“Crystal Blue Persuasion” is a song from 1968 by Tommy James and the Shondells. It was written by Eddie Gray, Tommy James, and Mike Vale.
During the 1960s, society was changing a lot. The song’s lyrics, by Tommy James, Mike Vale, and Eddie Gray, talk about a future filled with love, togetherness, and hope.
There’s a music video that shows scenes from the late 1960s, including political and cultural unrest, as well as images of “love and peace.”
In this analysis, we’ll explore what the lyrics mean and why they’re still important today.
Table of Contents
Inspiration Behind “Crystal Blue Persuasion”
In a 1985 interview with Hitch magazine, Tommy James talked about how he got the title for the song:
“I took the title from the Book of Revelations [sic] in the Bible, reading about the New Jerusalem. The words jumped out at me, and they’re not together; they’re spread out over three or four verses. But it seemed to go together, it’s my favorite of all my songs and one of our most requested.”
Tommy James’s manager mentioned that Tommy James found inspiration in his readings of the Book of Ezekiel, which he remembered talking about a blue Shekhinah light symbolizing the presence of Almighty God. He also drew inspiration from the Book of Isaiah and the Book of Revelation, which describe a future era where humanity lives together in peace and harmony.
In an interview with Songfacts, Tommy James also explained how they produced the song:
“‘Crystal Blue’ was interesting. First of all, I was becoming a Christian at that time, and we never thought a thing about it. We never thought that doing something semi-religious was any big deal. We didn’t think of it as being politically incorrect or anything like that. We just did what felt right. I wrote ‘Crystal Blue Persuasion’ with Eddie Gray and Mike Vale. Eddie came up with the little guitar riff, and Mike and I did the lyrics. And it just felt very right as a sort of semi-religious poetic song, but it turned out to be one of the hardest records I’ve ever made.”
“Crystal Blue Persuasion” Lyrics Meaning
Verse 1
“Look over yonder
What do you see?
The sun is a-rising
Most definitely
A new day is coming (whoo-hoo!)
People are changing
Ain’t it beautiful? (whoo-hoo!)
Crystal Blue Persuasion”
The opening verse sets the tone for the entire song, inviting us to take a closer look at the world. The lines, “Look over yonder, What do you see? The sun is a-rising, Most definitely,” suggest a new beginning, a fresh start. The rising sun symbolizes hope and a brighter future. It’s a call to pay attention to the positive changes taking place around us.
“A new day is coming (whoo-hoo!)” and “People are changing, Ain’t it beautiful? (whoo-hoo!)” emphasize the idea that change is inevitable and often for the better. The repetition of “whoo-hoo!” reinforces the sense of joy and beauty in these changes.
Verse 2
“Better get ready
Gonna see the light
Love, love is the answer (whoo-hoo!)
And that’s alright
So don’t you give up now (whoo-hoo!)
So easy to find
Just look to your soul (look to your soul!)
And open your mind”
Verse 2 begins with the line “Better get ready, Gonna see the light,” which suggests that love is like a guiding light, illuminating the path forward. The following line “Love, love is the answer (whoo-hoo!)” reinforces the idea that love is the solution to our problems.
Love, in this context, represents not just romantic love but a broader, all-encompassing love for humanity. The repeated “whoo-hoo” adds enthusiasm and conviction to this message.
The singers encourage us to be resilient in the face of adversity, chanting “So don’t you give up now (whoo-hoo!)”
Since the soul is often associated with one’s innermost self and emotions, the final line “Just look to your soul (look to your soul!) And open your mind” suggests that by connecting with our inner selves and being receptive to new ideas, we can better understand the power of love and positive change.
Bridge
“Crystal Blue Persuasion, Mm-hmm
It’s a new vibration
Crystal Blue Persuasion, Crystal
Blue Persuasion”
The Bridge introduces the phrase “Crystal Blue Persuasion,” which is a reference to the Book of Revelation, specifically Chapter 19, which describes the imagery of the lake of crystal and what the apostle John saw.
The use of “Mm-hmm” adds a sense of agreement or affirmation, as if to say that this persuasion is indeed something special.
