The Clark Sisters, “Center Thy Will” | Music Lifts 🎶 🏋

In the 15^th edition of Lit Music That Lifts, we’re uplifted by iconic gospel collective, The Clark Sisters, performing, “Center Thy Will.”

Welcome to Lit Music That Lifts (LMTL), or Music Lifts 🎶 🏋 for short! Music Lifts seeks to highlight songs that encourage, inspire, and uplift the spirit; songs that exude fortitude, positivity, and resolve, even in the face of adversity.  Featured songs aren’t genre-specific; songs may or may not be faith-based. The goal is for these songs to make you feel better – be LIFTED to new heights!  So, for the 15^th edition of Music Lifts 🎶 🏋 (2022), we highlight 🎵 “Center Thy Will” as performed by 🎙 The Clark Sisters.

“Lord, I just want to be / Rooted and grounded in thee.” Amen 👏, 🎙 The Clark Sisters, amen! Please, continue, ladies: “Lord, place me, Lord place me / I want to be centered in thy will.” The iconic gospel collective has received renewed attention in 2022 thanks to 🎙 Beyoncé.  Queen Bey controversially sampled the Clark Sisters’ 🎵 “Center Thy Will” on her secular, sexual record, 🎵 “Church Girl” from her critically acclaimed (and controversial) seventh studio album, 💿 RENAISSANCE.  Here, we celebrate the uplifting nature of the Clark Sisters’ beloved gospel classic as opposed to the polarizing repurposing by Bey.

“Center Thy Will” was written by 🎼✍ Ebernita Clark, best known as 🎙 Twinkie Clark.  The sound is idiomatic of traditional black gospel, with the use of both piano and organ, as well as soulful, vocal harmonies.  The vocals are high-flying, chocked full of spirit.  Clearly, The Clark Sisters wholeheartedly believe in God, looking to him to guide their lives.  The messaging isn’t far removed from a previous Music Lifts 🎶 🏋 entry, 🎵 “Order My Steps”, as performed by 🎙 GMWA Women of Worship. “Lord, I just want to be / Highly favored in thee,” the Sisters sing in the second verse, adding, “Lord, make me / Lord, Lord Jesus, place me in the center of thy will.”  The big takeaway: to live and be more like Him, JESUS.

🎙 The Clark Sisters • 💿 You Brought The Sunshine • 🏷 Sound of Gospel • 📅 2002

The Clark Sisters, “Center Thy Will”: Music Lifts 🎶 🏋 No. 15 (2022) [📷: Arek Socha, Benjamin Balazs, Brent Faulkner, Clker-Free-Vector-Images, Curb, Ketut Subiyanto, The Musical Hype, Pexels, Pixabay, Sound of Gospel, Word Entertainment]