“Nobody ever paid money to see Harry Houdini escape being buried alive” say… Read Full Bio ↴“Nobody ever paid money to see Harry Houdini escape being buried alive” says My Jerusalem founder and singer Jeff Klein. “They wanted the small chance of seeing him killed by the weight of the earth on top of him.”

Behold the concept behind Preachers, the second full-length release from Austin’s My Jerusalem. From the opening piano of the haunting title track, to the unexpected pummeling guitar and drums on closer “I Left My Conscience In You”, Preachers leads the listener on a cinematic journey through a reckless, jagged landscape of Raymond Carver-esque stories, fueled by Klein’s persuasive baritone, ominous guitars, dream-like keyboards and a deep rhythmic pulse.

Recorded in under three weeks by Spoon drummer Jim Eno (Heartless Bastards, Polica, Black Joe Lewis) at his Public Hi-Fi studio, Preachers is the first My Jerusalem album genuinely made by a band, not just performed by a group of musicians. Pushing aside hard drives and laptops to make way for analog tape machines and vintage keyboards, what Klein describes as the “Post-Modern Southern Gothic Soul” sounds of Preachers were born from organic, live performances Eno carefully captured and tweaked.

Preachers is the follow-up to 2010’s critically acclaimed debut, Gone For Good, an album that earned the band performances on BBC Radio 6 and Daytrotter, as well as notices from NPR’s All Songs Considered, AOL/Spinner’s Song of the Day, and the iTunes Weekly Rewind. Along with European festival appearances at the Frequency Festival, Musikfestwochen, and Rock Im Saal, the band toured and played shows with a eclectic set of bands including Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Har Mar Superstar, Avett Brothers, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, and White Arrows.

Buoyed by the success of Gone For Good, Preachers showcases a band headed into the studio with a renewed focus and confidence. Preachers contains equal parts swagger (the swampy gospel of title track “Preachers”, the strutting intensity of “Born In The Belly”) and groove (the spooky beauty of “Shatter Together”, the crescendoing, feral drive of “Devoe”, the infectious crooner “Mono”); as much primal (“Death Valley”) as it is humane (“Chameleon”).

“It’s a darker record,” says Klein, who, before forming My Jerusalem in 2010, made 3 records under his own name. “So much had changed since Gone For Good. We’d all kind of been through hell and back again in different ways, and this was the natural artistic result of all of that. But I think it’s a beautiful, comforting darkness. It’s real, but not selfish.”

“We finally have a shared collective vibe,” adds guitarist/keyboardist Jon Merz, “I believe it’s more representative of what our live shows sound like. This time around, Jeff would bring us song ideas and we would add our own perspectives to it.”

The five-piece, which also features multi-instrumentalist Michael St. Clair, drummer Grant Van Amburgh, and bassist Geena Spigarelli, also had the opportunity to road-test much of the new material before recording, during their extensive touring behind Gone For Good. It was a luxury they didn’t have the first time around.

“Working out the kinks live before recording them makes a big difference,” reflects Klein, “They get a chance to breathe and grow before committing them to the world permanently. Because of that process, some songs, like ‘Death Valley,’ sound nothing like their early version. We’re excited to take them on the road and see how they evolve even further.”

Equal parts sweet, morbid, strange, and sincere, Preachers is an experience that could convert the most steadfast of non-believers.

sweet chariot
My Jerusalem Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

We’ve been wandering all night
Throught this desert called our lives
i’ve been looking for blue sky light
but the sun’s like a spotlight, it lights me on fire

So whatcha want
whatcha want
whatcha waitin for

the night is ours, babe
we can take it all
i seen enuff
seen enuff
now we’re gettin bored
come an’ give us more
whatcha waitin for
it’s not your fault
not your fault
it’s how we were born
and i warn you all
now we’re coming for ya
this time victory is ours
woah oh

Now you’re sick of the nightlife
you’re like a dear in the headlights
and the weakest of punchlines
you’re like a knife in a gunfight
YEAH!

