They’ve raised the bar with Strength to Survive, their fourth full-length album, an intoxicating mix of hot-rod reggae grooves and urgent, zeitgeist-capturing themes. The album, produced by John Alagia (Dave Matthews, John Mayer, O.A.R.), is the band’s first for ATO, the label co-founded by Dave Matthews.
Hemphill says the album was greatly inspired by Bob Marley’s Survival. “That’s the greatest reggae album ever made,” he says. “It has the best basslines and the best lyrics ever heard on one record. Marley wrote it after he went to Africa. I was 13 or 14 when I listened to it for the first time and it triggered all these long-forgotten memories of when I lived in Africa as a kid. My dad was an IMF res rep in Liberia in the late 80’s. I remember when the coup first started—- my family had to hide in these iron bathtubs for 3 days because the military was shooting at everything. I was 7 and that was one of my first memories. We made it out on the last flight. So Africa was always a big part of our lives—- it defined our family, in a way. Music came right after that, so, for me, music was always tied to Africa and music was always something powerful.”
Shortly after returning from Africa, Hemphill met Bobby Lee (bass) in the first grade in Virginia. The two instantly became best friends, finding common ground through their love of hip hop, rock and reggae which they performed together at their middle school talent shows. Throughout high school, they met Ryan Berty (drums), Kenneth Brownell (percussion) and Patrick O’Shea (keyboards) and together formed SOJA. The band gigged locally in the DC area while a couple of the guys finished school, all the while making plans to hit the road after graduation. They actually wound up owning the road.
Over the course of the past few years, SOJA has sold more than 200,000 albums, headlined large theaters in more than 20 countries around the world, generated over 40 million YouTube views, amassed nearly 2 million Facebook fans, and attracted an almost Grateful Dead-like international fanbase that grows with each tour, with caravans of diehards following them from city to city. Most impressive of all, they’ve accomplished all this on their own. This 8-piece band has spent the past year and a half grinding it out from venue to venue, playing more than 360 dates, including headlining sold-out tours of North and South America, as well as opening for O.A.R. and sharing stages with everyone from Dave Matthews Band to Matisyahu.
With Strength to Survive, the band makes an impassioned call for unity and change with universally relatable songs about faith, hope and love. “I could go on and on about the horrible damage we’ve done to the earth or the problems that arise when countries compete for money over an imaginary border, but the album has one central theme,” says Hemphill, “and that’s our hope for the world to be one family.”
It’s a concept best exemplified in the song “Everything Changes.” “People out there with no food at night,” sings Hemphill, “And we say we care, but we don’t, so we all lie/But what if there’s more to this, and one day we become what we do, not what we say/Maybe we need to want to fix it. Maybe stop talking, maybe start listening/ Maybe we need to look at this world less like a square and more like a circle.”
Among the album’s many highlights is the ethereal “Let You Go,” about the road not taken, “Mentality,” the disc’s hard-hitting opening track, and the one-two punch of “Be With Me Now” and “When We Were Younger,” the latter bringing together the macro and the micro with the simple yet resonant line, “All of my answers, now that I’m older, turn into questions.”
Hemphill says the band’s simple and honest approach to music is what’s enabled them to break through obstacles of language, distance and culture in amassing an international following. “What’s the alternative – pop music?” he laughs. “Pop music—especially American pop music, is about having money, sleeping with models, living in mansions, spending all of our time in clubs and generally being better than the rest of the world. It’s funny, ‘cuz everyone here is broke. We sing about different things—things that actually matter. I think our fans appreciate that.”
“When I look out in the audience and I see these kids with tears in their eyes, not because I’m singing a love song, but because I’m singing about how the world is dying and we’re the only ones who can stop it, that is huge. I live for that. We played a festival in Brazil in front of 80,000 people, and everybody was singing every word—in English. After one of the songs, I told them, ‘We’re on the road a lot, and people always ask me, “Don’t you ever get homesick? Don’t you miss your family?” I said, ‘It took me awhile to realize this, but this is my home, and you all are my family.’ The place just blew up. It was amazing. But it’s the truth—those are my people and I always want to do right by them. It’s is the only game in town for me.” ❖
Easier
Soldiers of Jah Army Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is what I'm always learning, it seems
Is what is be determined to be
Our mind is in between
It's like I always knew that, our way
But never really perfect could
Was waiting for the right thing to come
But never really know
It's much more easier, when you don't lie
I mean it's easier, it's much more easier
Right now it's easier, when you don't try
It's in the summer breeze
It's in the wind that blows
It's in the innocent
It's in the criminals
It's in the real roots
It's in the real rise
Yeah they drown though only to took so high
It's in the sky and...
And this is how to you
And this is how to me
It's in the way we look, I see it in the cause
Within the only moment given, that's right now
It's much easier, that it's much easier
It's much more easier, when you don't lie
I mean it's easier, it's much more easier
Right now it's easier, when you don't try
Never really wanted to be... a philosopher
Work for what
I don't qualify for you so
Wish you could see
So we blaze it...
create it
Don't forsake it, don't need to fake it
So...
