‘Bloodline’ by Alex Warren & Jelly Roll - Lyrics & Meaning

During Jelly Roll's star-studded - and, in this instance, we do not use that word lightly - Stagecoach 2025 headline set in April 2025, Alex Warren emerged to debut the duo's new collaboration. Titled ‘Bloodline’, Warren and Jelly then took to socials to share a playful snippet of the studio version, which promptly went viral on TikTok.

After a flurry of additional clips and teaser videos, we finally got the official release date - Friday, May 23rd - with Warren then deciding to treat fans to an early drop, making ‘Bloodline’ available to stream from Thursday, May 22nd at 3pm PST / 6pm EST.

In his recent videos promoting ‘Bloodline’, Alex Warren has tipped his cap to the influences of the late great Swedish EDM trailblazer, Avicii, quipping, “I'm just trying to make Avicii proud with this one...”. The uptempo, folk-infused feel of ‘Bloodline’ certainly appears to draw from iconic earworms such as ‘Wake Me Up’ and ‘Hey Brother’.

Warren and Jelly Roll's vocals complement each other seamlessly on this rousing anthem, with the galvanising feel of the hook's melody continuing into the verses as well. The atmospheric guitar riff and the weighty drum pattern combine to give ‘Bloodline’ a jolt of energy, accentuating the hopeful message that underpins the lyrics. The duo deliver the chorus in the form of a soul-stirring, choral battle-cry.

“Take that pain, pass it down, hang photos on the wall
Momma said, "Your dad's to blame, but that's his Daddy's fault"
Oh-oh, there's no one left to call
You say you're counting down the days 'til you make your escape
But you're afraid you can't outrun what's running through your veins
Oh-oh, you're carrying the weight

In the dead of night, on that broken road
I won't let you walk alone”

The opening lines bring to mind Noah Kahan's astute observation on ‘Growing Sideways’, when he sings, “I'm still angry at my parents for what their parents did to them”.

Here, Alex Warren acknowledges that there are generational cycles and patterns we learn from our parents, with the ‘Ordinary’ singer-songwriter using the photos of our family as symbols of the pain many inherit from those that come before us.

Warren sings about someone who is struggling to contend with this anguish, and has subsequently decided to “escape”, which could refer to running away from home.

However, he assures them this won't help the situation. Instead, he emphasises that these generational chains can be broken, offering the listener words of comfort, stressing that he won't let them walk down this challenging, broken road by themselves.

“Oh, my brother
You don't have to follow in your bloodline
Oh, we got each other
And, if you got tomorrow, then you still got time
To break the chain that left you scarred
From where you came isn't who you are
Oh, my brothеr
You don't have to follow in your bloodline”

The hook finds Alex Warren doubling down on the notion that, just because you were born a certain way or have destructive tendencies “in your blood”, this doesn't mean you can't break free of that pain. Given how Warren has shared that he's influenced by worship music, ‘Bloodline’ feels as though it could have spiritual undertones.

“Oh, I won't pretеnd that I know half the hell you see (Yeah)
Just know that don't mean there's something near death to repeat
Oh-oh, you're stronger than you think
I know it has to end, but don't it have to start?
You can pack your bags, and I'll meet you in your car
Oh-oh, stronger than you think”

Jelly Roll underlines that he knows, even though he's been through numerous trials and tribulations himself, that doesn't mean he's able to fully comprehend the unique struggle of each individual listener. He highlights that you carry an inner strength you might not be aware of, before warmly outlining that, whatever move you opt for, he will be ready to “meet you in your car” and be by your side, regardless.

“The storm keeps on raging, but don't you forget
God's not done with you yet
It feels like you're losing that war in your head
Just know this isn't the end”

Warren and Jelly again emphasise that the ‘storm’ of life will keep surrounding us and attempting to get us to break, but throughout it all just know that “God's not done with you yet”. This mantra of hope and optimism stems from the idea that God has a plan for all of us, even if it looks like there's no light at the end of the tunnel.

Alex Warren is yet to delve into the specifics of how ‘Bloodline’ came about, but during an interview with Ricki Sanchez from 107.5 The River, Warren revealed when the viral song would be dropping and expressed how he doesn't understand why artists have to remain coy about release dates, “No one knows it yet...I'll post about it in a few days, but no, no one knows it. You can say it, I don't care”.

Warren joked, “I don't get why people are so crazy about that, it's a release date, I'm not leaking...actually, I would leak the song too. I would do that, I would do that”.

Elsewhere during the rollout for ’Bloodline’, the California native underlined that he has been greatly inspired by Avicii, “I'm out here trying to make Avicii proud with this one”.

“Take that pain, pass it down, hang photos on the wall
Momma said, "Your dad's to blame, but that's his Daddy's fault"
Oh-oh, there's no one left to call
You say you're counting down the days 'til you make your escape
But you're afraid you can't outrun what's running through your veins
Oh-oh, you're carrying the weight

-

In the dead of night, on that broken road
I won't let you walk alone

-

Oh, my brother
You don't have to follow in your bloodline
Oh, we got each other
And, if you got tomorrow, then you still got time
To break the chain that left you scarred
From where you came isn't who you are
Oh, my brothеr
You don't have to follow in your bloodline

-

Oh, I won't pretеnd that I know half the hell you see (Yeah)
Just know that don't mean there's something near death to repeat
Oh-oh, you're stronger than you think
I know it has to end, but don't it have to start?
You can pack your bags, and I'll meet you in your car
Oh-oh, stronger than you think

-

In the dead of night, on that broken road
I won't let you walk alone

-

Oh, my brother
You don't have to follow in your bloodline
Oh, we got each other
And, if you got tomorrow, then you still got time
To break the chain that left you scarred
From where you came isn't who you are
Oh, my brother
You don't have to follow in your bloodline

-

The storm keeps on raging, but don't you forget
God's not done with you yet
It feels like you're losing that war in your head
Just know this isn't the end

-

Oh, my brother
You don't have to follow in your bloodline (In your bloodline)
Oh, we got each other
And, if you got tomorrow, then you still got time (You still got time)
To break the chain that left you scarred
From where you came isn't who you are
Oh, my brother
You don't have to follow in your bloodline”

For more on Alex Warren, see below: