Ramsey Lewis, drummer Isaac "Redd" Holt and bassist Eldee Young formed the … Read Full Bio ↴Ramsey Lewis, drummer Isaac "Redd" Holt and bassist Eldee Young formed the Ramsey Lewis Trio. 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.

Ramsey Lewis has received seven gold records and three Grammy Awards so far in his career.

His recent "With One Voice" release pays homage to his gospel roots all while maintaining his classic style. With the help of gospel favorites Smokie Norful, Darius Brooks, and Donald Lawrence, Lewis delivers an emotion-packed, soul-stirring, album. Lewis also enlisted the help of his church's choir, pastored by his older sister, to sing on several of the album's tracks. The J.W. James Memorial A.M.E. Church Combined Choir is breath-taking, adding so much life, freedom, and hope to "With One Voice". The CD's first single, "Pass Me Not" can be heard on Chicago's WGCI 107.5.

In addition to recording and performing, he is / has been 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), can be heard in 60 cities in the United States and other countries as well. His most recent venture, the Legends of Jazz television series on PBS, was first aired in April 2006.

As of 2005 he has been hosting a radio show called Legends of Jazz for London's Smooth FM (previously Jazz FM).

On December 4, 2006, the Ramsey Lewis Morning Show will become a part of Broadcast Architecture's Smooth Jazz Network, simulcasting on other Smooth Jazz stations across the country for the first time. However, the show will still be based in Chicago, as it has always been.

Unchain My Heart
The Ramsey Lewis Trio Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Alone in a room
It's just me and you
I feel so lost
Cause I don't know what to do
Now what if choose the wrong thing to do
I'm so afraid, afraid of disappointing you

So I need to talk to you

And ask you for your guidance
Especially today
When my world seems cloudy
Guide me until I'm sure
I open up my heart

My hopes and dreams
Are fading fast
I'm all burned out
And I don't think my strengths gonna last
So I'm crying out
Crying out to you
Lord I know that you're the only one
Who is able to pull me through

So I need to talk to you
And ask you for your guidance
Especially today
When my world seems cloudy
Guide me until I'm sure
I open up my heart

So show me how
To do things your way
Don't let me make the same mistakes
Over and over again
Your will be done
And I'll be the one
To make sure the it's carried out
And in me, I don't want any doubt
That's why

I need to talk to you
And ask you for your guidance
Especially today
When my life is a little bit cloudy
Guide me until I'm sure
I open up my heart

All I need to do
Is hear a single word from you
I open up my heart
Just one word could make
A difference in what I do Lord
I open my heart to you

You're the lover of my soul
Captain of my sea

I need a word from you
That's why I open up my heart

Overall Meaning

The Ramsey Lewis Trio's song Unchain My Heart is a beautiful tribute to the importance of faith, guidance, and perseverance. The song is told from the perspective of someone who feels lost, alone, and overwhelmed by the challenges and uncertainties of life. The singer is struggling to make the right choices and avoid disappointing the people they love, but they feel burnt out and hopeless. In this state of vulnerability, the singer turns to God for help and support.

The song is a prayer that asks for guidance, clarity, and strength in times of darkness and confusion. The singer acknowledges that they cannot do it alone and that they need to rely on God to show them the way. The lyrics express an intense craving for a single word of comfort or direction that could make all the difference in the world. The singer is willing to open up their heart and surrender all doubt and fear to God, trusting that the divine will always be there to support and uplift them.

Overall, Unchain My Heart is a powerful and emotional song that speaks to the universal human experience of uncertainty, fear, and faith. By expressing the singer's struggles and desires so honestly and vulnerably, the song encourages listeners to connect with their own innermost feelings and to seek guidance and comfort wherever they may find it.

Line by Line Meaning

Alone in a room
In this moment, I am isolated and find myself in solitude

It's just me and you
You, my Lord, are the only one present with me

I feel so lost
I am confused and uncertain

Cause I don't know what to do
I am lacking understanding and direction

Now what if choose the wrong thing to do
I am fearful of making the wrong decision

I'm so afraid, afraid of disappointing you
I fear that my actions may not please you

So I need to talk to you
I require a two-way communication with you

And ask you for your guidance
I request your instruction and assistance

Especially today
On this particular day

When my world seems cloudy
When my life seems unclear and hazy

Guide me until I'm sure
Direct me until I have certainty

I open up my heart
I am transparent and vulnerable with you

My hopes and dreams
My aspirations and ambitions

Are fading fast
They are diminishing quickly

I'm all burned out
I am exhausted and depleted

And I don't think my strengths gonna last
I don't believe that I will maintain the energy and ability to persevere

So I'm crying out
I am passionately calling to you

Crying out to you
A desperate plea to you

Lord I know that you're the only one
Acknowledging that you, my Lord, are the sole reliable source of help

Who is able to pull me through
You are capable of leading me to a successful outcome

So show me how
Illustrate and guide me in how to act and what to do

To do things your way
To act in accordance with your will and teachings

Don't let me make the same mistakes
Prevent me from repeating past errors

Over and over again
Repeatedly

Your will be done
Let your desires and intentions triumph

And I'll be the one
I will take responsibility

To make sure the it's carried out
To verify that your will is fully accomplished

And in me, I don't want any doubt
I have complete trust and faith and do not desire uncertainty

That's why
Explaining the reason for my actions

All I need to do
My sole requirement

Is hear a single word from you
To receive a solitary message from you

Just one word could make
A single utterance has the potential to cause a profound effect

A difference in what I do Lord
An impact on my actions, my Lord

You're the lover of my soul
You treasure and cherish my essence

Captain of my sea
You are steering my ship and guiding my journey

That's why I open up my heart
The motivation behind my vulnerability with you

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: YOLANDA YVETTE ADAMS, JAMES HARRIS III, TERRY LEWIS, JAMES QUENTON WRIGHT

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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