SOJA’s first album was recorded independently with renowned sound engineer Jim Fox. Jacob notes, “Jim told us that he would work with us and so we could afford to make our first record, and when we ran out of money he started making up ‘discounts.’ It was awesome. I asked him why a while back, and he said ‘I didn’t want to see a good thing stop.’ What was even crazier was at the time he wasn’t working with bands that were from the US, just Jamaican artists. Big ones like Black Uhuru, Israel Vibration, Burning Spear, Don Carlos, and Inner Circle. Jim worked with us independently and recorded, mixed, and mastered the whole thing. That is how it all started.” SOJA’s first album, “Soldiers of Jah Army EP” was released at the beginning of 2000.
In 2002, SOJA released their first full-length album, “Peace in a Time of War.” Though the band was young, the album had hits. “True Love,” “Rasta Courage,” and “Peace in a Time of War” were the first songs to bring the band strong attention nationally and internationally and cement them in the reggae world. Tours became larger, their fan base expanded rapidly and they grew up smart in the independent music industry. In 2006, the band released “Get Wiser,” their second full-length album. The album was a break through for the band, as they explored the duality in their music, combining beautiful, longing melodies with hard drum and bass, and layered with intricate lyrics. SOJA created their musical style with a new complexity and depth that they would carry with them to their future albums. Jacob shares, “When you listen to an artist you can either have a series of one liners, or you can tell a story with your music. We set out to tell a story, it’s like poetry – dancing around an entire theme, but never putting a period on anything. It is like the two sides of a coin, but you can see them at the same time.” “Get Wiser” debuted in the Top 10 Reggae Albums on iTunes and has remained in the top 100 since its release. Singles off the album including “Open My Eyes, “You Don’t Know Me,” and “Can’t Tell Me” remain in heavy rotation on college radio across the United States, and have also received major radio play internationally in places such as France, Brazil, Argentina, Puerto Rico, St. Maarten, Costa Rica, Mexico, Venezuela, Guam, and Tahiti. The success of “Get Wiser” took the band on three years of intense touring nationally, and internationally. In 2008 SOJA released their EP “Stars and Stripes.” They blended new sounds and new rhythms with their existing reggae sound, growing into what SOJA was becoming. The EP contained three new songs plus remixes and new versions of popular songs. In early 2009 the band released the documentary DVD “SOJA Live in Hawaii: A Marc Carlini Film,” showcasing the power and energy of their 2008 Hawaiian tour which included four islands, five cameras, four shows, and everything in between.
Now, SOJA is ready to unleash their third full-length album “Born in Babylon” - the culmination of all past efforts on their label DMV Records. Set to be released August 25, 2009 exclusively on iTunes, “Born in Babylon” focuses on telling the same roots story that reggae artists have been singing about for decades, but their way, from the flip perspective of kids who grew up not in poverty, but in a government saturated community in Arlington, Virginia, across Mason-Dixon Line from the White House. SOJA shares about their new album, “This is the album we’ve been wanting to make for ten years. At first we were hard-core old school, then we got new school and inventive. This is what we’ve learned from all that. ‘Born in Babylon’ is hard roots drum and bass, big wide guitar and vocal melodies, and two and three sided lyrics, with two and three sided messages.”
For the rest of 2009 and moving into 2010 – SOJA plans on touring the United States extensively while promoting “Born in Babylon” with mainstay horn players Hellman Escorcia (saxophone) and Rafael Rodriguez (trumpet). Currently, SOJA averages 150 shows a year and the group has toured every major city in the US and internationally throughout Canada, Puerto Rico (avg 2500), Brazil (avg 4000), Argentina, Uruguay, New Caledonia (16,000 in attendance) Palau, Saipan, Guam (avg 3500), Hawaii (avg 2,000 on each island), Sweden, Switzerland, France, Portugal (avg 2000) and Holland. The band has also shared the stage with notable artists such as Citizen Cope, Matisyahu, Ben Harper, Slightly Stoopid, Damian Marley, Govt Mule, Umphrees McGee, and Steel Pulse to name a few.
In addition to their new music and touring, the band remains committed to creating real music, music that cant be ignored. Jacob pauses, “Bob Marley’s fans all feel like when he is singing a song, it’s to them. You could be from anywhere, any situation, rich, poor – it doesn’t matter; the song is directed at them. He speaks to you, the love songs too. That is what we are after. Not one side of the story, the whole thing, both sides of the coin. Just listen to ‘Born in Babylon.’”
disambiguation:
If you're looking for a US act:
http://www.last.fm/music/Soldiers+of+Jah+Army
Over the years, the Washington, D.C. music scene has become best known for its hardcore (Minor Threat) and go-go (Trouble Funk) alumni, but as evidenced by the great Bad Brains, reggae has been represented as well. SOJA has risen to the forefront, picking up right where the Brains left off – creating their own blend of conscious roots music entwined with the traditional rhythms of reggae, it “comes across with passion and depth.” (Washington Post ’06)
That said, SOJA is not that easy to define. Although they are rooted in reggae, they are not limited to it; their fan-base reflects this with a very diverse population. The music includes and embraces all walks of life - it has no prejudice – it is for everyone. The band grew up listening to reggae, hip-hop, and rock. In their sound, reggae became the predominate influence because it is dedicated to a real message and promotes revolution.
The group, which includes a pair of lead singers who also pull double duty - Jacob Hemphill (guitar) and Bob Jefferson (bass) – as well as Patrick O’Shea on keyboard, percussionist Ken Brownell, and drummer Ryan Berty, originally came together in 1997. Since 2000, the quintet has issued three full length albums and one EP – their latest, ‘Get Wiser,’ is their third for the group’s own label, Innerloop.
Hemphill explains the meaning of the album’s title. “The new album is called ‘Get Wiser’ – that’s the idea. We as a society tend to have blinders on. We are trying to uplift peoples’ consciousness by breaking down what makes us blind. To do this, we got to bring back truth. People get wiser.”
“Every song is different of course.” Hemphill continues, “I found music to be a way to express myself - through my life I’ve never been able to express myself well in conversations, but I can do it through music. It’s like my way to talk.”
Ever the road warriors (SOJA averages 150 gigs per year), the group will be supporting their latest release with a healthy amount of live dates this year on the “Get Wiser Tour”. With such a list of accumulated live dates, a specific high point is hard to pin down, but Brownell remembers a particular performance. “One of the shows that remains in the front of my mind was playing in Guam for the first time for nearly 6,000 fans. That was an amazing experience.”
With SOJA calling their own shots, ‘Get Wiser’ proves that the band’s message and music will only continue to grow stronger with each successive release. In support of their latest album, “Get Wiser”, SOJA is embarking on a journey around the world.
The Band
Jacob Hemphill - Lead Vocals, Guitar
Bob Jefferson - Lead Vocals, Bass
Ken Brownell - Percussion
Ryan Berty - Drums
Patrick O’Shea- Keyboards
Bleed Through
SOJA Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
its all you
and there beside me
in my mirror, all I can see
is us two, the pages
turn so fast, and like all old pages do,
the words, they bleed trough
just hanging by my side
losing hold of you left me dry
tell me where you run to
where do you hide?
you know you never once
left my mind
tell yourself I'm sorry
for the things that I've done
tell yourself you you've never seen
the barrel of that gun
tell yourself its over now
and not to run
just tell yourself I'm sorry
for what I've done
listen while I'm talking,
I don't do it too much
I can't help feeling
that care between us
what ever happened to
the way that it was?
the one thing I can't have
is what I want...
who decided that you
could not stay?
you wont be here by
the end of my day,
cuz I can't even listen
to the words I say
"I swear you never really miss it till its half
gone and you tighten up your grip trying to
hold on didn't really appreciate it when its
in your arms and you can relate to every
word in your song like was I wrong? but
I know I'm right but in hindsight, I
blame the limelight maybe I just needed
time to get my mind right maybe we'll reconnect
when the times right trying to think
about the causes was I too bossy- exactly
what the cause is I was told to step in love
with some caution cuz love and shit is no
difeference in the darkness but love is where
the heart is and you can see the
blood as it dripping trough the gauzes
so I guess I fell out of love with her smile
and more in love with applauses"
Its quiet in my house,
your silence is my home,
and everything reminds me
that I am all alone
its quiet where you used to be,
and now that youre gone,
its not a sound, is not a word,
but a dial tone
its quiet when I'm drinking
its quiet when I smoke,
its ....... when I'm eating, oh
and I sleep all alone
its quiet now, it was louder
then, I stand still like a stone
only from my dreams you want go
"how did I get in this predicament was I
influenced by the bennefits cuz I was hitting
on so many chichis, loving you and
eaving you was the only sentiment but I
guess I wasn't ready for you cuz I'm
ubbing your feet, cooking spagheti for you
taking you to parks, winning teddies for you
but in my heart I'm thinking there's someone
better for you but my hearts like "no, not this again
cut it out Blach, you know how this'll end."and I swear that I really was listenning but my ____ was yelling and my heart was just whispering so your know who
I listened to now my hearts bitching cuz he's
missing you get my eyes staring at some old
flitchs of you and my nose swear that still
smells the scent of you and my soul's saying
"damm, she was meant for you.""
why won't you como back
I'm losing past of myself
I've been wondering, watching,
waiting so long
I've been talking I been listening
I've been writing my songs
I've been haping you've been
hearing on this radio now,
that I'm not with you
but I miss you
The lyrics of SOJA's "Bleed Through" are complex and multilayered, with a mix of regret, longing, and introspection. From the first verse, the singer acknowledges the omnipresence of the person he is addressing in his life, as "every time I pick up a pen, it's all you." This person is clearly the inspiration for the singer's creative output, with "us two" at the forefront of his mind. However, despite the proximity, the words he writes are fleeting and temporary, as they "turn so fast, and like all old pages do, the words, they bleed through." This can be read as a metaphor for the impermanence of their relationship, and how despite their closeness, the singer is unable to fully capture the essence of the person he is addressing.
The chorus is a plea for this person to return to the singer's life, with the repeated phrase "get back in my arms." The singer seems to be in a state of desperation and confusion, as "losing hold of you left me dry" and he cannot understand why this person would leave him. There is a sense of urgency in the lyrics, as the singer asks "where do you run to, where do you hide?" and is clearly consumed with thoughts of the person he is addressing.
The verses that follow delve deeper into the singer's psyche, as he reflects on what has happened between them. He expresses regret for his actions, and urges the other person to "tell yourself I'm sorry for the things that I've done." It is evident that the singer is grappling with his own flaws, and the fact that he may have contributed to the dissolution of their relationship. He also acknowledges that he has been unable to move on, as "your silence is my home, and everything reminds me that I am all alone."
Overall, "Bleed Through" is a poignant and introspective song, with lyrics that explore the complexities of relationships and the ways in which we are unable to fully capture the essence of those we love.
Line by Line Meaning
every time I pick up a pen,
its all you
I cannot write anything without thinking about you.
and there beside me
in my mirror, all I can see
is us two, the pages
turn so fast, and like all old pages do,
the words, they bleed trough
We are in this together, and everything we do has always been tied to each other. No matter how hard we try, we cannot erase our shared memories.
get back in my arms, they're
just hanging by my side
losing hold of you left me dry
tell me where you run to
where do you hide?
you know you never once
left my mind
I need you back in my life because without you, I feel empty and alone. You were never far from my thoughts, even though you left me.
tell yourself I'm sorry
for the things that I've done
tell yourself you you've never seen
the barrel of that gun
tell yourself its over now
and not to run
just tell yourself I'm sorry
for what I've done
I am trying to apologize for all the hurtful things I did, and I regret everything. I hope you accept my apologies and move on with your life.
listen while I'm talking,
I don't do it too much
I can't help feeling
that care between us
what ever happened to
the way that it was?
the one thing I can't have
is what I want...
I am not one for talking, but I want you to know that I still care for you. Things have changed between us, and I cannot seem to have the one thing I want the most.
who decided that you
could not stay?
you wont be here by
the end of my day,
cuz I can't even listen
to the words I say
I cannot understand why you had to leave, and the thought of not having you with me by the end of the day hurts too much. I cannot even listen to myself when I try to make sense of everything.
"I swear you never really miss it till its half
gone and you tighten up your grip trying to
hold on didn't really appreciate it when its
in your arms and you can relate to every
word in your song like was I wrong? but
I know I'm right but in hindsight, I
blame the limelight maybe I just needed
time to get my mind right maybe we'll reconnect
when the times right trying to think
about the causes was I too bossy- exactly
what the cause is I was told to step in love
with some caution cuz love and shit is no
ifference in the darkness but love is where
the heart is and you can see the
blood as it dripping trough the gauzes
so I guess I fell out of love with her smile
and more in love with applauses"
I did not realize how much I loved something until it was halfway gone, and then I started to hold on tightly. I did not appreciate it when I had it all, and now I can relate to every word in the song. Although I know I am right, I blame the limelight for making me lose sight of what I needed. I hope we can reconnect someday if the timing is right. I became too bossy and forgot to love with some caution. Love is where the heart is, and it can bring both joy and pain. I fell out of love with her smile, and more in love with the applause.
Its quiet in my house,
your silence is my home,
and everything reminds me
that I am all alone
its quiet where you used to be,
and now that youre gone,
its not a sound, is not a word,
but a dial tone
Your absence has left me feeling lonely, and your silence makes it worse. Everything in the house reminds me of you, and it is too quiet without you. When I try to call you, there is only silence on the other end.
its quiet when I'm drinking
its quiet when I smoke,
its ....... when I'm eating, oh
and I sleep all alone
its quiet now, it was louder
then, I stand still like a stone
only from my dreams you want go
Drinking, smoking, and eating are all empty without you around, and now I sleep all alone. The silence is deafening, but I remember the loudness of our voices before. I cannot escape you, even in my dreams.
"how did I get in this predicament was I
influenced by the bennefits cuz I was hitting
on so many chichis, loving you and
eaving you was the only sentiment but I
guess I wasn't ready for you cuz I'm
ubbing your feet, cooking spagheti for you
taking you to parks, winning teddies for you
but in my heart I'm thinking there's someone
better for you but my hearts like "no, not this again
cut it out Blach, you know how this'll end."and I swear that I really was listenning but my ____ was yelling and my heart was just whispering so your know who
I listened to now my hearts bitching cuz he's
missing you get my eyes staring at some old
flitchs of you and my nose swear that still
smells the scent of you and my soul's saying
damm, she was meant for you."
I am not sure how I ended up in this situation, maybe I was only in it for the benefits. Although I had many flings before you, loving and leaving you was never an option in my heart, but maybe I was not ready for you. I did everything to make you happy, but part of me felt like someone better deserved you. Despite all this, my heart tells me to not give up on us. I was listening, but I let my ego take over. Right now, I am missing you, and everything around me reminds me of you. My soul tells me you were meant for me.
why won't you como back
I'm losing past of myself
I've been wondering, watching,
waiting so long
I've been talking I been listening
I've been writing my songs
I've been haping you've been
hearing on this radio now,
that I'm not with you
but I miss you
I need you to come back because without you, I am missing a part of myself. I have been waiting for you and wondering what went wrong. I have been talking to others, listening to their advice, and even writing songs about you. I hope you can hear my songs on the radio and know that I miss you.
Contributed by Mia R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Juank Nunez
Every time I pick up a pen
Its all you
And there beside me
In my mirror, all I can see
Is us two, the pages
Turn so fast, and like all old pages do
The words, they bleed trough
Get back in my arms, they're
Just hanging by my side
Losing hold of you left me dry
Tell me where you run to
Where do you hide?
