Fruits Of The Spirit by Jay Electronica Lyrics Meaning – A Lyrical Dissection of Spirituality, Struggle and Social Commentary
Lyrics
Como también nosotros perdonamos
A los que nos ofenden
It’s all love, all Wimbledon with the pen, then
All I have in this world is my flag and my sword
I’m on a battlefield with the flag of my Lord
My shahāda is my cantada
My heart chakra light up when I make sajdah at fajr
Padre nuestro, que estás en El Cielo
Our heavenly father
Like Vince Staples said, we just wadin’ in the water
My people out in Flint still bathin’ in the slaughter
ICE out here rippin’ families apart at the border
Satan struck Palestine with yet another mortar
Lies from the reporters
Ass shots and stripper poles for the eyes of my daughter, hmm
Swing low sweet chariot, my train is on schedule
But I had to take the Underground Railroad like Harriet
Weave the whole industry, every jab I’ve parried it
My cross I carried it
My crown of thorns to cavalry from Nazareth
The orbit was too wide to calculate the azimuth
The journey was technically unexplainable, hazardous
Rise young gods, all paths lead to Lazarus
The dry bones are lifted up from the valley dust
The prayers of the slaves are the wings that carry us
A field full of dreams is where they tried to bury us (bury us)
The track ‘Fruits Of The Spirit,’ though brief in its runtime, is densely packed with the immense weight of Jay Electronica’s lyrical prowess. Delivered with eloquence, this song dives deep into the reservoirs of spirituality, the historical struggle of people of color, and the razor-sharp critique of modern society’s woes.
Unraveling the multifaceted layers in Jay Electronica’s masterpiece reveals not just a personal testament of faith, but also an ancestral narrative of resilience. It’s a vivid portrayal which transcends mere music, echoing the pleas and dreams of oppressed communities across generations.
Decoding Religious References and Spiritual Allegiance
The opening lines of ‘Fruits Of The Spirit’ set forth an amalgamation of religious imagery. References to the Shahāda, the Islamic declaration of faith, alongside the Lord’s Prayer in Spanish, encapsulate Electronica’s dedication to his spiritual path and universal themes of forgiveness and devotion.
Mentions of sajdah at fajr, the pre-dawn Islamic prayer, signify a commitment to his faith which illuminates his heart—cementing the spiritual discipline as a cornerstone upon which the rest of the narrative is built.
An Encrypted Message to the Oppressed – Unearthing the Hidden Meaning
Within the tapestry of the song’s lyrics, Electronica weaves a secret message of hope to those facing hardship. His vivid similes liken his artistry to a tennis match at Wimbledon, but it’s the battlefield imagery, with the flag of his Lord, that speaks measures of the relentless fight against injustice.
The line ‘Rise young gods, all paths lead to Lazarus’ underlines the notion of revival and the idea that even from the dust of despair, rejuvenation and awakening are not only possible but predestined.
Stirring Reflections on Contemporary Issues
Jay Electronica doesn’t shy away from confronting societal problems head-on. By highlighting the ongoing water crisis in Flint and the separation of families at the border, he paints a grim portrait of current events fraught with human suffering.
Moreover, his lament about the conflict in Palestine, juxtaposed with the critique of superficial media distractions, creates a penetrating dichotomy between the gravity of reality and the frivolity of popular culture.
Reclaiming History Through Transcendent Lines
Some of the most memorable lines in the song draw upon historical figures and events in a bid to reclaim the narrative of the oppressed. The evocative comparison to Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad embodies the undying spirit of resistance against slavery and discrimination.
The ‘field full of dreams’ metaphor, hinting at a burial ground, serves as a potent reminder of the resilience of those who have dreamt, even when society has sought to bury their hopes and silence their voices.
A Literary-Heavyweight in the Rumble of Rhymes
Throughout ‘Fruits Of The Spirit’, Jay Electronica demonstrates his deftness as a lyricist, parrying every jab the industry throws. His reference to ‘cross I carried it’ reinforces the sacrifice theme, while the ‘crown of thorns to cavalry from Nazareth’ alludes to biblical martyrdom often mirrored in the lives of many civil rights leaders.
By claiming that the calculations of his journey’s azimuth were too complex, Electronica implies his path is guided by divine navigation rather than human reckoning. It’s a testament to the idea that his music, his message, and his mission are transcendental, far beyond what critics or the industry can fathom.
