The group sings in a contemporary style, integrating R&B and jazz influences into their devotional songs and has 10 Grammy wins, 10 Dove Awards, one Soul Train Award and two NAACP Image Award nominations. They won Grammy Awards in 1989, 1990, 1991, 1995, 1998, and 2003 and have collaborated with Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston, Don Henley, Ray Charles, Queen Latifah, Joe Sample, Quincy Jones, Marcus Miller and Gordon Goodwin.
In 1980, Claude McKnight formed an a cappella quartet, The Gentlemen's Estate Quartet, at Oakwood College in Huntsville, Alabama, a Seventh-Day Adventist College, where he was a freshman. He auditioned fellow students for the hobby group. The Gentlemen were rehearsing in a campus bathroom (later said to be in Peterson Hall), getting ready for a performance, when Mark Kibble walked by and heard them singing. He joined the harmonizing, adding a fifth part, and ended up singing with them onstage that very night.[1] Mark later invited Mervyn Warren to join the group. The group performed under the moniker "Alliance".
The group performed in local churches and on campus over the next years, with members changing due to college's inevitable comings and goings. In 1985, the lower half of the group (bass, baritone, and second tenor) left upon graduating. At that time, Alvin Chea, Cedric Dent, and David Thomas joined.
The group was signed to Warner Brothers in 1987, and quickly changed its name to "Take 6" after a name search revealed that "Alliance" was already being used. Their eponymous debut album, released in 1988, won them two Grammy Awards and resulted in top ten appearances on both the Billboard Contemporary Jazz and Contemporary Christian Charts. Take 6's swinging, harmony-rich gospel sound attracted a flurry of attention, and the group went on to record or appear with a number of luminaries, including Quincy Jones, Ella Fitzgerald and Stevie Wonder.
In 1991, after the release of their second album, So Much 2 Say, Mervyn Warren left the group to pursue a career as a producer. Joey Kibble, Mark's younger brother, was invited to round out the vocal lineup. The group added instrumentation to their purely a cappella sound beginning with the record He Is Christmas; Join The Band and Brothers continued their streak of success, and Take 6 amassed a total of seven Grammys and eight Dove awards, as well as topping the Downbeat Magazine's Reader's and Critic's poll for seven years' consecutively.
Take 6's 1998 release, So Cool, brought the group back to its a cappella origins.
In 2006 the group launched Take 6 Records and the 2006 release Feels Good was released on that label.
The group currently lists Nashville, Tennessee as its home.[2] All members grew up Seventh-Day Adventist.[
Grandma's Hands
Take 6 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Grandma's hands
(Grandma's hands)
Grandma's hands
Clapped in church each Sunday mornin'
Grandma's hands
Played the tambourine so well
Grandma's hands
Used to issue vital warnings
She'd say, Joey, don't you run so fast
(Joey, don't you run so fast)
Might fall on a piece of glass
(Oh, my, my)
Might be snakes there in that grass
(Oh, yea)
Grandma's hands
(Grandma's hands)
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Grandma's hands
(Grandma's hands)
Grandma's hands
Soothed the locals and their mothers
(Shaa, doop)
Grandma's hands
Used to ache sometimes and swell
(Shaa, doop)
Grandma's hands
Used to lift her face and tell her
She'd say, baby, grandma understands
(Oh, mama)
That you really love that man
Put yourself in Jesus's hands
Grandma's hands
(Grandma hands)
Grandma's hands
(Grandma's ha, ha, ha, hands)
Grandma's hands
(Grandma's hands)
Grandma's hands
(Grandma's ha-hands)
Grandma's hands
(Grandma's hands)
Used to hand me a piece of candy
Grandma's hands
Picked me up each time I fell
(Baa doop)
Grandma's hands
Boy, they really come in handy
She'd say, Millie, don't you whip that boy
What you wanna spank him for
(What you wanna spank him for)
Didn't drop no apple core
But I don't have Grandma's hands no more
And when I get to heaven
If I get to heaven
I'll look for Grandma's hands
(Grandma's hands)
Oh, oh, oh, oh, ooh, yeah, yeah
Grandma's hands
The song "Grandma's Hands" by Take 6 is a tribute to the power and comfort of a grandmother's hands. Throughout the song, the singer reminisces on the many ways their grandmother's hands touched the lives of those around her. The lyrics depict an affectionate and deep sense of gratitude towards their grandmother who was a beacon of strength and guidance in their life.
