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
You Don't Know Me
SOJA Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But she only tried to get near me
And never ever knowing about my inside
Having one that I hold is worth so much
More to me if it's both body and her mind
You think I'm alone when everyone is around,
You think I'm home but I'm really out
That you don't know me no more
You think I'm alone when everyone is around,
You think I'm home but I'm really out
Then you think I'm out when I'm really at home and it seems
That you don't know me no more
Girl you don't know me no more, this love is real to me
To make you happy and secure that's what's important to me
And anytime ya not around, I want you here with me,
'Cause girl, you really appeal to me
But I see a serious lack of communication,
Ask you for a meal, say you want to bring me chicken
Like you don't know that I'm a vegetarian
Is this a love or an infatuation 'cause
You think I'm alone when everyone is around,
You think I'm home but I'm really out
Then you think I'm out when I'm really at home and it seems
That you don't know me no more
You think I'm alone when everyone is around,
You think I'm home but I'm really out
Then you think I'm out when I'm really at home and it seems
That you don't know me no more
You don't know me no more no
You don't know me no more no
You don't know me no more no
You don't know
And now all I've learned is all I'm taking now with me,
Never will I wait for too long again
And you can take all our old roses with you
'Cause I've got new gardens I must grow, I must grow
Think I'm alone everyone is around
Think I'm home but I'm really out
Then you think I'm out when I'm really at home and it seems
That you don't know me no more
Think I'm alone when everyone is around,
You think I'm home but I'm really out
You think I'm out I'm oh it seems that you don't know me no more
And girl you can't hold me no more, 'cause I got places to go
And anywhere that I go I got people I know
I wanna see you everyday knocking at my door, but
First, I really gotta let you know that
This is a troubled world that we live on,
And the almighty creator put me on a mission,
So you can walk with me on this path through creation,
And we can help each other reveal our visions
Now it seems that you don't know me no more
Now it seems that you don't know me no more
Now it seems that you don't know me no more
Now it seems that you don't know me no more
Don't it seems that you don't know me no more
Oh it seems that you don't know me no more
Don't it seems that you don't know me no more yeah
Now you don't know me no more
You don't know me no more yeah
Now you don't know me no more yeah
Now you don't know me no more
The Soja song "You Don't Know Me" is about the challenges and misunderstandings that arise in relationships. The lyrics describe the frustration of feeling misunderstood by a loved one. The singer expresses his feelings of being alone even when surrounded by others and the confusion of his partner not understanding him. He emphasizes the importance of a deeper connection with a partner, where both the body and the mind are held. The lyrics also touch on the issues of communication and the need for mutual understanding in a relationship.
The singer also feels a sense of personal growth and change after realizing he can no longer wait for too long for his partner to understand him. He chooses to move on and focus on his personal vision and mission in life. He invites his partner to walk with him on this path through creation, and together they could help each other reveal their visions.
Overall, "You Don't Know Me" is a heartfelt expression of the difficulties of relationships, the need for deeper connections, communication, and the importance of embracing personal growth, mission, and vision.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah well, I had one by my side,
I had a person with me, but they only wanted to get close physically and didn't care about knowing me on a deeper level.
But she only tried to get near me
The person I was with only tried to get physically close to me, and didn't make an effort to get to know my true self.
And never ever knowing about my inside
My partner never made an effort to understand the real me, and what I was feeling and thinking on the inside.
Having one that I hold is worth so much
Having a partner who values me for who I am, and not just physically, is more important to me than anything else.
More to me if it's both body and her mind
A partner who values me for both my physical and mental/emotional aspects is extremely important to me.
You think I'm alone when everyone is around,
You assume that just because there are other people around me, I don't need or want your company.
You think I'm home but I'm really out
You assume that I'm home when I'm really somewhere else.
Then you think I'm out when I'm really at home and it seems
You assume that I'm not around when I'm actually at my own home.
That you don't know me no more
Your assumptions and lack of understanding make me feel like you don't really know me anymore.
Girl you don't know me no more, this love is real to me
I feel like you don't really understand me, but my feelings for you are still genuine and real.
To make you happy and secure that's what's important to me
I want to make sure you are happy and feel safe and secure in our relationship.
And anytime ya not around, I want you here with me,
I miss you when we're apart and I want you to be with me as much as possible.
'Cause girl, you really appeal to me
I am strongly attracted to you and find you very appealing.
But I see a serious lack of communication,
I feel like we have a big problem with not communicating effectively and understanding each other's needs.
Ask you for a meal, say you want to bring me chicken
I asked you for a meal, but you didn't take note of my dietary restrictions and suggested chicken which I cannot eat.
Like you don't know that I'm a vegetarian
I am a vegetarian, and I feel like you don't understand or remember this important fact about me, which shows that you don't really know me.
Is this a love or an infatuation 'cause
I'm questioning whether our relationship is based on genuine love and understanding or just surface-level attraction and infatuation.
And now all I've learned is all I'm taking now with me,
I've learned a lot from this relationship, and I'm using that knowledge to move forward and grow.
Never will I wait for too long again
I won't waste time waiting for someone who doesn't truly understand or appreciate me again.
And you can take all our old roses with you
You can have all the memories of our past relationship, as I'm moving on and creating new experiences for myself.
'Cause I've got new gardens I must grow, I must grow
I have new experiences and relationships to explore and grow from, and I'm ready to move forward and leave the past behind.
Girl you can't hold me no more, 'cause I got places to go
I can't let myself be held back by a relationship that lacks understanding and communication, as I have my own journey to pursue.
And anywhere that I go I got people I know
I have people in my life who understand and appreciate me, and who will support me as I pursue my own path.
I wanna see you everyday knocking at my door, but
I want to be with you and see you every day, but for that to happen we both need to work on understanding and communicating with each other better.
First, I really gotta let you know that
Before we can move forward as a couple, I need to make sure you understand the things that have been bothering me about our relationship.
This is a troubled world that we live on,
The world can be a tough and difficult place to navigate, and it's important for us to support each other and communicate effectively to face those challenges together.
And the almighty creator put me on a mission,
I believe that a higher power has given me a purpose or mission in life, and I want to pursue that purpose with or without you.
So you can walk with me on this path through creation,
I want us to support each other as we navigate the challenges of life and pursue our individual purposes and missions.
And we can help each other reveal our visions
As we work together and communicate more effectively, we can help each other achieve our goals and bring our individual visions to life.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Jacob Charles Hemphill, Robert Lee Jefferson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Tara Mashay
on Here I Am
This guy is in love with a girl and tries pushing her away. They both care a lot about each other, for her own well being he tries to ignore her. But due to his life style of traveling she knows when he's around (tour dates posted online,etc) "she sees on her screen I am so here I am, here I am" he can't keep from seeing her because deep down they both want to be there so here he is. Neither of them care if they date other people normally because they both know they can't be together (maybe distance? Or he cares more about his passion for music?) "She don't call me one and only no she just calls me when she gets lonely" she gets lonely when she's not getting attention from other people where she is so she calls him to feel better because she's lonely and be gives in a lot to talk to her because he enjoys it. "I'm just a passing plan" sometimes he's able to stay away because he doesn't want her to be dependent on him when she's lonely. She knows he's always come back.