Jars of Clay is a popular Christian alternative rock group formed while the… Read Full Bio ↴Jars of Clay is a popular Christian alternative rock group formed while the band members attended Greenville College in Greenville, Illinois, United States in 1992. The group's sound has varied over the years as the band has experimented with pop, folk, rock, trip-hop, gospel, and hymnsong. Their self-titled album featured layered acoustic guitars over programmed trip-hop beats. The song "Flood" was the band's biggest crossover hit, and it hit #37 on the Billboard Hot 100 as well as #12 on the Modern Rock chart.

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.

Gabriel's Message
Jars of Clay Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

The angel Gabriel from heaven came
His wings as drifted snow
His eyes as flame
"All hail" said he "thou lowly maiden Mary,
Most highly favoured maid," Gloria!

"For known a blessed mother thou shalt be,
All generations laud and honor thee,

Thy Son shall be Emanuel,
By seers foretold
Most highly favoured maid," Gloria!

Then gentle Mary meekly bowed her head
"To me be as it pleaseth God," she said,
"My soul shall laud and magnify his holy name."
Most highly favoured maid Gloria!

Of her Emanuel, the Christ was born
In Bethlehem all on a Christmas morn

And everyone throughout the world forever saved
Most highly favoured maid Gloria!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Jars of Clay's song, "Gabriel's Message", focus on the biblical story of the angel Gabriel's visit to Mary to announce that she would be the mother of the Son of God. The opening lines describe Gabriel's appearance – with wings like snow and eyes like flame – and his greeting to Mary, "All hail" and "Most highly favoured maid". These lyrics emphasize the divine nature of the encounter and suggest that Mary is being elevated to a position of great importance.

The second verse speaks of Mary's blessedness and her future as the mother of Emmanuel, a name that means "God with us". This verse references the prophecy of Isaiah, in which a virgin is said to give birth to a child who will be called Emmanuel. The lyrics suggest that Mary's role in this prophecy is being fulfilled and that she is an important figure in the history of salvation.

The final verse focuses on the birth of Christ and the salvation of humanity that it brings. The reference to "everyone throughout the world forever saved" suggests that the message of Gabriel's visit to Mary is one that has global significance and lasting impact.

Overall, the lyrics of "Gabriel's Message" emphasize the divine and miraculous nature of the story of Mary and the birth of Christ. They suggest that this story holds great meaning and importance for both individuals and the world as a whole.

Line by Line Meaning

The angel Gabriel from heaven came
The divine messenger named Gabriel descended from the heavens

His wings as drifted snow
He had wings that resembled snowflakes as light and pure as snow

His eyes as flame
His eyes were like fire, full of brilliance and intensity

"All hail" said he "thou lowly maiden Mary,
He greeted Mary by saying, "Rejoice, humble maiden Mary,

Most highly favoured maid," Gloria!
How blessed and highly esteemed you are," exclaimed the angel! Glory!

"For known a blessed mother thou shalt be,
You have been chosen to become a blessed mother

All generations laud and honor thee,
For all time, people will praise and respect you

Thy Son shall be Emanuel,
Your son will be called Emmanuel

By seers foretold
As the prophets had previously predicted

Most highly favoured maid," Gloria!
How blessed and highly favored you are," exclaimed the angel! Glory!

Then gentle Mary meekly bowed her head
Mary responded in a gentle, humble manner by bowing her head

"To me be as it pleaseth God," she said,
She submitted herself to God's desires by saying, "Let it be as God wills."

"My soul shall laud and magnify his holy name."
She promised to praise and exalt His holy name with all her soul.

Most highly favoured maid Gloria!
How blessed and highly favored you are," exclaimed the angel! Glory!

Of her Emanuel, the Christ was born
From Mary's womb, the Christ came into the world

In Bethlehem all on a Christmas morn
In Bethlehem, on a Christmas day morning

And everyone throughout the world forever saved
This event led to the eternal salvation of all people worldwide

Most highly favored maid Gloria!
How blessed and highly favored you are," exclaimed the angel! Glory!

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: EDGAR PETTMAN, SABINE BARING-GOULD

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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MCW

The angel Gabriel from heaven came,
His wings as drifted snow, his eyes as flame,
All hail, said he, thou lowly maiden Mary!
Most highly favoured Lady, Gloria!
For known a blessed mother thou shalt be,
All generations laud and honour thee,
Thy son shall be Emmanuel by seers foretold,
Most highly favoured Lady, Gloria!
Then gentle Mary meekly bowed her head,
“To me be as it pleaseth God,” she said,
“my soul shall laud and magnify his holy Name.”
Most highly favoured Lady, Gloria!
Of her, Emmanuel, the Christ, was born
in Bethlehem, all on a Christmas morn,
and lowly men throughout the world forever say,
Most highly favoured Lady, Gloria!