Edwin Reuben Hawkins (August 19, 1943 – January 15, 2018) was an American g… Read Full Bio ↴Edwin Reuben Hawkins (August 19, 1943 – January 15, 2018) was an American gospel musician, pianist, choir master, composer, and arranger. He was one of the originators of the urban contemporary gospel sound. He (as leader of the Edwin Hawkins Singers) was probably best known for his arrangement of "Oh Happy Day" (1968–69), which was included on the Songs of the Century list. The Edwin Hawkins Singers made a second foray into the charts exactly one year later, backing folk singer Melanie on "Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)".

At the age of seven Hawkins was already the keyboardist to accompany the family's gospel choir. Together with Betty Watson, he was the co-founder of the Northern California State Youth Choir of the Church of God in Christ, which included almost fifty members. This ensemble recorded its first album Let Us Go into the House of the Lord at the Ephesian Church of God in Christ in Berkeley, California privately (on the Century 70 custom label), hoping to sell 500 copies. "Oh Happy Day" was just one of the eight songs on the album. (The soloists in the album were Elaine Kelly, Margarette Branch, Dorothy Combs Morrison, Tramaine Davis (Hawkins), Reuben Franklin, Donald Cashmere, Betty Watson, and Ruth Lyons.)

When radio stations of the San Francisco Bay area started playing "Oh Happy Day", it became very popular. Featuring the lead vocal of Dorothy Combs Morrison, the subsequently released single (on the newly created Pavilion label distributed by Buddah) rocketed to sales of over a million copies within two months. It crossed over to the pop charts making U.S. No. 4, UK No. 2, No. 2 on the Irish Singles Chart, and No. 1 on the German Singles Charts in 1969. It then became an international success, selling more than 7 million copies worldwide, and Hawkins was awarded his first Grammy for it. Hawkins' arrangement of the song was eventually covered by The Four Seasons on their 1970 album Half & Half.

Their second Top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 charts was the 1970 Melanie single "Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)," on which the label listed the performers as Melanie with The Edwin Hawkins Singers. The song peaked at No. 6 in the U.S. In the 1992 movie Leap of Faith, Hawkins is the choir master for the gospel songs.

Hawkins died on January 15, 2018, at the age of 74.

O-O-H Child
The Edwin Hawkins Singers Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ooh child
Things are gonna get easier
Ooh child
Things'll get brighter

Some day, yeah
We'll get it together and we'll get it all done
Some day

When your head is much lighter
Some day, yeah
We'll walk in the rays of a beautiful sun
Some day
When the world is much brighter

Ooh child
Things are gonna be easier
Ooh child
Things'll be brighter

Some day, yeah
We'll get it together and we'll get it all done
Some day
When your head is much lighter

Some day, yeah
We'll walk in the rays of a beautiful sun

Some day
When the world is much brighter

Overall Meaning

The Edwin Hawkins Singers' "Ooh Child" is a hopeful song about the belief that things will get better, eventually. The lyrics serve as a reminder that life is not always easy, but the future is brighter. The repeated phrase "Ooh child" is almost like a soothing reassurance to someone who is going through a difficult time.

The song highlights the idea that if we keep our head up and keep pushing through, we will one day reach a point where life isn't as tough as it feels in the moment. The melody is uplifting and catchy, with a positive message, reflecting the idea that even in difficult times, there is something to look forward to.

The song's message resonated with many people when it was released in 1970, and it continues to be a favorite today. "Ooh Child" serves as a reminder that no matter how difficult things may seem, we can always hold onto hope for a brighter future. It encourages listeners to keep pushing through, as someday things will be much easier and much brighter.

Line by Line Meaning

Ooh child
Hey there, whoever needs to hear this

Things are gonna get easier
Life will not always be this hard

Ooh child
Hey there again, don't forget

Things'll get brighter
Things will improve, the future is not all bleak

Some day, yeah
One day, we'll make it through

We'll get it together and we'll get it all done
We will accomplish what we need to do, together

Some day
One day it will happen

When your head is much lighter
When you feel less burdened, less weighed down by worries

Some day, yeah
One day, we'll enjoy the good things life has to offer

We'll walk in the rays of a beautiful sun
We'll bask in the beauty of life, experience happiness and joy

Some day
One day, we'll witness the change