Featuring: R. Kelly Bono Mary J. Blige Crystal Lewis

Songwriter: Kirk Franklin

Producer: Kirk Franklin

[Intro: Kirk Franklin]
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

[Verse 1: R. Kelly]
There's a man
Standing on the corner
He has no home
He has no food
And his blue skies are gone
Can't you hear him cryin' out

[Verse 2: Crystal Lewis]
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

[Hook: Choir]
I, am here
You don't have to worry
I can see, your tears
I'll be there in a hurry when you call
[Choir] Friends are there to catch you when you fall
[Choir] Here's my shoulder, you can lean on me

[Verse 3: Mary J. Blige]
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

[Verse 4: Choir/Bono/Kirk Franklin]
[Choir] As she holds, his hand
[Bono] Praying that someday
The sun will shine again
[Kirk] And the pain?
[Choir] And the pain, will end
[Kirk] Pain will end (come on)

[Chorus] (with Mary J. Blige ad-libs)

[Bridge:]
[R. Kelly] 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
[Crystal] So hold my hand
[Bono] Let me take you to a friend of mine
[Dalon Collins] 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

[Hook: R. Kelly, Kirk Franklin, Tamila Mann, Dalon Collins ad-libs]

Kirk Franklin

Kirk Dewayne Franklin (born January 26, 1970) is an American gospel musician, songwriter, choir director, and author. He is known for leading urban contemporary gospel choirs such as The Family, God’s Property and One Nation Crew (1NC), and has won multiple awards, including thirteen Grammy Awards. Variety dubbed Franklin as a “Reigning King of Urban Gospel”.[2]

A native of Fort Worth, Texas, Franklin was raised by his aunt, Gertrude, having been abandoned as a baby by his mother.[3] Gertrude collected and resold aluminum cans to raise money for Kirk to take piano lessons from the age of four. Kirk excelled in music, being able to read and write music, while also playing by ear.

He received his first contract offer at the age of seven, which his aunt turned down.[3] He joined the church choir and became music director of the Mt. Rose Baptist Church adult choir at the age of eleven.[4]

From the albums