Lewis is a mysterious artist from the early '80s that released only one alb… Read Full Bio ↴Lewis is a mysterious artist from the early '80s that released only one album filled with subtle yet stunning compositions and features prominent use of gentle acoustics and ethereal synths.

In 1983, a man named Lewis recorded an album named L’Amour, which was released on the unknown label R.A.W. And that’s about all we know.

The record itself is a delicate, whispered album, reflecting the way the artist himself – spectral, movie star-like – almost disappears into the grey of the cover. It should come as no surprise that it failed to shout loudly enough to be noticed, another private press album that sank without trace.

The ingredients are simple: smooth synthesizers, feather-light piano, ethereal, occasionally inaudible vocals and the gentle plucking of acoustic guitars. But the effects are arresting: a spine-tingling, sombre album that echoes Springsteen’s Nebraska or Angelo Badalamenti’s atmospheric soundtracks. Later, Arthur Russell would grasp for something similar on the epochal World Of Echo LP.

L’Amour is a true discovery of the blog age, uncovered in an Edmonton flea-market by collector Jon Murphy, passed on to private press fanatic Aaron Levin, shared on the internet and speculated over by lovers of curious LPs. There’s almost no information about Lewis or the album on the internet. There’s precious little on the sleeve: a dedication to Sports Illustrated supermodel Christie Brinkley, a photo credit for Ed Colver, the noted L.A. punk rock photographer, and credits for engineer Bob Kinsey and synth player Philip Lees. All that was known of Lewis is conjecture: a rumor that he was a con artist who fled after not paying for L’Amour’s photo-shoot and a dubious theory that he was not actually of this earth.

When Light In The Attic looked to release the album, they set out to investigate the mystery. They found some answers, but more intrigue too. Colver was able to fill in some blanks. Firstly, Lewis is a pseudonym. The man the photographer met was named Randall Wulff. He stayed in the Beverley Hills Hilton, drove a white convertible Mercedes and dated a girl who looked like a model. He paid for his photo session with Colver with a $250 check, which bounced.

Eventually, the trail led to Alberta, Canada, where that first LP had been found. Liner notes writer Jack Fleischer along with master detective Markus Armstrong found Randall’s nephew, who remembered Randall as a stockbroker. His vague recollections include a visit to Randall’s apartment, with all-white furniture and that beautiful girlfriend in situ. Crucially, he offered another name – another of Randall’s pseudonyms – which led to a Vancouver studio and the revelation that Lewis had recorded three or four albums of “soft religious music” there. Alas, even the new nom de plume led only to dead ends.

Lewis remains a ghost, a total mystery, but the music will be heard. The album is being pressed for the first time in more than 30 years, and widely distributed for the first time ever. Lewis’s royalties will be placed in escrow until he makes himself known. Perhaps you know Lewis. Perhaps Lewis is you. The only certainty is this: Lewis is about to find a whole bunch of new fans.

Feet On The Ground
Lewis Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Who will put my feet back on the ground, when there is none to be found, at all? but you only speak a word, and the void gives birth. it's all lost, meaningless. make a path, only to lose your way. and you're always wanting more, a stranger to the shore. you keep a watchful eye on the horizon. who will gather remnants of a man, cast broad like seeds from a hand? but you measure everything, you fill the spaces in between. it's all lost, meaningless. make a path, only to lose your way. crave, crawl, grab at ghosts on the wall. and you're always wanting more, a stranger to the shore. you keep a watchful eye on the horizon. crave, crawl, grab at ghosts on the wall

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Lewis's song "Feet On The Ground" explore the themes of loss, helplessness and the search for stability. The singer is feeling lost, disconnected and unable to find their way on their own. They are searching for someone to rely on, to help ground them and provide direction when they feel adrift. The repeated question, "who will put my feet back on the ground," expresses their desperation for guidance and support.

The imagery of the void giving birth when their companion speaks a word is interesting and suggests that sometimes even the smallest gesture can have a powerful impact. However, the line "it's all lost, meaningless" indicates that the singer feels overwhelmed and unsure of their place in the world. They try to create their own path, but often end up lost and directionless. The line "you keep a watchful eye on the horizon" shows that they are always searching, but never finding what they are looking for. The repeated line "crave, crawl, grab at ghosts on the wall" expresses the singer's frustration with their own inability to find stability and the desperation with which they are searching for it.

Line by Line Meaning

Who will put my feet back on the ground, when there is none to be found, at all?
I feel lost and in need of guidance. I don't know where to turn or what to do, but I need someone to help me find my way.

but you only speak a word, and the void gives birth.
Despite feeling lost, I know that you have the power to create something out of nothing. Your words have the ability to give me direction and purpose.

it's all lost, meaningless. make a path, only to lose your way.
Sometimes it feels like everything I do is pointless. I try to make progress and move forward, but often end up back where I started.

and you're always wanting more, a stranger to the shore. you keep a watchful eye on the horizon.
You are always searching for something more, never content with what you have. You are constantly looking ahead to the future, seeking out new opportunities and experiences.

who will gather remnants of a man, cast broad like seeds from a hand?
I feel broken and scattered, like pieces of myself have been scattered far and wide. I need someone to help me gather these pieces and make me whole again.

but you measure everything, you fill the spaces in between.
You have a keen sense of order and balance. You are able to take what seems chaotic and make sense of it, finding meaning in even the smallest details.

crave, crawl, grab at ghosts on the wall.
Sometimes I feel like I am reaching for something that is just out of reach, something intangible and impossible to grasp.

crave, crawl, grab at ghosts on the wall
I feel like I am chasing after something that is elusive, something that I may never be able to catch. But still, I keep reaching, hoping that someday I will find what I'm looking for.

Contributed by Benjamin I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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