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.
I Heard the Bells On Christmas Day
Jars of Clay Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
I thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
And in despair I bowed my head,
"There is no peace on earth," I said,
"For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men."
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
And in despair I bowed my head,
"There is no peace on earth," I said,
"For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men."
Of peace on earth, good will to men
Of peace on earth, good will to men
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth he sleep,
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men."
Till, ringing singing, on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,
Of peace on earth, good will to men!
The lyrics to Jars of Clay's song "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" reflect the mixed emotions the holiday season can bring, particularly in tumultuous times. The song begins by describing the familiar sound of Christmas bells and the hope they carry for peace on earth and goodwill towards all. However, the singer's optimism is short-lived as they recognize the reality of hate and despair in the world, causing them to doubt the possibility of true peace. This internal conflict ultimately leads the singer to a moment of despair where they lower their head and accept defeat.
But just as the singer seems to lose all hope, the bells ring out once again, louder and deeper. This time they carry a message of defiance against the forces of hatred and a reminder that God is not dead nor does he sleep. The song ends on a note of optimism as the bells continue to ring, signifying a turning point in the world from darkness to light and a beautiful sound of peace on earth and goodwill towards all.
Overall, "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" is a powerful reflection on the hope and despair that can coexist during the holiday season. Through its lyrics, the song acknowledges the harsh realities of the world while simultaneously reminding us of the beauty and power of hope.
Line by Line Meaning
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
The singer is hearing the bells ring on Christmas Day.
Their old familiar carols play,
The bells are playing traditional Christmas songs.
And wild and sweet the words repeat
The songs are sung with enthusiasm and sweetness.
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
The lyrics of the songs emphasize the theme of peace on earth and goodwill towards others.
I thought how, as the day had come,
The artist reflects on the meaning of Christmas as the day has arrived.
The belfries of all Christendom
The church bells of Christian communities around the world.
Had rolled along the unbroken song
The bells have been ringing out the same song for generations.
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
The message of peace on earth and goodwill towards others is a common thread among Christian communities.
And in despair I bowed my head,
The artist becomes despondent.
"There is no peace on earth," I said,
The artist declares that peace does not exist on earth.
"For hate is strong and mocks the song
The singer believes that hate overpowers the message of peace.
Of peace on earth, good will to men."
The theme of peace and goodwill towards others is being belittled by the strength of hate.
And in despair I bowed my head,
The singer becomes despondent once again.
"There is no peace on earth," I said,
The singer repeats their declaration that peace does not exist on earth.
"For hate is strong and mocks the song
The singer reiterates that hate belittles the message of peace.
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
The theme of peace and goodwill towards others is still overshadowed by hate.
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
Suddenly the ringing of the bells becomes louder and more intense.
"God is not dead, nor doth he sleep,
The message of the bells changes and declares that God is not absent or inactive.
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
The singer is hopeful that evil will ultimately lose and good will win.
With peace on earth, good will to men."
The theme of peace and goodwill towards others is finally coming to the forefront.
Till, ringing singing, on its way,
The bells continue to ring and sing.
The world revolved from night to day,
The world continued to turn from night to day.
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,
The sound of the bells is beautiful and profound.
Of peace on earth, good will to men!
The bells are finally ringing out the theme of peace and goodwill towards others.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP, Songtrust Ave
Written by: CHARLIE LOWELL, DAN HASELTINE, MATT ODMARK, STEPHEN DANIEL MASON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind