1) Christopher Paul Jones, credited on albums as Chris Jones, (November 11, 1958 - September 13, 2005) was an American musician (guitars, vocals) and composer. He was born in Reno, Nevada, but lived in Germany ever since he had joined the U.S. Army for three years.
At the age of five, Jones began playing the guitar. A few years later, he decided to become a professional musician and when he was 11 years old, he got admitted to a program at the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore, Maryland. There he discovered the idol of his younger years, Johann Sebastian Bach, to whom he dedicated his Sonata in D. For this sonata, Jones was awarded the conservatory's Young Composer of the Year award.
Shortly thereafter, he discovered the blues and started listening to Robert Johnson, James Taylor and Little Feat.
In 1976, Jones joined the U.S. Army and was stationed in Adenine's, Germany. During this time, the foundation for his musical career in Europe was laid. Over the following decades, he played guitar on albums of artists like Sara K., Allan Taylor and Reinhard Mey. He also toured and recorded solo and with the Blues harp musician Steve Baker.
In August 2005, Jones was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma in an advanced stage. He died on September 13, 2005, in Northeim, Germany.
Like many American musicians, he did not have any health insurance and was not able to pay the hospital fees, but friends and other musicians helped him out either personally or by staging charity concerts.
In 2000, Chris began to return to the states on a regular basis to visit various ailing family members, starting with his brother, Jan, who died shortly after. When Chris was on the east coast he would stay with friend Darin D'Onofrio and along with many shows at Darin's club, Otter Point Station, he would also play house concerts. With Allen Taylor, Chris played The Kennedy Center in Washington DC, amazing many of DC's elite with his ability to use a guitar to produce pure emotion. "If this is the end of the line, you ain't gonna hear me cryin', cause it's been a damn good run!" Christopher Paul Jones 2005
2) Singer, producer, writer and former fashion model, Chris Jones, has recently finished as an advisor and background singer for his sister, Grace Jones' new album "Hurricane".
His debut album "Strong" is about the daily experiences of life & love, and the things we have to deal with from day to day. "Strong" is a combination of R&B, Electro, Dance and Pop Music. This album has been recorded in the UK, NY and Belgrade Serbia.
Chris Jones has produced three artists of genres: Rock & Roll, Reggae and Pop. These artists will be released under his label, Diamond Records, in the near future. He is currently working on a new album which has a variety of music for everyone.
3) New Zealand artist Chris Jones' piano-led rock has been entertaining New Zealanders for more than two decades.
No Sanctuary Here
Chris Jones Lyrics
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So Joseph and Mary hit the road, with Mary nigh on nine months gone
Now you know we're talkin' 'bout a hell of a walk and they had no place to stay
They tried the inns and the hotels, but the message was plain as day you get
No refuge, no respite, no sanctuary here
No refuge, no respite, no sanctuary here
Juan and his Juanita, and a baby boy they'd named Miguel
On the other side of the line it's heaven, on this side it's a livin' hell
So you do what it takes and you pull up stakes
Tryin' to escape the drought
But when you get to the border the INS has got the welcome wagon out you get
No refuge, no respite, no sanctuary here
No refuge, no respite, no sanctuary here
Now you got your haves and your have-nots, almost nothin' in between
Religions that preach about lovin' your brother, but they're run by the foldin' green
Now there's a lot of folks looking over the edge of that plate we've piled so high
When they all decide to come over the border, time to kiss it all goodbye there'll be
No refuge, no respite, no sanctuary here
No refuge, no respite, no sanctuary here
No refuge, no respite, no sanctuary here
No refuge, no respite, no sanctuary here
No sanctuary here
No sanctuary here
The lyrics to Chris Jones's song "No Sanctuary Here" tackle the issues of displacement and injustice in society. The song begins with a reference to the biblical story of Joseph and Mary, who had to undertake a long journey due to a census ordered by Caesar, with Mary being heavily pregnant. They searched for a place to stay, but faced rejection and found no respite. This sets the stage for the main theme of the song, which is about how people continue to be denied basic rights and safety in contemporary society.
The second verse focuses on the story of Juan, his wife Juanita, and their child Miguel, who are trying to escape the drought and cross the border to find a better life. However, they are met with hostility by INS (Immigration and Naturalization Service) officials who have no mercy for their plight. The song highlights the struggles of immigrants, who are often stripped of their basic human rights, and the indifference or even hostility they face when seeking refuge.
The last verse of the song broadens the discussion to include the larger issue of wealth inequality, with the idea that the world is divided into the haves and have-nots, with very little in between. The institutions that claim to promote love and compassion for others are often more concerned with financial gain than the well-being of those they claim to serve. The lyrics point towards a future where the oppressed classes reach their limit and begin to rise up, with the implication that the world as we know it will cease to exist.
Overall, "No Sanctuary Here" is an indictment of the systems that perpetuate inequality, oppression and injustice. It is a call to arms for social change and a reminder that we all need to do our part to create a more just and equitable world.
Line by Line Meaning
Caesar called for a census, boss wants to know what's goin' on
The government wants to keep tabs on everyone's whereabouts.
So Joseph and Mary hit the road, with Mary nigh on nine months gone
They were forced to leave their home, even though Mary was heavily pregnant.
Now you know we're talkin' 'bout a hell of a walk and they had no place to stay
They had to endure a long, difficult journey with no shelter.
They tried the inns and the hotels, but the message was plain as day you get
They were turned away from every place they went, with no reason other than there being no room for them.
No refuge, no respite, no sanctuary here
There is no place for them to find safety or relief from their hardship.
Juan and his Juanita, and a baby boy they'd named Miguel
A family with a father, mother, and newborn child.
On the other side of the line it's heaven, on this side it's a livin' hell
Life is drastically different depending on what side of a border you're on.
So you do what it takes and you pull up stakes
People will go to extreme lengths to escape their circumstances.
Tryin' to escape the drought
The family is leaving an area suffering from drought and searching for a better life.
But when you get to the border the INS has got the welcome wagon out you get
Upon reaching the border, immigration officials are there to turn them back and deny them entry.
Now you got your haves and your have-nots, almost nothin' in between
The divide between the wealthy and poor is significant, with little middle ground.
Religions that preach about lovin' your brother, but they're run by the foldin' green
Religious institutions that claim to value compassion and love for others are often motivated by money and profit.
Now there's a lot of folks looking over the edge of that plate we've piled so high
Many people are beginning to question the divide between the rich and poor and the unequal distribution of resources.
When they all decide to come over the border, time to kiss it all goodbye there'll be
If the poor and marginalized populations of the world were to come together and demand more resources, the wealthy would lose their power and privilege.
No refuge, no respite, no sanctuary here
Even though there is enough to go around, those in power refuse to share and provide for those in need.
No sanctuary here
Those who are struggling to survive have no safe haven and are constantly on the move in search of a better life.
Contributed by Olivia R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.