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.
I'll Be Home for Christmas
Crystal Lewis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You can count on me
Please have snow
And mistletoe
And presents 'neath the tree
Christmas eve will find me
Where the love light gleams
If only in my dreams
Christmas eve will find me
Where the love light gleams
I'll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams
If only in my dreams
Crystal Lewis's song "I'll Be Home for Christmas" is a beautiful and heart-warming Christmas song that is all about the longing for home and the warmth of being with loved ones during the holiday season. This is a popular song that speaks to the emotions and sentiments of many people who might find themselves away from home during Christmas. The song is a beautiful reminder of what Christmas is really all about, which is the celebration of love, family, and togetherness.
The lyrics start with the line "I'll be home for Christmas, you can count on me". This sentence conveys the promise that the singer is making to those they are singing to, that they will be home for Christmas no matter what. This promise is reinforced by the suggestion to have snow, mistletoe, and presents under the tree. These items are a representation of the traditional and joyful Christmas customs that people engage in during this season.
The second half of the song, "Christmas Eve will find me where the love light gleams", is a touching reminder of the reason we celebrate Christmas. The love light is a symbol of the warmth and happiness that the songwriter feels when they are surrounded by family and loved ones, and it is this feeling that makes Christmas so special. The final lines of the song, "if only in my dreams", suggest that even if the singer cannot be home for Christmas, they will still hold onto the hope and dream of being there.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll be home for Christmas
I will return to my family’s home to celebrate Christmas
You can count on me
You can trust and rely on me to be there
Please have snow
It would be wonderful if there was snow to make the holiday more festive
And mistletoe
I hope to see mistletoe decorations, as it signifies love and affection
And presents 'neath the tree
I hope there will be wrapped gifts waiting under the Christmas tree
Christmas eve will find me
On Christmas Eve, I will be somewhere special
Where the love light gleams
I will be where I feel the most love and happiness
I'll be home for Christmas
I will try my best to be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams
If I can’t make it home physically, I will be there in spirit and in my dreams
Lyrics © CARLIN AMERICA INC, Tratore, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Kim Gannon, Walter Kent
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Cristal R.
Crystal, eres bellísima y siempre quedo encantada de escucharte, definitivamente tienes una voz y una personalidad ¡increíble!👏❤️
rejon18
Mercy. That voice. 34 years and it is still as amazing as ever. Yup from your Wild Blue Yonder days i have been listening to you. Amazing. Be blessed.
C. Diego Luna
What a gracious voice, and beautiful interpretation! May I also add how beautiful you look these days, that pinky hair is everything! ❤️
Sandy Martinez
After all these years you still sound amazing. Love you Crystal 😘❤🙏
John Cook
🎤 EXPRESSIVELY, BEAUTIFUL SOUND 🎹❤️🎶
jonathanmorelive
Lovely version of this beautiful song... Thanks Crystal!!!
Darryl Macias
Wow! Wonderful rendition of this classic!🎄
Vivi Páez
Gorgeous song Crystal.
Gabriela Arguijo
One of my favorite voices 🥰❤️!
Babs Coppedge
So so good. Fantastically produced. Beautiful stage. Superbly shot. Your voice? As always: impeccable.