip
While I was yet searching the world for more
The truest friend I have indeed
You're my best friend I know in need
I stretch my hands to thee
Come rescue me
I need you right away
The agony of being alone
Fear of doing things on my own
The test and trials that come to make me strong
The feelings of guilt, hurt, shame and defeat
The waves of trials that beat upon me
But to know, Lord, that in you I've got victory
I need you now, Lord
I need you now, oh
I need you right now, right now, right now
I need you now
Oh, not another second
Not another minute, Lord
Can't wait another day, Lord
Oh no
Please make a way
Oh Lord
@Grandiva_005
My son use to ask me to play this song every morning before school when he was in middle school. Now he's in college. God is Good!!!!
@tobigafari4020
Beautiful. God be with us all
@KeeperOfThe10
Your comment has me in tears as I look back on raising 3 kids with the grace of God every single day. He is so so good!
@tiffanyarrington9219
I really like that new song by Kevin D Jimison called "God I Love You" check it out! You might like it too!
@stephanied9856
Yes mommy!! Great job :)
@nevadamayberry3166
Thank u God
@ebonecarter7183
I’ve been shot by my husband, I lost a son at the age of 14 to gun violence, my youngest son is incarcerated,my oldest son is in a mental institution and I’m dealing with Cancer for the 4th time, I just got of a abusive relationship and I’M STILL HERE STANDING STRONG WITH THE HELP OF THIS SONG THE POWER OF THESE LYRICS
@natoshiaturnbow6305
❤May God continue to carry you.
@EvfjBbcgj
Amen 🙏
@cynthiabutler-hayden2054
Glory Glory Glory ❤😊