Fred Hammond - Hands On Lyrics
Lyrics
Refrain: Fred Hammond
Hand 'em
Hands up high, hands on, hands on
Hands on, hands up
In your face, the reason
Hands?on,?yeah, hands on
Verse 1: Kanye West
Cut?out all the lights, He the?light
Got pulled over, see the brights
What you doin' on the street at night?
Wonder if they're gonna read your rights
Thirteenth Amendment, three strikes
Made a left when I should've made a right
Told God last time on life
Told the devil that I'm going on a strike
Told the devil when I see him, on sight
I've been working for you my whole life
Told the devil that I'm going on a strike
I've been working for you my whole life
Nothing worse than a hypocrite
Change, he ain't really different
He ain't even try to get permission
Ask for advice and they dissed him
Said I'm finna do a gospel album
What have you been hearin' from the Christians?
They'll be the first one to judge me
Make it feel like nobody love me
They'll be the first one to judge me
Feelin' like nobody love me
Told people God was my mission
What have you been hearin' from the Christians?
They'll be the first one to judge me
Make it feel like nobody love me
Make you feel alone in the dark and you'll never see the light
Man, you're never seein' home and you never see the domes
I can feel it when I write, point of livin' in the right
If they only see the wrongs, never listen to the songs
Just to listen is a fight, but you booked me for the fight
It's so hard to get along if they only see the slight
From the love of religion
What have you been hearin' from the Christians?
They'll be the first one to judge me
Make it seem like nobody love me
I'm not tryna lead you to Visas
But if I try to lead you to Jesus
We get called halfway believers
Only halfway read Ephesians
Only if they knew what I knew, uh
I was never new 'til I knew of
True and living God, Yeshua
The true and living God
(Somebody pray for me)
Refrain: Fred Hammond
Hand 'em
Hands up high, hands on, hands on
Hands on, hands up
In your face, the reason
Hands on, yeah, hands on
Verse 2: Fred Hammond & Kanye West
I deserve all the criticism you got
If that's all the love you have, that's all you got
To sing of change, you think I'm joking
To praise His name, you ask what I'm smoking
Yes, I understand your reluctancy, yeah
But I have a request, you see
Don't throw me up, lay your hands on me
Please, pray for me
Hold myself on death
Hold it down, all fallen down
Somebody pray for me
Refrain: Fred Hammond
Hand 'em
Hands up high, hands on, hands on
Hands on, hands up
In your face, the reason
Hands on, yeah, hands on
Video
Hands On
Meaning & Inspiration
"Hands On," released on October 25, 2019, is a powerful and unvarnished declaration from Fred Hammond featuring Kanye West, a track that dives headfirst into the complex relationship between faith, personal struggle, and the often-judgmental nature of the Christian community. The song’s central theme revolves around a plea for understanding and support, particularly from fellow believers, in the midst of personal transformation and the pursuit of a spiritual path. Kanye West's verse lays bare the raw realities of his journey, acknowledging past mistakes and the difficult transition he’s making towards a more faith-centered life. He speaks to the "light" found in God amidst darkness, referencing the struggle for righteousness and the feeling of being ostracized by the very community he seeks to join. The lyric, "What have you been hearin' from the Christians? / They'll be the first one to judge me," resonates with a deep-seated frustration many experience when their authenticity is questioned rather than met with grace. This sentiment echoes the caution Jesus gave in Matthew 7:1, "Do not judge, or you too will be judged," and the Apostle Paul’s plea in Romans 14:13 for us to "stop passing judgment on one another."
Fred Hammond’s refrain, “Hands up high, hands on, hands on,” acts as both a call to worship and an outstretched hand of solidarity. It’s an invitation to engage actively with faith, not passively, and perhaps a plea for spiritual intervention. The repeated phrase, "In your face, the reason," suggests that the truth and the need for this spiritual engagement are undeniable and direct. When Hammond joins West in the second verse, acknowledging, "I deserve all the criticism you got," it’s a profound admission of humility and a testament to the often-difficult process of spiritual growth. His request, "Don't throw me up, lay your hands on me. Please, pray for me," is a desperate cry for tangible support and intercession. This aligns with the biblical command in Galatians 6:2 to "Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ." The song doesn’t shy away from the personal cost of trying to live righteously, highlighting how attempts at spiritual leadership can be met with skepticism. The line, "If I try to lead you to Jesus / We get called halfway believers," speaks to the weariness of navigating a spiritual landscape where sincerity is often doubted. Ultimately, "Hands On" is a raw, honest testament to the challenges of faith, the importance of grace, and the vital need for communal support, especially when one is bravely stepping into the light of divine truth. It serves as a reminder that transformation is a journey, and the encouragement of others can be the very hands that lift us up.