Many times it is difficult to see the path ahead. All we can do is take things one day at a time. Show
Marijohn Wilkin The song “One Day at a Time” was written by Marijohn Wilkin when she was fifty-three years old. By this point she’d known considerable success as a songwriter of country music. However, she’d also suffered extreme heartache and loss. Her first husband was a pilot and killed during World War II. She later struggled with alcoholism and depression. Wilkin wrote that for all of her success she was miserable. She sought out a local minister who was unsure of how to best help her. After all, she was driving a Cadillac and wearing a full length mink coat and sparkling with jewelry. The minister eventually asked her, “Have you ever thought about thanking God for your problems?” She left and immediately returned to an empty house. Sitting down at the piano, she sang the entire chorus to “One Day at a time.” She recognized that the song was a prayer and would become a hit. She pulled out an envelope and began to write as fast as possible. What would become the second verse soon flowed forth. She’d not been attending church in a while and wondered if God remembered her. Wilkin realized she needed a start for the song. She called her friend, Kris Kristofferson. Working together the first verse was written in about 20 minutes. The song has been recorded by numerous artist and hit #1 on multiple charts. Marijohn Wilkin recorded several albums. The first, I Have Returned, held the track for One Day at a Time. This was her statement of faith to let the world know she’d returned to Christ. She has since written hundreds of gospel songs and won a Dove Award in 1975. I know this is a reminder I need on a regular basis. Do you take one day at a time?
"One Day at a Time" is a popular Country and Western-style Christian song written by Marijohn Wilkin and Kris Kristofferson. It has been recorded by over 200 artists and has reached No.1 in several territories. Scottish singer Lena Martell had a UK Singles Charts number one with her version in 1979. Marilyn Sellars version[edit]The song was first recorded by American Country singer Marilyn Sellars in 1974.[1] This version became a US top 40 hit and top 20 hit on the Country Charts. Following this, it won the 1975 Gospel Music Association (GMA) Dove Awards for best song.[2] Chart positions[edit]
Gloria version[edit]
"One Day at a Time" was recorded by Gloria who released it as a single in August 1977. The song originally peaked at No.5 in the Irish singles charts, before being re-released a year later. From here it peaked at No.1 (over a year after it had entered the chart) and remained on the charts throughout the whole of 1979 and into 1980, eventually spending a total of 90 weeks in the Irish top 30 - the longest run by any song in Irish Chart history.[3] Chart history[edit]
Cristy Lane version[edit]
"One Day at a Time" became best known among country fans when recorded by American country gospel singer Cristy Lane. Lane had started enjoying mainstream success in the late 1970s through the release of several secular hits, including "Let Me Down Easy" and "Simple Little Words." In 1979, Lane recorded the song after it became a No. 1 hit in the United Kingdom by Lena Martell. At first, United Artists Records balked at releasing the song, despite its previous track record of success, but Lane's husband-manager, Lee Stoller, predicted the song would be successful, and UA relented. The song was released in the late winter of 1980, and by the end of the spring, the song was No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart.[4] "One Day at a Time" was Lane's only No. 1 hit. For Kristofferson, the song was his sixth No. 1 as a songwriter and first in six years (his last being 1974's "Please Don't Tell Me How the Story Ends" by Ronnie Milsap). Chart positions[edit]
Year-end charts[edit]
Other versions[edit]The song went on to be recorded by many artists. Scottish singer Lena Martell recorded the song for the UK market in 1979. The song again became a big success and reached No. 1 in the UK Singles Chart in October 1979 for three weeks.[7] The song was also recorded by the following; Paulino Bernal & Ricardo Mejia, in the album Misioneros De Cristo, they were the first to record the song in Spanish "Un Dia A La Vez". Javier Galvan [Tejano Gospel Singer] also recorded the Spanish version "Un Dia a La Vez";[Los Tigres Del Norte], though Paulino and Ricardo recorded it first; The Alexander Brothers; Judy Collins; Phil Coulter; Floyd Cramer; Carlene Davis; Florida Boys; Roger Whittaker; Tennessee Ernie Ford; Foster and Allen; Bill Gaither; Lynda Randle; Ivan Parker; Don Gibson; Arthur Greenslade; Lee Greenwood; Roy Drusky; George Hamilton IV; Lulu Roman, Brotherhood of Man and the Quebec country singer André Breton recorded the French version "Un jour à la fois". Memorable version by 93-year-old Nita Talley also deserves honourable mention here.[8] See also[edit]
References[edit]
What is the story behind One Day at a Time?Written by Marijohn Wilkin and Kris Kristofferson, “One Day at a Time” was “literally a cry for help,” as Wilkin said. The song was written during one of the toughest times in Wilkin's life. Wilkin was unable to admit her own alcoholism.
What does the Bible say about taking one step at a time?I have discovered through the years that God leads us one step at a time. His promise is: "As you go, step by step I will open up the way before you" (Proverbs 4:12 - Literal translation).
What is the meaning of do not worry about tomorrow?In telling us not to worry about tomorrow, God is asking us to trust that He'll give us enough strength to face each day as it comes and that He'll do it all over again tomorrow!
Who wrote Sweet Jesus?But one song on the album is a brand-new track: "Sweet Jesus" was penned by Merle Haggard, and the country legend wrote it with the award-winning quartet in mind.
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