Garrels has been a lot of things: son of a hippie commune, skater boy,
suburban drug dealer, music/design student, coffee roaster, urban shepherd, and now nation- and globe-trotting minstrel of hope and healing.
He is also a beacon of light in a marketplace rife with artists who, whether wanting to acquire fame or just their next meals, have sold their souls to the not-so-almighty dollar and forsaken their first loves – the song – in the process. Garrels’ rogue ethic first led him to self-record, -produce, and -distribute a trio of early recordings, Stone Tree (2002), Underquiet (2003), and Over Oceans (2006), each a holy merging of sampled beats; plaintive, soulful vocals; and earnest acoustic strumming over unabashedly lo-fi production.
Despite fielding offers from major labels, Garrels retained a marked distrust for the recording industry (and it is just that) and, with the release of Over Oceans, formed his own little label that could: Small Voice Records. He also formed a humble but subtly mighty union with one Michelle Ramsdale, whose art has accompanied his aural musings on both Over Oceans and the subsequent Jacaranda album (2008).
It was the recording and producing of Jacaranda that proved a turning point for team Garrels. Housed in an old, rural mansion – a friend’s donated respite on an Indiana river in the woods – Josh and Michelle set to fashioning a home for themselves; crafting his best, tightest collection of songs to date; and creating a baby girl (née Heron Selah Garrels) all at once. The album itself became his most critically lauded so far, and the single “Don’t Wait For Me” was used in a scene on CBS drama “The Ghost Whisperer.”
Josh Garrels’ music is always equal parts confidence and vulnerability. That may seem a dichotomy – and then you hear him. Those trademark vibrant trills, lyricism chock-full of an earthy gusto and the search for God both, and the tapping and slapping against his trusty homemade acoustic axe – the sum of it is an amalgam of sound like precious few before or beside him.
“Fight or flight” is simplistic phrasing for the choice we often have in life’s trying situations. In his gritty formative years the former there was Josh Garrels’ strategy, but since his coming of age (and of belief) and his entrance into bona fide adulthood, within and without, his modus operandi has become flight. Flight as in lift-off, ascension. Rising above. Yea, the name of his young daughter is shared with a bird. Flight is a fixture, and wings a metaphor, in both the love story that Josh and Michelle grew and in the visual and musical arts that both have cultivated.
“My hope is to record at least an album a year for many years to come,” Garrels says, “probably continuing to record myself with my own home studio.” To borrow another well-worn axiom: If it’s not broken, don’t fix it. A minimalist website and album sales at live shows eventually thrust Josh Garrels into the arena where he now resides.
Garrels has always sought to inject his ears and his mind with a wide swath of influences. Early on it was Cat Stevens and De La Soul, and then those gave way to honchos of east-coast hip-hop the likes of the Wu-Tang Clan and A Tribe Called Quest. The mellowing – and yet, ironically, the lionizing – of his head, heart, and soul are evident in his budding young-adult affinities for the sounds of Bob Dylan and Digable Planets, Ben Harper and Gustavo Santaolalla.
Despite being his cherished mentors of music, none of these established artists would make Garrels blink were he to meet them. “In a media-saturated pop culture society where ‘stars’ are the royalty to be worshipped or fawned over, I believe the true role of artists is to serve others with their creations, “ Garrels says. “That means to draw people to fullness of life through revelation, longing, breakthroughs, simple beauty, and unpretentious truths. Artists help people see the obvious, the heart of the matter, and from this regained perspective people become more fully human. So much art these days has people focusing on an unattainable fantasy, lusting over what they'll never have unless they take it by force or by way of money or libido. This is all candy, and candy can't make a man healthy.”
Indeed, and “candy” is the last word for describing Josh Garrels, his life and his tunesmithing. He harmonizes and he freestyles, apt to lift a glitch beat or an accordion to the song at hand, whatever it demands. His latest, Lost Animals (2009), features a sonic quilt of singles, Jacaranda B-sides, soundtrack work, and collaborations. Originally intended as an EP, it outgrew those trappings and emerged a full-length weighing in at 10 songs.
As outgrowing goes, native Michigander Garrels and his family shed their initial digs in Indianapolis, that urban epicenter of gorgeous, golden cornfields, and took to North Carolina for a year to grieve with dear ones a death in the clan. Heartfelt time spent in Carolina bowed out gracefully to their nascent residence in Portland, Oregon, specifically the diverse and progressive artists’ haven that is the Mississippi/Alberta district.
For all the beats and world instruments and innovative guitar work, it will always be about the words with Josh Garrels. His stuff is drenched in musings that encompass time-worn theology and pastoral wonderment, that delight in the fauna of this world and a faith in another still to come. “Has this world been so kind to you that you should leave with regret? There are better things ahead than any we leave behind.” So said the writer C. S. Lewis, and so echo the visceral yearnings, sometimes verbose yet often as unintelligible as the melodies on some of his best tracks, that make up this well-traveled troubadour’s trunk full of songs.
Bread & Wine
Josh Garrels Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Take my hand, I’ve been a lonesome man, took a while to understand
There's some things we can’t live without,
A man’s so prone to doubt,
Faithful are the wounds from friends.
So give it just a little time,
Share some bread and wine
My friend
Walls fall down, where there’s a peaceful sound, lonely souls hang around
Don’t be shy, there’s nothing left to hide, come on let’s talk a while
Of the places we left behind,
No longer yours and mine
But we could build a good thing here too
So give it just a little time,
Share bread and wine
Weave your heart into mine
If I fall, I fall alone, but two can help to bear the load
A threefold chord is hard to break
All I have I give to you if you will share your sorrows too,
Then joy will be the crown upon our heads
My friend
The lyrics of Josh Garrels’s song “Bread & Wine” speak to the human need for companionship and the difficulty of finding genuine connections with others. The first stanza acknowledges the importance of having someone to lean on, someone “to hold on” to when life becomes overwhelming. The singer admits that he has been a “lonesome man,” suggesting that he has struggled to find such a person, but he now understands the necessity of having someone by his side. The second stanza emphasizes the importance of friendship and the fact that it requires vulnerability and time to develop. The singer suggests that some things are essential for human survival, such as trust and faith, which can only be strengthened through the wounds and challenges that come from being in a relationship. The chorus of the song encourages the listener to be patient and work on developing meaningful connections with others, as there is great value in cultivating such relationships.
The bridge of the song emphasizes the importance of community and the fact that it can serve as a safe haven for those who are struggling. Walls can come down when there is a peaceful sound, and lonely souls can find comfort in the presence of others. The singer encourages the listener to open up and share their experiences, even the ones that might be painful, so that they can build something good together. The final verses of the song return to the idea that having someone to share life’s joys and sorrows with is essential. The singer admits that he is willing to bear the load of his own struggles, but he recognizes that it is easier to do so when there is someone else there to help carry the weight. The image of the crown suggests that joy and fulfillment can come from sharing life with others and forming genuine connections.
Overall, “Bread & Wine” speaks to the essential nature of human connection and the difficulty of finding it in a world that often values individualism and self-reliance. The lyrics encourage the listener to be patient and vulnerable, to give themselves time to develop meaningful relationships and to trust that the wounds and challenges that come with those relationships are worth it in the end.
Line by Line Meaning
I was wrong, everybody needs someone, to hold on
Admits that he was wrong about not needing anyone. Everyone needs someone to hold onto for support and comfort.
Take my hand, I’ve been a lonesome man, took a while to understand
Acknowledges that he has been lonely and didn't realize the value of having someone until now.
There's some things we can’t live without,
Some things are essential and necessary for living.
A man’s so prone to doubt,
A man is naturally inclined to have doubts and fears.
Faithful are the wounds from friends.
Friends can help us grow by telling us the truth, even if it hurts.
So give it just a little time,
Things take time and patience to develop.
Share some bread and wine
Sharing a meal can bring people together and form bonds.
Weave your heart into mine,
Connecting at a deeper level by sharing stories, experiences and emotions.
My friend
Addressing someone who he considers as a friend.
Walls fall down, where there’s a peaceful sound, lonely souls hang around
When there is peace, it can break down barriers and people who are lonely can find comfort together.
Don’t be shy, there’s nothing left to hide, come on let’s talk a while
Invite someone to open up, talk and share their thoughts and feelings.
Of the places we left behind,
Reflecting on the past, places where they used to be.
No longer yours and mine
The past is gone, it belongs to no one but memories.
But we could build a good thing here too
There is potential to create something good in the present and the future.
If I fall, I fall alone, but two can help to bear the load
It's okay to fall but it's better to have someone there to pick you up and help carry the burden.
A threefold chord is hard to break
Together, as three people, they can create an unbreakable bond with the strength of a chord.
All I have I give to you if you will share your sorrows too,
Offering to give everything he has if the other person is also willing to share and be vulnerable.
Then joy will be the crown upon our heads
Through sharing and supporting each other, they will find joy and happiness.
My friend
Reiterating that the other person is a friend whom he values.
Contributed by Lucy P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Paula Murphy-Gibson
I was wrong, everybody needs someone, to hold on
Take my hand, I've been a lonesome man, took a while to understand
There's some things we can't live without,
A man's so prone to doubt,
Faithful are the wounds from friends.
So give it just a little time,
Share some bread and wine
Weave your heart into mine,
My friend
Walls fall down, where there's a peaceful sound, lonely souls hang around
Don't be shy, there's nothing left to hide, come on let's talk a while
Of the places we left behind,
No longer yours and mine
But we could build a good thing here too
So give it just a little time,
Share bread and wine
Weave your heart into mine
If I fall, I fall alone, but two can help to bear the load
A threefold chord is hard to break
All I have I give to you if you will share your sorrows too,
Then joy will be the crown upon our heads
My friend
Irene Owens
This was my first dance song at my wedding! Beautiful
Mary Winfrey
Sometimes I'll hear a song and I just can't help but thank God for the gift He gave to create such a beautiful sound. Songs that crush my heart from joy and thanksgiving, that move under my skin, a voice that hits every heart wrenching nerve inside of me - I just can't help but worship. Josh, there are very few like you - just a handful that cause me to worship this way. I'm so thankful for your music. Don't. Ever. Stop.
Dulce Jocelyn
What Mary said‼️🙌
Ride Alongside
Thanks for weaving your heart into mine, my friend.
This song has been a soundtrack for my life over the last few years.
Wonderful production on this video. Please make more like this. Great audio quality, wonderful shots, great location.
😃👍
Paula Murphy-Gibson
I was wrong, everybody needs someone, to hold on
Take my hand, I've been a lonesome man, took a while to understand
There's some things we can't live without,
A man's so prone to doubt,
Faithful are the wounds from friends.
So give it just a little time,
Share some bread and wine
Weave your heart into mine,
My friend
Walls fall down, where there's a peaceful sound, lonely souls hang around
Don't be shy, there's nothing left to hide, come on let's talk a while
Of the places we left behind,
No longer yours and mine
But we could build a good thing here too
So give it just a little time,
Share bread and wine
Weave your heart into mine
If I fall, I fall alone, but two can help to bear the load
A threefold chord is hard to break
All I have I give to you if you will share your sorrows too,
Then joy will be the crown upon our heads
My friend
Laura Goldenberg
Such beautiful lyrics❤🙏🏻❤
Cary Espy
Thanks so much for the lyrics brother!!! I have loved Josh for many year’s. There is nothing that sounds like Josh. Peace
Joseph Gamelin
I'm a super huge fan of your work and how the Lord is working through the gift He gave you reaching out to those of us who need your message
David Shou
"All I have I give to you
if you will share your sorrows too,
Then joy will be the crown upon our heads
My friend"
Beautiful!! :)
Merideth Johnson
I have no words for how beautiful this song is...😢 Thank you so much for sharing your passion for the Lord and music.
Also... I love mallet percussion and watching this video makes me want to go make a wrench-aphone. 😂