What's Simple Is True

Album: Spirit (1998)
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Songfacts®:

  • Jewel puts one of her credos into the chorus of this song:

    The more I live
    The more I know
    What's simple is true


    She was famous by this time, but also aware that her notoriety and bigger bank account weren't the key to happiness. It's really the simple things in life that make us happy, and in the context of this song, that's finding love.
  • "What's Simple Is True is featured in Jewel's first movie, Ride With the Devil, which also stars Tobey Maguire and Skeet Ulrich. The song first appeared on her album Spirit in 1998 and was included on the soundtrack when the film was released in 1999.
  • This poetic, introspective song was released as a single in 1999 but didn't chart. Jewel spent most of the '90s touring relentlessly, gradually building a following until her debut single, "Who Will Save Your Soul," took off in 1996. She jumped on the Lilith Fair in 1997 and sold over 12 million copies of her debut album, Pieces Of You. By 1999 (the last year of the Lilith Fair), female singer-songwriters had fallen out of favor, which explained why this song didn't chart. Jewel maintained a substantial fanbase and sustained a long and fruitful career.
  • The music video, directed by Matthew Rolston, plays to the "frozen" theme in the lyrics, with Jewel performing the song in the snowy woods.

Comments: 3

  • Trist\'n from Cheyenne, WyI love this song simply because it can fit that mood. I'm sorry I don't find it cheesy. This songcame out when I was about 15 when this came out 16 when I really heard it. I'm 24 and I still love the message in this song. It's an emotional song, and you're lucky if you can ever have the emotion she puts out in these lyrics.
  • Angel from Somewhere In, AzSpirit is one of the best CD's. Probably my favorite from Jewel.
  • Jessie Ann from Purchase, NyBeautiful song, but some cheesy lyrics
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