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.[
I'm On My Way
Take 6 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm on my way to Canaan land
I'm on my way to the Canaan land
I'm on my way to Canaan land
I'm on my way
If my mother don't go I'll journey on
If she don't go I'll journey on
If he don't go I'll journey on
(And on)
I'm on my way to Canaan land
I'm on my way
(On my way)
To Canaan land
(Lord)
I'm on my way to the Canaan land
I'm on my way to Canaan land
I'm on my way
If you don't go to the Canaan land
Don't hinder me
(I just gotta make it in)
I'm on my way
I'm on my way to the Canaan land
I'm on my way to Canaan land
If you don't go
(Don't hinder me)
I'll journey on
I'm on my way to Canaan land
(Ooh)
If you don't go I'll journey on to Canaan land
I'm on my way
Si tu no vas apartate
Si tu no vas you seguire
Si tu no vas a Canaan
Camino voy
Se voce nao for, saia da frente
Se voce nao for, vou continuar
Se voce nao for a Canaa
Eu vou pra la
If you don't go don't hinder me
If you don't go I'll journey on and on
If you don't go to Canaan land
I'm on my way
"I'm on My Way" is a gospel song by Take 6 that conveys the message of spiritual journey and determination to reach the promised land. The song talks about the journey of the singer towards the "Canaan land," a biblical term for the Promised Land of Israel. The song begins with the singer proudly affirming that they are on their way to Canaan land. This refrain is repeated throughout the song, highlighting the message of determination and faith.
The verses of the song talk about the obstacles the singer might face during their journey. The first verse says that the singer will continue their journey even if their mother or father does not join them. The second verse speaks to the listeners and asks them not to be a hindrance in the singer's quest. The third verse is in Spanish and conveys the same message to Spanish-speaking listeners.
The song is both metaphorical and literal in its meaning. The journey towards Canaan land can be interpreted as a spiritual journey, where the Canaan land represents the attainment of enlightenment or a state of spiritual bliss. At the same time, the song can refer to the actual journey of African Americans towards freedom and equality during the Civil Rights Movement.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm on my way to Canaan land
I am embarking on a journey to the promised land of Canaan.
If my mother don't go I'll journey on
Even if my mother doesn't accompany me on this journey, I will continue forward.
If my father don't go I'll journey on
If my father doesn't join me on this journey, I will still move forward.
I'm on my way
I am in the process of traveling towards my destination.
If you don't go to the Canaan land
Don't hinder me
If you choose not to join me on my journey, please do not obstruct my path.
(I just gotta make it in)
I'm on my way
I am determined to reach my destination and am currently in transit.
If you don't go
(Don't hinder me)
I implore you not to obstruct my path if you choose not to accompany me on this journey.
I'll journey on
I will continue forward towards my destination.
Si tu no vas apartate
Si tu no vas you seguire
Si tu no vas a Canaan
Camino voy
If you do not go, step aside. If you do not go, I will continue. If you do not go to Canaan, I am still going.
Se voce nao for, saia da frente
Se voce nao for, vou continuar
Se voce nao for a Canaa
Eu vou pra la
If you are not going, get out of the way. If you are not going, I will keep going. If you are not going to Canaan, I am going.
If you don't go don't hinder me
If you don't go I'll journey on and on
If you don't go to Canaan land
I'm on my way
If you do not choose to join me on my journey, please do not hinder my progress. I will continue forward even if it means traveling alone. I am resolute in reaching the promised land of Canaan.
Lyrics ยฉ BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CEDRIC CARL DENT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
J W
This reminds me of my childhood. Take 6 played in our house often!
Andy Tingan Yang
You grew up with the best music for sure!
Victor Davis
The music and lyrics in this song always sounds fresh. Take 6 harmony has no boundaries!!!!!
Pamelah Israel ๐
โค Take 6's ministry ๐๐พ๐๐๐พ
Gita Gempita
2019 and never get enough of this gem! :')
Rene' Howell
It's still good In 2022!
Eye Am
Not only do the acoustics sound out of this World, but also many great segments of harmonies, absolutely perfect for chopping and looping!
Any track of theirs is pure gold!!!๐๐ฟ๐๐ฟ๐๐ฟ๐๐ฟ๐๐ฟ
Shade Lawrence Jenifer
This arrangement is SOOOOOOOO good! ย But what else should you expect from DOCTOR DENT???? ย The man is a chord-smith!!!!! ย Take 6 for life!!!!!!
DetroitSmooth 7
Belgique.
DetroitSmooth 7
All day!