Music Review: Jewel "Who Will Save Your Soul"

Jewel

Who Will Save Your Soul

Album: Pieces of You

Year: 1996

          Jewel believes everyone is out for themselves in the pessimistic “Who Will Save Your Soul.”

         A pointed guitar opens the singer, setting a condemning tone. A majority of time, people turn on their television and watch celebrities. They mimic what they wear and look up to their lack of values. They eat whatever processed, fast food is sold on commercials, not thinking to try something they are told they like. They chase for the next hot thing every week as part of the daily routine of making out checks to pay the doctor and lawyer. People are gone as soon as the check is torn out of the book until another hot thing catches the eye. Love is a fallacy. (“People living their lives for you on TV/They say they're better than you and you agree/Another burger, another hot dog, some fries/A wish in the well, hope your health don't go to hell, well/Another doctor’s bill, another lawyer's bill/Another cute cheap thrill/You know you love him if you put him in your will.”)

            In the chorus, she wonders when people will start doing the right thing and make an effort to improve themselves. (“Who will save your soul when it comes to the flower/Who will save your soul after all the lies that you told, boy/Who will save your soul if you won't save your own?”)

          The police aren’t searching for justice. They have a quota to meet and will rough up someone for not doing anything. Not much changes. People work at their mindless jobs to get their paycheck. A war continues on in another country, creating profits for businesses. Meanwhile, skyscrapers are being built in one of the few places homeless people could live. People worship celebrities, possessions and a multitude of meaningless things. Then, talk as though Jesus (for example) was their neighbor, chatting about the goings-on in their lives. People won’t look into what they have done, knowing what type of hypocritical people they have become. (“We try to hustle them, try to bustle them, try to cuss them/The cops want someone to bust down on Orleans Avenue/Another day, another dollar, another war, another tower/Went up where the homeless had their homes/So we pray to as many different gods as there are flowers/But we call religion our friend/We're so worried about saving our souls/Afraid that God will take his toll/That we forget to begin.”)

        The chorus is sung again.

       People are blank, barely living. The daily run to the store to get alcohol is a top priority over the electric bill and kids at home. Then, while the kids are asking for help on their homework, the person will ignore them, drinking their beer and watching television. People will scam each other to get what they want, including to pretending to love them and stealing from their drawers while they are sleeping. (“Some are walking, some are talking, some are stalking their kill/You got social security, but that don't pay your bills/There are addictions to feed and there are mouths to pay/So you bargain with the Devil, say you're okay for today/You say you love them take your money and run/Say it's been swell, sweetheart, but it was just one of those things/Those flings, those strings you've got to cut/So get out on the streets, girls, and bust your butts.”)

         The chorus is sung again to close the single.

        Jewel’s self-righteous, scornful vocals pontificate on how everyone is corrupt, ridding the world of any humanity. It’s worth noting not once does she examine herself. She acts as though she’s above reproach and devoid of sin. It’s ironic, though. She’s actually the same as the people she judges, resembling the ones she talks about in the second verse.    

    The preachy “Who Will Save Your Soul” is riddled with wrinkles and jowls from age, feeling every inch of its 17 years.