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.” ❖
Look Within
Soldiers of Jah Army Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
and everyone's acting like no one knows
the role models we see truly
teach us the ways of desperados
They desperate upon the Tv
Theu got theis message on the radio
for economic gains, wicked games they play,
as they come upon video.
When our life needs correction,
look in our own mirror.
Or are you scared of your own reflection?
Look in your own mirror.
Everyone is all about the vanity,
they talk how thy pimp and roll.
Everyone all about the pride, you see
everyone talking about who they know.
Everyone all about the murder and greed,
they talk how they killed and stole
When our life needs correction,
look in our own mirror.
Or are you scared of your own reflection?
Look in your own mirror.
Our governament is not better,
they trully ate the biggest gang of all.
and when it's time to blame a teacher
for the student's downfall...
When it's time to check the root
to see why the branch won't stay alive
Well in America the truth it always has to do
with twentu, ten and five.
The lyrics of "Look Within" by Soldiers of Jah Army criticize the society we live in and the lack of accountability individuals have for their actions. The song starts by acknowledging the everyday crimes committed and the indifference we show towards them, which is emphasized by the role models we follow who often encourage violence and criminal behavior. Additionally, the media is called out for promoting these messages for the sake of economic gains. The chorus, "When our life needs correction, look in our own mirror. Or are you scared of your own reflection? Look in your own mirror," urges people to take responsibility for their actions and examine their own behavior when things go wrong.
Furthermore, the song highlights the obsession with vanity, pride, murder, and greed in society. People often talk about wealth and status, with little regard for the morality behind them. The government is also criticized for its corruption and tendency to shift the blame to others, such as teachers, instead of addressing the root cause of social issues. The lyrics reveal the harsh reality of how money and power can corrupt individuals and institutions, often at the expense of the most vulnerable in society.
Line by Line Meaning
Everyday all of these crimes are committed,
There are countless crimes committed every day
and everyone's acting like no one knows
People are acting like they are unaware of these crimes
the role models we see truly
The people we idolize
teach us the ways of desperados
Teach us harmful and dangerous behaviors
They desperate upon the Tv
Desperate and sensationalized behavior is shown on TV
Theu got theis message on the radio
These messages are also heard on the radio
for economic gains, wicked games they play,
This behavior is motivated by making money and involves immoral actions
as they come upon video.
And is seen on video
Everyone is all about the vanity,
People are obsessed with their appearance
they talk how thy pimp and roll.
They discuss how they flaunt their wealth and status
Everyone all about the pride, you see
People are all about their own importance
everyone talking about who they know.
They boast about who they are connected to
Everyone all about the murder and greed,
People are focused on committing crimes and acquiring more than they need
they talk how they killed and stole
They share stories about their violent and illegal actions
Our governament is not better,
The government is no different
they trully ate the biggest gang of all.
In fact, they are the largest organized group
and when it's time to blame a teacher
When it's time to assign responsibility
for the student's downfall...
For a student's failings
When it's time to check the root
When it's time to examine the source
to see why the branch won't stay alive
To determine why a problem persists
Well in America the truth it always has to do
In America, the root cause is always related
with twentu, ten and five.
To money or finances
When our life needs correction,
When we need to make changes in our lives
look in our own mirror.
We should examine ourselves
Or are you scared of your own reflection?
We may be afraid to face our own flaws
Look in your own mirror.
Regardless, we should still take a closer look at ourselves
Contributed by Madelyn C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.