It's much easier, that it's much easier
It's much more easier, when you don't lie
I mean it's easier, it's much more easier
Right now it's easier, when you don't try
The lyrics of Soldiers of Jah Army's song Easier suggest that the artist is conveying a message of simplicity and honesty. The opening lines, "It's never been a problem for me, is what I'm always learning, it seems," convey the idea that despite the challenges and difficulties one may face, to be honest and genuine makes everything easier. The lyrics continue to emphasize that although people may search for something perfect or wait for the right thing to come along, the key to a simpler life lies in being truthful and not trying too hard. The artist suggests that this honesty and simplicity can be found in everyday things, from the summer breeze to the wind that blows, from innocent people to criminals, from the real roots to the real rise, and even in the sky.
The song's chorus emphasizes the ease of honesty and simplicity, stating, "It's much easier, that it's much easier, It's much more easier, when you don't lie, I mean it's easier, it's much more easier, Right now it's easier, when you don't try." The artist suggests that being simple and honest is not difficult or complicated, but instead can be achieved by being true and not putting on a facade. They express that philosophy is not necessary if one can live simply and honestly. Finally, the lines "So we blaze it, create it, Don't forsake it, don't need to fake it," refer to the idea of creating a life that is authentic and true to oneself.
Line by Line Meaning
It's never been a problem for me
I have never had issues with this
Is what I'm always learning, it seems
It appears that I am always gaining new knowledge
Is what is be determined to be
It is what has been decided
Our mind is in between
We are conflicted in our thoughts
It's like I always knew that, our way
Our path seems familiar, like we knew it all along
But never really perfect could
But we could never really achieve perfection
Was waiting for the right thing to come
We were waiting for the perfect opportunity
But never really know
But we never truly knew
It's much easier, that it's much easier
It is far simpler
It's much more easier, when you don't lie
It is far easier when you are truthful
I mean it's easier, it's much more easier
I truly believe it is far easier
Right now it's easier, when you don't try
It is simpler when you do not make an effort
It's in the summer breeze
It can be found in the gentle summer wind
It's in the wind that blows
It can be found in the forceful winds
It's in the innocent
It can be found in the pure and naive
It's in the criminals
It can also be found in those who commit crimes
It's in the real roots
It is in the genuine origin
It's in the real rise
It is in the true ascent
Yeah they drown though only to took so high
Some may fall hard, but will rise higher in the end
It's in the sky and...
It is even in the vast sky
And this is how to you
This is applicable to you
And this is how to me
This also applies to me
It's in the way we look, I see it in the cause
It can be seen in our appearance and our purpose
Within the only moment given, that's right now
It can only be found in the present moment
Never really wanted to be... a philosopher
I never had the desire to be a philosopher
Work for what
What effort is needed
I don't qualify for you so
I do not meet your standards
Wish you could see
I desire for you to understand
So we blaze it...
So we will light it up
create it
We will make it happen
Don't forsake it, don't need to fake it
We do not need to abandon it or pretend it is something it is not
It's much easier, that it's much easier
It is far simpler
It's much more easier, when you don't lie
It is far easier when you are truthful
I mean it's easier, it's much more easier
I truly believe it is far easier
Right now it's easier, when you don't try
It is simpler when you do not make an effort
Contributed by Eliana E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@chrollolucilfer9263
It's never been a problem for me
It's what I've always wanted, it seems
It's almost predetermined to be
I'm always in between
It's like I always knew that I would
But never really perfectly could
Was waiting for the right thing to come
But never really know, yeah
That it's much easier, that it's much easier
It's much more easier when you don't lie
I mean it's easier, it's much more easier
Ooh, it's easier when you don't try
It's in the summer breeze, it's in the winter blows
It's in the innocent, it's in the criminals
It's in the real roots, it's in the real vibes
We get it down low, only to take it so high
And it's in the sky above and even in the trees
It's inside of you and it's inside of me
It's in a weird way, but I see it in the clouds
And the only one we get is it here right now, and it's
That it's much easier, that it's much easier
It's much more easier when you don't lie (when you don't lie)
Oh, it's much easier, (yes, it's easier) it's easier
It's much more easier when you don't try
Never really wanted to get a job that didn't benefit or supply
Work if note and bills stack up, covering up my sight
I don't qualify for your so called "regular life"
Wish you could see what we see and break out that single-filed line
So we blaze it if all of my people who feel underappreciated
Just live your life how you please even if dem nah rate it
And don't forsake it, don't even fake it
Soja, Anuhea, J Boog, yes we a go make it, make it
That it's much easier, that it's much easier
It's much more easier when you don't lie
I mean it's easier, it's much more easier
Ooh, it's easier when you don't try
@chelle.convicto3466
Love this song!♥️♥️♥️ hope this could be a hit🙏 though it's been six years. So much love to Soja and Anuhea♥️♥️🥰 from your fan in the Philippines.
@vanderleiapereira9614
Canta demais! Sinto como se estiverce flutuando ao som de soja. 😃
@TheRealKingYeti
So grateful to see these 3 amazing artists making beautiful jams together 🤙❤
@marcosfelix6144
cara, é muito bom o som desses caras,eu curto demais eles. massa ,massa e massa.
@1LuvCherishLife
2023 still listening to Soja
So inspiring so much more then a musician 🙌
@millena47954
Soja melhor banda de reggae do mundo ♡
@oi_ne
Amo de coração! ❤ #Brasil #Paz Muita luz pra nós!
@fabianosantana7841
É nois kkk
@brunobarbosa2627
J Boog também é foda, no Brasil também tem que curte teu som.
@Faria.liniker
Parabéns!!!! Essa e todas as músicas são os melhores reggaes, cada lançamento um sucesso 👏👏