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John Legend Took Fans to Church with Soulful "Take My Hand Precious Lord" Cover
The Voice Coach conquered the gospel classic.
John Legend recently went back to his gospel roots in the most powerful way.
On July 8, the "Glory" singer shared a moving clip of him performing a classic Christian tune called "Take My Hand Precious Lord." In the video, he played the piano while wearing a sleek white suit. He sang his heart out, singing the soulful lyrics with gusto. He riffed with passion and totally immersing himself in the music.
"It all started in the church. 'Take My Hand Precious Lord,' ” Legend wrote in the caption, giving a nod to his origins as a musician.
Growing up, Legend got his start singing at his local church choir in Ohio, which his mother directed. "That was my first extensive exposure to music of any sort during that time, and it was what inspired me to want to sing, because I was around all this singing, and I wanted to be part of it,” he said during a conference for the 2021 PBS documentary The Black Church: This is Our Story, This is Our Song, according to Religion News.
What to know about "Take My Hand Precious Lord"
"Take My Hand Precious Lord" is a gospel song that was written by Christian composer Thomas A. Dorsey. The lyrics tell the story of making peace after losing a loved one, and the earliest known recording was created in 1937 by the group The Heavenly Gospel Singers. Since then, it has been covered by the likes of Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Nina Simone, Aretha Franklin, Al Green, Beyonce, and more.
According to The Dallas Morning News, "Take My Hand Precious Lord" was one of Martin Luther King Jr.'s favorite songs, and it was sung at his funeral.
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The lyrics to "Take My Hand Precious Lord"
When my way groweth drear
Precious Lord, linger near-ear
When my li-ight is almost gone
Hear my cry, hear my call
Hold my ha-and lest I fa-all
Take my hand, precious Lor-ord
Lead me on
Precious Lord, take my hand
Lead me on, let me sta-and
I am tired, I'm weak, I am worn
Through the storm, through the night
Lead me on to the li-ight
Take my ha-and, precious Lor-ord
Lead me home
When my work is all done
And my race here is are you-un
Let me see-ee by the light
Thou hast shown
That fair city so bright
Where the lantern is the li-ight
Take my ha-and, precious Lor-ord
Lead me on
Precious Lord, take my hand
Lead me on, let me sta-and
I am tired, I'm weak, I am worn
Through the storm, through the night
Lead me on to the li-ight
Take my ha-and, precious Lor-ord
Lead me home
