In 1984, at the age of 15, Lewis auditioned for a children's musical called Hi Tops, written and produced by Ernie and Debbie Retino, creators of Psalty, the Singing Song Book. Lewis passed the audition and was able to go into the studio and participate in the Soundtrack recording with the rest of the cast members. While working with the musical, Lewis met a member of the Rockabilly band, The Lifters. After becoming friends with the members of that band, Lewis was asked to join. Soon after, the band changed its name to Wild Blue Yonder. Lewis also met her current husband, Brian Ray, through her association with the band.
Wild Blue Yonder was together for two years and recorded a single full length album, produced by Daniel Amos frontman Terry Scott Taylor, for Frontline Records in 1986. She would also sing on D.A.'s album Fearful Symmetry in 1986, and Taylor's solo album A Briefing for the Ascent in 1987. After Wild Blue Yonder disbanded, Frontline offered Lewis a solo recording contract at the age of 17. Beyond the Charade, her first solo project, was released in 1987. Lewis went on to record two more albums for Frontline, Joy in 1988, and Let Love In in 1990, before starting her own record label, Metro One Music in 1992 with a distribution deal through Diamante Music Group.
For a brief time, Lewis starred in a Nickelodeon Television series called Roundhouse. Lewis left the show after one year.
Her next solo project, Remember, was recorded and released on Metro One label in 1992, followed by The Bride in 1993, and Hymns: My Life in 1995. The Bride was listed at # 97 in the 2001 book, CCM Presents: The 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music. A greatest hits collection released that year landed Lewis in the # 1 spot on the Pop/Dance charts with her rendition of "Shine Jesus Shine." Beauty For Ashes was released in 1996, the first album from Metro One to be distributed through a new arrangement with Myrrh Records. Ashes was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America, and the song "People Get Ready...Jesus Is Comin' " was the # 1 song of the year (1996) in Christian Radio. The album also won an ASCAP award for "Beauty For Ashes" as the most played song (1997). The album contained four # 1 radio singles: "People get ready...Jesus is Comin' ", "Beauty of the Cross", "God's been good to me", and "Beauty for Ashes."
Gold was released in 1998 and gave Lewis two # 1 hits, "Lord, I Believe in You" and "Not the Same". Gold was later re-issued that same year with a new recording of "Lean On Me" (lead vocals by Crystal Lewis), which originally appeared on Kirk Franklin's album The Nu Nation Project that included "Lean on Me" featuring Mary J. Blige, R.Kelly, Bono, Crystal Lewis and The Family. That same year, Crystal won Dove Awards for "Female Vocalist of the Year" and "Spanish Language Album of the Year" for La Belleza de la Cruz. Lewis also joined Franklin along with Gerald Levert, Mary J. Blige, and Bono on stage at the 1999 Grammy Awards for a performance of "Lean on Me."
Lewis returned to her Rockabilly roots briefly in 1999 with The Attack of the Screamin' Rays. The live project Live @ The Woodlands, recorded live in Houston, Texas on November 6, 1998, was also released that year. Crystal picked up two more Dove awards in 1999 for "Special Event Album" for her contribution to the project Exodus, and "Spanish Language Album" for Oro. In 2000, Lewis released Fearless, which was nominated for "Best Christian Pop Album of the Year" at the 2000 Grammy Awards. The song "Only Fools" from that album was voted song of the year by ASCAP. Her first Christmas album, Holiday! A Collection of Christmas Classics, went on to be voted the 5th Best Christmas album of all-time by CCM Magazine.
Crystal released her second greatest hits project More in 2001. A second live project, More Live, recorded at the Sun Theater in Anaheim, California on November 17, 2001, was released in 2002, along with another collection of hymns and gospel standards, Holy, Holy, Holy. See was released in 2005, and, the children's project, Joyful Noise was released in 2006.
Gold
Crystal Lewis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Who left her for another woman
And to her children for half the love they've been given
Has left them all of a sudden
Blessed are those who mourn
For they shall receive great comfort
But still I found death seems to bring forth life
All your sufferings
All your trials...
Are Gold
Here's to the woman who's left to raise her children
She doesn't know the first thing about how to make a living
And all the birthdays, and ballgames, and Christmas mornings will never be the same
Blessed are the poor in spirit
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven
But still I found death seems to bring forth life
All your sorrows
All your pain
All your trials...are Gold
The lyrics of the song "Gold" by Crystal Lewis empower women who have experienced abandonment, pain, and suffering. The song begins with a tribute to the women who have been left by their unfaithful spouses, who left them for someone else. Such women are often left with a broken heart and the daunting task of raising their children with limited resources. The song acknowledges the half-love that the children receive after the separation, which can bring about feelings of vulnerability, hopelessness, and loneliness for both the mother and the children. The song has a biblical reference that confirms that the mourning process is necessary for healing.
The lyrics continue, describing a woman who has been left behind to raise her children, without any knowledge of how to make a living. The special moments of birthdays, ball games, and Christmas mornings will never be the same again, and the mother has to conjure up new ways to create memorable moments for her children. The song mentions that the poor in spirit are blessed because they shall inherit the kingdom of heaven. The lyrics of the song then emphasize on the message of hope, that even in the midst of death and despair, life brings forth a new beginning.
Overall, the lyrics of "Gold" is a representation of the strength of women who have to face the darkest moments of life. They teach us that all the trials and tribulations that we experience are valuable, and they will eventually lead us to a brighter and better tomorrow.
Line by Line Meaning
Here's to the women abandoned by her husband
Cheers to the women who have been left alone by their husbands
Who left her for another woman
Who chose to abandon their partner for someone else
And to her children for half the love they've been given
Acknowledging the impact on the children, who have lost the love and affection of one of their parents
Has left them all of a sudden
Without warning or explanation, leaving them to cope with the sudden changes
Blessed are those who mourn
The ones who are grieving and struggling are the ones who receive blessings, according to some beliefs
For they shall receive great comfort
These mourners will be comforted and looked after by a higher power, according to some beliefs
But still I found death seems to bring forth life
Even in times of tragedy and loss, new things can be born and grow
All your heartaches
All of the things that cause emotional pain and stress
All your sufferings
All of the struggles and hardships that have been experienced
All your trials...
All of the challenging situations and setbacks faced
Are Gold
Can be seen as valuable, transformative experiences that shape us and make us stronger
Here's to the woman who's left to raise her children
Cheers to the mother who has taken on the responsibility of raising her children alone
She doesn't know the first thing about how to make a living
Acknowledging the challenges of financial independence for a single parent who may not have significant work experience or skills
And all the birthdays, and ballgames, and Christmas mornings will never be the same
The absence of the other parent changes the experience of these family moments and traditions forever
Blessed are the poor in spirit
Those who feel spiritually depleted or powerless are blessed, according to some beliefs
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven
These people will be rewarded and find solace in the afterlife, according to some beliefs
All your sorrows
All of the feelings of sadness and grief that have been experienced
All your pain
All of the physical and emotional discomfort that has been endured
All your trials...are Gold
Every challenge that has been overcome has taught valuable lessons and has helped to shape the person into who they are today
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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