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.
BOYS
Jars of Clay Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A newborn king to see (pa-rum-pa-pum-pum)
Our finest gifts we bring (pa-rum-pa-pum-pum)
To lay before the king (pa-rum-pa-pum-pum, pa-rum-pa-pum-pum, pa-rum-pa-pum-pum)
So, to honor Him (pa-rum-pa-pum-pum)
When we come
Little baby (pa-rum-pa-pum-pum)
I have no gifts to bring (pa-rum-pa-pum-pum)
That's fit to give a king (pa-rum-pa-pum-pum, pa-rum-pa-pum-pum, pa-rum-pa-pum-pum)
Shall I play for you (pa-rum-pa-pum-pum)
On my drum?
Mary nodded (pa-rum-pa-pum-pum)
The ox and lamb kept time (pa-rum-pa-pum-pum)
I played my drum for Him (pa-rum-pa-pum-pum)
I played my best for Him (pa-rum-pa-pum-pum, pa-rum-pa-pum-pum, pa-rum-pa-pum-pum)
Then, He smiled at me (pa-rum-pa-pum-pum)
Me and my drum
The Jars of Clay's song Boys is a beautiful, heartfelt message from a father to his son, filled with lessons about life and its ups and downs. The song contains three verses, each of which contains a valuable lesson for the young boy to remember and live by. The first lesson is to never hide and to always face the world with honesty and courage. The second lesson is that there is always a right way to fight, and that one should never give up in the face of adversity. Finally, the third lesson is that the boy is not alone on his journey, and that he has a home to come back to no matter what.
The chorus of the song reinforces these lessons, reminding the boy that he knows who he is and what he wants in life. The journey may be a long one, but he will get there eventually if he stays true to himself and perseveres through hardships. The bridge of the song is particularly powerful, describing the passage of time and the loss of innocence that comes with growing up. The father warns his son that there will be liars and thieves who will take advantage of him, but that he is not defined by what happens to him and that he is loved unconditionally.
Overall, the lyrics to Boys are a reminder to cherish the moments of our lives and to never lose sight of what is truly important. The song speaks to the struggles of growing up and learning to navigate the world with grace and integrity. It is a message that resonates with people of all ages and speaks to the power of love, hope, and perseverance.
Line by Line Meaning
Lesson one - do not hide
The first lesson is to not hide your true self.
Lesson two - there are right ways to fight
The second lesson is that there are correct ways to handle and resolve conflicts.
And if you have questions
If you have any inquiries or uncertainties,
We can talk through the night
we can talk for as long as needed to find solutions.
So you know who you are
Once you have a better understanding of yourself,
And you know what you want
and have identified your goals,
I've been where you're going
I have experienced what you will go through
And it's not that far
and can affirm that the distance is not too great.
It's too far to walk
However, it is too far to make it unaided,
But you don't have to run
but that doesn't mean you have to hurry,
You'll get there in time
because with effort and persistence, you will reach your objective.
Lesson three - you're not alone
The third lesson is that you are not alone on this journey.
Not since I saw you start breathing on your own
I have been with you since birth and have witnessed your independence.
You can leave, you can run, this
You are always free to venture out,
Will still be your home
but remember that you always have a welcoming home to return to.
In time, to wonder where the days have gone
As you age, there will come a time for you to reminisce and ponder where the years have gone.
In time, to be old enough to
At such a time when you become old enough to
Wish that you were young
long for your youthful days.
When good things are unraveling,
During times when everything seems to be falling apart,
Bad things come undone
even negative events will eventually unravel.
You weather love and lose your innocence
During your life, you will experience love and inevitably lose your naivety and innocence.
There will be liars and
Along the way, you will encounter dishonest people who are,
Thieves who take from you
and those who steal from you.
Not to undermine the consequence
This is not to understate the effect that these people will have on you,
But you are not what you do
but it is important to remember that you are not defined by what others do to you.
And when you need it most
At the times when you require it the most,
I have a hundred reasons why I love you
I have numerous reasons why I love and care for you.
If you weather love and lose your innocence
If you survive through love and loss of innocence,
Just remember - lesson one
Remember the first lesson always.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, INTERNATIONAL KORWIN CORP, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Harry Simeone, Henry V Onorati, Katherine Kennicot Davis, Lorenzo Definti
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind