Their debut album Yellowjackets made serious waves in jazz radio, garnering public and critical acclaim. Mirage A Trois followed in its footsteps. While they went on a brief hiatus to pursue other projects, they reassembled in time for the 1984 Playboy Jazz Festival, adding percussionist Paulinho Da Costa and their new lead voice, sax man Marc Russo. This landmark concert paved the way for their eventual success both on the Billboard Jazz charts and concert venues around the world, and resulted in the third spicy Yellowjackets album Samurai Samba. 1986 saw the group moving over to MCA Records to record Shades, the title track being written by Donald Fagen (of Steely Dan fame) as a tribute to the many "shades" he heard in the group's music.
With their album Four Corners, Ricky Lawson departed to join Lionel Richie's touring band and was replaced by the versatile William Kennedy. This rock-solid lineup took the Yellowjackets into new territory, exploring world beats and densely-populated soundscapes that reflected a growing maturity in their music. Politics, the follow-up to Four Corners, mellows out, and the group sheds some of the electronic elements and starts exploring acoustic sounds. Marc Russo's final recording with Yellowjackets, The Spin, was recorded in Oslo, Norway by noted engineer Jan Erik Kongshaug (well known for his work on the ECM label), and the Jackets proved that they could belt out acoustic jazz with the best!
Greenhouse ushered in a new era. With Marc gone, the Yellowjackets trio would record one of their most adventurous albums to date, featuring ace big band arranger and saxophonist Bob Mintzer on many of the tracks, and string accompaniments on a handful of others. Shortly thereafter, Bob Mintzer became a bona fide member of Yellowjackets. The Jackets also recorded on one of Bob Mintzer's dmp Records projects, One Music. Live Wires captures the group in concert with Mintzer at the helm. The two albums that followed, Like A River and Run For Your Life, reflected a growing interest in straight-ahead acoustic jazz.
With 1995's Dreamland, Yellowjackets returned to their first record label, Warner Brothers, producing their most relaxed, and relaxing, recording to date. Blue Hats is more spontaneous than its predecessors, musically rich and particularly revealing in showing how Yellowjackets have evolved since that landmark first album. Club Nocturne, their latest studio recording, achieves great crossover appeal with the guest vocalists Kurt Elling, Jonathan Butler and Brenda Russell. And while the Yellowjackets of today sound little like the original Yellowjackets from fifteen-plus years ago at first listen, the unmistakable talents of the individuals involved still have the unique signatures that shine through regardless of their musical setting, whether it be blistering-hot fusion or full-blown acoustic jazz. In other words, their music has evolved and matured considerably, but there's no mistaking that it is Yellowjackets you are hearing.
Believer
Yellowjackets Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'ma say all the words inside my head
I'm fired up and tired of the way that things have been oh
The way that things have been oh
Second thing second
Don't you tell me what you think that I can be
I'm the one at the sail, I'm the master of my sea oh
The master of my sea oh
I was broken from a young age
Taking my sulking to the masses
Writing my poems for the few
That looked at me, took at me, shook at me, feeling me
Singing from heartache from the pain
Taking my message from the veins
Speaking my lesson from the brain
Seeing the beauty through the
You made me a, you made me a believer, believer
You break me down, you build me up, believer, believer
Pain, oh let the bullets fly, oh let them rain
My life, my love, my drive, it came from
You made me a, you made me a believer, believer
Third things third
Send a prayer to the ones up above
All the hate that you've heard has turned your spirit to a dove oh
Your spirit up above oh
I was choking in the crowd
Livin' my brain up in the cloud
Falling like ashes to the ground
Hoping my feelings, they would drown
But they never did, ever lived, ebbing and flowing
Inhibited, limited
'Til it broke up and it rained down
It rained down, like
You made me a, you made me a believer, believer
You break me down, you built me up, believer, believer
Pain, oh let the bullets fly, oh let them rain
My life, my love, my drive, it came from
You made me a, you made me a believer, believer
Last things last
By the grace of the fire and the flames
You're the face of the future, the blood in my veins oh
The blood in my veins oh
But they never did, ever lived, ebbing and flowing
Inhibited, limited
'Til it broke up and it rained down
It rained down, like
Pain, you made me a, you made me a believer, believer
You break me down, you built me up, believer, believer
Pain, I let the bullets fly, oh let them rain
My life, my love, my drive, it came from
You made me a, you made me a believer, believer
The lyrics of Yellowjackets's song "Believer" express a powerful journey of self-empowerment and transformation. In the first verse, the singer declares their determination to speak their truth and break free from the confines of the past. They are tired of the way things have been and assert their control over their own destiny, symbolized by being the master of their sea. This sets the tone for a message of resilience and defiance against adversity.
The following verses delve deeper into the singer's personal struggles and growth. They reflect on their early experiences of feeling broken and overlooked, but find solace in expressing themselves through writing and music. The lyrics highlight the cathartic nature of art and the power of turning pain into inspiration. The chorus emphasizes how someone else's influence helped transform the singer into a believer, rebuilding their confidence and strength through hardship.
The third verse shifts towards a more spiritual perspective, urging listeners to send prayers for guidance and healing. The imagery of choking in a crowd and feeling overwhelmed by emotions portrays the internal battles faced by the singer. Despite moments of despair, they find resilience in the belief that challenges can be overcome, leading to personal growth and liberation. The repetition of the chorus reinforces the theme of finding faith and strength through adversity.
In the final verse, the singer acknowledges the transformative power of pain and struggle. They recognize that the challenges they faced were instrumental in shaping their identity and propelling them towards a brighter future. The references to fire and flames symbolize both destruction and renewal, suggesting that out of struggles emerge new beginnings. The song concludes with a resounding affirmation of becoming a believer, embracing the journey of self-discovery and empowerment. Overall, "Believer" is a poignant anthem of resilience, hope, and the transformative power of belief in oneself.
Line by Line Meaning
First things first
To begin with
I'ma say all the words inside my head
I will express all my thoughts
I'm fired up and tired of the way that things have been oh
I am enthusiastic and exhausted from the current situation
The way that things have been oh
The state of things
Second thing second
Another important point
Don't you tell me what you think that I can be
Do not dictate my potential
I'm the one at the sail, I'm the master of my sea oh
I am in control of my destiny
The master of my sea oh
Commander of my own life
I was broken from a young age
I suffered since my youth
Taking my sulking to the masses
Expressing my pain to the public
Writing my poems for the few
Creating art for a select group
That looked at me, took at me, shook at me, feeling me
Those who observed, understood, and resonated with me
Singing from heartache from the pain
Voicing my suffering and struggles
Taking my message from the veins
Conveying my emotions deeply
Speaking my lesson from the brain
Sharing learned experiences and wisdom
Seeing the beauty through the
Appreciating goodness amidst darkness
You made me a, you made me a believer, believer
You transformed me into a believer
You break me down, you build me up, believer, believer
You weaken and strengthen me, making me a believer
Pain, oh let the bullets fly, oh let them rain
Endure suffering and adversities
My life, my love, my drive, it came from
My existence and passions are fueled by
Third things third
A subsequent crucial aspect
Send a prayer to the ones up above
Direct appeals to higher forces
All the hate that you've heard has turned your spirit to a dove oh
Negative experiences transforming your soul into peace
Your spirit up above oh
Your elevated inner being
I was choking in the crowd
Feeling suffocated in a mass setting
Livin' my brain up in the cloud
Lost in thoughts and fantasies
Falling like ashes to the ground
Collapsing and feeling defeated
Hoping my feelings, they would drown
Wishing for emotions to be submerged
But they never did, ever lived, ebbing and flowing
Emotions persisted, fluctuating constantly
Inhibited, limited
Restrained and confined
'Til it broke up and it rained down
Until it eventually shattered and cascaded down
It rained down, like
A downpour, resembling
Last things last
Final significant element
By the grace of the fire and the flames
Through divine favor and intense experiences
You're the face of the future, the blood in my veins oh
You embody the future, the essence within me
Pain, you made me a, you made me a believer, believer
Through pain, you molded me into a believer
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Daniel Wayne Sermon, Daniel Coulter Reynolds, Benjamin Arthur McKee, Daniel James Platzman, Robin Lennart Fredriksson, Mattias Per Larsson, Justin Drew Tranter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind