The theme set forth in the infectious, rhythm-infused “A Matter of Trust,” and echoed in the lush pop ballad, “Take Me,” has become the cry of The Darins’ heart. When they sing, “Give it up, let it go, let God have the control of your life,” they mean it. They’ve learned that grabbing hold of God’s hand means “letting go” of the things you hold, or think you hold, in your own hands... like complete control over your life, your career, or your loved ones’ well-being.
In less than two years, Krista, 28, Stacy, 27, Rachelle, 24, and Heather, 23, have moved cross country (from Buena Park, CA, to Nashville, TN); endured the struggle of Stacy’s yet-unfulfilled desire for a child; and gone public with Heather and Rachelle’s battle with a seizure disorder.
Though their debut CD spawned two top-10 adult contemporary radio hits (“Faith in You” and “Crosses and Crowns”), it didn’t achieve all that they hoped it would.
“We’ve learned to let go of a lot of ‘stuff,’ ” says Krista. “Mainly, our own ambition, as we’ve seen how our ministry has affected people’s lives. People come up to us after concerts and thank us for being ministers and not just entertainers. That’s where our hearts are—that’s what has become our passion. That’s the huge growth that we’ve had as a family, as sisters.”
“Family to family” ministering is what matters most to The Darins, perhaps because they’ve experienced first-hand the value of a solid Christian upbringing. They were raised in Southern California as a part of a close-knit family that nurtured faith, music and togetherness—whether it was harmonizing in the family sedan, staging Broadway musicals in the den or playing sports together. Their mom, a music teacher, and father, who played the trumpet, introduced them to all kinds of music—from classical to contemporary Christian, from Broadway to Motown. But it was the soccer and softball fields, not the rehearsal room, where The Darins spent most of their free time while growing up.
Krista recalls singing her first solo at age eight, though she cried afterwards, thinking music was not for her. The girls also recall staging Broadway musicals at home, as well as singing along to their favorite artists, Whitney Houston, Boyz II Men and Mariah Carey. The sibling harmony of BeBe and CeCe Winans also inspired them, as did other contemporary Christian artists such as Take 6 and Crystal Lewis. The Darins even attended the church pastored by the father of Christian singer Crystal Lewis. Her ministry inspired the sisters to pursue a career in Christian music.
Right after high school, Krista and Stacy formed an R&B band that made a name for itself performing in bars and clubs in Hollywood. But, when a deal with Motown fell through, they sensed God’s protection from a career they were never meant to have. In 1995, all four sisters began performing together, first in a tribute to their high school music director, and afterwards in concerts throughout Southern California. Then, in December 1996, the music minister at their church introduced them to producer Dino Elefante, Sr. Vice President of A&R at Pamplin Music. That meeting eventually led to their recording contract with Pamplin.
It is Dino Elefante, and his brother, John, who have produced both of The Darins’ CDs. This time, though, The Darins participated more fully in the recording process, choosing the songs they wanted to record and even co-writing three of the songs, “Can’t Stop”, “Let Forever Begin” and “Out of the Rain.”
Their optimistic trust in God is woven throughout the R&B-flavored, energetic pop of Letting Go. The Darins’ blue-eyed sister soul is carried on the wings of melodic pop hooks straight to heart of listeners. Songs such as the danceable “Head Up To The Sky” and the upbeat “I Know” showcase The Darins’ dynamic harmony behind the diva strength of lead vocalists Krista and Stacy. Their passion to share their faith is evident on songs such as the hopeful “Let Forever Begin” and the urgent “Can’t Stop” which affirms, “I want them to know You’re the love of my life.” Their amazement at a God whose mercy extends to all, even to them, is powerfully expressed in the emotive duet with Jonathan Pierce, “Somebody Like Me,” and the awe-inspiring ballad, “The Greatest Miracle.”
