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]
The Storm Is Over
The Tri-City Singers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Whatever you've been going
Through
God says the struggle is over for
You
You've been in this place long
Enough
And your mountainside has been
The struggle is over for you
Wherever you are
Whatever you've been going
Through
God says the struggle is over for
You
You've been in this place long
Enough
And your mountainside has been
Rough
The struggle is over for you
The struggle is over
The struggle is over for you
The struggle is over
The struggle is over for you
The struggle is over
The struggle is over for you
The struggle is over
The struggle is over for you
Your heartache is over
Your heartache is over
Your heartache is over
Your heartache is over
The trouble is over
The trouble is over
The trouble is over
The trouble is over
Your struggle is over
Your struggle is over
Your struggle is over
Your struggle is over
Your struggle is over for you
You've been in this place long
Enough
And your mountainside has been
Rough
The struggle is over for you
I've been in this place long enough
And my mountainside has been
Rough
The struggle is over for me
You've been in this place long
Enough
And your mountainside has been
Rough
The struggle is over for you
The Tri-City Singers song, The Storm is Over, is a powerful statement of encouragement and inspiration. The lyrics speak of a struggle that has been ongoing, a difficult journey that has brought one to a place of exhaustion and hardship. The lyrics provide an affirmation that the person has endured enough, and that they have emerged stronger on the other side. The song speaks to those who are struggling with heartache, troubles, and difficulties, assuring them that they can overcome these struggles.
The message is one of hope and reassurance, with the lyrics conveying a sense of peace and comfort. The repetition of the phrase "the struggle is over" provides a powerful touchstone that resonates with the listener. It is a reminder that, in the face of adversity, there is always hope and that people can and will come out stronger and better. The song encourages listeners not to give up hope, but to keep pushing forward knowing that the storm will eventually pass.
In summary, "The Storm is Over" is a song of hope and inspiration that speaks to the struggles that we all face in life. It affirms that, while life may be difficult at times, with faith and persistence, we can overcome even the greatest challenges.
Line by Line Meaning
Wherever you are
No matter where you are in life
Whatever you've been going through
Regardless of the trials and hardships you've faced
God says the struggle is over for you
The divine power has declared an end to your difficulties
You've been in this place long enough
You've endured this challenge for a considerable period
And your mountainside has been rough
You've been facing tough uphill battles
The struggle is over for you
Your difficulties are finally coming to an end
Your heartache is over
The pain in your heart is finally subsiding
The trouble is over
The problems that have been plaguing you have come to an end
Your struggle is over
You've overcome your struggles
You've been in this place long enough
You've worn down by the prolonged stress and strain of your circumstances
And your mountainside has been rough
You've been facing obstacles and challenges that have tested your resolve
The struggle is over for you
You've conquered your challenges and come through to the other side
Writer(s): Donald Lawrence
Contributed by Gabriella B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.