The first verse used religious imagery to convey the significance of their grandmother's hands in their life. The clapping of her hands in church and her skillful playing of the tambourine represented the way that her hands were instrumental in their faith journey. Moreover, the singer related how their grandmother's hands were used to give vital warnings and reminders to them. This advice had been passed down to them from their grandmother, to take care of themselves and to be mindful of the dangers that lie ahead.
In the second and third verses, the singer expressed the nurturing and caring side of their grandmother's hands. As a community figure, their grandmother's hands soothed and eased the tension in the neighborhood. However, in her own aches and pains, her hands would often show signs of swelling. It meant that she overused her hands, but her hands always provided more comfort than harm. Her hands were a source of comfort and understanding even when the singer's own mother did not understand. Overall, the song celebrates the life, love, and lessons of the grandmother who was once a pillar of strength in their life.
Line by Line Meaning
Grandma's hands
The singer admires their grandmother's hands which represent her love, guidance, and maternal instincts.
Grandma's hands, clapped in church each Sunday mornin'
Grandma's hands were used to clap in church, a gesture that reinforced her faith and belief in the importance of worship.
Grandma's hands, played the tambourine so well (So well)
Grandma's hands were skilled enough to play the tambourine expertly, adding to her musical talents and creativity.
Grandma's hands, used to issue vital warnings
Grandma's hands were also used to warn her grandchildren of potential dangers in the world, and provided guidance and caution to keep them safe.
She'd say, Joey, don't you run so fast
Grandma would caution her grandchild Joey to slow down and be careful to avoid getting hurt while playing.
Might fall on a piece of glass (Oh, my, my)
Grandma warned Joey that he might trip and fall on a sharp piece of glass, which could cause injury.
Might be snakes there in that grass (Oh, yea)
Grandma warned Joey of the potential for danger in the grass, as there might be snakes lurking that could harm him.
Grandma's hands, soothed the locals and their mothers (Shaa, doop)
Grandma's hands had a unique power to comfort and soothe members of the community and their mothers, which showed her kindhearted nature and caring personality.
Grandma's hands, used to ache sometimes and swell (Shaa, doop)
Despite her caregiving nature, Grandma's hands would sometimes ache or swell, showing that even she was not immune to pain and suffering.
Grandma's hands, used to lift her face and tell her
Grandma would often lift her face up, perhaps to look at the sky or the stars, and would provide insightful, caring advice to the artist.
She'd say, baby, grandma understands (Oh, mama)
Grandma would show empathy towards the singer, often saying that she understood their struggles and was there to support them.
That you really love that man
Grandma recognized the artist's love for someone and encouraged them to follow their heart and pursue that relationship.
Put yourself in Jesus's hands
Grandma advised the singer to place their trust and faith in Jesus' guidance in their lives, as he would ultimately lead them towards happiness and fulfillment.
Used to hand me a piece of candy
Grandma would often give the singer a piece of candy, representing her sweet and nurturing demeanour.
Picked me up each time I fell (Baa doop)
Grandma's hands had the incredible ability to lift and comfort the singer whenever they suffered a fall or setback in their life.
Boy, they really come in handy
Grandma's hands were a powerful asset for the artist, providing comfort, guidance, and support whenever they needed it most.
She'd say, Millie, don't you whip that boy
Grandma would scold Millie, perhaps the artist's mother or another caretaker, for punishing or scolding the artist unnecessarily.
What you wanna spank him for
Grandma questioned the necessity of physical punishment, encouraging a more compassionate and nurturing approach to discipline.
Didn't drop no apple core
Grandma defended the singer, emphasizing that they did not make a mistake or cause any damage that would warrant punishment.
But I don't have Grandma's hands no more
The artist laments that their grandmother is no longer with them, and they must navigate their life without her guidance or support.
And when I get to heaven
The artist looks forward to the afterlife, where they hope to reunite with their grandmother in heaven.
If I get to heaven
The artist acknowledges that there is no guarantee of reaching heaven but remains hopeful and optimistic about the possibility.
I'll look for Grandma's hands
The singer prioritizes reuniting with their grandmother in the afterlife and hopes to once again feel the comfort and guidance of her hands.
Oh, oh, oh, oh, ooh, yeah, yeah
The artist ends the song with a nostalgic and emotional reflection, remembering the love and support of their grandmother's hands.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Bill Withers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind