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.
Lawrence took on The Tri-City Singers after a friend vacated his position as musical director.[1] (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.[3] The group's follow-up release Bible Stories would top those same charts when it arrived in 1995.[4] 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 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 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.
Sign Me Up
Donald Lawrence & The Tri-City Singers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I wanna be the someone
That the Man wills
I′m talking about the Lord
Jesus, I want His way back
Hmm, (yeah, yeah) Tri-City
Sign me up for the Christian jubilee
I've been changed, since the Lord has lifted me
I wanna be ready when Jesus comes
I wanna be ready when Jesus comes
Sign me up for the Christian jubilee
Write my name on the roll
I′ve been changed, since the Lord has lifted me
I wanna be ready when Jesus comes
I wanna be ready when Jesus comes
(Let's keep on with the story, huh!)
I wanna be in the number
The number that John saw
Coming up through great trials and great tribulations
I wanna be one of the ones who's been washed in the blood
The precious blood of the Lamb (blood of the Lamb)
I wanna be ready when Jesus comes
I wanna be ready when Jesus comes
I wanna be in the number
The number that John saw
Coming up through great trials and great tribulations
I wanna be one of the ones who′s been washed in the blood
The precious blood of the Lamb
I wanna be ready when Jesus comes
I wanna be ready when Jesus comes
I just wanna be signed up
Sign me up
Write my name above
Sign me up, sign me up
Sign me up
Write my name above
Sign me up, sign me up
Sign me up (I wanna be one of ones sitting around at your feet, Lord)
Write my name above
Sign me up, sign me up
Sign me up
Write my name above
Sign me up, sign me up
I wanna be ready when Jesus comes
I wanna be ready when Jesus comes
I wanna be ready when Jesus comes
I wanna be ready when Jesus comes
I wanna be ready when Jesus comes
I wanna be ready when Jesus comes
Oh·oh weee
La la la la la (la la la la)
La la la la la (la la)
La la la la la (la la la la la)
La la la la la (la la)
La la la la la (la la)
La la la la la (la la la la)
La la la la la
La la la la la (I wanna sing about la la)
The lyrics of "Sign Me Up" by Donald Lawrence & The Tri-City Singers express a deep yearning to be aligned with the will of God and to live a life that is pleasing to Him. The song begins with the desire to be someone that fulfills God's purpose, acknowledging Jesus as the ultimate guide and source of inspiration.
The reference to the Christian jubilee symbolizes the joyful celebration of salvation and redemption in the Christian faith. By asking to have their name written on the roll, the singer is expressing a longing to be counted among the faithful followers of Christ. The lyrics highlight that their life has been transformed and changed since experiencing the lifting power of the Lord's presence.
The next verse continues the theme of readiness for Jesus' return. The singer desires to be prepared and fully devoted when the time comes for Jesus to come again. This readiness encompasses spiritual, emotional, and mental readiness to meet the Savior. They aspire to be among those who have gone through trials and tribulations, having their sins washed away by the precious blood of the Lamb.
The repetition of the phrase "I wanna be in the number" suggests the desire to be counted among the chosen ones, the faithful who have overcome challenges and have been purified through their faith. The lyrics emphasize the significance of Jesus' sacrifice and the importance of being ready for His return.
As the song reaches its conclusion, the repetition of "sign me up" emphasizes the singer's plea to be included in God's plans and to have their name recorded in the book of life. It reflects their wholehearted commitment and eagerness to be part of God's kingdom. The use of "la la la" towards the end serves as a joyful expression of praise and adoration, emphasizing the elation that comes from being ready and aligned with God's will.
In summary, "Sign Me Up" is a passionate declaration of the singer's desire to be aligned with God's will, to be counted among the faithful, and to be fully prepared for Jesus' return. It speaks to the transformative power of God's presence and the longing to live a life that is pleasing to Him. The song ultimately highlights the joy and readiness that comes from surrendering to God's plans and being in a close relationship with Him.
Line by Line Meaning
Turn me up, yeah
Increase my volume, I want to be heard
I wanna be the someone
I want to be important or significant
That the Man wills
That God desires or ordains
I′m talking about the Lord
I'm referring to God
Jesus, I want His way back
I desire to follow the teachings of Jesus
Hmm, (yeah, yeah) Tri-City
Expressing agreement or acknowledgement, referring to the group Tri-City
Sign me up for the Christian jubilee
Enroll me in the joyful celebration of Christianity
Write my name on the roll (oh yeah)
Record my name as a participant (in the religious community)
I've been changed, since the Lord has lifted me
I have undergone transformation as a result of God's intervention
I wanna be ready when Jesus comes
I want to be prepared for the arrival of Jesus
Let's keep on with the story, huh!
Let's continue with the narrative, shall we?
I wanna be in the number
I desire to be among a specific group of people
The number that John saw
The group of people described in the biblical book of John
Coming up through great trials and great tribulations
Surviving and overcoming significant challenges
I wanna be one of the ones who's been washed in the blood
I want to be someone who has been spiritually cleansed
The precious blood of the Lamb (blood of the Lamb)
Referring to Jesus' sacrificial death and the forgiveness it provides
I just wanna be signed up
I simply want to be enrolled
Write my name above
Record my name in a prominent position
I wanna be one of ones sitting around at your feet, Lord
I desire to be close to God, seeking guidance and learning from Him
Oh·oh weee
An expression of excitement or enthusiasm
La la la la la (la la la la)
Singing a melodic phrase without specific words
Writer(s): Jerome Metcalfe, Kevin Yancy
Contributed by Jordyn J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.