Donald Lawrence studied at Cincinnati Conservatory, where he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in music. While in Cincinnati, he was also the Minister of Music at the Southern Baptist Church on Reading Road. To his credit, Donald's musicality has seen many incarnations, as vocal coach to the R&B group En Vogue, musical director for Stephanie Mills, songwriter for The Clark Sisters, and producer for a host of artists including Peabo Bryson and Kirk Franklin. Donald Lawrence has been an inspiration to many.
Lawrence took on The Tri-City Singers after a friend vacated his position as musical director.(NOTE: The three cities that The Tri-City Singers come from are Spartanburg, SC, Gastonia, NC, and Charlotte, NC.) The group debuted in 1993 with A Songwriter's Point Of View on a then-brand-new independent record label called GospoCentric Records. The set debuted at #2 on the Billboard Top Gospel Charts. The group's follow-up release Bible Stories would top those same charts when it arrived in 1995. It was the first to be billed as Donald Lawrence & The Tri-City Singers and featured black church-ubiquitous hits such as "A Message For The Saints", "I Am God" and "Stranger". The album was released on Lawrence's newly minted label Crystal Rose Records which was distributed through Sparrow Records.
In 1997, Donald Lawrence produced the live portion of Karen Clark Sheard's Grammy-nominated Finally Karen debut. Lawrence & Tri-City also released the seasonal Hello Christmas the same year. Later, Lawrence signed a contract with the Island Records imprint Island Inspirational. Though a live recording did take place for release, the album never materialized.
In 2000, Donald Lawrence & The Tri-City Singers signed to EMI Gospel. To promote the new album, a maxi CD of the lead single "Testify" to the mainstream. House remixes by Junior Vasquez sent the song to #33 on Billboard's Mainstream Dance Charts. When tri-city4.com was finally released in 2001, the set peaked at #2 on Billboard's Top Gospel Charts and #13 on Billboard's Heatseekers Charts. The album also got a profile boost from the all-star standout "God's Favor", featuring vocal turns from Karen Clark Sheard, Kim Burrell, and Kelly Price.
Lawrence only waited a year before delivering the follow-up Go Get Your Life Back in 2002. "The Best is Yet to Come", a song sonically much in the vein of the previous smash "Testify," was chosen as the album's lead single. This release featured guest appearances from Ann Nesby (formerly of Sounds of Blackness) and gospel pioneer Bishop Walter Hawkins. The momentum continued with the 2003 release of Restoring The Years, a greatest hits album featuring two new songs.
The next album would mark a fresh start for Donald Lawrence. I Speak Life was his first solo album, the debut for his newly inked recording contract with Verity Records, and also the first release under his new sublabel Quiet Water Entertainment. Though the album was without The Tri-City Singers, guest appearances were plenteous. Donnie McClurkin, Hezekiah Walker, Faith Evans, Richard Smallwood, and Carl Thomas all contributed to the album. Even jazz notables Ramsey Lewis and Lalah Hathaway were on hand for a remake of the Bible Stories classic "Don't Forget To Remember". The effort earned Lawrence a total of 7 Stellar Award nominations, and 6 wins.
In March 2006, The Tri-City Singers announced that they would retire, but not before one last live recording. Finale: Act One and Finale: Act Two were released simultaneously on April 4, 2006. Each release was a CD/DVD set that chronicled the audio and video of one half of the concert, with packages that locked into one another respectively. A special edition of Finale was later released with both CDs and DVDs. The blowout concert included guest appearances from Bishop Walter Hawkins, Karen Clark Sheard, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Daryl Coley, LaShun Pace, Darwin Hobbs, and many other gospel luminaries. The album's lead single "The Blessing Of Abraham" was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Gospel Performance in December 2006. His sophomore solo album, The Law of Confession Part I was released in February 2009. Donald said in an interview that The Law of Confession, Part II will be released soon, but he's focusing on other projects.
When The Saints Go To Worship
Donald Lawrence/The Tri-City Singers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This day is a day that you have crafted of your love to me
You're of the giver of all hope love and peace
Let your love always surround me
I adore you
I adore you
Because of who you are
You're so wonderful
What can these fragile hands do for you
You're so awesome
You're the giver of all hope love and peace
(you give me peace, perfect peace)
Let your love always surround me
I adore you
I adore you
I love you
With all my heart
I love you I really do
When I'm on the mountain you are there
And even in the valley I won't fear
You're the giver of all hope love and peace
(you give me peace, perfect peace)
Let your love always surround me
I adore you
I adore you
It's because of who you are
You're the source of my life
(because of who you are)
Center of my joy
(because of who you are)
Giver of my peace
(because of who you are)
Everything and it's because of who you are
The lyrics of "When The Saints Go To Worship" by Donald Lawrence express adoration and gratitude towards God. The song acknowledges God as the giver of hope, love, and peace. The lyrics emphasize how the life of the singer is entirely devoted to God and how God's love should always surround them. The lyrics highlight the greatness of God, how wonderful and awesome he is, and how his love and presence can be felt through every aspect of life.
