The definitive Afroamerican gospel group in the jubilee quartet style.
<… Read Full Bio ↴The definitive Afroamerican gospel group in the jubilee quartet style.

Founded as the Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet in Norfolk, Virginia in 1934 by A. C. “Eddie” Griffin, Robert “Peg” Ford, Henry Owens, and Bill Johnson, they began as a traditional jubilee quartet, combining the clever arrangements associated with barbershop quartets with rhythms borrowed from the blues and jazz.

The makeup of the group changed over the years, as some members were drafted during the war and new members were brought in to replace those who had retired or left to join other groups. William Langford joined the group when Griffin left in 1935 and Orlandus Wilson replaced Ford the same year. Clyde Riddick replaced Langford in 1938, Johnson left in 1948 to join “The Jubalaires” and Owens left the group later to become a preacher and solo artist. Riddick remained with the group until his retirement in 1995 and Wilson until his death in 1998.

The Gates had a broad repertoire of styles—from Owens’ mournful, understated approach in songs such as Anyhow or Hush, Somebody’s Calling My Name, to the group’s highly syncopated arrangements in Shadrach, Meshach and Abendigo. Like The Mills Brothers of popular music, they would often include vocal special effects in their songs, imitating train sounds in songs such as Golden Gate Gospel Train. Langford often sang lead, using his ability to range from baritone to falsetto, while Johnson narrated in a hip syncopated style that became the hallmark for the group.

I Wanna Know
The Golden Gate Quartet Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Nobody knows the trouble I've seen
Nobody knows but He knows my sorrow
Yes, nobody knows the trouble I've seen
But glory, Hallelujah

Sometimes I'm standing crying
Tears running down my face
I cry to the Lord, have mercy

Help me run this all race

Oh Lord, I have so many trials
So many pains and woes
I'm asking for faith and comfort
Lord, help me to carry this load, whoo

Nobody knows the trouble I've seen
Well, no, nobody knows but Jesus
No nobody knows, oh the trouble, the trouble I've seen
I'm singing glory, glory glory Hallelujah

No nobody knows, oh the trouble, the trouble I've seen
Lord, no nobody knows my sorrow
No nobody knows, you know the trouble

The trouble I've seen
I'm singing glory, glory, glory, Hallelujah!

Overall Meaning

The Golden Gate Quartet's song "Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen" is a powerful gospel song that speaks to the struggle of staying true to faith amidst hardship. The lyrics' primary message is that no one can ever truly understand the depth of one's pain and burden, except for Jesus. The repetition of "nobody knows" creates a sense of isolation and longing for comfort, which is ultimately fulfilled, as the song crescendos to a chorus of "glory, Hallelujah." The lyrics convey a humble prayer to God to give strength to overcome the trials and tribulations, which are beyond human capacity.

The song's poignant lyrics expressed through the Quartet's harmonic blend of voices and the simple yet vivid melody imbue the words with intensity and emotion. The anguish and pleading for comfort in the face of adversity are evident from the cry to the Lord to "have mercy" to the repeated call of "Lord, help me carry this load." The song encourages listeners to seek solace from Jesus during moments of pain, sadness, and loneliness.

Line by Line Meaning

Nobody knows the trouble I've seen
Sometimes I feel very alone and nobody seems to understand the difficulties and hardships that I am going through in my life.

Nobody knows but He knows my sorrow
The only one who truly understands my pain and suffering is God.

Yes, nobody knows the trouble I've seen
Despite how much I may attempt to communicate my struggles, nobody can fully comprehend the depth and complexity of my situation.

But glory, Hallelujah
Although I may be facing immense difficulty, I am recognizing the beauty and significance of enduring these hardships and persevering through them.

Sometimes I'm standing crying
I often feel overwhelmed and unable to hold back my tears when I think about the challenges I am facing.

Tears running down my face
My emotions can become very intense and reach a point where I cannot control my tears from falling down my face.

I cry to the Lord, have mercy
When I am feeling helpless and lost, I turn to God for comfort and guidance and beg for His mercy.

Help me run this all race
I am asking for God's help as I navigate through the difficulties of life and continue on my journey.

Oh Lord, I have so many trials
I am acknowledging that my life is filled with many challenges, struggles, and obstacles.

So many pains and woes
I am consistently dealing with a variety of physical, emotional, and mental pains and problems that are weighing me down and affecting my ability to function properly.

I'm asking for faith and comfort
I am desperately seeking a stronger connection with God and asking for Him to provide comfort and support during these trying times.

Lord, help me to carry this load, whoo
I am pleading with God to help me bear the heavy burdens and responsibilities that I am carrying on my shoulders.

Well, no, nobody knows but Jesus
Even when others cannot comprehend my struggles, I know that Jesus understands and sympathizes with my pain.

No nobody knows, oh the trouble, the trouble I've seen
I continue to emphasize that my troubles and difficulties are unique to me and that it is difficult for anyone to fully understand what I am going through.

I'm singing glory, glory glory Hallelujah
Despite my struggles, I am singing praises to God and maintaining a faith perspective that encourages me to continue pushing forward in my journey.

Lord, no nobody knows my sorrow
I acknowledge again that only God can truly understand the depth and intensity of the sorrow and pain that I am facing.

No nobody knows, you know the trouble
Although others may not comprehend my unique challenges, I believe that God knows and understands them perfectly.

The trouble I've seen
My life has been full of struggles and hardships that have directly impacted my emotional well-being and personal growth.

I'm singing glory, glory, glory, Hallelujah!
Overall, I am singing praises to God and remaining faithful in my journey, despite the difficulties that I am facing.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Traditional

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS