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.
Only Fools
Crystal Lewis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Only wise men know.
I'm no fool, you've changed my point of view.
To be kind is a quality
That I richly desire.
It is better to be poor than a liar.
I no longer see
You have spoken, I have listened.
Only fools believe
In only what they see.
The wise are rich indeed.
What a friend we have in Jesus.
He hears all our cries.
If you listen, you'll hear him crying too.
I no longer see
Things controlling me.
You have spoken I have listened.
Only fools believe
In only what they see.
The wise are rich indeed.
Only fools follow gold.
Only wise men know.
I'm no fool, you've changed my point of view, yeah, yeah.
In the song "Only Fools," Crystal Lewis talks about the difference between a wise man and a foolish man. She suggests that foolish people are those who follow gold and are blinded by the materialistic things in life. On the other hand, wise men are people who understand that real wealth is in the quality of our character and our actions towards others. The lyrics continue with the message that it's better to be poor than to be a liar.
Crystal Lewis then reveals that she has changed her perspective and point of view through the influence of someone who had spoken to her. This person has taught her the value of being kind to others, which is a trait that she now aspires to possess. She no longer feels like external factors are controlling her; instead, she has opened herself up to listening to the advice of others.
The bridge of the song changes to a religious theme, where she talks about the support of Jesus in her life. She suggests that Jesus is a friend who listens to our cries and struggles, and also reminds us that if we pay attention, we can hear him crying too.
Overall, the song suggests that we should follow the path of wisdom and forsake materialism, strive to possess virtues like kindness, honesty, and empathy, and seek the support of others and higher powers to navigate life's difficulties.
Line by Line Meaning
Only fools follow gold.
Those who are foolish pursue material wealth above all else.
Only wise men know.
Those who are wise understand that there is more to life than wealth.
I'm no fool, you've changed my point of view.
I am no longer interested in chasing after material wealth because you have taught me the true value of things.
To be kind is a quality
That I richly desire.
It is better to be poor than a liar.
Being kind is a trait that I value deeply. I believe that honesty is more important than material wealth.
I no longer see
Things controlling me.
You have spoken I have listened.
I have gained the conviction to let go of the things that used to control me because I have listened to your teachings.
Only fools believe
In only what they see.
The wise are rich indeed.
Those who only trust in material things are foolish. The wise understand that true wealth comes from non-material values such as love, kindness, and honesty.
What a friend we have in Jesus.
He hears all our cries.
If you listen, you'll hear him crying too.
Jesus is a true friend who is always there for us when we need him. If we listen to his teachings, we will hear his voice guiding us in the right direction.
I'm no fool, you've changed my point of view, yeah, yeah.
I have gained a new perspective on life and have realized that true wealth comes from non-material values.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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