Crystal Bowersox is an Ohio Native, but has been playing around the Chicago area since 2004. At the age of ten, her Mom would take her to bars, so she could hear the musicians play. Not long after she began performing around her hometown under the wings of her "gray haired rock stars.".
At 17, Crystal packed up and moved to the big city. She went from singing on subway platforms, to travel across the world in a few short years. In 2006, the city of Chicago department of cultural affairs chose Crystal to represent Chicago's folk music scene in a week long festival called, "Experience Chicago", held in sister city Birmingham, UK.
In 2007, Crystal was once again on the road. In Mexico and in Istanbul, Turkey, she spent time on a small cafe tour.
Crystal's early influences were artists like Jewel, Joni Mitchell, Sarah McLachlan, etc. Later influences include Counting Crows, Bonnie Rait, Tracy Chapman, Janis Joplin, Aretha Franklin, Ray Lamontagne, and many others. Crystal even had the opportunity to meet with her strongest influence, Melissa Etheridge in 2008.
Bowersox auditioned in June 2009 for the ninth season of American Idol in Chicago, Illinois, with the song "Piece of My Heart."
On March 2, Bowersox was hospitalized because of complications from diabetes, forcing a last minute switch in scheduling to give her extra time to recuperate. Bowersox confirmed the illness on the May 19th results show during an interview with host Ryan Seacrest. The men competed that day instead of the women. She sang the next day and impressed all the judges.
The following week, her strong performance prompted Simon Cowell to state, "Right now you are the one everyone has to beat."
After Siobhan Magnus's elimination from the top 6 of American Idol, Crystal Bowersox became the last remaining female contestant in the competition.
Crystal is the first female contestant to make it to the finale since Jordin Sparks won the title in 2007. Crystal is also the first contestant in American Idol history to have one of her original songs played on the show - Crystal's song "Holy Toledo" was played on the May 19th Top 3 Results show as the background music for her homecoming package - when she returned to Toledo, Ohio and Elliston, Ohio the previous weekend.
View The Official Crystal Bowersox Website.
People Get Ready
Crystal Bowersox Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's a train a-coming
You don't need no baggage
You just get on board
All you need is faith
To hear the diesels humming
Don't need no ticket
You just thank the Lord
People get ready
For the train to Jordan
Picking up passengers
From coast to coast
Faith is the key
Open the doors and board them
There's room for all
Among the loved the most
There ain't no room
For the hopeless sinner
Who would hurt all mankind just
To save his own
Have pity on those
Whose chances are thinner
Cause there's no hiding place
From the Kingdom's Throne
So people get ready
For the train a-comin'
You don't need no baggage
You just get on board!
All you need is faith
To hear the diesels humming
Don't need no ticket
You just thank, you just thank the Lord
Yeah
Ooh
Yeah
Ooh
I'm getting ready
I'm getting ready
This time I'm ready
This time I'm ready
Crystal Bowersox’s song “People Get Ready” encourages people to have faith and prepare for a journey or a new beginning that is about to begin. It’s a message of hope and unity that resonates with many listeners. The song takes the metaphor of a train arriving and uses it as an analogy for life.
The first two lines of the song, “People get ready, there’s a train coming,” imply that something wonderful is about to happen, and people need to be ready for it. The train is a metaphor for change or opportunities, and those who have faith and believe in themselves will be able to get on board and take advantage of the opportunities.
Throughout the song, “faith” is mentioned as a key ingredient to being ready for the train. This refers to having faith in oneself, in others, and in having hope for the future. The lines, “don’t need no ticket, you just thank the Lord,” refers to the idea that when we believe in ourselves and trust in the universe, the universe will guide us to where we need to be.
The chorus of the song, “people get ready, for the train a-comin’” is a call to action for people to get ready for the next great adventure in life. Whether it’s a new relationship, a new job, or a new opportunity, “People Get Ready” encourages everyone to have faith in themselves and the universe and be ready to take full advantage of these opportunities.
Line by Line Meaning
People get ready
Prepare yourself for what's to come
There's a train a-coming
An opportunity is on its way
You don't need no baggage
Don't bring any excess weight or burden
You just get on board
Take advantage of the opportunity
All you need is faith
Believe in yourself
To hear the diesels humming
To feel motivated
Don't need no ticket
No extra requirements are necessary
You just thank the Lord
Be grateful for the opportunity
For the train to Jordan
For the chance to make a positive change
Picking up passengers
Collecting people with similar goals
From coast to coast
Throughout the country
Faith is the key
Belief in oneself is crucial
Open the doors and board them
Invite others to join the mission
There's room for all
Everyone is welcome
Among the loved the most
With those who support and care for you
There ain't no room
There is no place
For the hopeless sinner
For those who cause harm with no remorse
Who would hurt all mankind just
Who would harm others for selfish gain
To save his own
To only benefit themselves
Have pity on those
Feel empathy for those who are struggling
Whose chances are thinner
Who have fewer opportunities or resources
Cause there's no hiding place
There is no escape from the consequences of one's actions
From the Kingdom's Throne
From the ultimate judge or authority
I'm getting ready
I am preparing myself
This time I'm ready
I am truly prepared this time
Contributed by Kaitlyn C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Chris m
my god. what a voice. true spirit. reminds me very strongly of Aretha Franklin in her prime. either of them could sing the recipe on a cereal box and hypnotize you. and that's just god-given. no other way to put it.
ney jimenez
me encanta esta voz, i love her voice hope she win :)
Allison Gerolami
love, love, love this, you bring me to tears with this song, you are amazing, I'm sure you will win
jasmine backman
Love her so much soul
Ahmad Ibrahim
An angel
Betty Biscamp
Wow!