At t… Read Full Bio ↴Jamestown Revival is an American rock duo from Magnolia, Texas.
At the heart of Jamestown Revival is a friendship that spans quite some years. Jonathan Clay and Zach Chance grew up together in the small Texas town of Magnolia. From a young age, they shared a love for music as well as the outdoors. About an hour north of Magnolia, Texas, there was some old family land with a dilapidated ranch house where they spent the better part of their adolescence.
At one point or another, music from Creedence Clearwater Revival and The Everly Brothers, to fellow Texans Willie Nelson, Guy Clark and Stevie Ray Vaughan found it’s way through an old pair of speakers that sat on the back porch. The pair spent the day exploring that thousand-acre plot of land, and when the sun went down they took to the records of the songwriters and bands that inspired them. At the age of 22, they moved to Austin and began to craft a sound of their own. Deeply rooted in harmony, they merged the sounds of the South with classic American and Western rock.
Looking for adventure, as well as a change of pace, they eventually made the decision to head west and make the move to Los Angeles, CA.
Throughout the course of the next 12 months, they wrote what is Jamestown Revival’s first full-length album, UTAH. It’s heavily autobiographical, telling the stories of their adventures, their discomforts, and their observations. In order to capture the spirit of the music, the two found a log cabin high within the Wasatch Mountains of Utah. The pair, along with their band and engineer, set out to convert it in to a temporary recording studio. With wild moose right outside the window, and aspen leaves spinning in the wind, they tracked the 11 songs that make up UTAH. Performed live, with no headphones, and entirely to tape, the process captured the moments in the room.
Jonathan Clay and Zach Chance have since moved back to Austin and signed a record deal with Republic Records. Adding to the already soulful album, the band has since re-released UTAH to feature three brand new arrangements of the signature tracks. Through constant touring, the songs took on a life of their own, and these arrangements better reflect the songs as they are today. Teaming up with Republic gave Jonathan and Zach the chance to add to the album without sacrificing what was special about the original UTAH. It was a chance to go back and record the growth that has occurred over the past year, and add to an already strong collection of recordings.
Heading out on the road somewhere… exploring far more than just that thousand-acre plot of land Jonathan and Zach look towards the future with UTAH.
Revival
Jamestown Revival Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I clung to her body that night pretending I was in love
See I've been told that this kinda living ain't right
But it becomes hard to fight when it fits like a glove
But I'm tired of dodging blows under the table
I can't do what I've been told
Living young while growing old
And I said that I'm just holding on for my survival
My wheels keep rolling on, even though my money's gone
But Imma go home and pray for a revival
See my father was raised straight from the salt of the earth
He taught me about a dollar bill's worth
He taught me how to survive
Can't be upset, losing my life to my work
Ain't easy and I know it's gonna hurt, but it keeps me alive
I said I think it's time for me to go while I'm still able
I can't do what I've been told
Living young while growing old
And I said that I'm just holding on for my survival
And I can't ever seem to let it be
My wheels keep rolling on, even though my money's gone
But Imma go home and pray for a revival
So I'm just holding on for my survival
And I can't ever seem to just let it be
My wheels keep rolling on even though my money's gone, but Imma go home and pray for a revival
Yay Imma go home and pray for a revival
Yay-ee-yay
In Jamestown Revival's song "Revival," the singer is reflecting on his life and the struggles he faces, both financially and emotionally. He clings to a woman for comfort but acknowledges that their relationship is not based on love. He feels trapped in a cycle of living young but growing old, unable to escape the expectations and pressures placed upon him. Despite his hardships, he holds onto the hope of a revival, a new beginning or a fresh start. He recognizes the lessons his father taught him about hard work and survival, but he knows that he needs to find his own path. Ultimately, the singer is holding on for his survival, hoping for a chance to start anew and leave his struggles behind.
The lyrics in "Revival" are deeply relatable and speak to the human experience of struggling to make ends meet, facing uncertainty and seeking hope in the face of hardship. The song's emotive and impassioned delivery, with a blend of folk and rock influences, makes it a powerful and moving composition. Jamestown Revival's music is known for its storytelling quality, and "Revival" is no exception. The song captures the essence of life's struggles and the human spirit's resilience in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
The air was cold, oh, and the money was tight
It was a difficult time, the atmosphere was cold and the financial situation wasn't great.
I clung to her body that night pretending I was in love
The singer found comfort in the physical proximity of their partner even though they weren't in love.
See I've been told that this kinda living ain’t right
The singer is aware that their lifestyle may not be the most ideal or appropriate.
But it becomes hard to fight when it fits like a glove
Even though the artist knows their lifestyle may not be the best, they find it difficult to let go because it's familiar and comfortable.
But I'm tired of dodging blows under the table
The artist is tired of the deceit and dishonesty involved to make things work and survive.
I can't do what I've been told
Living young while growing old
The singer doesn't want to follow the norm and be stuck in this lifestyle of struggling and surviving just to get by for the rest of their life.
And I said that I'm just holding on for my survival
And I can't ever seem to just let it be
The singer is barely holding on and can't seem to let go of the situation even though it's not sustainable.
My wheels keep rolling on, even though my money’s gone
But Imma go home and pray for a revival
Even though the artist is out of money, they still press on and are hopeful for a change in their situation.
See my father was raised straight from the salt of the earth
He taught me about a dollar bill's worth
He taught me how to survive
The artist's father taught them how to make a living and survive in a tough environment with hard work and making every dollar count.
Can't be upset, losing my life to my work
Ain't easy and I know it's gonna hurt, but it keeps me alive
The artist acknowledges the toll that their work takes on their personal life, but they know it's necessary for survival.
I said I think it's time for me to go while I'm still able
I can't do what I've been told
Living young while growing old
The singer realizes that it's time for a change and they don't want to continue the cycle of struggling and surviving just to get by.
So I'm just holding on for my survival
And I can't ever seem to just let it be
The artist is barely holding on to their situation and can't seem to let go even though it's not sustainable.
My wheels keep rolling on even though my money's gone, but Imma go home and pray for a revival
Even though the singer is out of money, they still press on and are hopeful for a change in their situation and they show this hope by praying for a revival.
Yay Imma go home and pray for a revival
The singer is determined to go home and hope for a better future, and they express this determination with a celebratory 'yay'.
Contributed by Avery L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.