Day 17: Revival – Jamestown Revival
Like I’ve said before, I love some good stomp-n-holler folk music. Barn-raising isn’t really a thing anymore, but if it was, I would be there. If you took history classes in high school (which I’m sure you did,) you probably heard about revivals happening in the 1800s: people suddenly being reinvigorated, usually in a religious sense. And revivals have happened all throughout history, inside and outside the church. “Revival” by aptly-named Jamestown Revival is a song about one’s own revival.
The air was cold
Oh, and the money was tight
I clung to her body that night
Pretending I was in love
See I been told
That this kind of living ain’t right
But it becomes hard to fight
When it fits like a glove
Our boy is living fast and loose, because he is young and the world is his oyster. But not for long. This person is climbing toward the age where “this kind of living ain’t right.” I mean, it’s not right to begin with, but he’s realizing it now more and more.
And I’m tired of dodging blows under the table
I can’t do what I been told
Living young but growing old
This could be equated with the wild lifestyle that often goes hand-in-hand with being in a band. Jamestown later wrote a song called “Goodnight Hollywood” that is sort of a swansong to fame and fortune.
And I say
I’m just holding on for my survival
And I can’t ever seem to just let it be
My wheels keep rollin’ on
Even though my money’s gone
Well, Imma go home and pray for the revival
He’s starting to see that his way of life is not sustainable. Something’s gotta give – he needs to have his own sort of revival. I mean, think about it: revivals in the church were meant to reinvigorate people from having a lukewarm faith in God. This guy has become complacent with the way he’s living, so now he’s hoping that he finds something to inspire him to grow up a little. Maybe if he reflects on his family life.
See my father was made
Straight from the salt of the earth
He taught me bout a dollar bills worth
He thought me how to survive
Cain’t be a slave
Losing my life to my work
Ain’t easy and I know it’s gon hurt
But it keeps me alive
His father was a hard working man who raised a family, but it seems like his son rebelled from that. Why would he want to be a slave to the system? Because it pays the bills, yo. There’s also ways to earn a dollar bill without being miserable, and there’s a way to live without destroying your life in the process.
Day 17: Autopilot – Kodaline
Numbing out can be an easy thing to do, especially when every day feels the same as the last (hello, quarantine.) If you’re stuck in a rut, the feeling of “autopilot” becomes familiar. “Autopilot” by Kodaline is the story of someone going through the motions, and the POV is of someone watching them do so. They’re trying to make a connection with someone (maybe a romantic one ooOOOooh) but it’s not working.
I’m trying to connect with you
To see the world the way you do
Try to understand what’s in your head
I’m hearing what you said
Cause I wanted to say
When I see you this way
Don’t ever let it break your heart
Or go back to the start, or watch it fall apart
When you numb out, it’s easy to numb out to everything and everyone. No matter how people try to get inside your head, it can be pretty impenetrable.
Is Autopilot kicking in?
You’re feeling like you’ll never win
Hey maybe I can help you out?
Don’t fall into your doubts
I hear you screaming out
The protagonist is trying to position himself as someone that can help, but he’s not seeing any success in that regard. And maybe it’s for the better. Maybe this person needs a special someone they can open up to, maybe they don’t. They’ll realize what they need once they snap out of autopilot.
Maybe you lost control
Fallen into a hole
The way that it was before
Is all that you’re looking for
A lover is all you need
Someone that you can read
Day in and day out
Is this what it’s all about?
Audrey D. DeBoer 