Kirk Franklin - "I Smile" (Gospel song with some commenters' testimonies)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post showcases a YouTube video of and lyrics for the 2011 Kirk Franklin Gospel song "I Smile".

Information about religious testimonies ("testifying")is included in this post along with selected comments from this YouTube video's discussion thread.

The content of this post is presented for religious, cultural, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyright remains with their owners.

Thanks to Kirk Franklin for his religious and musical legacies. Thanks to all those who are featured in this video and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.

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INFORMATION ABOUT THIS SONG
From https://genius.com/Kirk-franklin-i-smile-lyrics
"Kirk Franklin has experienced much success in urban contemporary gospel music. For his twelfth studio album, Hello Fear, Franklin released this song as the first single. Franklin shared this with SongFacts.com:

“I Smile” is a fun, urban upbeat melody I wrote. It is a declarative statement that I’m not going to live my life based on how I feel. I will live my life based on God’s Word."

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SHOWCASE VIDEO: Kirk Franklin - I Smile (Official Video)



Kirk Franklin, May 13, 2011
-snip-
These comments identify a few of the people in this video:
Untouchable Male Of Mystery, 2018
"2:42 You could tell Jill Scott was feeling the power and GOD's presence, through the song, when she shed that tear.🙏🏾 "

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Michael Tanner Jr., 2020
"54-56 seconds That is Tommy from Martin Lawrence Show. Lovato from The Steve Harvey Show and Jill Scott and Mary Mary Erica Campbell and Gospel Singer Donnie M."
-snip-
Statistics: as of February 2, 2020 at 10:00 AM
Total # of views - 76,463,375
Total # of likes- 526K
Total # of dislikes- 24K
Total # of comments -25,313

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LYRICS: I SMILE
(Kirk Franklin)

[Intro:]
I dedicate this song to recession
Depression and unemployment
This song's for you

[Verse 1:]
Today's a new day, but there is no sunshine
Nothing but clouds, and it's dark in my heart
And it feels like a cold night
Today's a new day, but where are my blue skies
Where is the love and the joy that you promised me?
Tell me it's alright
(I'll be honest with you)
I almost gave up, but a power that I can't explain
Fell from heaven like a shower
(When I think how much better I'm gonna be when this is over)

[Chorus:]
I smile, even though I'm hurt, see I smile
I know God is working so I smile
Even though I've been here for a while
I smile
Smile
It's so hard to look up when you've been down
Sure would hate to see you give up now
You look so much better when you smile, so smile

(Now every day ain't gon' be perfect
But it still don't mean today don't have purpose
Come on)

[Verse 2:]
Today's a new day, but there is no sunshine
Nothing but clouds, and it's dark in my heart
And it feels like a cold night
Today's a new day, tell me where are my blue skies
Where is the love and the joy that you promised me?
Tell me it's alright
(The truth is)
I almost gave up, but a power that I can't explain
Fell from heaven like a shower

[Chorus:]
I smile
Even though I'm hurt, see, I smile
I know God is working so I smile
Even though I've been here for a while
I smile
Smile
It's so hard to look up when you've been down
Sure would hate to see you give up now
You look so much better when you smile

[Bridge:]
Smile.. for me
Can you just smile... for me
Smile.. for me
Can you just smile... for me

Oh, oh, oh (you look so much better when you)
Oh, oh, oh (you look so much better when you)
Oh, oh, oh (you look so much better when you)
Oh, oh, oh (you look so much better when you)
Oh, oh, oh (you look so much better when you)
(And while you're waiting)
Oh, oh, oh (you look so much better when you)
(And while you're praying)
Oh, oh, oh (you look so much better when you)
(Look in the mirror)
Oh, oh, oh (you look so much better when you)
(Always remember)

You look so much better when you smile

I almost gave up, but a power that I can't explain
Fell from heaven like a shower

[Chorus:]
I smile
Even though I'm hurt, see, I smile
I know God is working so I smile
Even though I've been here for a while
I smile
Smile
It's so hard to look up when you've been down
Sure would hate to see you give up now
You look so much better when you smile

Oh, oh, oh (you look so much better when you)
Oh, oh, oh (you look so much better when you)
Oh, oh, oh (you look so much better when you)
Oh, oh, oh (you look so much better when you)
Oh, oh, oh (you look so much better when you)
Oh, oh, oh (you look so much better when you)
Oh, oh, oh (you look so much better when you)
Oh, oh, oh (you look so much better when you)
Smile...

I don’t want you you to just be happy
Because then you have to have something happening
I want you to have joy
Because can’t nobody take that from you
I see you.. SMILE!!

