To better understand his future, Jason is diving headlong into his past. In moving forward, he is exploring his roots, stripping his music to its most vulnerable core and paying homage to the artists that have touched his life, and the music that has shaped his soul.
“One of the things I've always loved to do is just sit around with an acoustic guitar and sing,” says Miller. “I’m a true believer that if a song doesn't sound good with just a singer and a guitar, then it's probably not a very good song.”
That principle has been at the core of Godhead’s music for years, and it is that same principle that is at the heart of his performances as a solo artist. “I want to present new songs with minimal instrumentation, letting the audience hear them in their purest form,” he states, citing an array of influences so vast, it’s no wonder his songwriting is so profound.
Godhead fans know the influence of Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Robert Smith and Peter Murphy on the band, but as a solo artist, Miller expands his palette to more reverently reflect the songwriters that truly define his roots as a singer, songwriter and performer: Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Kris Kristofferson, Fleetwood Mac, Willie Nelson… The inspirations are as vast as the artist they inspired.
“When I was young, my father used to sing me James Taylor songs to help me fall asleep, and growing up I always loved roots rock artists like Neil Young, Fleetwood Mac and Van Morrison,” he says. “If you are a Godhead fan for our hard beats, heavy riffs and industrial programming, you may find my solo material challenging, but that’s okay. If you are a fan of my vocal lines, lyrics and melodies, I think you are going to really enjoy what you hear. Recording without a band is a very big departure for me, but don’t get me wrong, everything you hear is still very much me.”
One wouldn’t be wrong to say that it’s more him, actually. Miller doesn’t abandon the darker tones that mark his material with Godhead, but as a solo artist he strips that darkness to its starkest, most primal essence, exploring the shadowy depths of country, folk, blues and Americana. It is beautiful and barren, humble and honest, naked and exposed, soulful and spirited…
It is the sound of an artist spreading his wings and setting himself free.
It is Jason Charles Miller.
The History…
Jason C. Miller is an accomplished and multi-faceted performer, with more than a decade of professional experience as a musician, songwriter, actor and voice personality.
Miller is most widely recognized as the frontman of the alternative rock band Godhead, the only band ever signed to Marilyn Manson’s Posthuman Records. The band has sold more than 200,000 albums, and toured the world with the likes of Manson, Ozzy Osbourne, Disturbed, Slipknot, Rammstein and Korn frontman Jonathan Davis. Godhead received a gold record for their placement on the Queen of the Damned soundtrack, and Miller has another gold record for the song “The End Has Come,” which he wrote with former Evanescence guitarist Ben Moody for the movie The Punisher.
As a songwriter, Miller wrote the all-star collaboration “Forever In Our Hearts” to benefit victims of the 2004 tsunami in South Asia. Performers on the track included Brian McKnight, Mya, Jacoby Shaddix [Papa Roach], Josh Freese, Nate Dogg and more. In addition to Moody, he has also written with Manson and Jeordie White [Nine Inch Nails/Marilyn Manson].
He has been featured on the pages of international magazines including Rolling Stone, Billboard and Guitar World, and has appeared worldwide on MTV, MTV2, VH1 and Fuse.
On screen, Miller most recently appeared in the Sci-Fi Network movie Battle Planet, and starred in and co-produced the independent short film “Everyday Joe,” which won an Audience Award at the eighth annual Valley Film Fest, in November 2008. Also in 2008, he portrayed Nosferatu in four Comedy Central commercials for Lewis Black’s Root of All Evil stand-up special, and also appeared in Day of the Dead, Steve Miner’s remake of George Romero’s classic zombie film.
As a voice actor, Jason C. Miller can be heard on more than 40 different animated series and video games.
Raised in rural Virginia near Washington D.C., Miller has been singing and acting since the age of five, appearing onstage throughout Maryland, Washington D.C. and Virginia. He attended George Mason University, where he formed the band Godhead and signed his first recording contract, a multi-album deal with Sol 3 Records that offered him his first exposure to international audiences.
The River
Jason Charles Miller Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Can't even remember what I got to sell my soul
Well it's all kinda blurry, can't see through the haze
So I'm down on my knees just praying for better days
Well I know it wasn't love, and I know it wasn't money
It might as well been liquor cause my head feels kinda funny
And I know it wasn't strength, and I know it wasn't power
Cause I'm going blind getting weaker by the hour
Oh it must have been the river
Cause it keeps calling me back home, back home
Every ripple's just another memory, every wave's another sweet song
Bout the years gone by and the tales of right and wrong
So looked into the water
Yeah I looked down deep
And then the darkness looked back
And said, "Your soul is mine to keep!"
So I jumped into that shameful cold
Wrestled old man river for my sinful soul
As he dragged me to the bottom
I lost my last breath
So I put him in a stranglehold
And I dug him out of that deep dark cold
And I ripped my spirit from his withered hands
Oh, you can't trust that river
If he's calling you, you best just walk on by, walk on by
Breathing hard by the river, crawling away from the shore
Ain't gonna turn my back on the river no more
In Jason Charles Miller's song The River, the singer is kneelng down beside a river, gold-panning, and realizing that he cannot recall what he sold his soul for. He has a hazy memory, and he prays for a better set of days. Although he does not remember what he sold his soul for, the singer understands that it wasn't power, money, love, or strength. It was more like how it feels after consuming liquor, with a brain that is a bit foggy, and he is getting weaker with every passing moment. The river, with its callings back “home,” is the only constant, and every ripple is a memory that is etched into the singer's mind. Every wave is a haunting reminder of days gone by, of choices that were made, and of the morality of right vs wrong. In desperation, the singer looks deep into the water, and he falls into the river's deep abyss. The cold water-cold water takes his soul away. He fights against "old man river" and struggles to breathe, but he manages to grab hold of him with a stranglehold, and he recovers his soul from the river. The singer's experience demonstrates how the river is a symbol of temptation and reproach for past sins, with the lesson that one should never trust the river.
Line by Line Meaning
Kneeling down by the river, another day panning for gold
Engaged in unfulfilling and fruitless work at the river, hoping for a big payout
Can't even remember what I got to sell my soul
I've given up so much for so little, it's not even clear what I was trying to gain anymore
Well it's all kinda blurry, can't see through the haze
So I'm down on my knees just praying for better days
My life feels aimless and I'm hoping for something better, but I can't see clearly enough to find it
Well I know it wasn't love, and I know it wasn't money
It might as well been liquor cause my head feels kinda funny
I sacrificed something important for something fleeting, and it's made me feel empty and uncertain
And I know it wasn't strength, and I know it wasn't power
Cause I'm going blind getting weaker by the hour
Whatever I gave up made me weaker and less capable, and I don't know if I'll ever be able to get it back
Oh it must have been the river
Cause it keeps calling me back home, back home
The source of my problems is always lurking in the background, tempting me to come back and try again
Every ripple's just another memory, every wave's another sweet song
Bout the years gone by and the tales of right and wrong
The river is full of history and stories, both good and bad, and they're all just memories now
So looked into the water
Yeah I looked down deep
And then the darkness looked back
And said, "Your soul is mine to keep!"
When I took a really close look at myself and my choices, I saw something dark and ominous staring back at me
So I jumped into that shameful cold
Wrestled old man river for my sinful soul
As he dragged me to the bottom
I lost my last breath
I tried to confront my problems head on, but it nearly killed me and didn't solve anything
So I put him in a stranglehold
And I dug him out of that deep dark cold
And I ripped my spirit from his withered hands
I fought back and took control of my own destiny, freeing myself from the grip of my problems
Oh, you can't trust that river
If he's calling you, you best just walk on by, walk on by
The river will always be there, but it's not worth risking everything to try and get something from it that it can't provide.
Writer(s): Jason Charles Miller, Bart Allmand
Contributed by Julian S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@LoroSilva-s6t
Red Sun Red Sun over paradise
Red Sun Red Sun over paradise
Golden rays of the glorious sunshine
Sending down such a blood-red light
Now the animals slowly retreat
To the shadows out of sight
Arid winds blow across the mountains
Giving flight to the birds of prey
In the distance machines come
To transform Eden day by day
Only love is with us now Something warm and pure
Find the peace within ourselves No need for a cure
When the wind is slow And the fire’s hot
The vulture waits to see what rots
Oh pretty all the scenery
This is nature’s sacrifice
When the air blows through
With a brisk attack
The reptile tail ripped from its back
When the Sun sets
We will not forget
The Red Sun over paradise
Red sun
@adrianacazador
This is such a badass song. Heavy and powerful, your band mates bring the same energy too. ALSO, the shots and lighting and composition are so good.. Andrew & the crew did a wonderful job making this possible. Honored to be a part of it as a river siren along with the other beautiful and talented actresses. One of the best shoots Ive ever been on. Kick ass! 🤘🏼🤘🏼
@cironovanta90
Adriosaaaa Congratulations!!! 🤩🎉🎉🎉 (CiroNovanta)
@m118lr
@dada dadidadu …agreed. It’s NOT. As for ‘Adriana’..you’re very pretty, as are 1 or 2 others. But YOU CAN DO BETTER..
@brianadecoster1663
This song and video are just chefs kiss! Such a phenomenal job from everyone involved!
@consco3667
Just saw this! Wow! Great job all. Love this. From a 61 YO rocker
@wizoatonz
This song ROCKS, it is so awesome!
@skalinzer
i've discovered you from FFXIV, and you are my greatest discover for 2023 and 2024 ! so good music and voice ! greeting from France !
@JasonCharlesMiller
Awesome! Thank you! Bonjour!
@jenniferrathie-wright9604
Love the heaviness of this version!! Such a good song
@pattihowen7731
Oh! Hell Yeah! Powerful song!