Jonah33 released their self-titled debut album in 2001. With moderate success under their belt, and a widely successful single titled "Faith Like That", they ventured into their sophomore release, "The Strangest Day". The group took a left turn with that release and decided to give the mainstream Christian music scene a try. They embedded themselves in Nashville, co-wrote some songs with some heavy hitters, teamed up with the "right" people, even went as far as to record a worship track that someone else wrote. But in the end, the band felt they were trying to please the machine instead of God.
So 2007 finds the band on a new page. They recently parted ways with their record label, Ardent Records, and were picked up by Ares records, an independent label out of Santa Cruz, California. Their 3rd album, "The Heart of War", is slated for a summer release, and by far promises to be the best yet. The group has taken on the theme of WWll for this album, stating that "The church has been swallowed in the worship movement, and we need to be reminded that we are at war. This life is a spiritual war."
Over 500,000 miles and three vans since their first tour in 2001, Jonah33 offers no signs of letting up. As a matter of fact, internally, they have never felt stronger. The new music they have come forward with on "The Heart of War" seems to reflect that. Taking a few years of pent up anger and aggression, sonically the group dove into a much darker side than fans may be used to. But they have also delivered a balance in lyrics that seem to explode with hope, encouragement and brutal honesty, something that seems to be lacking in today's ear tickling industry.
The Difference
Jonah33 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The four walls of this body
Rendered helpless, they cannot help the sick and dying
And the difference between them is gone
How can we say clearly?
CHORUS:
How can they see clearly if there's no evidence?
Each day we live the difference
Heaven help us, but they've already tried
And so we're left with one conclusion
Without Jesus we are nothing more than liars
Filled with grand illusion
How can they see clearly?
CHORUS
Bridge
You ask me
How can we be free from this demise we're in?
I tell you repentance
Repent from all this filthy sin
CHORUS
How can they see clearly?
We live the difference
In the opening lines of Jonah33's "The Difference", the lyrics talk about the battle between good and evil. The two opposing sides have seemingly come to an agreement and now occupy the same space within the confines of the human body. However, the resultant amalgamation facilitated by the body's limitations renders them incapable of helping the sick and dying. The once undecipherable distinction between good and evil no longer exists. The lyrics then raise the question of how clarity can ever be attained in such circumstances.
The chorus of the song echoes the song's central theme, highlighting the importance of evidence to convince individuals about the existence of good and evil. The lyrics imply that the difference can only be seen and believed when there is evidence to support it. The lyrics suggest that every moment of our lives, including our actions and words, is an opportunity to live out the difference in front of others.
The song makes a profound statement about the significance of belief in Jesus. It posits that humanity without Jesus is full of grand illusions that make us nothing more than liars. The lyrics suggest that Jesus is the only hope for liberation from this demise. In the bridge, the singer urges listeners to repent of their sins to be free from the grip of deception and join Jesus.
Line by Line Meaning
Good and evil decide to coincide inside
The internal struggle between good and evil is at play
The four walls of this body
This internal struggle happens within one's own self
Rendered helpless, they cannot help the sick and dying
Neither good nor evil alone can solve all problems
And the difference between them is gone
It is hard to tell the difference between good and evil
How can we say clearly?
It is difficult to discern what is right and wrong
Heaven help us, but they've already tried
External forces have already tried to help us
And so we're left with one conclusion
The conclusion is that we need more than external help
Without Jesus we are nothing more than liars
Without faith, we cannot be truthful to ourselves or others
Filled with grand illusion
We are deceiving ourselves with illusions of grandeur
How can they see clearly if there's no evidence?
People need visible proof to believe in something
They believe when they see
People only trust their eyes to believe something
Each day we live the difference
We experience the conflict between good and evil every day
You ask me
A hypothetical question is asked
How can we be free from this demise we're in?
How can we break free from our current destructive cycle?
I tell you repentance
The answer is to turn away from sin and seek forgiveness
Repent from all this filthy sin
We need to leave behind all our sinful behaviors
We live the difference
We must strive to make a difference in the world
Contributed by Adalyn S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.