Some life-changing moments are only apparent in retrospect. Brett Eldredge … Read Full Bio ↴Some life-changing moments are only apparent in retrospect. Brett Eldredge recognized his as it was happening.

The Paris, IL, native was visiting Nashville for the first time early in his sophomore year at Chicago's Elmhurst College. He was at the Station Inn, an historic bluegrass/country venue where many of the greats of both worlds have played. His cousin Terry, a veteran of Dolly Parton's band and now a member of the Grascals, was playing with a band called the Sidemen, and a mesmerized Brett was in the crowd.

"There was something so real and truthful about the songs they were playing," he says. “What happened next came as a shock.”

"He asked me to come up on stage and told me to pick a song to play with the band," says Brett. I said, 'Amarillo By Morning,' and when I heard that fiddle intro, chills shot up my spine. I sang it for the crowd there and it was a magical experience. That was the point where I thought, 'This is it. This is something I've got to do.'"

By the start of the next school year, he had transferred to Middle Tennessee State University and begun the round of writers' nights and writing appointments that led him eventually to a record deal.
The talent that let him turn that dream into reality—the depth of his writing and the sheer power of his smoky and expressive baritone—are both apparent in his first single. "Raymond" is the poignant tale of a nursing home employee mistaken by a patient with Alzheimer's for her deceased son, who was killed at war. It is a song whose inspiring reaffirmation of their mutual humanity is affecting listeners deeply. The single rings true for Eldredge as his Grandmother currently struggles through the disease.
"There are a lot of things I'll play live where people will say, 'I like that,' or 'That's a really cool song,'" Brett says, "but when I do this one, I get the chance to tell people how special a thing it's been in my life, and it always touches someone. A lot of people know someone with Alzheimer's and people react in a really emotional way to it."
Brett has earned a reputation as much for the strength of his writing as for his world-class voice. He and co-writer Pat McLaughlin landed a song called "I Think I've Had Enough" on Gary Allan's latest album, Get Off On The Pain, and one of his frequent collaborators is Country Music Hall of Famer and Grand Ole Opry stalwart Bill Anderson.
"He's one of my favorite people to write with," says Brett. "I love the fact that he believes in country music so much, because it's something I really believe in. My dream, as I find my place in country music, is one day to be an Opry member."
Brett heard all kinds of music growing up, and became a particular fan of the classic pop singers he heard in his grandfather's car.
"I heard a lot of Frank Sinatra, who is still a favorite of mine, and Ray Charles and Bobby Darin," he says. "When my mother convinced me to sing 'Mack The Knife' at a talent show, I got hooked on singing in public."
That was in Paris, a town of 9,000 with "cornfields and factories and lake right in the middle." Brett, his older brother and his parents—a traveling grain salesman and a nurse—lived on the lake and, says Brett, "We were on the water every day, from the time I was so little they could pull me on water skis in a paddle boat until I left for college at 18." Sports were a big part of his life, and he played basketball, baseball and football in high school.
He also sang everywhere he could, often the Big Band music of Sinatra, earning spending money and learning to work a stage. His appreciation for country music became a passion when he turned 16 and he and a friend rode around listening to a Brooks & Dunn greatest hits album.
"There was something about it that just struck me," he says. "I couldn't get enough of it. Ronnie Dunn is one of my favorite singers of all time—I love the soul in his voice—and one of the main reasons I got into this in the first place."
Brett spent two years in Chicago, where his older brother lived, performing with a school jazz band and with a Big Band around the region.
"One of the coolest gigs," he says, "was at the Field Museum, I was singing in front of a 12-piece band under this huge Tyrannosaurus Rex statue near some mammoths. It was quite the experience."
Then came that fateful visit to Nashville and his transfer to MTSU. He studied classic country stylists like Ray Price and George Jones, and later Vince Gill, absorbing everything he could.
"I was driving back and forth Nashville every day from Murfreesboro, which is thirty miles away," he says. "I had a guitar Terry had given me, which was originally a gift from Dolly, and I'd pretty much lock myself in my room and make myself learn songs. I would play writers' nights all around Nashville. There might be two people, there might be 40 or 50. I'd go play my songs and see what people liked and what they didn't. I'd screw up royally in front of them, but I learned."
He earned a degree, which, he says, "made Mom and Dad happy, and then I moved on to what I really wanted to do.
A staff writer for hit producer/publisher Byron Gallimore heard him at a writers' night and introduced him to Byron, who signed him.
"I wrote for about two years, developing my craft and writing with everyone I could. In the beginning, Byron just let me kind of find myself, because that takes a while. As you write more you starting homing in on what you sound good on. Eventually, Byron said, 'You've got something here' and we went in and started cutting songs. We did a showcase, and Carole Ann Mobley from Warner Music Nashville said, 'We've gotta sign this kid'. Mobley and Craig Kallman then signed Brett to Atlantic Records, making him the first official signing for the new imprint.
As he worked with his band tightening his show, he was offered a particularly gratifying gig.
"I opened for Blake Shelton at The Ryman and it was the coolest experience. I flew back from this house gig and all of a sudden I'm thrown into playing the Mother Church of Country Music, something I always dreamed of doing. I was operating on almost no sleep, but stepping out on that stage where everybody who's anybody in country music has been meant the world to me."
He remains active in sports, playing basketball and volleyball and playing on an intramural softball team in Nashville, and rooting for the Cubs and Bears. Meanwhile, he is dedicated to improving his craft.
"As a songwriter," he says, "my aim is to portray a little bit of me and my life along with the stories of other people and turn them into something that can really touch somebody's heart and soul. We sit down on Music Row every day and write songs and every once in a while a song like ‘Raymond’ comes from such a real place. I hope it's that real to other people and that I can make them feel the way I felt when I wrote it and when I sing it."
Judging from audience reaction, that’s exactly what he’s doing.

Crystal Clear
Brett Eldredge Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Here I am
One flip flop and a farmer's tan
Floatin' 'round the bay on the net of a catamaran
Wouldn't mind if I got lost at sea
You can leave your watch
Don't you know we're on island time?
Everybody's in the business of felling fine
Come on, get to feelin' alright with me

So come on and sail away
Why don't we take a break?
You can turn it all around
With a little sun on your face
Party all day and night
Future's lookin' golden bright
Trust me from way out here
The coast is crystal clear

It ain't about hate
Ain't about judging a book by its color
'Round here we're all sisters and brothers
Go and pass the love on down for me
And put your hand in mine
We can leave this crazy world behind
Dancin' with the moon 'til the morning light
Oh, don't it make you wanna sing?

So come on and sail away
Why don't we take a break?
You can turn it all around
With a little sun on your face
Party all day and night
Future's lookin' golden bright
Trust me from way out here
The coast is crystal clear
Woo!

So come on and sail away
Why don't we take a break?
You can turn it all around
With a little sun on your face
Party all day and night
Future's lookin' golden bright
Trust me from way out here
It's crystal clear
Come on and sail away
Why don't we take a break?
We can turn it all around
With a little sun on your face
Party all day and night
Future's lookin' golden bright
Trust me from way out here
The coast is crystal clear

You see it's not about where you are
It's about where you go in your mind
So if we just pull together, if we just love each other
Then life is beautiful
Come on and take a trip with me
We're leavin' right now
I'll have one waitin' for ya
Let's go
Woah, sail away
Turn it all around
Party all day, party all night

Golden bright
The coast is crystal clear

Overall Meaning

The song “Crystal Clear” by Brett Eldredge presents an idyllic picture of life on an island, where people are carefree and live in the moment, away from the hustle and bustle of the world. The singer is messing around on a catamaran, not bothered about getting lost at sea. He describes this world as a place where everyone is happy, and there is no judging. He encourages the listener to join him on this island, where the future is golden bright and to soak up the sun and good vibes. The singer believes that the real meaning of life is not where you are but where you can go in your mind, and that one can make life beautiful by joining hands and passing on love.

The lyrics are poetic, and the metaphors used in the song are some of Eldredge's best work. Using crystal clear as a descriptive clause to explain the beauty of life on the island is a fantastic idea. It could mean that everything is transparent and everyone is genuine about their emotions. The line “it ain’t about hate, ain’t about judge in’ a book by its cover" stands out as well, advocating for inclusion, acceptance, and love.

Line by Line Meaning

Here I am
I am happy and relaxed

One flip flop and a farmer's tan
I have a casual and summery appearance

Floatin' 'round the bay on the net of a catamaran
I am enjoying a leisurely sail on the water

Wouldn't mind if I got lost at sea
I am content and carefree in my current state

You can leave your watch
Time doesn't matter in this environment

Don't you know we're on island time?
We are taking life at a slower pace and aren't in a rush

Everybody's in the business of feelin' fine
We're all focusing on enjoying life and feeling good

Come on, get to feelin' alright with me
Join me in this happy state of mind

So come on and sail away
Let's escape and have an adventure

Why don't we take a break?
Let's take a break from the stresses of everyday life

You can turn it all around
Taking a break can change your outlook

With a little sun on your face
The sun can make you feel good

Party all day and night
Let's have fun and enjoy life to the fullest

Future's lookin' golden bright
The future is looking good and full of opportunities

Trust me from way out here
Being away from everything has given me a new sense of clarity

The coast is crystal clear
Everything is clear and easy to understand, like crystal

It ain't about hate
The vibe here is all about love and positivity

Ain't about judging a book by its color
We don't judge people based on outward appearance

'Round here we're all sisters and brothers
We treat each other like family

Go and pass the love on down for me
Spread love and kindness to others

And put your hand in mine
Let's support each other and work together

We can leave this crazy world behind
We can escape from the stress of the real world

Dancin' with the moon 'til the morning light
We can enjoy ourselves until the wee hours of the morning

Oh, don't it make you wanna sing?
This experience makes you want to sing and celebrate life

You see it's not about where you are
Your physical location doesn't matter as much as your state of mind

It's about where you go in your mind
Your thoughts and imagination can take you anywhere

So if we just pull together, if we just love each other
We can make life better by working together and showing love

Then life is beautiful
When we are kind and supportive, life is truly beautiful

Come on and take a trip with me
Join me on this adventure

We're leavin' right now
Let's escape the real world

I'll have one waitin' for ya
I'm ready and excited to have fun with you

Woah, sail away
Let's go on this adventure

Turn it all around
We can change our perspectives

Party all day, party all night
Let's have fun and enjoy life to the fullest

Golden bright
The future is bright and full of good things

The coast is crystal clear
Everything is clear and easy to understand, like crystal

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BRETT ELDREDGE, HEATHER LYNN MORGAN, JORDAN REYNOLDS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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