The Best Kirk Franklin Songs (So Far!)

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So, it’s like this. The year was 1998 (or maybe it was 1999…one or the other!), and I was getting ready for church one Sunday. Being ever-so-slightly legalistic, I usually didn’t listen to secular music on Sundays.

For some reason, on this particular Sunday, I decided to go a little rogue on myself and watch some VH1 on TV. And, what video was just starting when I tuned in? Kirk Franklin’s “Lean on Me.” I’m not joking when I say that my life has never been the same!

Here we go with (my favorite) best Kirk Franklin songs (so far)!

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My List of the Best Kirk Franklin Songs (So Far!)

These best songs will be in alphabetical order, with no particular order of favorites…except, of course, “Lean on Me,” which started it all! Some have garnered numerous awards, including Grammy Awards, Dove Awards, American Music Awards, and Soul Train Awards.

“Lean on Me” (from The Nu Nation Project)

So, there I was watching VH1 on that Sunday morning. What was the big deal about this first song?

The story line caught my attention. Then, there’s Crystal Lewis! The choir singing in the studio. Mary J. Blige…cool. Whoa, now there’s Bono! This is really getting interesting.

The choir starts ramping it up a little, leading into the bridge. The lyrics of the bridge are words to really ponder. Crystal Lewis masters the key change, and then…

What I now know as quintessential Kirk Franklin writing…the choir kicks in so powerfully that, on a Sunday morning, watching VH1 before church, while I should be getting ready, I find myself spontaneously crying, because I’ve never heard a sound like this. Wall of sound harmonies that can evoke all sorts of emotions.

That very week, I bought The Nu Nation Project CD and started playing it on repeat. Kirk Franklin’s style of writing gospel music has been my absolute favorite ever since.

“123 Victory” (from Losing My Religion)

Favorite Lyric: “Hey yo, 123. Get up, we got victory. No weapon they throw at me, you know it won’t prosper, no.”

“A God Like You” (from Hello Fear)

I love how this song keeps moving right along!

Favorite Lyric: “Everybody wanna be like You. They want power and praise like You, but see, there is no god like our God. There’s no one like You. Who gave their life like You, and who paid our price like You, see, there’s only one God. That’s our God. There’s no one like You.”

The “crunchy” chords at the end of the bridge are fabulous! And the K-Ci & JoJo vocal effects at the end are fun!

“Before I Die” (from Hello Fear)

The “missing” words in this song are so genius! I love the unison ladies voices throughout this song.

Favorite Lyrics: “The Son came to give me life!” and “You’re the only god I don’t owe a thing to.”

“Declaration (This Is It!)” (from The Fight of My Life)

The sample is cool. The song just keeps driving right along.

Favorite Lyric: “See, God allowed it, ’cause He knew He had big plans for me.”

“Father Knows Best” (from Long Live Love)

Wow, what a groove!

“Free” (from Kirk Franklin Presents 1NC (One Nation Crew))

Favorite Lyric: “I am free to lift my hands. Free to say amen. Free to know that some day I can smile again.”

It would have been nice to hear more from this group of vocalists. I know at least some of them worked on other Kirk Franklin projects, but this was a more edgy concept at the time.

“He’ll Take the Pain Away” (from God’s Property from Kirk Franklin’s Nu Nation)

My favorite version of this song is actually on The Nu Nation Tour DVD (or VHS!), where it is sung by Brandon Kizer.

“He Will Supply” (from The Fight of My Life)

I love the groove of this song, right from the first note. Love the staccato vocal notes and the multi-note syllables. The piano carries the whole song through wonderfully. The vocal swell about 2/3 of the way through is powerful.

“Hero” (from Hero)

Jesus is the true Hero! This song is a roller coaster, moving from quiet to swell to quiet and back again! And the horns!

“Hold Me Now” (from The Nu Nation Project)

Literally the entire lyric of this song speaks to me, including Kirk’s spoken word bridge. Here are some favorites:

“Somebody told me that You would wash all my sins…and cleanse me from the scars that are so deep within. So, I’m calling to You. If You can hear me, I don’t know how. I was wondering, can You hold me now?”

“You are the only One that’s patient when I fall. Your angels come to save me every time I call. You don’t laugh at me when I make mistakes and cry. You’re not like man. You understand me.”

