The album opens with the upbeat mantra βYRM (Your Righteous Mind)β that features Dorinda Clark Cole of the legendary Clark Sisters. Throughout the set, the songs speak to the heart of mankind and address lifeβs everyday challenges. Lawrence put his touch on popular songs such as gospel pioneer Walter Hawkinsβ βWhen the Battle Is Overβ and Chaka Khanβs βThrough the Fireβ and assumes the role of teacher on new compositions such as βSecond Wind;β βWe Agree,β which features gold-selling praise and worship artist Israel Houghton; βThe I Am Factor;β and βSpiritualβ β an open prayer to become a spiritually minded person.
Lawrence learned his spiritual principles from an aunt who raised him in Gastonia, NC β not far from Charlotte. A fan of the music of Walter Hawkins and Thomas Whitfield, Lawrence taught himself to play the piano by the age of fifteen and put himself through the prestigious Cincinnati Conservatory of Music as a musical theater major. He and his Professor, Worth Gardner, wrote the 1986 musical revue, βSing Hallelujah!β that played across the country - including an off Broadway stint at the Village Gate that earned praise from The New York Times. Lawrence eventually returned to North Carolina and joined the music staff of Jim & Tammy Bakerβs PTL Club television program. However, word soon spread about his talent and Lawrence was recruited as a vocal coach for En Vogue and, in the early nineties, became music director for R&B star Stephanie Mills.
Millsβ manager signed Lawrenceβs urban inspirational group, Company, to Giant Records and they released the Devotion CD in 1993. During that same period, Lawrence had been feeding his songs to the Tri-City Singers (comprised of singers from the Carolina cities of Charlotte, Gastonia and Spartanburg) through his pal Richard Odom, who was a member of Company and also of the choir. The choirβs members enjoyed the songs so much that Lawrence was eventually asked to shepherd the group. Their debut CD, A Songwriterβs Point of View was released on Gospcentric Records. Fueled by cameo performances from R&B crooner Peabo Bryson and Stephanie Mills, the album peaked at #2 on Billboardβs Top Gospel Albums chart.
With the success of the CD, the choirβs national career was launched and as its mastermind, Donald Lawrence was in the spotlight. Adorned in Afro-centric garb, the choir stood out among gospel choirs visually, and Lawrenceβs unique blend of Hip Hop and other dynamic rhythms made their gospel music equally inimitable. Over the next dozen years, Lawrence took the choir to new heights with signatures hits such as βWhen Sunday Comes;β βMessage To The Saints;β βNever Seen The Righteous,β and βThe Best Is Yet To Come.β Lawrence retired the group at the zenith of its popularity in 2006 with a sold-out cross-country concert tour and a smash hit Finale CD/DVD project that featured the two biggest hits of the choirβs existence - βEncourage Yourselfβ and βThe Blessing of Abraham.β
As Lawrenceβs stature as a producer increased, requests poured in for him to collaborate with artists as diverse as Mary J. Blige; jazz pianist Ramsey Lewis; Hezekiah Walker & the Love Fellowship Choir (cutting his #1 smash βSouled Outβ) and the legendary Clark Sisters on their Grammy Award winning comeback CD, Live: One Last Time. However, he also set time aside to carve out a career as a solo artist with backing by his group, Co. His 2004 solo CD debut I Speak Life featured the radio hits βYou Covered Meβ and the rousing anthem, βHealed.β
Since 2001, Lawrence has lived in Chicago, IL where he ventured to in pursuit of a masterβs degree at Columbia College. The fine arts institution ended up offering him a faculty position where he has intermittently instructed students on the business of music. He visited the Living Word Christian Center where he fell in love with Pastor Bill Winstonβs common sense teachings. That wisdom inspired Lawrenceβs second solo CD, The Law of Confession Part 1, which was released in 2009. βA law is simply a principle, based on the predictable consequence of an act,β Lawrence said at the time. βConfession in the Greek language is homo-logeo which means to say what has been said. There is a spiritual law for confession: you just say what God has already said...`Speak The Word.ββ Evangelists all over the country preached sermons based on the musical messages found in the CD. The initial radio single βBack II Edenβ shot to #1 on Billboardβs Hot Gospel Songs chart and paved the way for follow-up singles βLet The Word Do The Workβ and βThere Is A King In You.β
The music industry has taken note of Lawrenceβs majestic career and Verizon Wireless tapped him as its spokesman for its How Sweet The Sound (HSTS) national gospel choir talent competition in 2007. He has served as the face of the promotion in national television commercials, print advertising and as emcee of the actual events ever since. He also spent a year as musical mentor for BETβs βSunday Bestβ television talent competition. Itβs all a part of Lawrenceβs future goals of expanding his career into television, film and more musical theatre.
In the meantime, heβs ready to unveil the YRM (Your Righteous Mind) CD, which is a continuum of what heβs been preaching through music for years. βThis project really doesn't differ from my past ones,β he says. βI want to continue to teach, through song, spiritual principles and laws based on scriptures.β
There Is A King In You
Donald Lawrence & Company Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
An aristocratic dynasty
The goal of the enemy,
Is that you don't know who you are
There's power when you speak
Be mindful of words you release
I know that life has challenged you,
You were born to rule
There is a king in you
There is a king in you
Is there no King in you,
Then why do you speak, speak with such defeat
Is there no King in you,
Then why do you speak, speak with such low esteem
I know life has challenged you,
But the King in me speaks to the king in you
You were born to rule
There is a King in you
There is a King in you
The lyrics of Donald Lawrence's song "There Is a King in You" speak about our true identity and the power that it gives. The first line "You come from Royalty, an aristocratic dynasty" emphasizes the fact that we are children of God, who is the King of Kings. This means that we have royal blood running through our veins, and we were born to rule.
However, the enemy's goal is to make us believe that we are less than who we really are. This is why the lyrics say "The goal of the enemy, is that you don't know who you are". We need to be mindful of the words we speak because they have the power to create or destroy. When we speak with defeat or low esteem, we are not living up to our true identity as royalty. Instead, we should recognize that "there's power when you speak" and speak from the place of authority that comes from our identity as children of God.
The chorus repeats the phrase "there is a King in you" to emphasize the main message of the song. It encourages us to recognize and embrace our true identity as royalty and to live in the power and authority that comes with it. It is a reminder that we were born to rule and that we have the potential to impact the world around us for good.
Line by Line Meaning
You come from Royalty,
You have a divine lineage and come from a family of esteemed nobles.
An aristocratic dynasty
You belong to a powerful and privileged family who have achieved great things.
The goal of the enemy,
The objective of those who go against you is to make you forget your worth and identity.
Is that you don't know who you are
The enemy wants you to remain unaware of your true identity and the potential you possess.
There's power when you speak
Your words carry immense power and can influence your life and those around you.
Be mindful of words you release
You should be careful of what you say and the energy behind your words to positively impact your life.
I know that life has challenged you,
I understand that life hasn't been kind to you and you have faced difficulties.
But the King in me speaks to the King in you
The highest part of me speaks to the highest part of you, reminding you of your true potential.
You were born to rule
You were brought into this world to lead, accomplish great things, and make your mark in society.
There is a king in you
You possess the qualities and potential of a mighty king, and you should never forget that.
Is there no King in you,
If you don't recognize the king within yourself,
Then why do you speak, speak with such defeat
Why do you talk negatively and hold yourself back when you have the potential for greatness?
Then why do you speak, speak with such low esteem
Why do you speak with such self-doubt and a lack of confidence when you have so much to offer?
There is a King in you
Reminding you yet again of your innate potential for greatness and leadership.
Lyrics Β© CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: DONALD L. LAWRENCE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Nigo Ogwu
You come from royalty
An aristocraticΒ dynasty
The goal of the enemy
Is that you don't know who you are
There's power when you speak
Be mindful of words you release
I know that life has challenged you
But the King in me speaks to the King in you
You were born to rule there is a King in you
You come from royalty
An aristocratic dynasty
The goal of the enemy
Is that you don't know who you are
There's power when you speak
Be mindful of words you release
I know that life has challenged you
But the King in me speaks to the King in you
You were born to rule there is a King in you
Is there no King in you then why do you speak
Speak with such defeat?
Is there no King in you then why do you speak
Speak with such low esteem?
I know that life has challenged you
But the King in me speaks to the King in you
You were born to rule, there is a King in you
There is a King in you
There is a King in you
There is a King in you
John Staten
Mann....i dont think Donald will ever know how many people he impacted with this one.....
Pamela Barnes
You are sooooo right awesome God can use anyone to get his love β€ word promises to his people to walk by faith and not by sight greatness is n those who are called by his powerful great name π
Wanda Beasley
Yes I know this song speaks to my β€οΈππΆππ₯ππππ
Shim Goma
β€
Shim Goma
You are a blessing sir!β€
boYsie
This song has always been a reminder to me when I feel like I'm not enough that Greater is He that is within me!
Bernadette Shipman
Yes, it is praise God !!
Wanda Beasley
Yes there a
King I you β€οΈ πππππππ₯π₯π₯πππ
Christina Jean- Jacques
I needed this! Iβve been struggling with overthinking, insecurity, depression, anxiety, and negative thoughts. But, this song has helped me. βThere is a king in you! You were born to rule. You will make it!β That hit home!ππΏβ€οΈπ₯°π― Speak words of life, love, blessings, and greatness!ππΏβ€οΈπ₯°π―
Janice M. Walters
πThis song is timeless...I wish DJs would play this more often on the radio. People need to hear this everyday. People need to be reminded everyday that there is a King Living Inside Youβ£