Donald Lawrence has been an inspiration to many.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.[2])
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,[1] 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.[5] When tri-city4.com was finally released in late summer 2000, the set peaked at #2 on Billboard's Top Gospel Charts and #13 on Billboard's Heatseekers Charts.[3] 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 waited almost two years before delivering the follow-up Go Get Your Life Back in early 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.[6]
In March 2006, The Tri-City Singers announced that they would retire, but not before one last live recording.[7] 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.[8] 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.[9]
Shut De' Do'
The Tri-City Singers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Me juraste amor eterno
Nuestras almas se fundieron
En una pasion sin freno
Nos amamos locamente
Nos olvidamos del miedo
Mientras los demás corrían
Sin embargo lentamente
Se han quedado en el olvido
Todos esos juramentos
Que el sistema ha reprimido
Los lamentos de los muertos
Hasta el eco van perdiendo
Todos nuestros sentimientos
Se han quedado resintiendo
Amor del 2 de Octubre
Amor que nació del fuego
Que se prende en nuestras almas
Con la represión y el miedo
Ámame el 2 de Octubre
Vivimos una autopia
De ilusiones y delirios
Y como nos dieron alas
Quisimos llegar al cielo
Sucumbimos abatidos
Por la furia del gobierno
Y volvimos a perder
Como siempre hemos perdido
Amor del 2 de Octubre
Amor que nació del fuego
Que se prende en nuestras almas
Con la represión y el miedo
Ámame el 2 de Octubre
Amor del 2 de Octubre
Amor que nació del fuego
Que se prende en nuestras almas
Con la represión y el miedo
Amor del 2 de Octubre
Amor que nació del fuego
Que se prende en nuestras almas
Con la represión y el miedo
Ámame el 2 de Octubre
El 2 de Octubre
Olvídate del miedo
Y ven a encender el fuego
Que se prende en nuestras almas
El 2 de Octubre
Ámame el 2 de Octubre
The lyrics of "El 2 de Octubre" by an unknown artist speak of a love that was born on the night of the Tlatelolco Massacre that occurred on October 2, 1968, in Mexico City. The song begins with the singer talking about how their souls united in a passion without restraint, as they forgot their fears and others ran to hide from the fire. Despite their strong love, the singer notes that slowly, all the promises made that night have been forgotten due to the repression of the system.
The next verse speaks of how they lived in an ideal world full of illusions and delusions, and with the wings given to them, they wanted to fly high. However, the government's fury left them defeated, and they lost like they always have. Nevertheless, the chorus persists with the message that their love for each other was born out of the chaos of that night, fuelled by repression and fear. The final verse repeats the message that the love that was born on the night of the Tlatelolco Massacre needs to be kept alive, free from fear, and strengthened by passion.
This song is a potent message of the aftermath of the Tlatelolco Massacre, which took place just ten days before the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City. The Mexican army and police fired on a crowd of student protesters and bystanders, leaving hundreds injured and an estimated 300-400 dead. The song, through its lyrics, is an interpretation of the event and how it has affected the people of Mexico.
Line by Line Meaning
La noche del 2 de Octubre
Referring to the night of October 2nd, a significant date in history, which sets the scene for the story being told in the song.
Me juraste amor eterno
You promised me eternal love.
Nuestras almas se fundieron
Our souls merged together in a deep connection.
En una pasion sin freno
In a passion without limits or restraints.
Nos amamos locamente
We loved each other passionately and intensely.
Nos olvidamos del miedo
We forgot about fear and let love take over.
Mientras los demás corrían
While others were running away.
Para ocultarse del fuego
To hide from the fire, implying that there was chaos and danger around them.
Sin embargo lentamente
However, over time and gradually.
Se han quedado en el olvido
Those promises and feelings have been forgotten over time.
Todos esos juramentos
All of those promises made to each other.
Que el sistema ha reprimido
That have been suppressed and oppressed by the system, hinting at a political or social commentary.
Los lamentos de los muertos
The cries of the dead.
Hasta el eco van perdiendo
Even the echo of those cries is fading away over time.
Todos nuestros sentimientos
All of our feelings and emotions.
Se han quedado resintiendo
Have been left to resent and suffer.
Amor del 2 de Octubre
Love that was born on the night of October 2nd.
Amor que nació del fuego
Love that was ignited by the fire, referring to a powerful event or movement that brought people together.
Que se prende en nuestras almas
That burns in our souls and remains with us.
Con la represión y el miedo
In the face of oppression and fear, we hold onto that love and connection.
Vivimos una autopia
We lived in a utopia, a perfect world or idealized society.
De ilusiones y delirios
Of illusions and delusions, suggesting that their previous perceptions were not realistic or sustainable.
Y como nos dieron alas
And as we were given wings, implying that they were empowered in some way.
Quisimos llegar al cielo
We wanted to reach the sky, aiming for the highest of heights and potential.
Sucumbimos abatidos
But we succumbed, defeated and deflated.
Por la furia del gobierno
Due to the anger and oppression of the government or those in power.
Y volvimos a perder
And we lost once again, suggesting a recurring theme of disappointment and defeat.
El 2 de Octubre
Referring once again to the significant date of October 2nd, and how it has impacted their story.
Olvídate del miedo
Forget about fear, implying that fear has been holding them back in some way.
Y ven a encender el fuego
And come ignite the fire, calling for a rekindling of their passion and idealism.
Que se prende en nuestras almas
That burns in our souls, reiterating the idea of a powerful and lasting connection.
Ámame el 2 de Octubre
Love me on October 2nd, requesting that they hold onto that special connection and commemorate that important date.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ALEJANDRO LORA SERNA, CARLOS JOAQUIN CARBAJAL REJON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
boujae
This brings me back to my youth praise days. I love this song..I forgot about it but God has a way to keep his word alive!
Crystal Parks
We use sing this on my college choir. I was singing it around the house and my son thought I made it up. So glad to hear it again. Think I might do this song with my youth choir. Love it!!!!!
check5000
I wish Donald Lawrence would have added this song into the medley on Tri-City's last album finale.
Christian Pool
OMG THIS WAS MY JAM BACK THEN!!
Daughter of Zion (Celine)
Finally!! After 16 loooong years of searching for this song and having noooo clue who sang it, here it is!! Thank you for posting!
guitargeekette
I've been HUNTING for this for so looooooooooooooooog! Thank you for uploading! ;______;
Paul Cleveland
i remember this! as a child i never heard anything like this in gospel other than Sounds of Blackness...lol
Roland Washington
I heard this song this morning and forgot all about it..we sung this for children day back in the mid 90's when reggae was getting popular
Jermaine Johnson
I love this song one of my favs along with The Mender.
Ty'Aunna Henderson
Oh my goodness!!!!! So many memories! Thank u So much for sharing