Source: https://genius.com/Kirk-franklin-i-smile-lyrics

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DEFINITION OF CHURCH TESTIMONY ("TESTIFY")
Here's information about church testimony from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Testimony
"In law and in religion, testimony is a solemn attestation as to the truth of a matter....

Christians in general, especially within the Evangelical tradition, use the term "to testify" or "to give one's testimony" to mean "to tell the story of how one became a Christian". Commonly it may refer to a specific event in a Christian's life in which God did something deemed particularly worth sharing."...


Most of the comments in this videos' discussion thread are personal "testimonies".
Here's a few examples of testifying (testimony) comments from the discussion thread of this embedded video (numbers added for referencing purposes only)

1. Vault of 1520, 2015
"I love you grandma beverly. Its been 4 years since you have passed and Ive never been able to listen to this song again. Ive always ran away from my truth and I asked God to show me my purpose tonight and it led me to this song. As you watched me cry and cry you told me to smile and I did. Not because I was faking it but because i felt your spirit doing it. I want to be free and you made me feel free so Im going to smile grandma and Im going to be happy and Im going to love and Im going to be joyful and IM GOING TO ACCEPT JESUS CHRIST INTO MY HEART. I LOVE YOU. THANK YOU. WATCH OVER ME PLEASE. AMEN"

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2. Armageddon, 2016
"i remember my mom putting this song on her speakers in the car when i was little i now know god was planning me to be a positive person ever since i was small"

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3. Kim Falls, 2017
"I'm going through all kinds of things at this moment but I still smile ailments trying to take me out getting out of ICU doctors just knew for sure I wouldn't make it I'm still here when I get down I just keep looking up even throuth the pain don't you I smile I look so good when I smile BLESSED all the way around what a great song God has not forgotten about us take charge and control and keep smiling thanks Kirk
🤗☺😊😀😁😄🙌🙆🙏💃🌝🌞🌚"

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4. Mr.Classic, 2017
"After a Week of feeling depressed I'm able to smlie and I owe it to God for Standing with me the whole time"

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5. Jasmine Hardnett, 2018
"I'm 13 and to be honest I've put myself through so much pain however whenever I did I just went to pop music and nothing went right one day I went to gospel and I heard the Lord say it's gonna be fine. I know that the Lord has my back and I know the devil will try to take over me, I'm still working on trying to shake the devil off but I know God will be there every step of the way. I have dissapointed my whole family to the point it's unacceptable I just need prayer and I get it every time I call his name and I will continue to call his name as long as I have the ability to talk, amen"

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6. Th3lite, 2018
"I have to give my testimony. I was fired from my job on January 9. Today is February 14 and Im getting dressed for my sixth interview and I already have three offers. I attribute it all to God because I believe it was my prayers that opened up the floodgates here in Atlanta Georgia where some people have been unemployed for two years. Praises to the Almighty God who controls and opens doors for those who love and trust him."

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7, Princess Niyah, 2018
"I'm still smiling me and my family have been through a lot but GOD MADE A WAY WE'RE SO THANKFUL FOR HIS GRACE AND MERCY BAD THINGS HAVE HAPPENED TO US BUT THANK U JESUS 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏 I LOVE JESUS IF YOU LOVE JESUS LIKE THIS MY GOD BLESS HAVE A AMAZING DAY 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏😇😇🙏"

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8. Lez TheBest, 2019
"I ALMOST GAVE UP BUT A POWER THAT I CANT EXPLAIN (THE HOLY GHOST POWER) FELL FROM HEAVEN LIKE A SHOWER 🥰🥰"

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9. Mrs. Wade, 2019
"Im 1 year sober off alcohol and drugs I'm so thankful for the help he gave me the holy ghost power still smiling"

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10. Dankified, 2019
"I'm only 15, High School is getting harder, but i'm gonna keep on pushing through, as i got God on my side!"

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11. Taylor Bradley, 2019
"Lord I've been through many storms: betrayal, heartbreak, depression, suicidal thoughts and actions, being born with a disability, low self esteem, etc but through it all God has blessed me with a reason to live he gave me many second chances every day Lamentations 3:23 Gods compassions are new every morning great is your faithfulness" I love Jesus he's been so good to me Being a college student, having a good job, earning tons of scholarships to school, being saved by the Grace of God etc I am beyond blessed"

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12. Kelly Brightness, 2019
"Yep devil you picked the wrong1 smiling in the fire smiling on the hillside NOW 2 God the glory"

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13. Tamica Reese, 2020
"I’m going through so much. God got it though. I smile even though it hurts see I smile. I know God is working so I smile."

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