“This CD is about accepting and embracing each other’s differences, and many of the songs speak to those issues,” said Chanelle. “Our message is that God will bring you to a place of acceptance and love, and there is so much power and freedom in that,” concludes Chanelle. “Throughout our career we were always trying to please everyone, we wanted people to like us and accept what we were trying to do,” added Angel. “We have gone through so much and fought so hard to get to the place where we love who we are and know that God made us who we are. We are no longer trying to conform to someone else’s idea about who we should be. We believe that is reflected in the music on our new CD.”
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Trin-i-tee 5:7 is a contemporary gospel trio from New Orleans, Louisiana. The group was inspired by R&B girl groups such as Destiny's Child and TLC. They debuted in 1998 with a self-titled album. In 1997 the New Orleans-based gospel group comprised of high school students Angel Taylor, Chanelle Hayes, and Terri Brown, was brought to the attention of gospel label GospoCentric Records by their manager Kenneth Grant. Label owner Viki Mack Lataillade pictured them crossing over to urban market as her flagship artist Kirk Franklin had four years before. "A great deal of attention was put into their imaging because there's a fine line you have to walk with female talent with relation to church and secular audiences as well," Lataillade told Billboard magazine in 1998. "Nobody wants to think a female group is not clear about who they are and what they're singing about. They had to be attractive and trendy, but a class act as well." The label named the group Trin-i-tee 5:7 based on 1 John 5:7 biblical scripture that refers to the Trinity. The group's self titled debut project was produced in 1998 by R. Kelly and Kirk Franklin. With preorders of 100,000 copies and an aggressive urban marketing campaign, the project debuted at No. 3 on the gospel charts and eventually stepped up to the top slot. It also reached the R&B Top 20 charts and was eventually certified gold. The album created two gospel radio hits in "Mary Don't You Weep" and "God's Grace." The CD would go on to spend 7 weeks at #1 on Billboard's Top Gospel Album chart, over 30 weeks in the Top on Billboard's Contemporary Christian chart, and almost 50 weeks on Billboard's Top R&B Albums chart. Terri Brown left the group in mid-1999 and was replaced before their second album, Spiritual Love, by the group's make up artist Adrian Anderson. In 2000 the group issued their second project, Spiritual Love which featured the big hits "Put Your Hands" and "My Body", which charted in the UK charts also. "Our videos and our music are really different from most of what's out in the music industry today," says Angel. "We want to convey hope and positiveness and that's really who we are. The more popular we become, the more attention will be focused on our personal lives. I think the best thing we can do is show the world what Christianity is all about through the way we live our own lives." The album featured collaborations with gospel artists such as Kirk Franklin, Tramaine Hawkins, Crystal Lewis, and Natalie Wilson (founder of the S.O.P Chorale). Unlike their first two CDs, The Kiss did not feature any production from R. Kelly, as the group had by necessity disassociated themselves from him after several controversies and scandals attached themselves to his name. By the time the group's The Kiss CD was issued in 2002, they were having issues with GospoCentric. The urban radio track "Holla" didn't get the urban radio push they felt the song merited. All their past singles at least made it to the lower reaches of the R&B charts. During that period Kenneth Grant left his post as manager, and the group sought to be released from the deal, but the company refused. Pop star Brandy's mother and manager, Sonja Norwood, took over management and brought the group to a higher level of respect by booking them on major non-gospel television shows. However, she eventually turned the management over to Beyonce's father and manager, Mathew Knowles.
Highway
Trin-i-tee 5:7 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With limbs splintered and torn
Seasoned and weathered by the storms
Can you imagine me?
Or how ‘bout an old car
With the radiator cracked
A hot temper, always mad
Can you imagine that?
A life full of surprises can you imagine that?
Can you imagine that?
Picture this now, I’m a photo
A haunting memory at best
My frame is face down on your desk
I had not imagined this
If you and I were cities
And Council Bluffs was in between
A couple highways and the trees
How long could you go on lovin’ me?
What you see is not exactly what you get
A life full of surprises can you imagine that?
Can you imagine that?
