Jessy Dixon, etc., You Can’t Beat God Giving | Sunday Refresh 🙏

On the 9^th edition of Sunday Refresh, we’re uplifted by Jessy Dixon, Ladye Love Smith & Lillie Knauls performing, “You Can’t Beat God Giving.”

Welcome to Sunday Refresh 🙏, a column that seeks to highlight inspirational songs to uplift the spirit.  These tracks that appear on Sunday Refresh may or may not be faith-based or religious; the goal is for them to make you feel better – refreshed.  So, for the 9^th edition of Sunday Refresh, we highlight 🎵 “You Can’t Beat God Giving” as performed by the late, great 🎙 Jessy Dixon, 🎙 Ladye Love Smith, and 🎙 Lillie Knauls, an original member of the famed 🎙 Edwin Hawkins Singers.

Sometimes, there’s nothing like an old, southern gospel song/performance.  That’s what gospel legends 🎙 Bill Gaither and 🎙 Gloria Gaither and their ‘Homecoming Friends’ serve up on 🎵 “You Can’t Beat God Giving.”  “You Can’t Beat God Giving” is one many renowned classics penned by legendary gospel songwriting 🎼✍ Doris Akers (she’s also known for 🎵 “Lead Me, Guide Me” and 🎵 “There’s a Sweet, Sweet Spirit”).  The Gaithers have performed and recorded “You Can’t Beat God Giving” many times over the years.   Here, it is Dixon, Smith, and Knauls who serve as lead artists.

The Homecoming Friends carry the most famous part of the song, the refrain:

“You can’t beat God’s giving, no matter how you try
And just as sure as you are living
And the Lord is in heaven on high
The more you give, the more He give to you
But keep on giving because it’s really true
That you can’t beat God’s giving, no matter how you try.”

Meanwhile, early on, the soulful Jessy Dixon ad-libs, adding some oomph.  As for Ladye Love Smith, she sounds angelic on the verse (“He gives me health, he keeps me strong…”), contrasting Dixon with her reverent, smooth approach.  Then, Ms. Lillie Knauls enters, bringing more of that explosive, black gospel touch, with Dixon playing off her lead.  All the while, those Homecoming Friends impress with the chilling, harmonized backing vocals.  Refreshing? You bet!

🎙 Various Artists (Bill and Gloria Gaither & their Homecoming Friends) • 💿 Glorious Church • 🏷 Gaither Music Group • 📅 2021

Jessy Dixon, Ladye Love Smith, Lillie Knauls, “You Can’t Beat God Giving”: Sunday Refresh 🙏 No. 9 (2021) [📷: Brent Faulkner, Gaither Music Group, The Musical Hype, Zac Durant on Unsplash]