Lyrics
Chorus
Tell me, what more can I do
Tell me, what more can I do
Lord, I'm Your child
You can use me as You please
Tell me, what more can I do?
Verse 1
Lord, I'm Your servant
I'm at Your command
I want to be a good soldier, just for You
As I grow from day to day, I want to help
Somebody along the way, so please tell me
What more can I do?
Verse 2
When I get up in the morning
And see a brand new day
I say, Lord, will You please show me the way
Maybe there's something I can do
For someone who's going through, tell me
What more can I do?
Chorus (Repeat)
Verse 3
I may not be a rich man
I don't have much to share
And I may not be as gifted as some of you
But Lord, the little that I have
I give it all back to You
I want to know
What more can I do
Verse 4 (Repeat)
I've been working in the vineyard
For a mighty long time
I'm not worried
Someday I'll get my pay
Lord, I'm ready, willing, and able
And I ain't got tired yet, I wanna know
What more can I do?
Chorus (Repeat, extended)
What more can I do (Repeat)
Ad Lib
I wanna know
Tell me, Jesus, tell me, Father
What can I say to help somebody
What can I say to help ease somebody's burden
What can I do, Lord, to do Your service
You want me to sing, Lord
You want me to be a witness for You, Lord
Whatever You want me to do, I'm willing to do
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
"What More Can I Do" repeats a single question throughout, asking God directly what further service could be offered beyond what has already been given. Its opening verses frame that question as sincere rather than rhetorical, describing willing servanthood and a desire to help others encountered day by day.
A later verse turns to humility about personal limitation, admitting a lack of wealth or comparable talent while insisting that whatever is available has already been returned to God completely. That admission reframes the song's central question, showing that the offer of service does not depend on having much to offer in the first place.
The song's agricultural image, laboring long in the vineyard while remaining patient about eventual reward, ties present faithful service to a future they trust rather than immediate compensation. Rooted in African American gospel tradition, the song functions as an extended prayer of availability, closing with an ad-libbed list of specific ways that service might look, singing, witnessing, or simply being willing to do whatever is asked.
Related Scripture
- Matthew 20:1-16 Describes laborers working in a vineyard and trusting the owner for their reward, the imagery directly echoed in the song's verse about long service.
- Romans 12:1 Calls believers to offer themselves as a living sacrifice in service to God, echoed in the song's repeated offer of availability.