“See, people change. One day they don’t like you, the next they do. I wish that everyone could love me just like You.”

“Don’t you worry. God is faithful, and He cares about the tears you drop and the pain you feel. He’s there. When you are weak, that’s when He’s strong, even though you don’t know how. God can, and He will, hold you now.”

And, you know, that unison swell toward the end of the song. Phew!

“Hosanna” (from The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin)

Wow, what a song! It just keeps moving and has so much truth!

“I Am” (from Hello Fear)

Constant build in this one!

Favorite Lyric: “I am so far from perfect. I thought life was worthless, until You showed me who I am. Not here by mistake. No luck, only grace. I’m on my way to who I am.”

The bridge makes me hear mashups of “Hero” from Hero.

“Imagine Me” (from Hero)

This song grabs you right from the beginning, with the up front drum click and prominent piano melody. Then, the lyrics join in. As far as the best Kirk Franklin songs go, it’s probably in my Top 3!

Favorite Lyric: “I…imagine me letting go of all of the ones who hurt me, ’cause they never did deserve me. Can you imagine me saying “no” to thoughts that try to control me? Remembering all You told me, Lord, can you imagine me?”

And then, the post-bridge “gone” section. Get ready!

“In Your Grace” (from Kirk Franklin Presents 1NC (One Nation Crew))

What a beautiful, honest song!

Favorite Lyric: “When You look in my heart, tell me what do You see that makes You love me so?”

“Intro” (from The Fight of My Life)

Romans 7: 21, 24-25!

“Jesus” (from The Fight of My Life)

How can anyone not bop to this song?

“Lookin’ Out for Me” (from The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin)

Did you notice the “smile again” lyric? Maybe a foreshadowing of a future song? 🙂

Favorite Lyric: “You keep on lookin’ out for me. In spite of all I’ve done, Jesus, You keep on lookin’ out for me.”

This is also a fun song in concert, with the ladies belting the “lookin’ out” lyric.

“Melodies from Heaven” (from Whatcha Lookin’ 4)

Power vocals! All the key changes!

“My Life is in Your Hands” (from God’s Property from Kirk Franklin’s Nu Nation)

The melody is so simply beautiful, and of course, the chorus has the ability to swell as the song progresses!

I can also hear a mashup with Kirk’s “The Night That Christ Was Born” in my head!

“My Life, My Love, My All” (from The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin)

Favorite Lyric: (at the swell!) “My past has been erased, with just one touch from You. My clouds, my rain, my pain has changed. Your blood has made me new.”

“My World Needs You” (from Losing My Religion)

This song is applicable 24/7/365!

Favorite Lyric: “Power fall down. Bring with it a sound that points us to You right now. Erase substitutes right now. Fix what I see, and God, please fix me. My world needs You right now. Let us see You right now.”

“Now Behold the Lamb” (from Christmas)

Favorite Lyric: “Born into sin that I may live again, the precious Lamb of God.”

“Pray for Me” (from Losing My Religion)

Wow! Kirk! Such a quiet beautiful song that swells into The Lord’s Prayer!

“Revolution” (from The Nu Nation Project)

This is the song (besides “Stomp”) that really got things going. I mean, who doesn’t like to do the “whoop, whoop!” part?!?!?

“Silver & Gold” (from Kirk Franklin & the Family)

Favorite Lyric: “I’d rather have Jesus than silver and gold.”

I love it when Kirk lets the concert audience attempt to sing “Gold” up the scale.

“Something About the Name Jesus” (from The Nu Nation Project)

In concert, Kirk lets the audience take the “I know” part up and up.

At the end of the song, the choir takes the chorus up to amazing heights. I can’t get enough of that type of swell!

Check out “Pt. 2” on Hello Fear.

“Still (In Control)” (from The Fight of My Life)

Favorite Lyric: “He’s still in control. He’s sovereign, and He knows…”

The harmonies and the key change. No words.

“Strong God” (from Long Live Love)

Favorite Lyric: “See, we need a strong God. We need the real God. The God with the resurrection power from the grave, to take away the hate, to heal the human race.”

