Since its birth in 1996 as Enter the Haggis, the band has kept a rigorous concert schedule, playing in wide ranging venues in Canada, Europe, and the United States. They have made appearances at such events as the Folk im Schlosshof in Bonfeld, Germany; the Vancouver Island MusicFest in Courtenay, BC; Irish2000 in Albany, New York; The Philadelphia Folk Fest in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; the Texas Scottish Fest; Rocky Mountain Highland Games and Scottish Festival; the Ann Arbor Folk Fest in Ann Arbor, Michigan; the Celtic Fling and Highland Games on the grounds of the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire in Manheim, PA; the Boston Irish Festival (2011); Cayamo (2011, 2012); MusikFest in Bethlehem, PA; the world famous Irish Fest in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; The Great American Irish Festival in Frankfort, NY; and the Dublin Irish Festival in Dublin, OH.
On 8 September 2014, it was announced via social media and their website that the band will be going forth under a new moniker: Jubilee Riots.
In November 2015, the band announced a return to Celtic rock influences and the Enter the Haggis name.
Salvation
Jubilee Riots Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the shadow of the war and those to come
But in the sidewalk cracks the dandelions are growing
Soaking up the glory of the sun
I wish I had a story I could share
All I want is to be clear
I'll take a breath and start again
A Halifax apartment, no number on the door
Warmer than a sleeping bag in May
But some days it's so hard just to make it to the corner
After all the miles that I came
I wish I had a story I could share
All I want is to be clear
I'll take a breath and start again
I see salvation in the air
I guess I was naive to try to be a hero
A kid with just a pinhole of a world
I could have played it safe and worked out in the silo
And settled down with some Cape Breton girl
I wish I had a story I could share
All I want is to be clear
I'll take a breath and start again
I see salvation in the air
I'll find a way to live my life
I've got salvation on my side
I kept on talking, though I did not understand
I was listening though I did not know my name
I'm not alone, not alone, not alone
"Salvation" by Jubilee Riots is a song that reflects on the struggles of living in New York City amidst the war that is ongoing. The city symbolizes the harsh realities of life, with its streets being described as hard and unforgiving. However, amidst all these, there seems to be hope and beauty in the form of dandelions growing in sidewalk cracks. The dandelions are described as soaking up the glory of the sun, suggesting that even in the most difficult of situations, there is still hope for growth and beauty.
The lyrics then shift as the singer thinks about their own life struggles. They talk about being in a Halifax apartment, where warmth is only found during May, and how some days it's hard to make it to the corner. The song then takes a reflective tone as the singer thinks about the life they've lived so far. They mention wishing they had a story to share and wanting to be clear. The chorus then repeats, with the singer insisting on starting again and finding salvation in the air.
The last verse shows the singer's realization that being a hero may not have been the best idea. They mention being naive and having a limited view of the world as a kid with just a pinhole. They then reflect on how they could have played it safe and settled down with a Cape Breton girl. The song, however, ends on a hopeful note as the singer insists on finding a way to live life, with salvation on their side.
Line by Line Meaning
New York City streets are hard and unforgiving
The streets of New York City are harsh and do not offer forgiveness
In the shadow of the war and those to come
Living in fear of both past and impending wars
But in the sidewalk cracks the dandelions are growing
Nature is still able to find a way to thrive, even in difficult urban environments
Soaking up the glory of the sun
The dandelions are absorbing the beauty of the sun despite the harsh environment
I wish I had a story I could share
I desire a compelling narrative that I can communicate to others
All I want is to be clear
My ultimate goal is to express myself in a manner that is easily understood by others
I'll take a breath and start again
I will pause, gather myself, and begin anew
I see salvation in the air
I find hope and redemption in the possibilities of the future
A Halifax apartment, no number on the door
An unspecific apartment in Halifax
Warmer than a sleeping bag in May
The apartment is quite cozy
But some days it's so hard just to make it to the corner
Some days are so challenging that even navigating to the nearby intersection can seem daunting
After all the miles that I came
Despite travelling great distances and facing numerous hardships, there are still difficult days
I guess I was naive to try to be a hero
Realizing that trying to be heroic might have been foolish
A kid with just a pinhole of a world
As a young person, my worldview was limited
I could have played it safe and worked out in the silo
I could have chosen a safe and secure path, but instead took risks
And settled down with some Cape Breton girl
I might have chosen a simpler life with a woman from Cape Breton
I'll find a way to live my life
I am determined to find a path for myself
I've got salvation on my side
I believe that redemption is possible for me
I kept on talking, though I did not understand
Continuing to communicate despite not fully comprehending
I was listening though I did not know my name
Remained open to hearing others despite uncertainty around my own identity
I'm not alone, not alone, not alone
Despite the challenges I face, I am not alone in my journey
Contributed by Julia V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
TheYoungSoul
My wife wrote the letter that inspired this song. As you can imagine, I LOVE this song and I love these guys.
For all of us that were haggis heads, and are now rioters, we know this band is special.
Lucy - thank you so much for posting this video.
Please come to Chicago soon - I can't wait to see you all.
Heather Moran
This band has had a huge influence on my musical career and their talents, musical visions and messages speak loudly to me. They are truly a unique and special band and everyone should have everyone of their albums swimming around in their playlists :)