You know you never once
Left my mind
Tell yourself I'm sorry
For the things that I've done
Tell yourself you you've never seen
The barrel of that gun
Tell yourself its over now
And not to run
Just tell yourself I'm sorry
For what I've done
Listen while I'm talking
I don't do it too much
I can't help feeling
That care between us
What ever happened to
The way that it was?
The one thing I can't have
Is what I want...
Who decided that you
Could not stay?
You won't be here by
The end of my day
Cuz I can't even listen
To the words I say
"I swear you never really miss it till its half
Gone and you tighten up your grip trying to
Hold on didn't really appreciate it when its
In your arms and you can relate to every
Word in your song like was I wrong? but
I know I'm right but in hindsight, I
Blame the limelight maybe I just needed
Time to get my mind right maybe we'll reconnect
When the times right trying to think
About the causes was I too bossy- exactly
What the cause is I was told to step in love
With some caution cuz love and shit is no
Difeference in the darkness but love is where
The heart is and you can see the
Blood as it dripping trough the gauzes
So I guess I fell out of love with her smile
And more in love with applauses"
Its quiet in my house
Your silence is my home
And everything reminds me
That I am all alone
Its quiet where you used to be
And now that youre gone
Its not a sound, is not a word
But a dial tone
Its quiet when I'm drinking
Its quiet when I smoke
Its ....... when I'm eating, oh
And I sleep all alone
Its quiet now, it was louder
Then, I stand still like a stone
Only from my dreams you want go
Juank Nunez
Every time I pick up a pen
Its all you
And there beside me
In my mirror, all I can see
Is us two, the pages
Turn so fast, and like all old pages do
The words, they bleed trough
Get back in my arms, they're
Just hanging by my side
Losing hold of you left me dry
Tell me where you run to
Where do you hide?
You know you never once
Left my mind
Tell yourself I'm sorry
For the things that I've done
Tell yourself you you've never seen
The barrel of that gun
Tell yourself its over now
And not to run
Just tell yourself I'm sorry
For what I've done
Listen while I'm talking
I don't do it too much
I can't help feeling
That care between us
What ever happened to
The way that it was?
The one thing I can't have
Is what I want...
Who decided that you
Could not stay?
You won't be here by
The end of my day
Cuz I can't even listen
To the words I say
"I swear you never really miss it till its half
Gone and you tighten up your grip trying to
Hold on didn't really appreciate it when its
In your arms and you can relate to every
Word in your song like was I wrong? but
I know I'm right but in hindsight, I
Blame the limelight maybe I just needed
Time to get my mind right maybe we'll reconnect
When the times right trying to think
About the causes was I too bossy- exactly
What the cause is I was told to step in love
With some caution cuz love and shit is no
Difeference in the darkness but love is where
The heart is and you can see the
Blood as it dripping trough the gauzes
So I guess I fell out of love with her smile
And more in love with applauses"
Its quiet in my house
Your silence is my home
And everything reminds me
That I am all alone
Its quiet where you used to be
And now that youre gone
Its not a sound, is not a word
But a dial tone
Its quiet when I'm drinking
Its quiet when I smoke
Its ....... when I'm eating, oh
And I sleep all alone
Its quiet now, it was louder
Then, I stand still like a stone
Only from my dreams you want go
k.kazzie
Ive been listening to this album from middle school now im graduating from college, never gets old. Love
Juliana Mayer
Como alguém pode não gostar dessa música???
GuiKudoww
@n1khera Esperança na juventude restaurada
Luan Brogni
Sr. Nicolau então tu já sabe oq é bom haha
n1khera
Juliana Mayer Não é mesmo. Eu tenho 12 anos e amo Soja, Ponto de Equilíbrio, Bob Marley
Ryan ODonnell
This song haunts my soul but i cant stop listening to it.
Michael Hulick
Same dude
B Kub
I know how you feel mate
Dhigo Hatiley
( SOJA ) ISSO E QUE E MUSICA BOA