"I was a child of the 1980's," he explains, laughing. "I was strong-willed and gregarious, and that was what I thought I wanted.”
By his 17th birthday, drenched in youthful discovery and freshly home from a year abroad, he immersed himself in friendship, philosophy, music, the search for self, connection and relationships undefined...following in the footsteps of his parents journey.
Several years would pass. Los Angeles would attempt to consume another. SAG cards acquired, glimpses of possible meaning and fleeting creativity came and went as quickly as the T.V. and indie film sets they accompanied.
But this path would end in a single night. "I lost somebody, in a way that shattered me. And one night I had a dream. A vivid, life changing image of who I was, of whom I had to be. I could see myself, clear and alive. I knew my meaning, if only for that moment."
He hesitates to reveal any details; "I basically opened the windows of my apartment and sat with a hazy gaze in the midnight black and, for two years, with my bare feet sliding on the cold wood floor I curled over the piano and sang into an old microphone trying to make sense of everything." Now, having just finished recording his debut album, Alive & Screaming, at Hollywood's Engine Room Studios, Jake says, with quiet confidence, "I think the world was conspiring for me to go in this direction."
Indeed Jake began performing in earnest only a couple years back, but his regular gigs at L.A.'s celebrated Hotel Café quickly became legendary among his legions of devoted fans. Jake displays an unusual interest in – and aptitude for – forging a meaningful connection with his audience. "I don’t just sit up there and sing,” he says. “I tell stories. I play my piano with every ounce of emotion that I possibly can."
Jake's soaring, melodic, heartfelt music, coupled with his distinctively emotive velvet gravel voice- which is aesthetically informed by a steady childhood diet of Joni Mitchell, Carole King, Cat Stevens, Bruce Springsteen and Neil Young – is both intensely personal and universal. "I want to be as raw and truthful as I can. When I'm playing a show, I try and engage myself fully with every person, as if it were just our time."
"If I haven't made half of the audience cry, not out of sadness, but out of hope, then I haven't done my job, or lived up to my dream. I am trying to inspire them to remember what it is they are seeking."He pauses and smiles with a look of heartache, " For hope is so easily swept away by the storms of our lives."
We Are
Jake Walden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's a dark and lonely morning
Another day to rise and turn alone
I keep telling myself it's a lot to hope for
But in the end it's all that I know
So take a look around you now, take a look around
We're so afraid to catch the eyes and try
Try in all the raw and all the glory
Try through the ache of need in God and Love, so hear it now say
We are, we are, we are not broken
We are, we are, we are not broken anymore
So take me on a walk today
Let me in on lessons of your life
It takes a lot to love, but even more to hide
And it's only time
So take a look around you now, take a look around
There's so much to see beyond the lies
And try to believe in another
Try in all the raw and all the Glory
Try through the ache of need in God and Love, so hear it now say
We are, we are, we are not broken
We are, we are, we are not broken
It takes a lot to love
But it's only time
So we are, we are, we are not broken
We are, we are, we are not broken
We are, we are, we are not broken
We are, we are, we are not broken… anymore
In Jake Walden's song "We Are," the lyrics convey a sense of loneliness and hopelessness that one feels in the morning, but it also advocates for hope, love, and belief. The opening lines of the song, "I take a look around me now, It's a dark and lonely morning, Another day to rise and turn alone," paints a picture of the singer feeling disconnected and isolated from the world.
The chorus, "We are, we are, we are not broken, We are, we are, we are not broken anymore," points to the idea that though life can be tough and it's easy to feel broken, we are all capable of surviving and thriving. The repetition of "we are" emphasizes unity and solidarity.
The bridge, "So take me on a walk today, Let me in on lessons of your life, It takes a lot to love, but even more to hide, And it's only time," suggests that we can learn from each other and that it's important to open up and be vulnerable.
Overall, the message of the song seems to be that while life can be difficult, we should strive to believe in ourselves and each other in order to heal and thrive together.
Line by Line Meaning
I take a look around me now
Observing the current situation around the singer.
It's a dark and lonely morning
The state of the morning is unpleasant.
Another day to rise and turn alone
Beginning another day without companionship.
I keep telling myself it's a lot to hope for
Encouraging oneself to hope for a better future.
But in the end it's all that I know
In conclusion, holding on to the hope for a better future is all the artist has.
We're so afraid to catch the eyes and try
People tend to fear making eye contact and attempt to connect with others.
Try to believe in another
Make an effort to believe in others who appear different.
Try in all the raw and all the glory
Attempt to engage in all types of situations regardless of how 'uncomfortable' or 'ugly' it might get.
Try through the ache of need in God and Love, so hear it now say
Attempt to persevere through difficulties with the strength of faith and love.
We are, we are, we are not broken
Humans are imperfect, but they are not completely shattered pieces.
So take me on a walk today
Asking someone else to provide guidance and direction.
Let me in on lessons of your life
Asking for insight and understanding based on the experiences of others.
It takes a lot to love, but even more to hide
Loving someone genuinely is challenging, but concealing one's true nature is even more difficult.
There's so much to see beyond the lies
Looking beyond the things that are misleading will reveal the truth.
We are, we are, we are not broken anymore
Humans are not so destroyed that they cannot be restored.
It takes a lot to love
Loving someone is challenging.
But it's only time
However, the effects of love or the lack thereof will only be apparent with time.
Contributed by Violet S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@nathancieszynski6232
I have no idea how I have never heard of you before. This just cut to the core of my soul.
@waynefine
Jake Walden has touched my life and enriched it. Finding his music is so amazing. While my vote my not amount to much, Jake Walden is brilliant. Thank you for your voice and music. Wayne
@secondchanceabstract
Still love this song Jake.
@jackyreres
Terribly, terribly proud of the best man in my life. :)
@ekiredeirf
lovely, just lovely. You really got me again. So happy I found out about you and your music... Touching and something that will stay forever in my heart...
@blabaw
I love it! You two do an amazing arrangement. Love you two!!! Brenda
@jacobthompson6480
a big fan just wish more of your videos were available
@ryanwoodardrocks7
My guy, his piano sounds great.
@MoneyLoaf
Ryan Woodard Rocks ya definitely
@harkmefti
Wow! I just went to Itunes and downloaded this song. Very nice!!