The Winans released their debut album, Introducing the Winans, in 1981, which was produced by Crouch and featured the now-classic cuts "The Question Is" and "Restoration." The 1983 follow-up, Long Time Comin', started to break the group to a wider audience, reaching the Top Ten on the gospel album charts; it also produced another staple of their repertoire in the ballad "Long Time Comin' (Holdin' On)." The title track of their third album, Tomorrow (which also made the gospel Top Ten), won the group its first Grammy for Best Soul Gospel Performance by a Duo or Group in 1985. In the wake of that success, the Winans moved over to famed producer Quincy Jones' Qwest label. Their label debut, Let My People Go, topped the gospel albums chart in 1986, and featured their first high-profile duet -- with Vanessa Bell Armstrong on "Choose Ye." Meanwhile, the title track won another Grammy, and the group received the first of three consecutive Dove Awards as Best Contemporary Gospel Group. Released in 1987, Decision was another number one hit on the gospel charts, and produced the Winans' first big crossover hit in the Anita Baker duet "Ain't No Need to Worry." The single made the Top 20 on the R&B charts and won a third straight Grammy.
Following this run as one of the most popular gospel groups in America, the Winans slowed their pace a little. Aside from the 1988 concert album Live at Carnegie Hall, the group didn't release any new music until 1990's Return. Return was another big crossover success, going gold and just missing the Top Ten on the R&B album charts. It featured a duet with Stevie Wonder on "Everyday the Same," and the Teddy Riley-produced "It's Time" was a major hit with secular audiences, reaching the R&B Top Five. Riley also worked on "A Friend," which became a fan favorite, and saxman Kenny G appeared on another single, "When You Cry." Released in 1993, All Out upped the ante for high-profile guest appearances, featuring Wayman Tisdale (on the single "Payday"), R. Kelly, Lalah Hathaway, Ricky Van Shelton, and Kenny Loggins. Despite winning a Grammy for Best Soul Gospel Album, All Out didn't sell as well with secular audiences as its immediate predecessors. Perhaps as a result, the Winans didn't court crossover success as ardently on its follow-up, 1995's Heart & Soul, which returned them to the Top Five on the gospel album charts. After Heart & Soul, the Winans took a break from performing to concentrate on individual interests and ministries. They did return in 2000 with the holiday album Christmas: Our Gifts to You. In 2002, Rhino Records released the 16-track retrospective The Very Best of the Winans, and the entire Winans family -- not just the group itself -- hit the road in support, marking the first time in a decade that all the family members had performed together.
Let My People Go
The Winans Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In slaying God's most precious creations
A wicked and hard taskmaster
Applying suffering everyday
They said "How long can this go on
For our backs are about to break"
Father replied, "I heard your cry
Now if I have to part the sea
To set my children free
(These are my people)
Oh, turn the river into blood
Send the locust to devour
(These are my people)
Don't you know He said it
Background said it back then
Now He's saying it again
Let my people go
Cause these are my people
Oh, my people
Now we're looking at the same situation
Over there in South Africa
They're using different names but it's still Pharaoh
Satan is behind it all
Let us pray that they will heed our warning
For the wrath of God is on its way
There's still time for change and forgiveness
But judgment's drawing closer everyday
Whether black, whether white
They're all precious in His sight
(These are my people)
Not another holocaust
Where so many souls are lost
(These are my people)
You can't do as you please
No not with these
(These are my people)
I can hear the spirit say
Let them go and run away
(These are my people)
Said it back then
Now He's saying it again
Let my people go
Let my people go
These are my people
You can't hide
I hate evil, I hate apartheid
You better stop abusin'
[Unverified]
Stop it with the killin'
And let My people go
I never gave you the right
To take another's life
Let my people go
Background
You better stop abusin'
[Unverified]
Stop it with the killin'
And let my people go
Free my people
Break the shackles
(Let my people go)
Let the chains fall
(Let my people go)
I want em' to stand
(Let my people go)
And I want em' to stand tall
(Let my people go)
They're mine, she's mine
He's mine, they're mine, you're mine
You are my people
These are my people
Let my people go
Let my people go
You can't hide
I hate evil, I hate apartheid
The Winans's song "Let My People Go" is a powerful protest song that speaks against the oppression and mistreatment of people, especially black people. It draws inspiration from the story of the Israelites in the Bible book of Exodus, where they were enslaved in Egypt, and God commanded Pharaoh to release them. The track starts by describing Pharaoh's cruelty in slaying God's creations and being a hard taskmaster who inflicted suffering every day. The Israelites cried out to God for help, and God promised to make a way for their escape.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "Let my people go" several times, emphasizing the urgency and importance of freedom for God's people. The lyrics also draw a parallel between the oppression faced by the Israelites in Egypt and the apartheid regime in South Africa at the time the song was written. The artists pray that those in power will heed their warning and bring about change and forgiveness before facing the wrath of God.
