Lyrics Kirk Franklin – How Many Lashes
Text:
April 2nd, 2004, 7 pm
Sitting here, speechless, I’m still kind of in awe
My mind’s frozen, my soul’s closed in on what I just saw
On the big screen, where big things happened, I saw like a nightmare
«Mummy, why they did that?» I heard this little girl say
«Mummy, why did they hurt Jesus?»
Ah, she’ll find out someday that the lashes on the back, even though hard to see
Each one paints a perfect picture of your love for me
Lash number one
For all those times I’ve turned you away, chasing after worldly things like money and fame
Lash number two
For all the nights when I did wrong — see, I wasn’t strong enough to be alone
Lash number three
‘Cause you me loved me, see, it’s hard to explain
You suffered ’cause you knew someday our lives will exchange
How many lashes for my sins, Lord, did it take?
I suppose we will never know (since we were not there)
How many lashes did it take, Lord, for that night that I lied?
The night my Mum’s cried, ’cause that night she found out I got high
Number two was for that night, instead of chilling with you, there was this chick that I got with — it was a chick I barely knew
Number three
I could go all day, son, about all the stuff that I did, like that day I was talking mad-crazy about leaving my wife and my kids
I know it’s hard to hear, but please let me be real
Na, I can’t lie to me no more — it’s the way that I feel
Lash number one
For all those times I’ve turned you away, chasing after worldly things like money and fame
Lash number two
For all the nights when I did wrong — see, I wasn’t strong enough to be alone
Lash number three
You suffered ’cause you knew someday our lives would exchange
How many lashes for my sins, Lord, did it take?
I suppose we will never know (since we were not there)
How many lashes?
Just for me
He did it just…he did it just for me (just for me)
Just for me
He did it just…he did it just for me (this is real love here)
Just for me
He did it just…he did it just for me (did it just for me)
Just for me
He did it just…he did it just for me (can’t you feel it?)
And as this moment comes to an end
When you look down at the world, I wonder would you do it again?
Was it worth your pain?
Do we embarrass your name?
When you see us at the church, tell me are you ashamed?
You’ll get a shout out at the Grammys
No side B, we’ll give you a song (word up)
Then we’ll call you when we need you: when all of our options are gone
You hung because you loved us, and it hasn’t changed today
At the sight of you still hurting, I feel the same way
Lash number one
For all those times I’ve turned you away, chasing after worldly things like money and fame
Lash number two
For all the nights when I did wrong — see, I wasn’t strong enough to be alone
Lash number three
‘Cause you me loved me, see, it’s hard to explain
You suffered ’cause you knew someday our lives would exchange
How many lashes for my sins, Lord, did it take?
I suppose we will never know (that’s real) (since we were not there)
How many lashes?
Just for me (he did it just)
He did it just…he did it just for me (the nails in his hands)
…