The fact that relationships are of primary importance to The Darins is emphasized in the song “Samaritan Way,” which encourages coming alongside friends in need. They are advocates of what they call “friendship evangelism,” a philosophy they put in action on a recent missions trip to Sweden with Nashville-based Ultimate Goal Ministries. The Darins, along with a team of teen girls, combined two of their favorite pastimes—singing and soccer—on the two-week trip to Sweden for soccer’s Gothia Cup championship.
“We were really encouraged by the teens’ willingness to be open and share their faith, and the great sportsmanship on the field. We were encouraged by their boldness. After each game they’d pass out New Testaments to the other teams and share Christ with them,” says Stacy. “We planted a seed in the people we talked to. Maybe one day it will be watered and will blossom. We realized that the only thing that we can do is tell people about Jesus, the rest of it is up to Him—He’s the one that’s going to change lives.”
It’s seeking after God, and not industry accolades, that keeps The Darins focused on what really matters. Their vulnerability in sharing their struggles has also endeared them to those who attend their concerts and buy their CDs.
This became most apparent after The Darins began to talk about two of the sisters’ private struggles with a seizure disorder, a year after Heather narrowly escaped serious injury in a car accident caused by a blackout seizure. “I’ve never asked God why He gave this to me,” says Heather. “But I did try to handle it all by myself until the accident. Afterwards, I realized that I could have been killed, or injured someone else, but no one was hurt. God used the accident to show me that He is in control, and it was like a ton of bricks rolled off my chest.”
Acknowledging their dependence on God has helped both Heather and Rachelle to come to terms with the way the disorder affects their lives. Though Heather continues to have petit mal (smaller) seizures, it’s been over a year for Heather and three years for Rachelle since they’ve had grand mal (larger) seizures. Each year that passes without a grand mal seizure for either of them is a time of celebration for their family, though they’ve learned to abide in the grace and mercy God provides in the midst of the struggle.
“For a long time, we thought it was a rare thing that few people had, but now we go to churches and moms come up and tell me that they have it, or that their son or daughter has it, and I’m able to talk to them,” says Heather. “ It’s also been a blessing because our audience is able to minister to us as well.”
Rachelle adds, “We try to glorify God in everything, and He’s shown us what we need to do with this particular struggle, and that is to tell other people.”
By telling their story, they’ve opened the gate for ministry to flow into their own lives as well—not only for Heather and Rachelle, but also for Stacy and her husband Bill as they deal with trying to have a baby. The only married member of The Darins, Stacy shares her struggle because, as she says, “If I can help people with the same problem, and if it makes us have that bond, then it’s all worth it.”
The kinship of shared suffering motivates many people to reach out to Stacy and Bill, not to receive comfort but to give it.
As Krista reports, “Couples come up after concerts with these amazing stories about their own struggles and how, in many cases, God finally blessed them with a child. That’s encouraging for Stacy and Bill to hear.”
For these couples, and partly as testimony to their parents’ 30-year marriage, The Darins have included a song called “Out of the Rain” on their new CD, which encourages the kind of communication with God and with each other that fosters healthy relationships. “I’m sure there were times our parents wanted to call it quits, but if they had, none of us would be here,” says Stacy. “We want to remind couples that marriage is a commitment and a vow they make to God, and they need to look to Him to help them work things out.”
The Darins can’t stop telling the world about Jesus, and their firm belief in God’s miraculous ways keeps them from letting go of Him, no matter what. “Going to Sweden with Ultimate Goal was our very first overseas missions trip, and we were a little apprehensive because we didn’t really know what to expect,” says Krista. “But I think God used it to take us out of our comfort zones and totally rely on Him to give us the courage to go up to total strangers and tell them about the Lord.”
Taking people out of their comfort zones to totally rely on Him—that’s the thread that runs through Letting Go, and a constant theme in the lives of The Darins. For four sisters from southern California, Letting Go means holding the hand of their creator, and trusting Him to lead the way in their music, their ministry and their lives, while reaching out to take the hand of a friend.
