Life Uncommon

Although Jewel uses religious terminology here I don't think this is necessarially a religious song. I think this song is about our own individual power to be a force for change. This is an anthem to freedom--freedom in the general esoteric sense not only freedom in a political or religeous sense. It asks us to take responsibility for changing the world--and thereby lead a life uncommon. Stand up for your beliefs and avoid followin along like sheep as is more common.

"there are plenty of people who pray for peace but if praying were enough it would have come to be"

This is almost anti-religious or at least diesim. God won't bring peace to the world, its us who must stand up and make it so. The "unbelievers" are not simply heathens in the religious sense, but those who don't believe that change and goodness is possible.

"let your words enslave no one and the heavens will hush themselves to hear our voices ring out clear"

If we use our POSITIVE energy of light, love and justice we will bring this change OURSELVES not from god (heavens will hush themselves) and OUR voices will ring out clear.

"and lend our voices only to sounds of freedom no longer lend our strength to that which we wish to be free from fill your lives with love and bravery"

When I hear this song I think of the struggles of the great forces for change--Martin Luther King, Ghandi, etc. She's saying don't succumb to the negativity and hate that is so easy. Its almost like buddist philosophy--improve the world through self improvement.

I think this is an AWESOME song. A truely uplifting anthem to each of us to take responsibility for our lives and the human condition. It is one of her best and classic Jewel--the kind of deep folksy and uplifting music that she made on her first 2-3 albums. I yearn for her to recreate that spirit in her new music. I have been pretty depressed at all of the detours she has taken musically. I respect her for the experimentation (I think its healthy to grow) but I think it led to a lot of dead ends.

Lots of typos in the lyrics. Should be:

Don't worry, Mother, it'll be alright And don't worry, Sister, say your prayers and sleep tight And it'll be fine, Lover of Mine, It'll be just fine

And lend your voices only to sounds of freedom No longer lend your strength to that which you wish to be free from Fill your lives with love and bravery And you shall lead a life uncommon

I've heard your anguish I've heard your hearts cry out We are tired, we are weary, but we aren't worn out Set down your chains 'til only faith remains Set down you chains

And lend your voices only to sounds of freedom No longer lend your strength to that which you wish to be free from Fill your lives with love and bravery And we shall lead a life uncommon

There are plenty of people who pray for peace But if praying were enough it would have come to be Let your words enslave no one and the heavens will hush themselves to hear Our voices ring out clear with sounds of freedom Sounds of freedom

Come on you unbelievers, move out of the way There is a new army coming and we are armed with faith To live, we must give... to live

And lend our voices only to sounds of freedom No longer lend our strength to that which we wish to be free from Fill your lives with love and bravery And we shall lead...

And lend our voices only to sounds of freedom! No longer lend our strength to that which we wish to be free from Fill you lives with love and bravery And we shall lead a life uncommon

I think this song means don't let others surpress your voice even though they have power over you. And don't let others walk over you, you need to take a stance and tell them what goes. Then there is that religious side of it .. like the lines "Come on you unbelievers, move out of the way, there is a new army coming and we are armed with faith" I'm not a religious person by anymeans .. but it gives you a sence of a higher power, and that we can over come all obstacles thrown in your path.

I think this song means don't let others surpress your voice even though they have power over you. And don't let others walk over you, you need to take a stance and tell them what goes. Then there is that religious side of it .. like the lines "Come on you unbelievers, move out of the way, there is a new army coming and we are armed with faith" I'm not a religious person by anymeans .. but it gives you a sence of a higher power, and that we can over come all obstacles thrown in your path.

this song is SO powerful. and that's all i have to say about that.

Jewel has many religious songs, this one including. It appears in many of her songs, like Hands and Innocence Maintained. But her faith seems so pure and simple, that you don't really think of it as religion but as a universal message.

If I were the Pope I´d change Saint Peter´s Cathedral for the rights of this song. No religious salm can breath such amount of hope and strenght into a human being. Thanks, Jewel.

Bravo! And Thank YOU, Jewell! This is a gift that supports many a good intention.

In Christianity freedom describes the state of being free from sin; not the ability to do whatever one wishes.

That which you wish to be free from is the suffering of sin. The sound of freedom is the voice of God so lending your voices to God echoes the message of freedom.