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.
Farther Along
Josh Garrels Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Farther along we’ll understand why
So cheer up my brothers, live in the sunshine
We’ll understand this, all by and by
Tempted and tried, I wondered why
The good man dies, the bad man thrives
And Jesus cries because he loves em’ both
Hangin’ on by the last threads of our hope
In a house of mirrors full of smoke
Confusing illusions I’ve seen
Where did I go wrong, I sang along
To every chorus of the song
That the devil wrote like a piper at the gate
Leading mice and men down to their fate
But some will courageously escape
The seductive voice with a heart of faith
While walkin’ the line back home
So much more to life than we’ve been told
It’s full of beauty that will unfold
And shine like you struck gold my wayward son
That deadweight burden weighs a ton
Go down to the river and let it run
And wash away all the things you’ve done
Forgiveness, alright
Farther along we’ll know all about it
Farther along we’ll understand why
So cheer up my brothers, live in the sunshine
We’ll understand this, all by and by
Still I get hard pressed on every side
Between the rock and a compromise
Like truth and a pack of lies fightin’ for my soul
And I’ve got no place left go
'Cause I got changed by what I’ve been shown
There's more glory than the world has known
Keeps me ramblin’ on
Skipping like a calf loosed from its stall
I’m free to love once and for all
And even when I fall I’ll get back up
For the joy that overflows my cup
Heaven filled me with more than enough
Broke down my levees and my bluffs
Let the flood wash me
And one day when the sky rolls back on us
Some rejoice and the others fuss
Cause every knee must bow and tongue confess
The son of god is forever blessed
His is the kingdom, we’re the guests
So put your voice up to the test
Sing Lord, come soon
Farther along we’ll know all about it
Farther along we’ll understand why
So cheer up my brothers, live in the sunshine
We’ll understand this, all by and by
"Farther Along" by Josh Garrels is a song that explores the idea of having hope in the face of challenges and unanswered questions. The refrain, "farther along we'll know all about it, farther along we'll understand why," suggests that with time and experience, things will become clearer and the reason for the struggles we face will become more clear. The verses delve into a variety of challenges and questions that the singer has faced, from the death of good men to personal struggles with temptation and compromise. The song touches on themes of faith, forgiveness, and the beauty of life that can be found, even amidst hardship.
The line "The good man dies, the bad man thrives, and Jesus cries because he loves 'em both" presents an interesting paradox. It implies that there is a certain level of injustice in the world, where good people suffer and bad people prosper. But the line about Jesus crying because he loves them both suggests that there may be a deeper level of understanding at play. It could be interpreted as God's love extending even to those who have done wrong, and that ultimately all will be saved.
The song is full of vivid metaphors and imagery. Lines like "hangin' on by the last threads of our hope in a house of mirrors full of smoke" create a sense of desperation and confusion. The idea of a "seductive voice with a heart of faith" adds a layer of complexity to the idea of temptation. The verses present a picture of a world that is full of challenges and struggles, but the refrain provides hope that these difficulties will eventually be understood and reconciled.
Line by Line Meaning
Farther along we’ll know all about it
As we journey through time, we will acquire knowledge and understanding about the many questions we have about life.
Farther along we’ll understand why
As we mature and grow in wisdom, we will comprehend the reasons behind many of life’s occurrences and their impact on our journey.
So cheer up my brothers, live in the sunshine
Be positive, do not be discouraged by the challenges we face in life. Commit to living a life of peace and contentment despite the uncertainty of our journey.
We’ll understand this, all by and by
With time, we will acquire understanding, and eventually, many things will become clear to us.
Tempted and tried, I wondered why
In moments of difficulties and doubts, I often questioned the reason for such occurrences.
The good man dies, the bad man thrives
Sometimes, the undeserving seem to prosper while the deserving face trials, which is a clear contradiction to our understanding of justice.
And Jesus cries because he loves em’ both
Christ feels the agony of the deserving and undeserving individuals alike as they face their respective struggles and hardships.
We’re all cast-aways in need of rope
We all find ourselves feeling stranded and in need of redemption and deliverance.
Hangin’ on by the last threads of our hope
We cling to our faith and trust in God's promises when we have exhausted all other options.
In a house of mirrors full of smoke
Life can sometimes be confusing and complicated, and we struggle to see things clearly.
Confusing illusions I’ve seen
I have experienced many delusions that have led me astray and distorted my perception of reality.
Where did I go wrong, I sang along
I sang along with the lies of the enemy, not realizing the path of destruction they lead to.
To every chorus of the song
I sang along with the popular beliefs and wrong philosophies of life, not understanding the error of such thoughts.
That the devil wrote like a piper at the gate
The enemy lured me into his lies masterfully, like a piper of Hamelin charming his prey.
Leading mice and men down to their fate
The enemy's deceptions lead people into destruction and peril, and I was among those who were carried away.
But some will courageously escape
By God's grace, some people have the courage to break free from the seductive call of sin and evil and walk towards God's light.
The seductive voice with a heart of faith
Despite the persuasiveness of the enemy's voice, we can rely on the faith in our hearts to reject them and follow the path of truth.
While walkin’ the line back home
As we retrace our steps back to God's light, we may still falter, but we keep aiming for the way Home.
So much more to life than we’ve been told
There are still so many wonders and blessings in life that we are yet to discover and experience.
It’s full of beauty that will unfold
There is a grace and magnificence embedded in the journey of life that will unfold as we press forward.
And shine like you struck gold my wayward son
As we find our way back to God's grace, we will experience the brilliance and wonderment of redemption and forgiveness, shining like a precious golden reward.
That deadweight burden weighs a ton
The heaviness of our burdens can cripple and hold us back from fully experiencing the beauty of life and God's grace.
Go down to the river and let it run
We should immerse ourselves in the river of God's mercy and grace, allowing it to wash away the stains and weight of our burdens.
And wash away all the things you’ve done
We should trust in God's cleansing and redeeming power to wash away all our past mistakes and misdeeds.
Forgiveness, alright
God's forgiveness is available to us and is our path to freedom and redemption.
Still I get hard pressed on every side
Despite the availability of God's grace, life's challenges and struggles can still be difficult to navigate.
Between the rock and a compromise
We are often caught between the right path and a half-hearted compromise that leads us nowhere.
Like truth and a pack of lies fightin’ for my soul
The battle for our souls is between the right and wrong, truth and deception, and we must choose which way to go.
And I’ve got no place left go
Sometimes, we find ourselves in a place with nowhere left to turn for help, but to God's grace and mercy.
‘Cause I got changed by what I’ve been shown
God's grace and mercy have the transformative power to change us and make us new creations that walk in the light of His truth.
There's more glory than the world has known
The glory of God's grace and redemption surpasses the limits of the world's understanding and comprehension.
Keeps me ramblin’ on
The never-ending revelation of God's goodness and grace keeps us pushing forward on our journey of faith.
Skipping like a calf loosed from its stall
When we experience the joy and freedom of God's grace, we bound forward like a calf that has been set free from its captivity.
I’m free to love once and for all
God's grace and love have liberated us to love and live life more abundantly.
And even when I fall I’ll get back up
Though we may falter, God's grace and goodness enable us to pick ourselves up and keep pressing forward in faith.
For the joy that overflows my cup
God's grace brings joy and fulfillment that overflows and fills us with gratitude and contentment.
Heaven filled me with more than enough
God's grace has so much to offer, and it fills us with more than what we could ever ask or imagine.
Broke down my levees and my bluffs
God's grace penetrates our hearts, breaking down the barriers and defenses we put up to keep Him out.
Let the flood wash me
We surrender to God's grace, allowing it to cleanse and renew us, in a transformative flood that washes us with its goodness and mercy.
And one day when the sky rolls back on us
A day will come when the fate of each man will be revealed, when the veil between life and eternity will be lifted, and the skies will be rolled back to reveal the glory of the Almighty.
Some rejoice and the others fuss
The revelation will bring rejoicing for some and resistance for others, whose hearts will be hardened to reject the truth.
Cause every knee must bow and tongue confess
In the face of the Almighty's glory, every soul will acknowledge His sovereignty and lordship, no matter their resistance or unbelief.
The son of god is forever blessed
Jesus Christ, the son of God is forever blessed, and nothing can change that.
His is the kingdom, we’re the guests
Christ is the Lord of the Kingdom of Heaven, and we are privileged guests in His presence.
So put your voice up to the test
We should lift our voices in praise and adoration of the Almighty, in faith that He hears us and responds to our call.
Sing Lord, come soon
We eagerly anticipate the day of the Lord's return, as we earnestly seek His presence, guidance, and mercy on our journey.
Contributed by Lillian E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.