Cant Stop
The Darins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Thinking of how life would be
If I didn't have you beside me
Oh Lord, where would I be
You give me life everlasting
Your promise deep in my soul
To everyone who is searching for something
[Chorus]
You are the one that I need
You are the air that I breathe
You wipe the tears from my eyes
I want them to see you're the love of my life
You are the ray of sunlight
Through my darkest times
No I can't stop, I won't stop
Telling the whole world about you
There are some days I feel lonely
And I'm afraid of what life may bring
Temptation tries to distract me from you Lord
But conviction brings me back to my knees
[Chorus]
In the first verse of The Darins's song, "Can't Stop", the singer expresses their deep emotions and thoughts about what life would be like without the person they love. The lyrics convey a sense of gratitude and appreciation towards this person who has been a constant support system in their life. The singer acknowledges that they are nothing without this person and thanks the Lord for bringing them into their life.
In the second verse, the singer talks about the everlasting promise of their partner and how they guide them in their life. The singer highlights how people are always searching for something and how they fail to notice that the love of their life is right beside them. The chorus is a reflection of the singer's profound love for their partner. The lyrics emphasize the importance of this person in the singer's life and how they bring light to their darkest times.
The lyrics of "Can't Stop" are a testament to the profound love between two people. The song emphasizes that love is a powerful force that cannot be denied, and it's critical to acknowledge the people who impact our lives positively. The lyrics are a reminder that no matter how lonely one may feel, there is always someone who loves and cares for them unconditionally.
Line by Line Meaning
Sometimes I'm filled with emotions
At times, I experience an overflow of feelings
Thinking of how life would be
Contemplating how different life would be
If I didn't have you beside me
If you were not by my side
Oh Lord, where would I be
Expressing gratitude by asking where I would be without you
You give me life everlasting
You bestow everlasting life upon me
Your promise deep in my soul
Your pledge is embedded deep within my being
To everyone who is searching for something
Addressing those who are looking for something
Lord, why can't they see
Asking why those individuals cannot perceive
You are the one that I need
Affirming that you are the only one that I require
You are the air that I breathe
You are as vital to me as the air I breathe
You wipe the tears from my eyes
You console and comfort me when I am troubled
I want them to see you're the love of my life
Expressing the desire for others to recognize that you are the love of my life
You are the ray of sunlight
Depicting you as a beam of light
Through my darkest times
During my most difficult moments
No I can't stop, I won't stop
Asserting that I will continue
Telling the whole world about you
Spreading the word to the entire world about how important you are to me
There are some days I feel lonely
On certain days, I experience loneliness
And I'm afraid of what life may bring
Feeling apprehensive about what life may bring about
Temptation tries to distract me from you Lord
Being lured away from you due to temptation
But conviction brings me back to my knees
Being convinced to return to adhering to you by going back to my knees
Lyrics © CARLIN AMERICA INC, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MICHAEL LEE, BILL ZEPEDA, HEATHER DARIN, RACHELLE DARIN, STACY DARIN-ZEPEDA, KRISTA LORD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
ulij20
Great song! I remember hearing this on 20: The Countdown Magazine in early 2001 - not sure if it hit the Top Ten or not. It sure hit the Top Ten on my personal chart! :)
danielle luhrsen
Same but sad Christian music isn't as good as it used to be
Ronald
I really like this song, "Take Me", the band, and the memories.
Hanna Allen
I love ❤ the song can't stop by the darins I try to find a new cd but I guess they didn't make a new one
ulij20
Just found the lists from when this song was charting and the song did hit #7 on 20: TCM in January, 2001.
Ebony Skeptic
This was one of my jams when I was a Christian.
David Tusuubira
.......and what happened?
E Owen
Aren't you still a christian? Once you're spiritually alive, you're alive. Don't go back to that hard place you once had to pray yourself out of. God bless you!
Kenny Klein
Love you Aunt Stacy I wish you would go back to singing again, but kids come first.
mrm6464
GREEEAT old school here :D