Lyrics
Verse
Where will I go without, Your hand holding me?
And how could I live without You I can't see?
Lord, what will I do with life, where will I go?
How would I handle things, all that I know?
Chorus 1
'Cause I fail, again
When I fall, I fall so short, so short
You know, You know my end Lord
From the start, You know my heart
I need You
I need You
Verse
(Say now, where will I, where will I go?)
Where will I go without, Your hand holding me?
(How would I live without You?)
How could I live without You I cannot see?
(What will I do with life? Where will I...)
What will I do with life, where will I go?
(How would I handle things, all that I know?!)
How would I handle things, all that I know?
Chorus 2
I fail (I fail), again
(I fall so short)
I fall, I fall so short
(You know my end)
You know (You know)
You know my end (You know my end Lord)
From the start (from the start)
You know my heart
(Everybody sing, sing!)
I need You
(Come on, sing!)
I need You
(Sing it again, I need You)
I need You
I need You
Bridge
When I call, You hear me
When I call Your name
You're right near me
Your hand is there, right there to hold me
I need You Lord
I need You
When I call, You hear me Lord
When I call Your name
I can see You're right near me
Your hand is there, to hold me
I need You
I need You Lord
I need You
When I call, You hear me Lord
When I call Your name
You're right near me
Your hand is there, to hold me
I need You
I need You Lord
I need You
Oh I need!
I need You Lord
I need You
I need!
I need You Lord
I need You
Chorus 3
I fail, again
I fall, I fall so short
You know, You know my end
From the start, You know my heart
(Everybody sing)
I need You
(Sing)
I need You
(Everybody sing now)
I need You
I need You
(Sing it, I need)
I need You
(I need You)
I need You
I need You
I need You
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
“I Need You” by Donnie McClurkin is a gospel song of dependence on God. The verse asks, “Where will I go without Your hand holding me?” and wonders how to live, handle things, or know where to go without Him. The questions lead to the plain answer in the refrain: “I need You.”
The chorus is honest about failure. The singer says he fails again and falls short, but adds that God knows his end and, from the start, knows his heart. That is close to Psalm 139:1-4, where the Lord knows the heart and all its ways, and to John 15:5 on needing Christ to do anything.
The bridge changes to assurance: “When I call, You hear me, when I call Your name, You’re right near me.” This echoes Psalm 145:18. The song builds with spoken calls to the audience and many repeats of “I need You.”
Related Scripture
- John 15:5 Apart from Christ, nothing can be done
- Psalm 139:1-4 God knows the heart and its ways
- Psalm 145:18 The Lord is near to all who call on Him