Jewel’s “Hands” Will Grab You
I know what many of you may be thinking: “Jewel isn’t country.” However, the Alaskan poetic songstress has been writing folk music and yodeling since she was just a small girl. She played taverns with her father at the early age of 8, hitchhiked solo to Mexico during Spring break and wrote a smash hit, “Who Will Save Your Soul,” while standing on a street corner watching passersby. She even lived in her car at one point, until it was later stolen. She dates seven-time world champion bull rider Ty Murray. Who’s to say she isn’t country? She’s soulful. She’s poetic. She’s got spirit. And to me, she’s country.
Listen to her lyrics and listen to her message. In this video, “Hands,” she offers encouragement and hope. Indeed, all of us need a helping hand at some point in our lives, but often our strongest comfort is at the end of our own arm. Sometimes it takes hitting rock bottom or a terrible situation to remind us how strong we really are.
In the video, Jewel walks through wreckage where those around her are panicking and upset. Pushed to the breaking point, they all begin pitching in to help one another. Gathering strength both mentally and physically, they regain control of an awful situation. The viewer isn’t shown what the actual ruins are caused by, whether from a fire or bomb, because that’s beside the point. The point is in the lyrics: “Poverty stole your golden shoes/But it didn’t steal your laughter.” They’ve all come together for the greater cause, to help one another. ”‘Cause where there’s a man who has no voice/There ours shall go singing.”
Believing in oneself, relying on our morals, doing what we can to make each day a little brighter for ourselves and others — this is her message. May we all put our own hands together and make today a little brighter.
©2008 Country Music Television, Inc., a Viacom company. A division of
Michaele says:
This song is beautiful, I LOVE IT. Sometimes it brings tears to my eyes. This song/video reminds me of September 11, 2001, when this country came together in mourning and helping the victims of that sad day. You go, Jewel!!!!!!!!
sunkie says:
Jewel, though many may not consider her singing style country, has been influenced from her past which was grounded in country. I can appreciate what the song is trying to tell each and everyone of us. As a small child growing up, my grandmother told me to never turn my back on a stranger, for you never know if it is a test from upstairs. In a way, that is what this song is trying to fill us in with, a test; a test of our own strength and conviction. So many times people turn to drugs and alcohol for answers, when as Whitney informs us, it is sometimes found at the end of our arm. Next time I find myself in a position that I am unsure, I shall find strength at what is found at the end of my arm.
Howard Gibson says:
I like her “Do you want me?”, but it is not really folky, maybe it is political, as in spoof:
http://howiecopywriter.blogspot.com/2007/12/do-you-want-me-do-you-give-me-money.html