The following albums saw large shifts in style. Much Afraid saw them releasing gorgeous - sometimes brittle - music, which the Band intended to have a "timeless" sound, while If I Left the Zoo is a quirkier but musically brilliant album, featuring considerably more keys and experimentation. The Eleventh Hour is their first true "rock" album. They returned to acoustic guitars for the "Furthermore" project, which featured two EPs - a live disc and an acoustic disc. The band's 5th album, Who We Are Instead continued some of the band's earlier sonic experiments and showcased some new gospel, bluegrass, and hymnsong influences. The hymnsong approach was continued on an album of new arrangements of classic hymns - Redemption Songs.
Good Monsters was released on Sept. 05, 2006. The album was hailed by CCM Magazine as "Album of the Year" - a controversial move considering that this announcement was made in August. "Good Monsters" further showcases the diverse style of the venerable quartet and is considered by the band to be their first true "rock" record. It is a rock driven record with electric guitars having prevalence on more of the songs than any previous albums. The album also has other stylistic influences and even includes a choir of African school children, while lyrically, it hits the darker side of their self-shaped genre.
In 2007, Jars of Clay announced that they were leaving Essential Records and were creating their own record label, Gray Matters. Jars of Clay released Christmas Songs through Gray Matters in 2007, and the Closer EP was released in the Summer of 2008.
April 21, 2009 marked the release of The Long Fall Back to Earth, containing two tracks from the Closer EP and 12 additional tracks. Two Hands is the first single from that release.
Art in Me
Jars of Clay Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Speak of dream's descent
Washed away by the storms
To graves of cynical lament
Dirty canvases to call my own
Protest limericks carved
By the old pay phone
And in your picture book
I'm trying hard to see
Turning endless pages
Of this tragedy
Sculpting every move
You compose a symphony
And you plead to everyone
See the art in me
See the art in me
See the art in me
Broken stained glass windows
The fragments ramble on
Tales of broken souls
An eternity's been won
As critics scorn the thoughts
And works of mortal man
My eyes have drawn to you
In awe once again
[Chorus: x2]
The Jars of Clay's song "Art in Me" is a powerful message of resilience and creativity in the face of harsh criticism and cynicism. The lyrics describe a world where dreams are constantly being "washed away" by "storms" and where art is met with "cynical lament". The singer sees himself as an artist, with "dirty canvases" and "protest limericks carved" into the walls of a payphone booth. Despite this, he holds onto hope and continues to create, knowing that his art has the power to move people and touch their hearts.
The chorus of the song is particularly moving, with the singer pleading for others to "see the art in me". He describes his art as a symphony, with every move carefully crafted and every note building towards something greater. Even in the face of broken stained glass windows and the "tales of broken souls", he remains hopeful, drawing inspiration from a higher power and the beauty he sees in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Images on the sidewalk
The pictures on the sidewalk represent dreams that have been shattered.
Speak of dream's descent
The images on the sidewalk tell a story of how a dream has fallen apart.
Washed away by the storms
The dream was destroyed by hardships and obstacles.
To graves of cynical lament
The end result is a loss of hope and a sense of doom.
Dirty canvases to call my own
I have my own struggles and problems that I try to express through art.
Protest limericks carved
I express my dissent through a form of poetry and verse.
By the old pay phone
I express myself in public spaces where people have a chance to see and hear me.
[Chorus]
Despite all these obstacles and hardships, I keep trying to create art and be seen.
And in your picture book
I am now looking for inspiration or validation from someone else.
I'm trying hard to see
I am really hoping to find some sense of validation or encouragement.
Turning endless pages
I keep searching for something that will inspire or motivate me.
Of this tragedy
The search for validation feels like a never-ending, sad story.
Sculpting every move
Despite the hardships, I am still working hard to create meaningful art.
You compose a symphony
I am inspired by someone else's creativity and talent.
And you plead to everyone
This person is trying to inspire others as well, and encourages them to appreciate the arts.
See the art in me
They want others to see the potential in him despite the hardship and difficulties he has faced.
See the art in me
They reiterate the importance of recognizing one's own creative potential.
See the art in me
Once again, they encourage people to appreciate the value of the arts and creativity.
Broken stained glass windows
Another metaphor for brokenness and imperfection.
The fragments ramble on
The broken pieces continue to have an impact and tell a story.
Tales of broken souls
The fragments symbolize the struggles and hardships faced by people.
An eternity's been won
Despite these struggles, there is a sense of victory or hope that has been earned.
As critics scorn the thoughts
Despite the victory, there are still those who reject or criticize creative expression.
And works of mortal man
These critics reject creative works made by normal, everyday people.
My eyes have drawn to you
Despite the criticism, the singer is still inspired by their idol or source of creative inspiration.
In awe once again
This person is continually inspired and awed by the creative works of someone else.
[Chorus: x2]
Once again, the singer emphasizes the importance of recognizing one's own creative potential and expressing oneself through art.
Lyrics © CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP, Universal Music Publishing Group, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: CHARLIE LOWELL, DAN HASELTINE, MATTHEW RYAN BRONLEEWE, STEPHEN DANIEL MASON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind