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.
Things Just Happen That Way
Lewis Lyrics
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I guess I will, someday;
I don't like it, but I guess things happen that way.
You asked me if I'll get along.
I guess I will, someway;
I don't like it, but I guess things happen that way.
God gave me that girl to lean on;
Heaven, help me be a man and
Have the strength to stand alone.
I don't like it, but I guess things happen that way.
You asked me if I'll miss her kisses.
I guess I will, everyday;
I don't like it, but I guess things happen that way.
You asked me if I'll find another.
I don't know; I can't say;
I don't like it, but I guess things happen that way.
God gave me that girl to lean on;
Then he put me on my own.
Heaven, help me be a man and
Have the strength to stand alone.
I don't like it, but I guess things happen that way.
"Things Just Happen That Way" by Jerry Lee Lewis is a country ballad that explores the emotions of an individual who has recently experienced a break-up.
The song starts with the singer being asked if he will forget his girlfriend, to which he replies that he will, someday. The use of the word "guess" showcases his uncertainty and discomfort with the idea of forgetting her. He acknowledges that things happen in life which may cause us to forget loved ones, but it doesn't mean that we like it.
The singer further reflects upon the fact that he will have to learn to get along without his girlfriend, even if it's not something he wants to do. He then talks about how God gave him the girl to lean on, but he was ultimately put on his own. He pleads for strength to deal with the situation, hoping to stand alone as a man. The chorus repeats twice, emphasizing his discomfort with the idea of moving on but understanding that sometimes "things happen that way."
In the final verse, he's asked if he will miss her kisses and he acknowledges that he will probably think about her every day. When he's asked if he thinks he'll find someone else, he answers that he doesn't know for sure. He understands that time will tell, but he doesn't like the uncertainty of what's to come. The chorus repeats, driving home the theme that life is full of unexpected turns, and we have to learn to roll with the punches.
Overall, the lyrics in this song are emotionally raw and relatable to anyone who's experienced heartbreak. They offer comfort to listeners by acknowledging that while breakups are hard, things do eventually get better.
Line by Line Meaning
Well you asked me if I'll forget my baby.
You wanted to know if I would forget my love. I think eventually I will, although I don't want to.
I guess I will, someday;
I believe that one day I'll move on and forget.
I don't like it, but I guess things happen that way.
I don't feel good about it, but sometimes that's just how life goes.
You asked me if I'll get along.
You asked if I'll be okay. I think somehow I will be.
I guess I will, someway;
In some way or another, I’ll find a way to keep going.
God gave me that girl to lean on;
I was blessed to have had her because she gave me strength.
Then he put me on my own.
But now I have to learn to stand on my own.
Heaven, help me be a man and
I ask for divine guidance to be strong and independent.
Have the strength to stand alone.
I need to learn to depend on myself and be resilient.
You asked me if I'll miss her kisses.
You inquired if I would miss being close to her. I know I will, every day.
I don't know; I can't say;
I don't have an answer for whether I'll find another love or not.
I don't like it, but I guess things happen that way.
Again, even though it's not what I want, I have to accept whatever comes my way.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Jack Clement
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind