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Jelly Roll - 'Halfway to Hell'
Label: Stoney Creek Records
Release Date: June 2nd, 2023
Songwriters: Jesse Frasure, Jessie Jo Dillon, Matt Jenkins & Jason DeFord
Producers: Zach Crowell & Jesse Frasure
The Background:
Stemming from his critically acclaimed album, Whitsitt Chapel, which shares stories of his struggles with spirituality from start to finish, Jelly Roll’s song 'Halfway To Hell' impacted country radio on January 22.
Performing the tune at the 2024 CMT Music Awards on April 7 – as well as on American Idol the following day – 'Halfway to Hell' has quickly become a fan favorite, climbing the country charts as we speak.
Despite being co-written alongside Jesse Frasure, Matt Jenkins and Jessie Jo Dillon, what makes 'Halfway to Hell' so special is it being autobiographical to Jelly Roll with numerous nods to his personal life.
The Tennessee native has a story like no other, with Hulu even making a documentary about him. The inclusion of some of the not-so glamorous aspects of his life makes 'Halfway To Hell' as real and as raw as it gets, therefore piquing the interest of country music lovers everywhere.
The Sound:
Opening and closing with a sermon by a fiery preacher named Jarrod Brown – who doubles as Jelly Roll’s friend – 'Halfway To Hell' transitions into a bass heavy beat sure to get every listener’s boots stomping.
The country-rock sound transports the listener straight to a honky tonk, with a groovy tune that makes you forget about its heavy lyrics.
The Meaning:
"I’m a county jail revival
I'm a bottle and a Bible
I'm a rolling stone disciple
With a cross across my face
I'm a trailer park tornado
Jagged edges on my halo
Hope the chariot gon' swing low
And carry me away"
Jelly Roll makes numerous references to his personal life, referencing his time in Davidson County jail and face tattoos. Giving the listener a glimpse into who he truly is, he details the juxtaposition of making poor choices in his past but still being spiritual, wondering whether he is “halfway to Heaven or halfway to hell.”
In other parts of the tune, Jelly Roll references other artists and songs. We can assume that the line “I'm a rolling stone disciple” is a reference to the Rolling Stones, with this theme continuing into the pre-chorus.
"This little light of mine
Damn near burned me alive
Lord knows that Mama tried
And I don't know if I'm"
Additional references come by the way of 'This Little Light of Mine' by Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Merle Haggard's 'Mama Tried'.
The lines, “This little light of mine / Damn near burned me alive” reference some of his struggles with spirituality after his controversial past as he continues to share his personal story.
"Halfway to Heaven or halfway to hell
My angels and demons at war with myself
One foot in the fire and I still can't tell
Am I halfway to Heaven
Halfway to Heaven or hell?"
Seeing both positive and negative qualities in himself, Jelly Roll begins to ponder whether he's “halfway to Heaven or halfway to hell”.
While he turned his life around after his not-so glamorous past, the country crooner still doesn't know if he's as holy as he needs to be in order to get to Heaven after he passes away.
"I'm a dive bar Sunday sermon
Holy water with my bourbon
Standin' on a bridge I'm burning'
With a can of gasoline
Am I worth savin' if I'm always fadin'?
It feels like I'm caught in-between"
The contradictory statements seen in the first verse continue in the second, notably in the lines “I'm a dive bar Sunday sermon” and “Holy water with my bourbon.”
Here, Jelly Roll is still wondering whether he's worth saving after all. With this self reflection – for better or for worse – being evident throughout the entirety of the track, the song seemingly serves as a cry for help.
What has Jelly Roll said about 'Halfway to Hell'?
Performing the tune at the 2024 CMT Music Awards, American Idol, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and more, Jelly Roll has acknowledged the tune on numerous occasions
. While he has not spoken about the song as of late, Jelly described it as “the best way to start the album” upon the release of Whitsitt Chapel in June of 2023.
“‘Halfway to Hell’ baby, the best way to start the album, an absolute banger! I wanted to start this album with something hard, and something that meant something and something that felt something,” he gushed. “And something that was about that constant duality of life that I love to write songs about, being somewhere between right and wrong.”
With the track making waves on the charts, it is safe to say that Jelly Roll will have even more to say about the smash hit as it continues to gain success throughout 2024.
For the full lyrics to Jelly Roll's 'Halfway to Hell', see below:
I’m a county jail revival
I'm a bottle and a Bible
I'm a rolling stone disciple
With a cross across my face
I'm a trailer park tornado
Jagged edges on my halo
Hope the chariot gon' swing low
And carry me away
This little light of mine
Damn near burned me alive
Lord knows that Mama tried
And I don't know if I'm
Halfway to Heaven or halfway to hell
My angels and demons at war with myself
One foot in the fire and I still can't tell
Am I halfway to Heaven
Halfway to Heaven or hell?
I'm a dive bar Sunday sermon
Holy water with my bourbon
Standin' on a bridge I'm burning'
With a can of gasoline
Am I worth savin' if I'm always fadin'?
It feels like I'm caught in-between
Halfway to Heaven or halfway to hell
My angels and demons at war with myself
One foot in the fire and I still can't tell
Am I halfway to Heaven
Halfway to Heaven or hell?
This little light of mine
Damn near burned me alive
Lord knows that Mama tried
And I don't know if I'm
Halfway to Heaven or halfway to hell
My angels and demons at war with myself
Halfway to Heaven or halfway to hell
My angels and demons at war with myself
One foot in the fire and I still can't tell
Am I halfway to Heaven
Halfway to Heaven or hell?
Halfway to Heaven or hell
––
For more on Jelly Roll, see below:
