And every road that I’ve taken/
Led to my regret.
And I don’t know if I’m gonna make it/
Nothing to do but lift my head.

“I Look To You” is off Whitney Houston’s last studio release. It was not a hit, but it is one of her best songs. She puts aside some of the more pretentious vocal runs she had in her youth and delivers a somber performance about finding strength after losing it all.

This is a different Whitney Houston song. Her voice is equally strong, it is just more mature. The lyrics are hopeful, but the delivery is sad. Perhaps her premature death adds a bit to the emotion of this song.

“I Look to You” could be interpreted in several ways-if you were so inclined- but the “You” Whitney Houston is looking to is clearly God. That makes “I Look to You” a religious song hidden in a love song. However, it works equally well as a love song.  There are only three others on this list that are overtly religious. We’ll hear “Every Grain of Sand” by Bob Dylan. It just shows that rock and pop music can find inspiration in any and everything.

I Look To You Lyrics

As I lay me down
Heaven hear me now
I’m lost without a cause
After giving it my all

Winter storms have come
And darkened my sun
After all that I’ve been through
Who on earth can I turn to

I look to you
I look to you

After all my strength is gone
In you I can be strong

I look to you
I look to you
Yeah
And when melodies are gone
In you I hear a song
I look to you

After losing my breath
There’s no more fighting left
Sinking to rise no more
Searching for that open door

And every road that I’ve taken
Led to my regret
And I don’t know if I’m gonna make it
Nothing to do but lift my head

I look to you
I look to you
Yeah
And when all my strength is gone
In you I can be strong

I look to you
I look to you
Oh yeah
And when melodies are gone
In you I hear a song
I look to you

Coming down on me
All the rain is falling
Set me free
Take me far away from the battle
I need you
Shine on me

I look to you
I look to you
After all my strength has gone
In you I can be strong
I look to you
I look to you
And when melodies are gone
In you I hear a song
I look to you
Yeah
I look to you
I look to you

Songwriters: Robert S. Kelly