The following line, “It’s a new vibration,” suggests that there’s a positive and transformative force at play, possibly linked to the “Crystal Blue Persuasion.”
Verse 3
“Maybe tomorrow
When he looks down
In every green field (whoo-hoo!)
And every town
All of his children
In every nation
There’ll be, Peace and Good
Brotherhood
Crystal Blue Persuasion, Yeah”
Verse 3 paints a picture of a harmonious and peaceful future where people from all walks of life and nations come together in unity.
The line “Maybe tomorrow/ When he looks down/ In every green field (whoo-hoo!)/ And every town” envisions a future where peace and unity prevail everywhere, from the countryside to urban centers.
The singers express their hope for peace and unity among humanity. The phrase “All of his children” likely refers to all people, portraying them as children of a divine or higher power.
The positive change is depicted as a global phenomenon “in every nation,” and “there’ll be, peace and good brotherhood” among humanity.
Outro
“Crystal Blue Persuasion, ah-ha!
Crystal Blue Persuasion, ah-ha!
Crystal Blue Persuasion, ah-ha!
Oh!
Crystal Blue Persuasion, ah-ha!
Crystal Blue Persuasion, ah-ha!
Crystal Blue Persuasion, ah-ha!
Crystal Blue Persuasion, ah-ha!”
The song’s outro reaffirms its central message. The repetition of “Crystal Blue Persuasion, ah-ha!” emphasizes the idea that this positive change and transformative power are not fleeting but enduring.
The “ah-ha!” adds a sense of realization, as if to say that this vision of a better world is within our grasp.
Deeper Meaning Behind “Crystal Blue Persuasion”
The song is sort of semi-religious because the members of the rock band Tommy James and the Shondells were becoming Christian when the song was produced. It reflects their conversions to Christianity and the events happening around the rock band during that time.
In an interview with Songfacts, Tommy James admitted that “Crystal Blue” is a reference to the Book of Revelation. He said:
“It’s out of the Bible. The imagery was right out of Chapter 19 of the Book of Revelation, about the lake of crystal, and just what John sees. The imagery was just right there. ‘Crystal blue persuasion,’ although those words aren’t used together, it was what the image meant to me.”
He also shed lights on the lyrics meaning:
“Of course, everybody thinks if they don’t understand what you’re talking about it must be about drugs. But it wasn’t. We were going through a real interesting time back then, and a very wonderful time. Everybody in the band, by the way, became Christian. And we’re very proud of it. And ‘Crystal Blue Persuasion’ was sort of our way of saying that in a kind of pop record way.”
In other words, ‘Crystal Blue Persuasion’ is a song that conveys positive religious messages believed by the band members. This was further confirmed in another interview with Tommy James by American Songwriter:
“To me, it was very definitely a religious tune,” he says. “It was about becoming a Christian and about things that were happening at that moment. I think most of the things you write are snapshots of where you are as a person. They should be if you’re going to be an artist.”
However, I think the song is not just about expressing Christian beliefs. To better grasp the meaning of “Crystal Blue Persuasion,” we should also look at the time and context in which the song was created. This song came about during the late 1960s, a period of significant change in the United States and globally.
During this time, the Civil Rights Movement was actively pushing for racial equality and justice. The Vietnam War was causing heated debates and protests, especially among young people who opposed the war. There was a rising counterculture movement that rejected traditional societal norms and values.
In the midst of this backdrop of social and political upheaval, “Crystal Blue Persuasion” emerged as a song that offered hope and optimism. It stood in contrast to the turmoil and uncertainty of the era.
While the lyrics may be open to interpretation, the song’s core message remains clear: the power of love and positive change can lead to a brighter, more harmonious world.

Jacob Carter is a lyricist. He created the lyrics writing course to teach people how to analyze and write lyrics. He graduated from the University of Oxford with a degree in English Literature, so he’s skilled at playing with words.
He’s also an amateur guitarist, which means he knows music and melody very well. With this background, he’s a great lyricist you can rely on to learn writing lyrics.