While married to Bishop Walter Hawkins, the couple had two children a son, Walter "Jamie" Hawkins, Jr. and a daughter, Trystan Hawkins with one granddaughter, Jahve Hawkins and one grandson, Jamie Daniel Hawkins. Walter "Jamie" Hawkins, Jr. is married to Myiia "Sunny" Davis-Hawkins.
Tramaine has been inducted into the Gospel Hall of Fame. Recently receiving the James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award and netting two Stellar Awards for Female Vocalist of the Year and Traditional Female of the Year for her 2007 CD release I Never Lost My Praise (2007). She also sang at James Cleveland's funeral.
Hawkins lives outside of Sacramento, California with her husband, Tommy Richardson, Jr. of fifteen years and has one stepson, Demar Richardson with two step grandchildren.
What Shall I Do?
Tramaine Hawkins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What step should I take
What move should I make
Oh Lord, what shall I do
I'm going to wait
For an answer from You
I have nothing to lose
I know You'll come through
With a blessing for me
Please Lord set my soul free
Oh Lord, I know you'll come through
I can't live without Your help
I am weak all by myself
Lord please give me the strength I need
So I can possess eternal peace
[Choir: repeats]
No one else can calm my fears
God alone can wipe away my tears
Glory to the mighty king
In Jesus Christ I have everything
Oh there's no one like Jesus
Who can heal broken hearts
And put them back together again
What shall I do
What step should I take
What move should I make
Oh, Lord What shall I do
I'm going to wait
I know you'll come through
In this song, Tramaine Hawkins is expressing her desire for guidance and direction from God. She asks Him what she should do, what step she should take and what move she should make as she finds herself lost and uncertain. Despite her uncertainty, Hawkins chooses to wait for an answer from God, trusting in His ability to provide solutions to her situation. She has faith that God will answer her prayers and come through with a blessing for her.
Throughout the song, Hawkins acknowledges her need for God's help and strength because she is unable to live without it. She recognizes that she is weak by herself and requires God's guidance to lead her on the right path. The chorus is a repeated declaration of her plea to the Lord, asking what she should do, followed by her assurance in His faithfulness as she waits for His answer.
The song has a strong gospel feel and is clearly rooted in Hawkins' faith. It emphasizes trust in God, even amid uncertainty and fear. The song stresses the importance of waiting on God and recognizing that only He can bring ultimate peace and healing.
Line by Line Meaning
What shall I do
Asking for guidance
What step should I take
Asking for direction
What move should I make
Asking for advice
Oh Lord, what shall I do
Seeking divine intervention
I'm going to wait
Exhibiting patience and trust
For an answer from You
Expecting response from God
I have nothing to lose
Empty-handed but hopeful
Oh Lord, I'm going to wait
Reiterating faith and hope
I know You'll come through
Believing in God's intervention
With a blessing for me
Expecting a favorable outcome
Please Lord set my soul free
Seeking spiritual liberation
Oh Lord, I know you'll come through
Reaffirming faith in God's ability
I can't live without Your help
Acknowledging divine support
I am weak all by myself
Confessing personal inadequacies
Lord please give me the strength I need
Requesting for empowerment
So I can possess eternal peace
Aspiring for inner tranquility
No one else can calm my fears
Affirming God's sovereignty
God alone can wipe away my tears
Recognizing God's comforting power
Glory to the mighty king
Praising God's majesty
In Jesus Christ I have everything
Acknowledging Jesus as the source of everything
Oh there's no one like Jesus
Affirming Jesus' unique attributes
Who can heal broken hearts
Recognizing Jesus' healing power
And put them back together again
Depicting Jesus' ability to mend brokenness
What shall I do
Reiterating the opening question
What step should I take
Repeating the second line
What move should I make
Repeating the third line
Oh, Lord What shall I do
Repeating the closing question
I'm going to wait
Repeating the fifth line
I know you'll come through
Repeating the tenth line
Contributed by Hunter Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@shanbarrett