So whatcha want
whatcha want
whatcha waitin for
the night is ours, babe
we can take it all
i seen enuff
seen enuff
now we’re gettin bored
come an’ give us more
whatcha waitin for
it’s not your fault
not your fault
it’s how we were born
and i warn you all
now we’re coming for ya
this time victory is ours
woah oh

We will not suffer mistakes of our fathers
Sweet Chariot take us away

No, we will not suffer mistakes of our fathers
Sweet Chariot take us away

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of My Jerusalem's song Sweet Chariot depict a feeling of discontentment and a desire for change. The first verse portrays a sense of searching for something more in life, but feeling stuck in a never-ending cycle. The phrase "the night is ours" repeats throughout the song, almost as a call to action, inviting the listener to take control of their lives and break free from the monotony. The second verse takes a more aggressive turn, as the singer declares their power and determination to overcome any obstacles in their way. The line "we will not suffer mistakes of our fathers" emphasizes the desire for change and progression, and a refusal to be held back by the legacy of past generations.

Overall, the song is an anthem for those who feel stuck or frustrated with their current circumstances, and a call to action to take control and create their own destiny. The use of imagery, such as the desert and the spotlight, add to the overall feeling of being trapped and stagnant, while the repeated phrases create a sense of urgency and determination.

Line by Line Meaning

We’ve been wandering all night
We have been aimlessly moving through our lives, unsure of where to go or what to do.

Throught this desert called our lives
Our lives feel like a barren wasteland, with no clear path or direction to follow.

i’ve been looking for blue sky light
I have been searching for a glimpse of hope or positivity in the midst of this darkness and confusion.

but the sun’s like a spotlight, it lights me on fire
Despite my search for hope, the reality of our situation burns me with its intensity and unrelenting nature.

So whatcha want
What is it that you desire or seek?

whatcha want
What are you searching for?

whatcha waitin for
What is holding you back from taking action and making a change?

the night is ours, babe
We have the power to take control and make our own destinies, regardless of the obstacles in our way.

we can take it all
We are capable of overcoming any challenge and achieving our goals.

i seen enuff
I have seen and experienced enough pain and suffering.

seen enuff
We have collectively witnessed enough hardship and struggle.

now we’re gettin bored
Our current state of existence is becoming stale and unfulfilling.

come an’ give us more
We are craving change and new experiences.

it’s not your fault
You are not to blame for the circumstances of our lives.

not your fault
None of us are individually responsible for the difficulties we face.

it’s how we were born
Our struggles are a result of our upbringing and the state of the world around us.

and i warn you all
I am letting everyone know that we are poised to make a change and take control of our lives.

now we’re coming for ya
We are ready to face any challenges or obstacles in our way.

this time victory is ours
We are confident that we will emerge victorious in our pursuit of a better life.

woah oh
This serves as a triumphant exclamation of our determination and spirit.

Now you’re sick of the nightlife
You are tired of the constant cycle of monotony and repetition that dominates our lives.

you’re like a dear in the headlights
You are paralyzed by fear and uncertainty, unsure of how to move forward.

and the weakest of punchlines
Our attempts at finding meaning or purpose in life seem feeble and insignificant.

you’re like a knife in a gunfight
In the face of overwhelming opposition and adversity, we feel ill-equipped to handle the challenges before us.

We will not suffer mistakes of our fathers
We refuse to repeat the errors and problems of previous generations, determined to forge a new path forward.

Sweet Chariot take us away
We look towards a brighter future, where we are free of the pain and struggles of the present.

No, we will not suffer mistakes of our fathers
We reiterate our commitment to breaking free from the past and creating a better world for ourselves.

Sweet Chariot take us away
We cling to the hope and promise of a brighter tomorrow, where our dreams are within reach.

Contributed by Jordyn B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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