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
I Tried
SOJA Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's something about you,
I just watched you
Like something I tried but I forgot to...
It's not that i want to
It's just that I lost you
Thoughts of you run over in my mind and
Something I held maybe one time and I...
All I do is think x3
But thinking about you never brought you back,
So far from you in my mind I go.
But my heart hurts and brings me back
Before i Know
And All i do is think x3
Cuz I tried to change
And I tried to change
And I tried to stay,
I tried to stay the same
I tried to work
And tried to work
I tried for her, I tried.
I cant forget that day I got you
There's something about you,
I just watched you
Like something I tried but I forgot to...
It's not that i want to
It's just that I lost you
All I know, the more that I think about it is
The deeper the doubt it is
Unsure what this emotion promises,
What kind of pain and strain it is
So many times i've done that before,
Told myself that I should know more.
Seek and get past it,
Now that I lost it
Theres is no bridge so how can I cross it
Down so low in the valley of decision,
Clouded mind disturbing my vision,
Bleeding heart affecting my vision,
Compromising on this love mission and
No matter how me try
Still she can't just satisfy,
How could the Truth be a Lie
Water drop out of me eye
Cuz me see the well run dry
I tried
Cuz I tried to change
And I tried to change
And I tried to stay,
I tried to stay the same
I tried to work
And tried to work
I tried for her, I tried.
I cant forget that day I got you
There's something about you,
I just watched you
Like something I tried but I forgot to...
It's not that i want to
It's just that I lost you
Memories of you keep flashing through my mind
Ca'nt keep it up and me can't resign,
Desolation street and me nah see no sigh,
Got to rise above, to cross borderline
It's not that i want to
It's just that I lost you
I cant forget that day I got you
Memories of you keep flashing through my mind
Ca'nt keep it up and me can't resign,
Desolation street and me nah see no sigh,
Got to rise above, to cross borderline
I tried
Cuz I tried to change
And I tried to change
And I tried to stay,
I tried to stay the same
I tried to work
And tried to work
I tried for her, I tried.
The song "I Tried" by Soja tells a story of a man who can't forget the day he got his loved one, but somehow he lost her. He recalls memories of her that run over in his mind, and he tries so hard to press rewind to find out where he went wrong. Unfortunately, he realizes that thinking about her never brought her back. So far from her in his mind, he goes, but his heart keeps bringing him back before he knows it. He reflects on the many things he tried to do to save their relationship, including changing himself, staying the same, and working hard for her. Despite all his efforts, he still lost her.
The lyrics in this song explore the themes of love, loss, regrets, and self-reflection. The singer acknowledges that he can't forget his loved one and tries to make sense of what happened between them. He recognizes that memories of her keep flashing through his mind, and he is unable to resign himself from this pain. The verse "It's not that I want to, it's just that I lost you" emphasizes that sometimes, despite our best efforts, we lose what we value most.
In conclusion, "I Tried" is a heart-wrenching, emotional song that speaks to the universal experiences of love and loss, making it relatable to many listeners around the world. The lyrics suggest that the singer has come to terms with his loss and has accepted that he did all he could to try to save their relationship. The song injects an element of vulnerability and authenticity that adds to its appeal.
Line by Line Meaning
I cant forget that day I got you
I still remember the day I got you
There's something about you,
I just watched you
Like something I tried but I forgot to...
It's not that i want to
It's just that I lost you
There is something indescribable about you, I just stood there looking at you, as if you were something I wanted to achieve but couldn't. It's not that I didn't want you, but I lost you.
Thoughts of you run over in my mind and
I try so hard to just press rewind to find
Something I held maybe one time and I...
Thoughts of you keep running through my mind, and I wish I could go back in time to remember what it felt like to be with you...
All I do is think x3
All I can do is think about you constantly...
But thinking about you never brought you back,
So far from you in my mind I go.
