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.
Frail
Jars of Clay Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've always been a fool
I fear this love reaction
Just like you said I would
A rose could never lie
About the love it brings
And I could never promise
[Chorus]
If I was not so weak
If I was not so cold
If I was not so scared of being broken
Growing old
I would be
I would be
I would be
Blessed are the shallow
Depth they'll never find
Seemed to be some comfort
In rooms I try to hide
Exposed beyond the shadows
You take the cup from me
Your dirt removes my blindness
Your pain becomes my peace
[Chorus]
Frail
by Jars of Clay is a song that delves into the singer's self-doubt and fear of vulnerability. The first two lines from the opening verse set the tone for the entire song, with the singer admitting their own self-deception and foolishness. The fear of being hurt is palpable in the line "I fear this love reaction / Just like you said I would." It's almost as if the singer is expecting to be hurt despite wanting to love fully.
The chorus of the song is especially poignant. The singer lists all the things they believe hold them back from being truly happy, ranging from weakness and coldness to fear of aging and being broken. The repetition of the phrase "I would be" reinforces the idea that the singer wants to be more, to break free from their insecurities and live life to the fullest. But they feel held back by their own fear and doubt, unable to reach their full potential.
The second verse brings in imagery of hiding and shallow comfort, themes that further emphasize the singer's fear of vulnerability. But then something shifts in the song. The singer speaks of being exposed and having a cup taken from them. This cup is likely a reference to the cup of suffering that Jesus drank from in the Garden of Gethsemane. The lines "Your dirt removes my blindness / Your pain becomes my peace" speak of the transformative power of faith and belief.
Overall, Frail is a powerful and deeply introspective song that touches on themes of fear, vulnerability, and faith.
Line by Line Meaning
Convinced of my deception
I am aware of my own deceit
I've always been a fool
I have consistently made foolish choices
I fear this love reaction
I am afraid of how love will change me
Just like you said I would
I am experiencing what you predicted
A rose could never lie
Love is always truthful
About the love it brings
Love brings only love
And I could never promise
I cannot make any guarantees
To be any of those things
I cannot be what you want me to be
[Chorus]
Refrain
If I was not so weak
If I was stronger
If I was not so cold
If I was warmer
If I was not so scared of being broken
If I wasn't so afraid of being hurt
Growing old
Aging
I would be
I could be
I would be
I could be
I would be
I could be
Blessed are the shallow
Ignorance is bliss
Depth they'll never find
They will never truly understand
Seemed to be some comfort
It's easier this way
In rooms I try to hide
I retreat to find solace
Exposed beyond the shadows
I'm forced to confront my issues
You take the cup from me
You relieve me of my burdens
Your dirt removes my blindness
Your pain shows me the truth
Your pain becomes my peace
In your suffering, I find peace
[Chorus]
Refrain
Frail
Humanity is weak and vulnerable
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: CHARLIE LOWELL, DAN HASELTINE, MATT ODMARK, STEPHEN DANIEL MASON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind