Lewis began taking piano lessons at the age of four. As a young man, Lewis played with a number of local ensembles, such as Edward Virgil Abner's Knights of Music. Lewis would eventually join a jazz group called The Clefs.
He formed The Ramsey Lewis Trio in 1956 with Eldee Young and Isaac Holt. They started as primarily a jazz unit but after their hit, "The In Crowd", in 1965 (the single reached fifth place on the pop charts, and the album second place) the trio concentrated more and more on pop material. Young and Holt left in 1966 to form the Young-Holt Trio and were replaced by Cleveland Eaton and Maurice White. White was replaced by Maurice Jennings in 1970. In the late 1970s an additional keyboard player was frequently added to the lineup. A contemporary version of "The In Crowd" was recorded for Lewis' 2004 album, Time Flies.
His 2005 album "With One Voice" pays homage to his gospel roots with the help Smokie Norful, Darius Brooks, and Donald Lawrence and the J.W. James Memorial A.M.E. Church Combined Choir.
In addition to recording and performing, he was a radio host on Chicago's Smooth Jazz station, WNUA (95.5 FM). His syndicated show Legends of Jazz, featuring classic jazz recordings from artists such as Charlie Parker and Miles Davis), could be heard in 60 cities in the United States and other countries as well. His Legends of Jazz television series on PBS, was first aired in April 2006.
From December 2006, the Ramsey Lewis Morning Show became a part of Broadcast Architecture's Smooth Jazz Network, simulcasting on other Smooth Jazz stations across the country for the first time.
Lewis was artistic director of Jazz at Ravinia (an annual feature at the Ravinia Festival in Highland Park, Illinois) and helped organize Ravinia's Jazz Mentor Program.
Fragile
Ramsey Lewis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Drying in the color of the evening sun
Tomorrow's rain will wash the stains away
But something in our minds will always stay
Perhaps this final act was meant
To clinch a lifetime's argument
That nothing comes from violence and nothing ever could
For all those born beneath an angry star
Lest we forget how fragile we are
On and on the rain will fall
Like tears from a star
Like tears from a star
On and on the rain will say
How fragile we are
How fragile we are
On and on the rain will fall
Like tears from a star
Like tears from a star
On and on the rain will say
How fragile we are
How fragile we are
How fragile we are
How fragile we are
The song "Fragile" by Ramsey Lewis is a hauntingly beautiful reminder of the fragility of human life. The song's lyrics speak to the eternal struggle between violence and peace, and how it impacts humanity. The opening lines of the song are particularly striking, "If blood will flow when flesh and steel are one, drying in the color of the evening sun." These lyrics depict the tragic consequences of violence and how it leaves its mark on society, even when physically gone.
The song then moves into an introspective reflection on the purpose of violence and the never-ending cycle of aggression. The line, "Perhaps this final act was meant to clinch a lifetime's argument," suggests that the violence was the end of a long-standing conflict. Yet, the artist reminds us that nothing good comes from violence - "That nothing comes from violence and nothing ever could." In doing so, Lewis highlights the foolishness and self-destructiveness of resorting to violence as a means of resolving conflict.
The song culminates in the powerful reminder that we are all fragile beings, susceptible to the harm brought on by human aggression. The refrain, "How fragile we are," is repeated throughout the song, driving home the point that we must recognize our inherent frailty to prevent further injury or harm. In a world struggling with conflict and divided against itself, the message of the song remains as relevant and thought-provoking as ever.
Line by Line Meaning
If blood will flow when flesh and steel are one
When violence arises, it results in physical hurt, which can lead to the spillage of blood.
Drying in the color of the evening sun
Once the violence ceases, the stains that it leaves behind will fade, akin to how the sun sets and darkness covers the sky.
Tomorrow's rain will wash the stains away
As time passes and the consequences of the violence fade from our view, it becomes easier to forget the harm that has been done.
But something in our minds will always stay
Even if the physical wounds of violence heal, the memories and emotions associated with it will linger on, leaving a lasting impact on our psyche.
Perhaps this final act was meant
It could be that the violence we have witnessed is the last of its kind, but it has left an imprint on our collective consciousness.
To clinch a lifetime's argument
Maybe the purpose of these violent acts is to settle an age-old argument that we as humanity have yet to resolve.
That nothing comes from violence and nothing ever could
Every act of violence leaves some form of damage in its wake, with no positive outcome to balance it out.
For all those born beneath an angry star
Some are born in circumstances wherein factors beyond their control alter their lives, through no fault of their own.
Lest we forget how fragile we are
It is crucial to remember that despite our physical and mental strength, we are still susceptible to harm and hurt in many forms.
On and on the rain will fall
The rain is a metaphor describing how the consequences of violence can have a long-term trickle-down effect on all those involved.
Like tears from a star
The destructive ramifications of violence can be compared to tears, with all their pain and sadness, falling from a celestial entity.
On and on the rain will say
The rain, akin to a narrator, will continue on indefinitely and recount the horrors that it has witnessed.
How fragile we are
In the end, we are all vulnerable and fragile, prey to outside forces that we cannot control.
How fragile we are
The repetition of this line emphasizes the power and accuracy of the message that the song is trying to convey - that we are all only human and susceptible to harm.
How fragile we are
The refrain of this line at the end of the song is an attempt to leave the listener with the impact of the lyrics, urging them never to forget how easy it is for destruction to take place.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Gordon Sumner
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind