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.
SISU
Josh Garrels Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
By the word and command, mortal man can stand, son of man is the manna manifest
In the flesh and the blood, and the bones and the rocks, in the valley of the dead
The dry bones are gonna walk and talk
To the rhythm of the saints y'all, to the rhythm of the saints
And I paint it red to remember the dead, who layed down their lives for the truth
And the seed that is buried takes root, and this ignorant world will have proof
The heavier trip it made the heavier debter
In the deepest of dark without a wing or a feather,
The spiral closed in like a cage, like a cage
A maze that's amazing for days turns to rage if the page it refuses to turn
And the hopeless will hope the book burns
When the lesson it returns, but the lesson is still unlearned
See I yearn to discern if a life can be earned or is given as a gift to the dead
I read and I bled and I fed to the full my soul on the sickest of sickness
Seeking the light of a saviors witness, a way that one day that I might forget this
But slave master wont permit this
Cause I'm a hooker I'm his mistress
And when I look for freedom he puts more chains on me
Strangles my hope so that I live like a zombie
What masters house can this be, that when I look for freedom he still deceives me
If there's a God I screamed, "Answer me!"
I didn't expect an answer to be received, He said
You must die, to be set free, living in the kingdom of God eternally
Open up my eyes so that I can see, and die with a cry revolutionary
Every man and woman is a witness, and we will never forget this
Truth
Undiluted, undisputed, never to be substituted, or uprooted, fully suited for the war
It's a modernization of a timeless metaphor, and
By the boomerang we bring the beats back more
What for man, do we work exterior to core, or begin it in the spirit of the Lord
Now you could pull the chord, but the people still sing it acapella
Marching to the beat I hear their feet are in the cellar
Fear not the world cannot stop what must begin within you and me
A fire wind, holy hymn, beautiful diadem, hidden within positively pure prism refraction
Every colors broken down, harmonize with my eyes spectrum
In the end bleeding into the One, to the source, to the beautiful father of light
All the pressure and pain, produces perseverance
It's purged by the flames, without interference
Produces a hope, In the glory of God
My God I am your son, and I know that you will finish the work that you've begun
Homespun, grassroots, spontaneously suits the purpose, and we don't deserve this
Life
He said
You must die to be set free, living in the kingdom of God eternally
Open up my eyes so that I can see, and die with a cry revolutionary
Every man and woman is a witness, and we will never forget this
Truth
The song SISU by Josh Garrels is a powerful, introspective reflection on life, death, and the pursuit of truth. The lyrics explore themes of personal growth, spiritual awakening, and redemption, all set to a driving, percussive beat and lush, soaring melodies. At the heart of the song is the concept of "sisu," or stubborn guts, a quality associated with the Finnish spirit of resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity.
The opening lines speak of mortal man standing in the valley of the dead, surrounded by dry bones that will one day walk and talk. The singer reflects on the sins of his youth and the madness of unrestrained pleasure, ultimately realizing that he is a slave to his own desires. He cries out to God for answers, and is met with the powerful, transformative message that he must die to be set free.
Through powerful imagery and evocative language, the song ultimately speaks to the transformative power of self-reflection, faith, and perseverance. It is a potent reminder of the importance of remaining steadfast in the face of adversity, and of the profound possibilities that exist within each of us if we are willing to take the journey toward self-discovery and enlightenment.
Line by Line Meaning
By the word and command, mortal man can stand, son of man is the manna manifest
Through divine intervention, humanity gains the strength to persevere and overcome hardship.
In the flesh and the blood, and the bones and the rocks, in the valley of the dead
Despite the inevitability of death, all living things are interconnected and share the same fate.
The dry bones are gonna walk and talk, To the rhythm of the saints y'all, to the rhythm of the saints
Through faith, even the dead will rise again and be resurrected to live in harmony with the divine.
And I paint it red to remember the dead, who layed down their lives for the truth
Red symbolizes the sacrifice of those who stood up for their beliefs and were willing to die for them.
And the seed that is buried takes root, and this ignorant world will have proof
Through the growth and evolution of humanity, the truth will eventually be revealed to all.
I remember the sins of my youth, the path and the madness of unrestrained pleasure
Reflecting on past mistakes and recklessness can lead to personal growth and realization.
The heavier trip it made the heavier debter, In the deepest of dark without a wing or a feather, The spiral closed in like a cage, like a cage
Indulging in destructive behaviors and addictions often leads to feeling trapped and helpless.
A maze that's amazing for days turns to rage if the page it refuses to turn
Prolonging problems and refusing to take action can lead to frustration and anger.
And the hopeless will hope the book burns, When the lesson it returns, but the lesson is still unlearned
Those who have lost all hope may wish to give up entirely, but will continue to face the same struggles until they learn from them.
See I yearn to discern if a life can be earned or is given as a gift to the dead
The meaning and purpose of life is a question that many people seek an answer to.
I read and I bled and I fed to the full my soul on the sickest of sickness, Seeking the light of a saviors witness, a way that one day that I might forget this
Through intense introspection and seeking spiritual guidance, it's possible to find a way out of difficult times and troubles.
But slave master wont permit this, Cause I'm a hooker I'm his mistress, And when I look for freedom he puts more chains on me, Strangles my hope so that I live like a zombie
Oppression and injustice can feel inescapable, even when seeking a way out.
What masters house can this be, that when I look for freedom he still deceives me
The hypocrisy of those in power who claim to promote freedom while actively oppressing others.
If there's a God I screamed, Answer me!, I didn't expect an answer to be received, He said
Expressing a profound sense of despair and hopelessness, which God responds to.
You must die, to be set free, living in the kingdom of God eternally, Open up my eyes so that I can see, and die with a cry revolutionary
True freedom from the suffering of life can only be achieved through death and ascension to a higher plane of existence.
Every man and woman is a witness, and we will never forget this, Truth
We are all responsible for bearing witness to the truth and passing it down to future generations.
Undiluted, undisputed, never to be substituted, or uprooted, fully suited for the war
The truth is immutable and unchanging, and will withstand any attack or attempt to discredit it.
It's a modernization of a timeless metaphor, and, By the boomerang we bring the beats back more
The truth is a universal concept that is adapted and transformed throughout time by each generation.
What for man, do we work exterior to core, or begin it in the spirit of the Lord
Reflecting on the purpose of life and questioning whether we work towards external or spiritual goals.
Now you could pull the chord, but the people still sing it acapella, Marching to the beat I hear their feet are in the cellar
The truth persists even when stripped down and simplified to its most basic elements, with people still rallying around it and seeking change.
Fear not the world cannot stop what must begin within you and me, A fire wind, holy hymn, beautiful diadem, hidden within positively pure prism refraction
The world may try to prevent progress and hold us back, but the truth is a force for change and empowerment.
Every colors broken down, harmonize with my eyes spectrum, In the end bleeding into the One, to the source, to the beautiful father of light
The truth is a harmonious collection of all colors, and leads to ultimate unity with the divine.
All the pressure and pain, produces perseverance, It's purged by the flames, without interference, Produces a hope, In the glory of God
Suffering and challenges can help build resilience and strength, ultimately leading to hope and understanding of the divine.
My God I am your son, and I know that you will finish the work that you've begun, Homespun, grassroots, spontaneously suits the purpose, and we don't deserve this, Life
Knowing that God is both our creator and ultimate redeemer, life is cherished despite our flaws and shortcomings.
Contributed by Jordan F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Humberto Vargas
SISU means "stubborn guts" in the Finnish language.
By the word and command, mortal man can stand, son of man is the manna manifest
In the flesh and the blood, and the bones and the rocks, in the valley of the dead
The dry bones are gonna walk and talk
To the rhythm of the saints y'all, to the rhythm of the saints
And I paint it red to remember the dead, who layed down their lives for the truth
And the seed that is buried takes root, and this ignorant world will have proof
I remember the sins of my youth, the path and the madness of unrestrained pleasure
The heavier trip it made the heavier debter
In the deepest of dark without a wing or a feather,
The spiral closed in like a cage, like a cage
A maze that's amazing for days turns to rage if the page it refuses to turn
And the hopeless will hope the book burns
When the lesson it returns, but the lesson is still unlearned
See I yearn to discern if a life can be earned or is given as a gift to the dead
I read and I bled and I fed to the full my soul on the sickest of sickness
Seeking the light of a saviors witness, a way that one day that I might forget this
But slave master won't permit this
Cause I'm a hooker I'm his mistress
And when I look for freedom he puts more chains on me
Strangles my hope so that I live like a zombie
What masters house can this be, that when I look for freedom he still deceives me
If there's a God I screamed, "Answer me!"
I didn't expect an answer to be received, He said
You must die, to be set free, living in the kingdom of God eternally
Open up my eyes so that I can see, and die with a cry revolutionary
Every man and woman is a witness, and we will never forget this
Truth
Undiluted, undisputed, never to be substituted, or uprooted, fully suited for the war
It's a modernization of a timeless metaphor, and
By the boomerang we bring the beats back more
What for man, do we work exterior to core, or begin it in the spirit of the Lord
Now you could pull the chord, but the people still sing it acapella
Marching to the beat I hear their feet are in the cellar
Fear not the world cannot stop what must begin within you and me
A fire wind, holy hymn, beautiful diadem, hidden within positively pure prism refraction
Every colors broken down, harmonize with my eyes spectrum
In the end bleeding into the One, to the source, to the beautiful father of light
All the pressure and pain, produces perseverance
It's purged by the flames, without interference
Produces a hope, In the glory of God
My God I am your son, and I know that you will finish the work that you've begun
Homespun, grassroots, spontaneously suits the purpose, and we don't deserve this
Life
He said
You must die to be set free, living in the kingdom of God eternally
Open up my eyes so that I can see, and die with a cry revolutionary
Every man and woman is a witness, and we will never forget this
Truth
Joseph Vincent
Lyrics :
By the word and command, mortal man can stand, son of man is the manna manifest
In the flesh and the blood, and the bones and the rocks, in the valley of the dead
The dry bones are gonna walk and talk
To the rhythm of the saints y'all, to the rhythm of the saints
And I paint it red to remember the dead, who layed down their lives for the truth
And the seed that is buried takes root, and this ignorant world will have proof
I remember the sins of my youth, the path and the madness of unrestrained pleasure
The heavier trip it made the heavier debter
In the deepest of dark without a wing or a feather,
The spiral closed in like a cage, like a cage
A maze that's amazing for days turns to rage if the page it refuses to turn
And the hopeless will hope the book burns
When the lesson it returns, but the lesson is still unlearned
See I yearn to discern if a life can be earned or is given as a gift to the dead
I read and I bled and I fed to the full my soul on the sickest of sickness
Seeking the light of a saviors witness, a way that one day that I might forget this
But slave master won't permit this
Cause I'm a hooker I'm his mistress
And when I look for freedom he puts more chains on me
Strangles my hope so that I live like a zombie
What masters house can this be, that when I look for freedom he still deceives me
If there's a God I screamed, "Answer me!"
I didn't expect an answer to be received, He said
You must die, to be set free, living in the kingdom of God eternally
Open up my eyes so that I can see, and die with a cry revolutionary
Every man and woman is a witness, and we will never forget this
Truth
Undiluted, undisputed, never to be substituted, or uprooted, fully suited for the war
It's a modernization of a timeless metaphor, and
By the boomerang we bring the beats back more
What for man, do we work exterior to core, or begin it in the spirit of the Lord
Now you could pull the chord, but the people still sing it acapella
Marching to the beat I hear their feet are in the cellar
Fear not the world cannot stop what must begin within you and me
A fire wind, holy hymn, beautiful diadem, hidden within positively pure prism refraction
Every colors broken down, harmonize with my eyes spectrum
In the end bleeding into the One, to the source, to the beautiful father of light
All the pressure and pain, produces perseverance
It's purged by the flames, without interference
Produces a hope, In the glory of God
My God I am your son, and I know that you will finish the work that you've begun
Homespun, grassroots, spontaneously suits the purpose, and we don't deserve this
Life
He said
You must die to be set free, living in the kingdom of God eternally
Open up my eyes so that I can see, and die with a cry revolutionary
Every man and woman is a witness, and we will never forget this
Truth.
SISU means "stubborn guts" in the Finnish language.
DA SIEBERT
See I read and I bled and I fed to the full my soul on the sickest of sickness
Seeking the light of a saviors witness, a way that one day that I might forget this
But slave master won't permit this
Cause I'm a hooker I'm his mistress
And when I look for freedom he puts more chains on me
Strangles my hope so that I live like a zombie
What masters house can this be, that when I look for freedom he still deceives me (2x)
If there's a God I screamed, "Answer me!"
I didn't expect an answer to be received, He said
[Chorus]
You must die, to be set free, living in the kingdom of God eternally
Open up my eyes so that I can see, and die with a cry revolutionary
Every man and woman is a witness, and we will never forget this
Truth, Truth
Bill Tracy
Amazing lyrics. Josh is just an incredible songwriter and performer. This is one of my favorite songs of his. Powerful!!!
Please be Reasonable
Sing unto the Lord a new song.....
allie day
I can’t get over these lyrics!!!!! They are so powerful
Imago Monkei
He sounds just as perfect live as in the studio.
Michelle E.
I think he sounds even better live. Which is quite a feat!
Andrew Adcock
@Michelle E. I agree.
All Truth Matters!
How in the world does this have 8 dislikes?! Talk about haters, this is pure joy and music for the soul!
Jessica Hollers
You are absolutely right
Jessica Hollers
You are absolutely right
Humberto Vargas
SISU means "stubborn guts" in the Finnish language.
By the word and command, mortal man can stand, son of man is the manna manifest
In the flesh and the blood, and the bones and the rocks, in the valley of the dead
The dry bones are gonna walk and talk
To the rhythm of the saints y'all, to the rhythm of the saints
And I paint it red to remember the dead, who layed down their lives for the truth
And the seed that is buried takes root, and this ignorant world will have proof
I remember the sins of my youth, the path and the madness of unrestrained pleasure
The heavier trip it made the heavier debter
In the deepest of dark without a wing or a feather,
The spiral closed in like a cage, like a cage
A maze that's amazing for days turns to rage if the page it refuses to turn
And the hopeless will hope the book burns
When the lesson it returns, but the lesson is still unlearned
See I yearn to discern if a life can be earned or is given as a gift to the dead
I read and I bled and I fed to the full my soul on the sickest of sickness
Seeking the light of a saviors witness, a way that one day that I might forget this
But slave master won't permit this
Cause I'm a hooker I'm his mistress
And when I look for freedom he puts more chains on me
Strangles my hope so that I live like a zombie
What masters house can this be, that when I look for freedom he still deceives me
If there's a God I screamed, "Answer me!"
I didn't expect an answer to be received, He said
You must die, to be set free, living in the kingdom of God eternally
Open up my eyes so that I can see, and die with a cry revolutionary
Every man and woman is a witness, and we will never forget this
Truth
Undiluted, undisputed, never to be substituted, or uprooted, fully suited for the war
It's a modernization of a timeless metaphor, and
By the boomerang we bring the beats back more
What for man, do we work exterior to core, or begin it in the spirit of the Lord
Now you could pull the chord, but the people still sing it acapella
Marching to the beat I hear their feet are in the cellar
Fear not the world cannot stop what must begin within you and me
A fire wind, holy hymn, beautiful diadem, hidden within positively pure prism refraction
Every colors broken down, harmonize with my eyes spectrum
In the end bleeding into the One, to the source, to the beautiful father of light
All the pressure and pain, produces perseverance
It's purged by the flames, without interference
Produces a hope, In the glory of God
My God I am your son, and I know that you will finish the work that you've begun
Homespun, grassroots, spontaneously suits the purpose, and we don't deserve this
Life
He said
You must die to be set free, living in the kingdom of God eternally
Open up my eyes so that I can see, and die with a cry revolutionary
Every man and woman is a witness, and we will never forget this
Truth