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.
Holy
Crystal Lewis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lord God Almighty
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee
Holy, holy, holy
Merciful and mighty
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity
All the saints adore Thee
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea
Holy, holy, holy
Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee
Who wert, and art, and evermore shall be
Holy, holy, holy
tho' the darkness hide Thee
Tho' the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see
Only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee
Perfect in power, in love, and purity
Holy, holy, holy
Lord God Almighty
All Thy works shall praise Thy Name, in earth, and sky, and sea
Holy, holy, holy; merciful and mighty
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity
Crystal Lewis's song "Holy Holy Holy" is a powerful expression of worship, which calls on God's holy name. The song is an adaptation of the hymn "Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty," written by Reginald Heber in 1826. The song begins with the words "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee." This is a reference to Psalm 5:3, which talks about singing praise to God in the morning: "In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly." The song emphasizes the holiness of God, acknowledging that He is merciful and mighty, and is present in three persons, the blessed Trinity.
The second verse of the song describes the worship of the saints, who cast down their golden crowns around the glassy sea, declaring "Holy, holy, holy." This is a reference to Revelation 4:10-11, which describes the worship of the twenty-four elders around the throne of God: "The twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: 'You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.'" The third verse speaks of the worship of the cherubim and seraphim, who fall down before God, declaring Him to be ever-present and eternal.
Overall, "Holy Holy Holy" is a powerful and emotional song that invites the listener to worship God in all His holiness and glory. The song declares that God is perfect in power, love, and purity, and that all His works, in earth, sky, and sea, will praise His holy name.
Line by Line Meaning
Holy, holy, holy
Repeated three times to emphasize the holiness of God.
Lord God Almighty
Addressing God as the all-powerful ruler.
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee
Our song praising God shall start in the morning and keep going throughout the day.
Merciful and mighty
God is both compassionate and omnipotent.
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity
God exists as three distinct persons - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit - in one divine trinity.
All the saints adore Thee
All who have lived a holy life admire and worship God.
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea
The saints symbolically lay down their achievements before God in honor and submission.
Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee
Cherubim and seraphim, the highest order of angels, bowing before God.
Who wert, and art, and evermore shall be
God always has and always will exist, outside of time itself.
Tho' the darkness hide Thee
Even if God is hidden or unnoticed, He still exists and we still worship Him.
Tho' the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see
People are sinful and cannot comprehend how glorious God truly is.
Only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee
Only God is completely pure and perfect; no one else can compare.
Perfect in power, in love, and purity
God is completely flawless in His abilities, His compassion, and His goodness.
All Thy works shall praise Thy Name, in earth, and sky, and sea
Everything that God created, including nature and people, praises and worships Him.
Holy, holy, holy; merciful and mighty
Reiterating the previous attributes of God as both holy and merciful, as well as omnipotent.
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity
Recapitulating the opening line of the song to reinforce the doctrine of the Holy Trinity.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, DistroKid, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing, Integrity Music
Written by: Reginald Heber
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind