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.
When Sunday Comes
Donald Lawrence & The Tri-City Singers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sunday comes
My trouble gone
As soon as it gets here
I'll have a new song
When
Sunday comes
I won't have to cry no more
Jesus will soothe
My troubled mind
And all of our heartaches
Every burden
All of our misery
All of our crying
Every trial, every tribulation
Will be left behind
When
Sunday
When Sunday
Oh, when
When Sun, Sunday
When Sun, Sunday
Comes
(Got to see, holy spirit)
I'm gonna behold his face (his face, his grace)
And be searchin' for the saving grace (oh yes, I've got to see)
I've got to see, I'm going to see Jesus for me, yes I am (Jesus for me)
Yes (yes, Sun) Sunday (day)
Oh, when it comes
I'm looking to light, ah, yeah
When Sunday
Yeah-yeah (on Sun)
You see, on Friday, they took him
And they stretched him high and they stretched him wide (on Sun)
And all day Saturday, there was no activity
They thought Jesus really had died (on Sun)
Oh, but early Sunday morning, hey
There came a shakin', there came a rockin' and there came a rollin' (on Sun)
Ha, there was somebody, that was guarding
The beginning of the God, they was standing there, yes standing
They wouldn't let anybody come to the grave
But I heard something going on on the inside (on Sun)
You see, I heard that the Lord went to hell and preached a revival
And then he said anybody that wants to come with me
I'm going outta here, we're all gone, into our heaven
When Sunday comes I'm, (shout my troubles) shout my troubles (on Sunday) away
I'm not gon' cry no more
When Sunday comes I will see his grace, amazing
I, when Sunday comes, I'll tell
I'm gonna sing his praise, I'm gonna praise him
I'll be delivered, I'll be healed
I'll have dawn, I'll have peace, Sunday
Oh, I'm gon' help you, oh Lord, I'll have victory
I'll have peace, Sunday (thank you, Jesus)
Oh, the people, oh, everything will be, oh, I can hardly wait, till Sunday
(Till Sunday) when Sunday
When Sunday
Oh, when Sunday
When it
Donald Lawrence & The Tri-City Singers' song "When Sunday Comes" is a powerful gospel song about the hope and relief that comes with the holy day of Sunday. The song starts with the chorus "When Sunday comes, my trouble gone, as soon as it gets here, I'll have a new song". This is a statement about the challenges and hardship that one may face throughout the week, and the sense of relief that comes with knowing that Sunday is coming. The song evokes a spiritual and emotional connection with the listener, highlighting the significance of the comfort and the joy of Sunday.
The first verse of the song highlights the role that Jesus plays in soothing troubled minds and relieving heartaches, burdens, and misery, and how every trial and tribulation will be left behind when Sunday comes. The second verse emphasizes the spiritual journey towards salvation and the search for the saving grace of Jesus. It describes the feelings of anticipation and yearning to see Jesus face-to-face and the desire to be delivered, healed, and at peace.
The song ends with a powerful moment that recounts the resurrection of Jesus and the promise of salvation for all. The lyrics speak to the hope and anticipation of being able to shout our troubles away, to see Jesus' grace, and to praise him in the face of victory. The upbeat and joyous melody of "When Sunday Comes" emphasizes the sense of hope and relief that comes with the celebration of the holy day.