The lyrics convey a belief that wherever the singer goes, God will always be present, even in the darkest valleys, and the song encourages the listener to put their trust in God entirely. The lyrics repeat the line "It's because of who you are," emphasizing that everything in life is because of God's greatness and love. The song's overall message is one of gratitude and recognition of the power and presence of God in the singer's life.
Line by Line Meaning
This song is never ending chapter of my love for you
The song continually represents my love for you without an end
This day is a day that you have crafted of your love to me
This day is one that you have made with your love solely for me
You're of the giver of all hope love and peace
You provide me with hope, love, and peace
Let your love always surround me
May your love always envelop me
I adore you
I love and worship you
I adore you
I love and worship you
Because of who you are
Simply because you are who you are
My life I lay aside to please you
I sacrifice my life to bring you pleasure
You're so wonderful
You are incredibly amazing
What can these fragile hands do for you
My limited capability leaves me questioning what I can offer you
You're so awesome
You are awe-inspiring
You're the giver of all hope love and peace
You provide me with hope, love, and peace
(you give me peace, perfect peace)
Your peace is complete and total
Let your love always surround me
May your love always envelop me
I adore you
I love and worship you
I adore you
I love and worship you
I love you
I love you deeply
With all my heart
With every part of my being
I love you I really do
I genuinely and truly love you
When I'm on the mountain you are there
Even in moments of triumph, you are present with me
And even in the valley I won't fear
Even in moments of hardship, I will not be afraid
You're the giver of all hope love and peace
You provide me with hope, love, and peace
(you give me peace, perfect peace)
Your peace is complete and total
Let your love always surround me
May your love always envelop me
I adore you
I love and worship you
I adore you
I love and worship you
It's because of who you are
It is simply because you are who you are
You're the source of my life
You are the origin of my life
(because of who you are)
Simply because you exist
Center of my joy
You are the focal point of my joy
(because of who you are)
Simply because you exist
Giver of my peace
You provide me with peace
(because of who you are)
Simply because you exist
Everything and it's because of who you are
All that I have is because of who you are
Lyrics Β© Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP
Written by: DONALD LAWRENCE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@missliz1751
When the saints
Go to worship
That's when the king
Of kings
Shall come in
When the saints
Go up
In praise
That's when the spirit
Shall inhabit
This place
When the saints
Get on one accord
And begin to
Bless
The Lord
Then the king
Who is strong and mighty
Oh, the king
Who is mighty in battle
Yea, the king
Of glory shall come in
When the saints
Go to worship
That's when deliverance
Will take place
When the saints
Go up
In praise
All of Satan's powers
Are erased
Every trap
The enemy set
Can't work
Won't work
Then the king
Who is strong and mighty
Oh, the king
Who is mighty in battle
Yea, the king
Of glory shall come in
We welcome you in
We welcome you in
You're the king
And you're
Invited to
Come in
To this sanctuary
This tabernacle
You're the king
And you're
Invited to
Come in
We welcome you in
(You are welcome)
We welcome you in
(You are welcome)
You're the king
And you're
Invited to
Come in
To this sanctuary
(This sanctuary)
This tabernacle
(This tabernacle.)
You're the king
And you're
Invited to
Come in
@patriciaadams9629
Good Morning at 4:29 am
(e.s.t.) I love the
Lord . I sho'nuff do!ππΎ
This Song is getting through my night in my 5th
year Post Stroke .
One Stroke in Sept.2015 affected my right side.(12 weeks,returned back to work) In January 2016 the Enemy set a trap of a multiple of (3) three Strokes at one time back to back time.affecting my left side. Getting out of bed this morning,and getting out of Powerchair,this morning to exercise and walk with the Home Health Physical Therapist and later the Occupational Therapist. I've been doing Home Therapy on my own for the past five years,with the help of the Lord Jesus,Holy Spirit,Father God!
"Go and Show"
Go and show yourself to the Priest,Jesus said.And they were healed as they WENT.
I am healed,still being healed,and yet still being healed.ππΎπΆπΆ
πΆπΆIn the Santuary,In this Tabernacle, Your the King of Glory,and you're Invited to Come In.ππΆπΆπΆ
Hallelujah!
To Be All the Glory! SMH....LIFTING MY HEAD!
@adriennerogers5106
Opened my wedding with the song, with my sister singing to the Lord. I wanted Him to know He was my first guest of honor.
@deniesidney1723
That is such an honorable way to start your wedding and life as a couple.
@AngieeShipps
Wow, thatβs awesome!! π₯° I love that idea!
@claudettepeters808
How awesome and wonderful. God be praised.
@keshonnamorgan3382
That's a great way to do it ! I'm proud of you may God bless your marriage
@jazminewalker9697
Jazmine Walker
@wjiharris
This song got me through a stroke. I went to pray and the Spirit told me to praise my way through. I sang this over and over while laying on a gurney. Everyone who encountered me in the hospital heard this song. I'm nearly 2 years post-stroke and a witness that the King of Glory will deliver you!
@nikireeves8250
Amen!!!!!!!!!!
@nikireeves8250
Hallelujah!!!!!!
@carlamcmullen1
PRAISE GOD