“The Last Jesus” (from The Fight of My Life)

Lyrics that make you think! “Every Sunday, we’re shouting, we’re dancing (with our hands up), but can the world see a change?”

I’m not sure what to think about the whistling at the end though?

“Today” (from Hello Fear)

Sing, Kirk! This song bounces right along!

Heeeeey! Heeeeey! Heeeeey! Heeeeey!

“Why We Sing” (from Kirk Franklin & the Family)

Love the use of “His Eye is on the Sparrow.”

Favorite Lyric: “At times we may be crying, and nothing’s even wrong.”

“Without You” (from Hero)

Favorite Lyric: “Without You, life’s a song with no end. Without You, it’s like having a heart that won’t mend. Without You, we’re just actors on a stage, like a child who’s lost his way, wouldn’t be here today without You.”

“Without You, Jesus, my life would be lost. Without You, I’ll never know what it cost, to see You lay Your life down for me. From my past, now I’m free. Tell me where would I be without You?”

“You Are” (from The Nu Nation Project)

This is a great song, voicing truths about the Lord.

Favorite Lyric: “Jesus, You are my Cornerstone. You are my Friend when I’m alone. You’re the Convictor when I’m wrong. Jesus, You are, yes. You are the Peace within my storm. You are the Shelter from all harm. I love it when You hold me in Your arms. Everything I need, You are.”

Other Popular Kirk Franklin Songs

Since I found “Lean on Me” (though it really found me), I obviously bought the back catalog and everything since then. Here are some songs not on my list of favorites but that seem to rise to the top for others:

• “Gonna Be a Lovely Day”
• “Love Theory”
• “Real Love”
• “Silent Night”
• “Sweet Spirit”

Other Song Observations

Compare and contrast “Could’ve Been Me” on Kirk Franklin Presents 1NC (One Nation Crew) with “Could’ve Been” on Hero.

The phrase “smile again” appears in “Lookin’ Out for Me” on The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin and is an entire song (“Smile Again”) on The Nu Nation Project.

Kirk Franklin Concerts

I’ve been to more Kirk Franklin concerts than those of any other artist! More than a choir director & more than a gospel group! Here’s the rundown.

Monday, January 20, 2003 – Phoenix, AZ (“Hopeville” Tour w/ Yolanda Adams & Donnie McClurkin)

I attended this concert by myself. Yes, by myself. I wanted to go, so I went. I was living in Phoenix, AZ, at the time. It was MLK, Jr. Day, so I had a holiday off work. I attended the Phoenix Open golf tournament (also by myself) in the morning and then went to the concert at night.

I remember sitting by a very lovely couple and also that the music was ridiculously amazing.

Tuesday, March 28, 2006 – Phoenix, AZ (with Mary Mary)

I attended this one with several friends, a couple months before I got married and moved to California. We had front row seats!

Friday, December 23, 2011 – Ontario, CA (Christmas!)

First date night after our 2nd daughter was born!

Friday, April 15, 2016 – Los Angeles, CA (“20 Years in 1 Night” Tour)

Hubby and me. This was a 6: 30 p.m. concert, but no music until 8:15 p.m. I’m getting too old for this! It was a fantastic show, though, with all. the. songs.!

Thursday, August 15, 2019 – Los Angeles, CA (“Long Live Love” Tour)

I attended this concert with my husband and our two daughters. The girls weren’t as into it as I hoped, but it’s tough when Kirk didn’t start until 9:10 p.m., for a 7:00 p.m. concert time!

We had fantastic seats, though, and the show was also on point.

Kirk’s Singers

At some point in the early 2000s, I started thinking how fantastic it would be to be one of “Kirk’s singers.” I mean, it’s clearly not the plan God had/has for my life, but still, a girl can dream, right?

I actually attended GMA Week 2003, back when GMA Week was a thing. I remember seeing Kirk walking through the Renaissance Nashville Hotel (where the conference was held that year) and being too nervous to even say hello. Oh well. Missed opportunity…haha!

Kirk…need a new gospel singer?????

The Best Kirk Franklin Songs (So Far!)

Whelp, there’s my list of my favorite Kirk Dewayne Franklin songs, at least so far. I hope you enjoy Kirk’s music as much as I do!

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What are your favorite Kirk Franklin songs? Please share in the comments below!