Line by Line Meaning
When
On a particular day, namely Sunday
Sunday comes
The arrival of Sunday
My trouble gone
All my troubles will be gone
As soon as it gets here
Immediately upon its arrival
I'll have a new song
I'll be filled with an overwhelming sense of joy that I will express through a new song
When
Again referencing the specific day, Sunday
I won't have to cry no more
My anguish and sorrow will come to an end
Jesus will soothe
Jesus will provide comfort and alleviate my distress
My troubled mind
The source of my mental afflictions
And all of our heartaches
The root of all our emotional suffering
Every burden
All the weighty difficulties that we carry
All of our misery
All the pain and discomfort of our existence
All of our crying
Every tear that we have shed
Every trial, every tribulation
All the challenges and obstacles we have faced in our lives
Will be left behind
All these things will be eradicated and forgotten
When
Again referring to Sunday
Sun, Sunday
Using a shortened version of 'Sunday' for emphasis
Comes
Arrives
Got to see, holy spirit
Expressing a deep desire to experience the presence of the Holy Spirit
I'm gonna behold his face (his face, his grace)
I will have the opportunity to see the face and experience the grace of Jesus Christ
And be searchin' for the saving grace (oh yes, I've got to see)
Desperately looking for the redemption that Jesus offers and the chance to personally experience it
I've got to see, I'm going to see Jesus for me, yes I am (Jesus for me)
Reaffirming the desire to personally encounter Jesus Christ and his healing and redeeming power
Yes (yes, Sun) Sunday (day)
Excitedly affirming the arrival of Sunday
Oh, when it comes
Expressing anticipation for the arrival of Sunday
I'm looking to light, ah, yeah
Seeking the illumination and guidance of the divine light that comes with the arrival of Sunday
You see, on Friday, they took him
Referencing the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on Friday
And they stretched him high and they stretched him wide (on Sun)
Describing the brutal and painful method of crucifixion to emphasize the intense suffering that Jesus endured on Friday
And all day Saturday, there was no activity
Reflecting on the stillness and silence of the day following the crucifixion
They thought Jesus really had died (on Sun)
Musing about the disbelief and despair that must have engulfed Jesus' followers that day
Oh, but early Sunday morning, hey
Relaying a sense of astonishment at the unexpected events of early Sunday morning
There came a shakin', there came a rockin' and there came a rollin' (on Sun)
Depicting the miraculous and transformative events that transpired on Sunday morning
Ha, there was somebody, that was guarding
Alluding to the guards posted at Jesus' tomb
The beginning of the God, they was standing there, yes standing
Describing the guards' position as being in the way of God's plan
They wouldn't let anybody come to the grave
Noting the obstruction of the guards and the limits they imposed on accessing the tomb
But I heard something going on on the inside (on Sun)
Recalling the rumors and whispers circulating about the events on Sunday morning
I heard that the Lord went to hell and preached a revival
Mentioning the belief that Jesus traveled to the underworld to preach and enlighten lost souls
And then he said anybody that wants to come with me
Drawing attention to the hopeful message of salvation that Jesus shared with souls in the underworld
I'm going outta here, we're all gone, into our heaven
Emphasizing the idea of a collective and transformative journey into the afterlife
When Sunday comes I'm, (shout my troubles) shout my troubles (on Sunday) away
Exclaiming with joy that all troubles will be dispelled and forgotten once Sunday arrives
I'm not gon' cry no more
Expressing optimism and hope for the future
When Sunday comes I will see his grace, amazing
Declaring the transformative power of the arrival of Sunday and the opportunity to experience Jesus' grace in all its wonder
I, when Sunday comes, I'll tell
Proclaiming the good news and sharing the joy of Jesus' transformation in one's life
I'm gonna sing his praise, I'm gonna praise him
Expressing a deep reverence and commitment to God and all that he represents
I'll be delivered, I'll be healed
Promising redemption and restoration of a broken spirit once Sunday arrives
I'll have dawn, I'll have peace, Sunday
Anticipating a new beginning, a fresh start and the tranquility that Sunday represents
Oh, I'm gon' help you, oh Lord, I'll have victory
Renewing the call to service and the commitment to walking with the Lord on one's journey
I'll have peace, Sunday (thank you, Jesus)
Reiterating the desire for peace and the gratitude expressed for the blessings that will come with Sunday's arrival
Oh, the people, oh, everything will be, oh, I can hardly wait, till Sunday
Anticipating with great excitement the transformation and reprieve that Sunday brings
(Till Sunday) when Sunday
Finishing the song by repeating the joyful promise of what awaits on Sunday
Lyrics © Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: Donald Lawrence
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@denisebankschesnutt6160
Who's still listening to this in 2024? Me!! Rip Daddy
@l_l_floyd
Right there with ya!!!!
@DIAMONDPRETTYPRINCES
Me vs
@LolitaWhite-k4j
We will be listening to your dad 100 years from now !
@jasminecross6512
Meeee oohhhhhh sunnnn
@Kooch89
@tina1924-wt2cvI just replayed this song several times today and a few days ago.
@decreciajohnson60
2024 still listening to this Song❤
@jackieb1126
October 17th 2024
@CarranzoBullock
I remember listening to this when I was a kid getting ready for church on Sunday mornings I'm 36 now in I'm still listening to it in 2024
@dominique.8522
Same here ❤