"Is My Living in Vain" is an American gospel song written by Elbernita "Twinkie" Clark and performed by the Clark Sisters, which first appeared on their 1980 live album, Is My Living in Vain, and released as a single the same year. The Clark Sisters recorded the song and album live at Bailey Cathedral Church of God in Christ in Detroit, Michigan. The song proved to be the first big hit for the quintet, propelling them to national exposure.
The lyrics are a series of rhetorical questions asking if the singers' actions are in vain. Each sister sings a line of the song, vocally declaring that their dedication to Christ is not a useless effort.
The song has since been covered and sampled by a number of singers.
The singer Bilal names the song's LP among his 25 favorite albums, calling it one of the Clark Sisters' best and "an incredible gospel album".
On August 31, 2018, the Clark Sisters performed the song live at Aretha Franklin's funeral in Detroit.
Last Updated: May 9, 2020