The song communicates a clear message of hope, unity, and justice for all God's people, regardless of their race or ethnicity. It is a reminder of the power of music as an instrument for change and a way to give a voice to the oppressed. The message of the song is timeless and continues to inspire people around the world to fight against injustice and hope for a brighter tomorrow.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, Pharaoh was so evil
Pharaoh was an evil ruler who killed God's own creation.
In slaying God's most precious creations
Pharaoh killed the people who were created with love by God.
A wicked and hard taskmaster
Pharaoh was cruel and tough on his people.
Applying suffering everyday
Pharaoh's people lived in pain and agony every day.
They said "How long can this go on
The people asked how long they will suffer under Pharaoh's rule.
For our backs are about to break"
They were tired of Pharaoh crushing them with his power and causing them pain.
Father replied, "I heard your cry
God heard their cries for help.
And I'll make a way for your escape"
God believes that He can make a way for his people to escape.
Now if I have to part the sea
God is willing to even part the sea to set his children free.
To set my children free
God wants his children to be free from the oppression of Pharaoh.
(These are my people)
God claims his people as his own.
Oh, turn the river into blood
God wants Pharaoh to feel the pain that he has caused.
Send the locust to devour
God wants to send locusts to Pharaoh's crops as a punishment.
Background said it back then
The same thing happened back then when God helped his people escape from Pharaoh's rule.
Now He's saying it again
God is saying it again to set his people free from oppression.
Let my people go
God wants Pharaoh to allow his people to be free and not under his oppressive rule.
Cause these are my people
God claims his people as his own and wants them to be free.
Now we're looking at the same situation
The situation is still the same in South Africa.
Over there in South Africa
In South Africa, the same oppression happened with a different name.
They're using different names but it's still Pharaoh
The rulers in South Africa may have different names, but they are still oppressing people.
Satan is behind it all
Satan is responsible for all the dark things happening in the world.
Let us pray that they will heed our warning
We should pray that the rulers will listen to the warnings given to them.
For the wrath of God is on its way
God's anger is directed towards the oppressors.
There's still time for change and forgiveness
There is still time for change and the opportunity for forgiveness.
But judgment's drawing closer everyday
The time for judgment is nearing every day.
Whether black, whether white
All people are precious to God, irrespective of their race.
They're all precious in His sight
God sees all his children as precious.
(These are my people)
God loves and claims all his people as his own.
Not another holocaust
There should be no more genocide or killing of innocent lives.
Where so many souls are lost
Genocides lead to the loss of countless innocent lives.
You can't do as you please
The oppressors cannot do whatever they like with the lives of the oppressed.
No not with these
Not with the lives of God's people.
I can hear the spirit say
The spirit is saying that the oppressed must be set free.
Let them go and run away
God wants his people to escape from their oppressors.
You better stop abusin'
The oppressors should stop abusing their power.
Stop it with the killin'
The killing of innocent lives should stop.
I never gave you the right
God did not give the oppressors the right to take others' lives.
To take another's life
No one has the right to take another person's life.
Break the shackles
The oppressed should be freed from their chains.
(Let my people go)
God wants his people to be free from their oppressors.
Let the chains fall
The shackles that keep the oppressed in chains should be discarded.
And I want em' to stand tall
God wants his people to be proud and stand up for themselves.
They're mine, she's mine
All of God's people are precious and claimed by God.
You are my people
All of God's people are loved and claimed by Him.
Let my people go
God wants his people to be free from oppression.
You can't hide
The oppressors cannot escape God's wrath and anger.
I hate evil, I hate apartheid
God hates anything that reeks of evil and apartheid.
Contributed by Hunter N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Phyllis Cooper
on Self
I need the lyrics for self by the winans
Sharon Gross
on Redeemed
God bless everyone at Easter. The Winans' said, "Tell everybody that it was not a haphazard event nor a secondary scheme but it was the plan of the Lord to redeem." " They whipped Him ALL night long....TO REDEEM; He said, "No man take my life but I laid it down"...TO REDEEM; "He was BORN of a virgin"...TO REDEEM; "JESUS took off his GLORY in Heaven"...TO REDEEM; then HE died on he CROSS...TO REDEEM (THANK YOU, JESUS); then HE ROSE...TO REDEEM. Listen to this beautiful song by the Winans, "Redeemed." It will surely bless your soul. Eternal Love and Peace