And I feel like Old Highway 75
The tar-filled cracks from prior times
The potholed scars that I can’t hide
Can you imagine that kind of life?
What you see is not exactly what you get
A life full of surprises can you imagine that?
What you see is not exactly what you get
A life full of surprises can you imagine that?
Can you imagine that?
In Trin-i-tee 5:7's song Highway, the lyrics describe the singer's struggles and imperfections metaphorically through various objects. The first metaphor is a tree with splintered and torn limbs that have been seasoned and weathered by storms. This could represent the singer's life and experiences that have caused some damage and pain, but have also made them stronger and more resilient. The second metaphor is an old car with a cracked radiator and a hot temper, always mad. This could represent the singer's inner turmoil and anger, which is not readily apparent on the surface.
The chorus repeats the phrase "what you see is not exactly what you get" to emphasize that there is more to the singer than meets the eye. They have a life full of surprises that others may not expect. The bridge introduces another metaphor, where the singer is compared to an old photo, a memory that is haunting and still lingers. The final verse compares the singer to an old highway with tar-filled cracks, potholes, and scars that can't be hidden. This represents the singer's past struggles and mistakes that are still with them, but they are still moving forward despite them.
Overall, the song Highway reveals the complexities of human experience by using relatable metaphors, emphasizing that we are all a mix of strength and weakness, beauty and flaws, and that there is always more than meets the eye.
Line by Line Meaning
Can you imagine me a tree?
Can you envision me as a tree? One that has endured many storms, resulting in splintered and torn limbs, therefore seasoned and weathered by the weather.
With limbs splintered and torn
My tree limbs have been damaged by various storms, leaving them with splinters and tears.
Seasoned and weathered by the storms
The extreme weather conditions have given my tree trunk and branches many years of character and resilience.
Can you imagine me?
Can you picture me? Am I someone or something you can relate to?
Or how ‘bout an old car
Perhaps you can picture me as an old car, with a faulty radiator, temperamental and always angry.
With the radiator cracked
The radiator of my car has been damaged, causing it to malfunction and overheat.
A hot temper, always mad
I am often full of anger and lose my temper quite quickly.
What you see is not exactly what you get
I may appear one way, but there are many surprises and complexities to who I really am.
A life full of surprises can you imagine that?
My life is full of unexpected twists and turns, can you fathom that?
Picture this now, I’m a photo
Visualize me as a photo, a haunting memory at best, one that lies face down on your desk.
I had not imagined this
This is not something I ever expected or planned for.
If you and I were cities
Hypothetically speaking, if we were cities, how would we be connected? Would we be separated by highways and trees, like Council Bluffs?
And Council Bluffs was in between
Council Bluffs, a real city located in Iowa, represents the idea of being physically separated by highways and trees.
A couple highways and the trees
The highways and trees are the main elements that serve as barriers between us, just like Council Bluffs.
How long could you go on lovin’ me?
If we were separated, how much distance and time could we handle before our love for each other faded away?
And I feel like Old Highway 75
I can relate to the Old Highway 75, with its tar-filled cracks and potholes that cannot be hidden, representing my own personal scars and faults.
The tar-filled cracks from prior times
The Old Highway 75 has been around for many years, and the tar-filled cracks represent the damage and wear from previous eras.
The potholed scars that I can’t hide
Just like the potholes in the highway, some scars and emotional wounds cannot be concealed or erased.
Can you imagine that kind of life?
Can you envision living a life with flaws and scars, like that of the Old Highway 75?
Can you imagine that?
Can you fathom and accept all the complexities and surprises of my life?
What you see is not exactly what you get
Once again, appearances can be deceiving, and the true nature of a person can only be revealed through getting to know them.
A life full of surprises can you imagine that?
My life is unexpected and full of surprises, can you comprehend and accept it?
What you see is not exactly what you get
Once again, appearances can be deceiving, and the true nature of a person can only be revealed through getting to know them.
A life full of surprises can you imagine that?
My life is unexpected and full of surprises, can you comprehend and accept it?
Can you imagine that?
Once again, can you fathom and accept all the complexities and surprises of my life?
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Andrew Standley
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind