It was a warm mid-week summer afternoon on the mid-2000’s outside Daytona Beach at the Volusia County prison complex. I had just entered the Tomoka Prison Correctional Institution Chapel…and there I heard the song for the first time.
The inmates working in this chapel had this song cranked up on the big PA system. Instinctively, I froze in my tracks when I heard the lyrics as I began walking from the entrance door back to my discipleship group meeting room.
We are never more like our God when the call to mercy cries out for those in deep distress. By the time the song reached the chorus, I was transfixed…and began to once again weep for His broken and fractured world. We too, want to have those desperate folks lean on us.
Please don’t get hung up on the players in this song, for many are not believers or that in name only. Listen to the heart of the song, and ask the Lord Jesus what is your part here in His kingdom.
Lyrics are below.
Lyrics
This is for that little child with no father
For that man that doesn’t have a place to stay
For that little boy living with AIDS
[R. Kelly] Can I tell you a story, tell you a story
[Kirk] You can lean on me
There’s a man (oh yes)
Standing on the corner
He has no home
He has no food
And his blue skies are gone (yes it is)
Can’t you hear him cryin’ out
And there’s a girl
Searching for a father and a friend
Praying that the storm someday will end
But instead of walking away
Open up your heart and say
I am here
You don’t have to worry
I can see…
[Kirk] I can see your tears
[Choir]
….your tears
I’ll be there in a hurry when you call
[Kirk] Yes I will
[Choir] Friends are there to catch you when you fall
[Kirk] Here’s my shoulder
[Choir] Here’s my shoulder, you can lean on me
halleluia
[Mary J. Blige] Ooooohhhhh
[Kirk] Listen
Oh, there’s a child
Who is sick and begging to be free
But there is no cure for his disease
He looks up to his mother and
As she hold (holds), his hand (hand)
[Bono] Prayin’ that someday
The sun will shine again
[Kirk] And the pain?
[Choir] And the pain will end
[Kirk] Pain will end….Come on
I am here
[Mary J. Blige] I am here
[Choir] You don’t have to worry
[Mary J. Blige] You don’t have to worry
[Choir] I can see…
[Mary J. Blige] I see…
[Choir] ….your tears
[Mary J. Blige] ….your tears, yeah
[Choir] I’ll be there in a hurry when you call
[Mary J. Blige] I’ll be there in a hurry when you call
[Choir] Friends are there to catch you when you fall
[Mary J. Blige] I’m your friend and I’ll catch you when, when, when you fall
[Choir] Here’s my shoulder, you can lean on me
[Mary J. Blige] Here’s my shoulder, you can lean on me
Tell me, how can I, how can I love Jesus
When I’ve never seen His face
[Bono] Yeah, I see you dying
[Crystal Lewis] And I turn and walk away
So hold my hand
[Mary J. Blige] Oooooohhhhh
[Bono] Let me take you to a friend of mine
[R. Kelly] He’s waiting just to ease your troubled mind
[Kirk] Yeah, yeah, He loves you more than you’ll ever know
[Bono] ‘Stead of walking away
[Kirk] Open up
[Crystal Lewis] Open up your heart and say
[Kirk] Come on
I am here
[R. Kelly] I am here
[Choir]
You don’t have to worry
I can see your tears
I’ll be there in a hurry when you call
[Kirk] Alleluia
[Choir] Aaaaaaah
[Tamila Mann – Family] When you call, friends will be there to catch you when, catch you when you fall
[Choir] Here’s my shoulder, you can lean on me
[Dalon Collins – Family] Thank you Jesus, yeah
[R. Kelly] OhYeah, oh yeah
Here’s my shoulder, you can lean on me
Here’s my shoulder, you can lean on me
[Bono] You can lean on me
[R. Kelly] Lean on me, yeah, yeah
[Kirk] You’re my friend but you’re also my brother
[Bono] Here’s my shoulder, you can lean on me
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See the other music videos here.
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Please comment on this post right below. Feel free to write and proclaim your leadings in the Spirit in an honorable fashion.
Your friend and brother in fighting the good fight,
Marc
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Saints, we’re one day closer to Home, and Him! Love Him wholeheartedly!
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“Serve the LORD with gladness; come before Him with joyful singing,” Psalm 100:2
You may view our Archives here: MUSIC VIDEOS TO PRAISE THE LORD – “MUSE” ON GOD – ARCHIVES; Complete Archives. May our Father richly bless you with Your grace, through Jesus Christ our Lord, in order to walk worthy of Your name.
Please comment on this post right below. Feel free to write and proclaim your leadings in the Spirit in an honorable fashion.
Marc White, Director, Walk Worthy Ministries, www.WalkWorthy.org
