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.
Sunny Days
Jars of Clay Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I think we're coming to a clearing and a brighter day
So far away. Still I think they say
The wait will make the heart grow stronger or fonder
I can't quite remember anyway
So if you're waitin' for love
If you don't mind believing that it changes everything
Then time will never matter
Winter, Spring, is what love can truly bring
Ice turns to water, water flows to everything
You can lose your mind, maybe then your heart you'll find
I hope you won't give up what's moving you inside
If the car won't start, when you turn the key
When the music comes on, all your cold, cold heart can do is skip a beat
It's a promise I'll keep
When you're waitin' for love
If you don't mind believing that it changes everything
Then time will never matter
The lyrics to Jars of Clay's "Sunny Days" create an uplifting atmosphere and speak to the idea of perseverance during trying times. The opening lines of "Sunny days keepin' the clouds away" provide optimism in the face of hardship, suggesting that a "clearing and a brighter day" is on the horizon. The song then explores the concept of waiting for love, acknowledging that it can be a difficult and sometimes discouraging process. However, the lyrics posit that such waiting can ultimately make the heart and love stronger or fonder.
Throughout the rest of the song, the lyrics extend the metaphor of winter turning into spring, emphasizing the idea that love can bring transformation and healing. The line "Ice turns to water, water flows to everything" evokes feelings of fluidity and ease, suggesting that love can break down barriers and bring joy to all aspects of life. The song concludes with a repetition of the promise that love is worth waiting for and that it has the power to change everything, regardless of the passage of time.
Line by Line Meaning
Sunny days keepin' the clouds away
Good times are making us forget our problems and bringing us closer to a brighter future.
I think we're coming to a clearing and a brighter day
I am certain that the future is looking up for us, and we are moving towards better times.
So far away. Still I think they say
Though the good times feel far away, it is often said that distance makes the heart grow fonder or stronger. I am not sure which one is true.
The wait will make the heart grow stronger or fonder, I can't quite remember anyway
Waiting for something can either make us love it more or give us strength when we finally get it. However, I am uncertain which one applies here.
So if you're waitin' for love, well it's a promise I'll keep
If you are looking for love, I can guarantee that I will be true to my word and never let you down.
If you don't mind believing that it changes everything, Then time will never matter
If you are willing to trust that love can make all the difference, then it won't matter how long it takes to find it.
Winter, Spring, is what love can truly bring
Love can bring about the changing of the seasons, from a cold winter to a vibrant spring where new life blossoms.
Ice turns to water, water flows to everything
Love has the power to melt away the pain and coldness in our lives, and make us feel alive with renewed energy and fluidity.
You can lose your mind, maybe then your heart you'll find
Sometimes we have to let go of our rational thoughts and allow ourselves to be vulnerable in order to truly find love in our hearts.
I hope you won't give up what's moving you inside
It is my deepest desire that you will never stop pushing towards the things that move and inspire you from within.
If the car won't start when you turn the key, When the music comes on, all your cold, cold heart can do is skip a beat
Even when life's circumstances seem stagnant and difficult, music and love have the power to make our hearts beat with joy and hope.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: CHARLIE LOWELL, DAN HASELTINE, MATT ODMARK, STEPHEN DANIEL MASON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind