Like many passionate songsters before him, Jerod McBrayer listened to Jimmy Eat World’s Bleed American and it changed his life. His heart pounded, his veins pumped what felt like strawberry syrup, and his body felt like he was in one of those dreams where you try to run but your legs move like marshmallows. He loved it and wanted to create it.
As a creative outlet to his Atlanta punk bands, Jerod began exploring what has become Worth Taking’s sound. He loved the infectious energy of punk music, but was drawn to the way power pop-punk bands sweetened the raw punk sound to create something addictively tuneful. The pop-oriented sound also allowed him to show off his sugary vocals and explore deeper lyrical themes, such as love, hope and our ongoing struggle with morality.
In 2011, Jerod recorded Worth Taking’s first EP, singing all vocals and playing each instrument. The Anxious EP turned out to be a well-rounded five-song power pop-punk record that showcased Jerod’s command of simple, irresistible melodies, while preserving the electrifying energy of punk music. His lyrics related effortlessly to the challenges of post adolescent life, without the whiny, post-breakup discourse so prevalent in many pop- punk songs. After promoting Anxious at the Cornerstone Festival, he decided that if he was ever going to find quality band members who shared his passion, he needed to head west.
Drawn to the Bay Area for its reputation of spawning countless great bands, Jerod settled on San Francisco. Here he was introduced Chris Self, who played in the Adeline Records band, Fetish. The group quickly meshed and spent 2012 touring, writing and recording.
The new lineup also supercharged Worth Taking’s live show. Jerod’s refined vocals were finally teamed with a vibrant energy, solidifying Worth Taking as an exciting live band without the disjointed missteps of a party band—you won’t get soaked in beer if you nestle up to the front of their stage, but your girlfriend might get a few drops on her Converse.
While Jerod still wrote all the songs, the band’s second EP, Oddly Pacific, finally featured the other band members. At the end of 2012, the band streamed its first single, “I Like the Movie Version Better,” which Pittsburgh Music Magazine called, “a post power punk romp that has the feel of Taking Back Sunday mating with My Freshman Year.” The band followed the single with a fully produced video in January 2013, which received almost 1000 views in its first 24 hours on YouTube.
The rest of 2013 proved to be promising as well. Touring Japan, they offered Oddly Pacific to a crowd left elated and ready for more. Soon enough they returned to the states only to continue working on the first full-length album, “Art Imitates Art,” released in 2014.
After relentless hours of writing and recording, 2016 will be the year of “Hangman,” the band’s second full-length album. Jerod and Chris, now joined by Chase Kossack on drums, will tour the U.S. to give fans a taste of an all new Worth Taking.
The Battle
Worth Taking Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Everyone's a target here and you just may be his
You just have to say
You may have won the battle but we will win the war
Run but you can't hide
Odds are stacked against us we have to believe
Love is on our side
We're not going anywhere this I promise you
The fight inside will never die no matter what you do
Now is your last chance
You may have won the battle but we will win the war
Run but you can't hide
Odds are stacked against us we have to believe
Love is on our side
Tonight is the night that we stand up
Move forward have no fear
Every second of my life has made me who I am
That's why I'm here
You may have won the battle but we will win the war
Run but you can't hide
Odds are stacked against us we have to believe
Love is on our side
The lyrics of "The Battle" by Worth Taking are empowering and motivational. It speaks of standing up and facing the enemy, no matter how hard it may seem. The singer acknowledges that everyone is a target, and so it's important to say and do what needs to be done. The chorus repeats the idea that though the odds may be against them, they will win the war. The singer acknowledges that the fight will never die and promises that they're not going anywhere. The final verse encourages the listener to move forward and have no fear, as every second of their life has made them who they are, and that's why they're here.
Line by Line Meaning
Stand and face the enemy I know how hard it is
It can be tough to confront a challenging opponent, but we must gather courage and stand up against them.
Everyone's a target here and you just may be his
We're all vulnerable in this situation and we could easily become the target of our adversary.
You just have to say
As daunting as this task may seem, all we must do is speak out and fight back.
You may have won the battle but we will win the war
Even if the enemy has triumphed in this particular instance, our ultimate goal is to emerge victorious at the end of the conflict.
Run but you can't hide
Fleeing from the problem won't make it disappear or resolve it, so we must confront it head-on.
Odds are stacked against us we have to believe
The situation may seem unfavorable, but we must maintain our faith and hope for a positive outcome.
Love is on our side
We have the support of others who care for us, and that love will help us through this struggle.
We're not going anywhere this I promise you
We're committed to seeing this through, and we won't abandon the fight until it's resolved.
The fight inside will never die no matter what you do
Our inner strength and determination will persist despite any obstacles or setbacks.
Now is your last chance
The time to act is now, and we must seize this opportunity to take a stand and fight back.
Tonight is the night that we stand up
The moment has come for us to rise to the occasion and face our adversary with courage and determination.
Move forward have no fear
We must continue to progress and take action despite any anxieties or uncertainties we may feel.
Every second of my life has made me who I am
Our past experiences have shaped us into the person we are today, and we can draw strength from that resilience.
That's why I'm here
Our personal history and inner strength have brought us to this moment, and we must use them to persevere through this challenge.
Contributed by Oliver T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@flares7631
why do i keep watching bros videos i don’t even play or keep up w the game on their socials😭
@cashewletta4999
Racists attract racists
@Cloudy17111
@@cashewletta4999ohhhhhh that explains why I’m here
@AndrzejZiembicki-eu7wz
Same bro
@karhuan6188
@@cashewletta4999 no shit fr
@sugrivaveganhotdogs8374
I’m the same way
@TeamPlant
As an Omen main, I rate this pass a out of 10 👌
@casinopurpose
Ooo
@mongomitmango204
a out of 🥨
@wambly2697
West jett never fails to fill me up with his sweet sweet load (of content....)