What shall I do
What step should I take
What move should I make
Oh Lord, what shall I do
I'm going to wait
For an answer from You
I have nothing to lose
Oh Lord, I'm going to wait
I know You'll come through
With a blessing for me
Please Lord set my soul free
Oh Lord, I know you'll come through
I can't live without Your help
I am weak all by myself
Lord please give me the strength I need
So I can possess eternal peace
No one else can calm my fears
God alone can wipe away my tears
Glory to the mighty king
In Jesus Christ I have everything
Oh there's no one like Jesus
Who can heal broken hearts
And put them back together again
What shall I do
What step should I take
What move should I make
Oh, Lord What shall I do
I'm going to wait
I know you'll come through
@meshackaliradebe
What shall I do
What step should I take
What move should I make
Oh Lord, what shall I do
I'm going to wait
For an answer from You
I have nothing to lose
Oh Lord, I'm going to wait
I know You'll come through
With a blessing for me
Please Lord set my soul free
Oh Lord, I know you'll come through
I can't live without Your help
I am weak all by myself
Lord please give me the strength I need
So I can possess eternal peace
[Choir: repeats]
No one else can calm my fears
God alone can wipe away my tears
Glory to the mighty king
In Jesus Christ I have everything
Oh there's no one like Jesus
Who can heal broken hearts
And put them back together again
What shall I do
What step should I take
What move should I make
Oh, Lord What shall I do
I'm going to wait
I know you'll come through
@Yk_kiyomii
It's 2024 and this song still has the effect it was penned to do. Please come through for me Jesus. I REALLY need You.
@camillegreen-wright3913
Still listening in 2024. I woke up with the words of the song; waiting for a word from the Lord to see me through.
@CarolS-pk8wc
Same with memygriend so I camelooking for it
@heavenlyplace901
Who's still listening In 2023? One word for this song. BEAUTIFUL!!!
@jda226
I just made 40 years old on February 26, 2020. My life has been an escalator and a revolving door. Mentally broken, spiritually broken, heart broken, bruised, used, overwhelmed, tired, exhausted, angry, hurt, sad, but through it all I fake it. Smiling like everything is okay and inside I'm tormented. Hurting needing someone to easy my pain. Looking for everyone to ease a pain that only God can. Searching for everyone else to give me peace and I haven't ask God for anything. I see why I'm living in hell in my heart, head, and soul. I don't have God involved in my life. This song came into my life in the 80s. I remember watching Sammy Davis Jr funeral service and Tremaine Hawkins did this song and for years this song has always gave me a release in my heart, mind, and soul. However, I haven't listened to this song in years. But, tonight I'm laying in my great grandparents house who are absence but present with the Lord. But, God had me to play this song I felt the first weight lift right off!! Jesus... I'm needing everyone else to save me and protect me but I'm to foolish to ask God.. so tonight, this morning Lord What Shall I Do? I'm just Going to wait on you...
@lolaking3463
Jesus is truly the answer for the world today...I have a situation and I'm waiting for God, cause i
know " JESUS WILL COME THROUGH FOR ME AND MY FAMILY "
🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
@SupremePrettyQueen
I will be waiting to hear a victory testimony from you Jovon. God is waiting for you to give it to Him so He can give you victory, joy, and gladness.
@MrCJ-qz9dl
My brother, you are not alone in your struggle. I have been going through an emotional roller coaster...up slowly, down fast. Cheated, mistreated, taken advantage of, betrayed, facing subtle racism, with little or no relief in sight, it seems to never stop. At this point l don't know where to go. But l am learning to understand the meaning of trouble, and Isaiah 54 has proven to be a great source of comfort.
@yvetterenee8256
Hallelujah! Thanks for sharing your testimony. ❤️
@emolique
This is beautiful Jovon. I pray you find the peace love and comfort that only God can restore in your life. My mom used to play this song everyday on repeat when I was a child. I had to look for it! Glad someone posted it. This song always moves me to tears and reminds me to call on the lord and not just look to man.