Kirk Franklin keeps on dropping melodies from heaven from his forthcoming new album, and we’re just fine with them raining down on us. The 19-time GRAMMY Award-winning producer, songwriter and artist is prepping for the October 6th release of Father’s Day, and he follows up the album’s lead single “All Things” with the feel-good gospel groove “Try Love.” The song and its accompanying visual are the spiritual serotonin we need to reinvigorate our desire to exemplify and share God’s love.
Franklin has penned another über relatable mid-tempo bop chronicling life’s ups and downs while waxing grateful for a Savior whose love is unwavering and everlasting. The song opens with Kirk’s testimony. He lets God know everybody’s searching for Him and that we need him now more than ever – or at least he does.
On the first verse, he confesses how he’s been feeling. “See I admit, I didn't know much / Much about love, the way it was supposed to be (Yeah) / I was born into a world so cold / How could I forget (Let's go) / The many dark days / The times I felt betrayed, by the ones that were supposed to love me / It’s the only kind of love I’ve known (Truth is),” he confides. Kirk continues to ponder the irony of Jesus’ love and sacrifice on the pre-chorus. “That’s the reason why a love that’s born to die is so hard to believe (You didn’t throw me away) / So maybe I’ll take a chance and try love (But promise me) / Don’t say goodbye love (Let’s go),” letting us know he’s all in, ride or die.
In the video, Kirk walks into a deli/café and the camera reveals a room full of multicultural, intergenerational believers united by the burden of life’s stresses, disappointments and conflicts. They don’t know it yet, but Kirk has the perfect cure. In the next frame, he approaches the barista and asks him to play “Try Love.” As the song fills the ears and hearts of the patrons, so does hope, joy, forgiveness and peace. The lyrics and Franklin’s ad-libs are a panacea for their pain and problems.
The mood shifts as they yield to the message and begin to encourage one another. The song’s bridge plays over an interpolation of Lisa Stansfield’s 1989 hit single “All Around The World,” with revamped lyrics. “I been around the world and I-I-I, know it's going crazy / I cried so many nights and I-I-I, need someone to save me,” the choir sings, as a Holy Ghost party commences with dancing and praising in response to the goodness of Jesus’ love.
The song and video conclude with Kirk’s powerful call to action – “Get out and touch somebody / Love somebody / Hold somebody / Don’t you know that you just may be / The only Jesus that they see” – displayed onscreen as he implores us once more to try love.
Are life’s stresses getting you down? Are you ready to knuck if you buck at the simplest slight? Maybe, it’s time for all of us to take Kirk’s advice and “Try Love.” Give the new single a listen and watch the inspiring visual now below.
If you want more love and Holy Ghost feels, catch Kirk Franklin’s The Reunion Tour featuring GRAMMY and Stellar Award-winning gospel powerhouses Tye Tribbett, The Clark Sisters, David and Tamala Mann and Israel Houghton kicking off on September 28th in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Visit The Reunion Tour website for the complete list of dates.
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