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.” ❖
Peace in a Time of War
Soldiers of Jah Army Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But really InI don't care.
They say Cheney makes my decisions,
But he don't, so I'm just not there.
And I'm gonna see the same lies
Coming in the next 4 years,
So pardon me if I don't cry when
Your election goes the way it did.
Chorus
I need some peace in a time of war,
Some peace in a time of political war.
they say that we elect our leaders
To lead forward and make decision.
But I never heard their policy on war
Discussed during an election.
And it seem that war is something over which
People have no prevention.
But the people want it anyway and
So they elect some destruction.
Chorus
land of the free, and
Foreign bullets never touch our pavement.
It seem to me, people know not
The extent of their involvement.
Things are not as they seem,
Underneath the beast is not clean.
But we support the leaders who use
Media to make them seem so clean
The lyrics to Soldiers of Jah Army's "Peace in a Time of War" speak to the frustration and disillusionment with politics in the United States during the time of the George W. Bush administration. The opening lines express a lack of concern for Bush and Cheney's leadership, and an expectation of continued deception and dishonesty in politics over the next four years. The chorus emphasizes the need for peace in a time of war and political unrest, indicating a desire for a more peaceful and just world.
The second verse highlights the disconnect between the stated policies of politicians on war and their actual behavior. The singer notes that war seems to be an inevitability, and elected officials do not discuss it during election season. The people, however, ultimately support leaders who strive for destruction. The chorus is repeated once again, emphasizing the yearning for stability and tranquility.
Throughout the song, there is a sense of disillusionment and skepticism towards the political process and how it operates. The media is mentioned as a tool for leaders to create a facade of cleanliness, while the truth may be much darker. The singer acknowledges that things are not as they seem, and that people may not even understand the extent of their involvement in conflict.
Line by Line Meaning
They say that Bush could be my president,
It is said that Bush could potentially hold the position of President, but personally, it doesn't matter.
But really InI don't care.
In reality (InI), the singer is indifferent to the situation.
They say Cheney makes my decisions,
It is said that Cheney has influence over the singer's decisions.
But he don't, so I'm just not there.
But in actuality, Cheney does not have any control over the artist, so the artist chooses not to be affected by it.
And I'm gonna see the same lies
The artist anticipates seeing similar dishonesty.
Coming in the next 4 years,
This is predicted to occur in the next 4 years.
So pardon me if I don't cry when
The singer is not emotionally affected by the outcome.
Your election goes the way it did.
The election results don't come as a surprise to the artist.
I need some peace in a time of war,
The artist desires tranquility amidst conflict.
Some peace in a time of political war.
The artist longs for peace in the midst of political turmoil.
they say that we elect our leaders
It is said that the people choose their leaders.
To lead forward and make decision.
However, the leaders do not always make decisions that benefit the people.
But I never heard their policy on war
The singer has not heard any campaign promises regarding war.
Discussed during an election.
It is not a topic of discussion during elections.
And it seem that war is something over which
It appears that war is an issue that individuals have no control over.
People have no prevention.
The people cannot prevent war regardless of their opinions.
But the people want it anyway and
Despite this, the people still desire war.
So they elect some destruction.
They elect leaders who may bring about destruction.
land of the free, and
America is known as the land of the free.
Foreign bullets never touch our pavement.
It is uncommon to experience warfare within American soil.
It seem to me, people know not
To the artist, it appears that individuals are unaware.
The extent of their involvement.
People don't fully comprehend their participation in war.
Things are not as they seem,
The true nature of situations is often disguised.
Underneath the beast is not clean.
The underlying forces may not be virtuous.
But we support the leaders who use
Despite this knowledge, people still support leaders who manipulate perceptions.
Media to make them seem so clean
Media is utilized to portray leaders favorably.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
jangas
They say that Bush could be my president
But really I and I don't care
They say Cheney makes my decisions
But he don't, so I'm just not there
And I'm gonna see the same lies
Coming in the next 4 years
So pardon me if I don't cry when
Your election goes the way it did
I need some peace in a time of war
Some peace in a time of war
Some peace in a time of political war
They say that we elect our leaders
To lead forward and make decision
But I never heard their policy on war
Discussed during an election
It seem that war is something
Over which people have no prevention
But the people want it anyway
And so they elect some destruction
I need some peace in a time of war
Some peace in a time of war, oh
Peace in a time of war, yeah
Some peace in a time of political
Haile I Selassie I, Jah, hey
Rastafari, hey
Only truth 'round here over creation
Haile I Selassie I
Haile I Selassie I, Jah, oh yeah
Rastafari, hey
Only truth 'round here over creation
Land of the free
And foreign bullets never touch our pavement
It seem to me, people know not
The extent of their involvement
Things are not as they seem
Underneath the beast is not clean
But we support the leaders
Who use media to make them seem so clean
I need some peace in a time of war
Peace in a time of war
Some peace in a time of war
Some peace in a time of political war
Maria Clara YouTube
Foi ouvindo esse reggae que foi feito o meu presente, minha filha ❤️
leandrex
Transou lento
Stephen Mallard
I fight a spiritual war in my mind everyday. I pray who does as well finds peace in time of war. Blessings from north cack 🙏🤙
gleynisson carlos carlos
qui som massa o cara relaxa mesmo chapadinho oooooo bom demais srsrrsr
Ronaldo Dias
Não entendo como podem dar deslike em uma canção dessa. 😪
Jesse Broening
"i need peace, in a time of war! Peace in time of political war." such powerful words.
Ras Mcs
Paz em tempo de guerra!
Rodrigo Eduardo
paz nos tempo de guerra,tranquilidade e suave
Ailuu
peaace in a time of war <3 jah love, uno de los mejores temas
Matheus Vinicius
Viva lá vida como foooor ...Paz a todos nós ♥