But my heart hurts and brings me back
Before i Know
However, thinking about you constantly cannot bring you back to me. Even though I try to avoid the thought of you, my broken heart still brings me back to you unconsciously.
Cuz I tried to change
And I tried to change
And I tried to stay,
I tried to stay the same
I tried to work
And tried to work
I tried for her, I tried.
I tried changing who I was to fit your idea of who I should be. I also tried to stay the same because that's who you fell for. I tried working on myself to be better for you, I tried for you.
All I know, the more that I think about it is
The deeper the doubt it is
Unsure what this emotion promises,
What kind of pain and strain it is
The more I think about it, the more doubts and uncertainties fill my mind. I have no idea what this emotion holds for me, what kind of pain and struggles I'll face.
So many times i've done that before,
Told myself that I should know more.
Seek and get past it,
Now that I lost it
Theres is no bridge so how can I cross it
I've been in similar situations before and I always tell myself I should have known better. I tried moving on from losing you, but there is no way to get back to where we were.
Down so low in the valley of decision,
Clouded mind disturbing my vision,
Bleeding heart affecting my vision,
Compromising on this love mission and
I'm lost and confused on my decision about my love life, my mind is in turmoil, and my heart is hurting. I'm not sure how to continue with my love mission.
No matter how me try
Still she can't just satisfy,
How could the Truth be a Lie
Water drop out of me eye
Cuz me see the well run dry
No matter how much I try, she can't satisfy me. How could everything we had be false? Tears fall from my eyes because I realize there's nothing left to give.
Memories of you keep flashing through my mind
Ca'nt keep it up and me can't resign,
Desolation street and me nah see no sigh,
Got to rise above, to cross borderline
Memories of you keep flooding my mind, I can't keep ignoring them, and I can't just give up. I'm in a desolate situation, but I need to rise above it to move on with my life.
I tried
I tried my best.
Cuz I tried to change
And I tried to change
And I tried to stay,
I tried to stay the same
I tried to work
And tried to work
I tried for her, I tried.
Because I tried changing myself, staying the same, and working hard for you, but it didn't work.
I cant forget that day I got you
There's something about you,
I just watched you
Like something I tried but I forgot to...
It's not that i want to
It's just that I lost you
I still remember the day I got you, there's something about you that captivates me. I stared at you like you were something I wanted but couldn't have. It's not that I don't love you, it's just that I lost you.
Memories of you keep flashing through my mind
Ca'nt keep it up and me can't resign,
Desolation street and me nah see no sigh,
Got to rise above, to cross borderline
Memories of you keep replaying in my mind, I can't ignore them, but I can't just give up. I feel like I'm in a desolate place, but I need to rise above it to move on.
I tried
I have tried my best.
Cuz I tried to change
And I tried to change
And I tried to stay,
I tried to stay the same
I tried to work
And tried to work
I tried for her, I tried.
Because I tried changing for you, staying the same, working hard for you, but still, I lost you.
Contributed by Aiden S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@lilguhttt9072
AMOOOO Essa Música, Tradução Mais Ainda!!! Eu Escutando Ela Em Pleno 2023, Mas Alguém??? Like 🎶🔥
@marianamazer3158
Euuuuuu
@eduardodudu7349
Tmj família 🎧
@superjodokus
the way this track opens just speaks to my soul. i wish there was an extended version of that
@hannahotto1787
26/07/2019 e eu voltando às raízes! O que é bom nunca morre, Jah Bless!!
@NickFernelius-xh9li
Soja is so underrated! They’re probably the best band in the last 20 years.
@cristianspfc27
muito linda essa música ❤ 2021
@davinchoruizdiaz5202
Que buen tema la re concha de la lora pasan los años y al escucharla los sentimientos por este tema suigen intactos me removió el cerebro............
@beatricemaunick7945
2023 and still fyah
@wesleysodre7975
ouvindo essa e esperando para comer, jajajajaj . É o Rio!! Te amo amorrrrr Sr Sodré