Jelly Roll — “Only” Jelly Roll delivers a gut-wrenching, raw, heart-trembling emotional experience. The song is full of energy, and the lyrics uncover the raw feelings of struggling with addiction, fighting within, and trying to find enough self-worth to justify a turbulent existence. The song begins with Jelly Roll looking into a mirror, confronting the monster he’s become (which can represent the shame-and-darkness that accompany addiction). He begs, as he sings, asking people to “pray for me” a sign of weakness and a cry for change.
All of this is framed in a song with a woodsy, folk-like instrument base that supports the weight of Jelly Roll’s words, supported by a considerate tempo that swells as the song itself rises. His voice, raw yet soulful, evokes the sense of being caught in a cycle of self-destructive behavior but yearning for redemption. “Only” isn’t just a song — it’s a glimpse inside the artist’s world and what he struggles with, Jelly Roll’s delivery is so earnest and unvarnished-that it makes listeners-empathize with his pain and desire for an escape.
Jelly Roll “Only” (Addiction Kills)
It’s Jelly Roll’s willingness to be vulnerable in this track that makes it so powerful. He pulls no punches about the challenges he encounters. Instead, he depicts them as they are, at aggressor showing his looker-in the face of addiction. The mix of soul-stirring lyrics and a haunting melody makes for an emotional environment that draws the listener in.
Switching gears away from the somber, soul-searching introspection of “Only,” Jelly Roll shares another aspect of his emotional odyssey with his track “Hear Me Out.” Here, Jelly Roll pivots from exploring his struggles to examining those of the people around him. The song is about a friend going through addiction and about a girl stuck in a cycle of abuse. He is a sympathetic witness, a vessel giving these voices the opportunity to speak, but also to be heard, to be listened to, to have others witness their pain. His delivery once again is suffused with sincerity.
Jelly Roll – Hear Me Out (Official Audio)
“Hear Me Out” talks about how individuals can go through life concealing their struggles, putting on a brave face, and pretending everything is hunky-dory. Jelly Roll reminds us that you may not know what the person you’re smiling at is going through. No one ever hears this calling, the song lyrics emphasize. Even so, Jelly Roll encourages listeners to realize that everyone has a story, and beneath the exterior, there’s a human being fighting to make it. It’s a plea for empathy for more-understanding and less judgment.
This style has endeared Jelly Roll to the listening public, as more discover the honest, raw stories within his songs. His gift as an artist is his capacity to transform his pain into something others might find helpful. Everything he writes speaks directly to what he goes through personally but brings solace and support to those fighting loneliness in their struggles. If you want to keep up with Jelly Roll’s music and journey, check him out on his social media channels, such as Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.