Grapes of Wrath

i know your son is handicapped
and it can’t be easy
all the useless platitudes
we all say
on the way
to our evenings

i’ve seen some brand name hate
in some generic human beings
people say they wanna change
but they don’t know what they mean

you can never know a loss
like the gaping wound inside you
gnawing at your mind
every building you walk into

if i sing a song of joy
who the hell would believe
if i press the grapes of wrath
is the juice even worth the squeeze

i know you loved your dad
and now he’s dead
yall had some stuff to sort out
now it won’t get said

i’ve seen some brand name hate
in some generic human beings
people say they wanna change
but they don’t know what they mean

you can never know a loss
like the gaping wound inside you
gnawing at your mind
every building you walk into

if i sing a song of joy
who the hell would believe
if i press the grapes of wrath
is the juice even worth the squeeze

what will happen to the shirt that you wore on your birthday
when you realized everything was mostly a feeling
and you blew out the candles
on your birthday cake
everything was surreal
your mother was fake

what’s this strange tradition?
what’s the cult of years
i thought we’d press the grapes of wrath
instead we all got beers

you can never know a loss
like the gaping wound inside you
gnawing at your mind
every building you walk into

if i sing a song of joy
who the hell would believe
if i press the grapes of wrath
is the juice even worth the squeeze

[juliawhitehead]

“I’ve seen some brand name hate in some generic human beings” is such a genius lyric

[ThomasOReilly-zntn]

It’s kind of like we could start a song club to talk about your songs like a book club!

[skyeseas]

Jesse, this personal era you entered upon posting war isn’t murder is already shaping this generation. your momentum is incredible.

[SableWind]

A lot if people in the comments are fixated on the line "Is the juice even worth the squeeze." Its a great line, but not quite my favorite.

The Grapes of Wrath from Steinbeck refers to the marginaliation of the poor, their wrathful sentiments against the rich and powerful.

I see this song as the sad recognition that no matter our discontent, how difficult our lives are, how unfair and unjust our society has become - we are resigned to it. We do not fight it or do enough to change it, because it feels like too much effort to do so.

My favorite line is near the end:
"I thought we'd press the grapes of wrath... Instead we all got beers."

This is a bitter sentiment; resignation; disappointment. We didn't fight back, we just drank away a cheaper, easier alternative. Easier to ignore our oppression or treat it as inevitable and unchangeable, than acknowledging all that hurt and doing something about it. You can even pretend its preferable, you can get your 'beer' instead.

I love Jesse's music because it's open to interpretation. Great art is seen differently by different people. I respect Jesse for respecting us as listeners, for not spelling things out literally, for allowing us our own meaning and interpretations.

[clfrancis]

Every person has a before and an after in their life. I thought for many years, my before was before my son was born. It wasn't until he passed away that I truly understood what my before was. Now I'm here in the after. At times, it is unbearable. The complete unconditional love a parent feels for their child is nothing compared to this grief. I feel like the very cells in my body have been altered.
That line: Yall had some stuff to sort out now it won’t get said, brings me to my knees. Seemingly so simple, you truly have a gift. I thank you from here in the after. I'm not alone. Jesse ❤

[nonyabeez]

SO many feels in this one that it's almost hard to breathe while listening to it. And some of the lines play on repeat in my mind at the oddest of times. Incredible song.

[amandas.]

If we press the grapes of wrath, is the juice even worth the squeeze? What a great lyric!

[jimiverson]

"i know you loved your dad
and now he’s dead
yall had some stuff to sort out
now it won’t get said "

Breaks my heart - your music is AMAZING

[Jayramplinmusic]

Some of these songs are fucking biblical man.

[dalevancleefsr]

My son is handicapped.

My dad is dead and we had some stuff to sort out.

Last week, I reread The Grapes of Wrath.

This song is amazing and it's freaking me out.

[Kuli]

You're like the guy playing guitar around the fire that makes any event a memory.

[franzenmusic]

I need his artistry so much right now. Feels less lonely.

[skinny]

People want to compare him to the next this or that, I think Jesse is the next great thing just by being Jesse, rarely ever find a song that I don't like.

[PeppertheDorkie]

Just found this. In the first 30 seconds I stopped to like, subscribe and then before I forgot, I put his entire play list on Spotify. Kind of the old new I needed today - on a very low day for me.

[EzaleaGraves]

"If I press the grapes of wrath is the juice even worth the squeeze."
Thanks, I really needed to hear that. Your music means a lot.

[wahoo]

One of the saddest things in my life is this. My best friend, who passed away years ago is no longer here to watch this. He loved playing Woody Guthrey, Arlo Guthrie, Niel Young, and especially Dylan🙂

[mandayork]

heard united health of course but the rest of your music also stabs me in the heart in a good way, hard to explain

[cliffjenkins]

"Is the juice even worth the squeeze? "Right there! A classic line. Thanks Jesse.

[Zeph_]

I wish this were on Patchwork, I think it might be my favorite one yet. Also realizing how hard this would go as a grunge ballad like you used to write for Welles 🤩

[RonaldEllenburg]

Thank you yet again brother. You put more in a single word than all the people I've known in my 70yrs of existence. And that puts you squarely on top of the zillion great songwriters I've followed thru the yrs. I can offer you nothin but encouragement brother, and say that whatever you do....dont ever stop chasing whatever it is you want to obtain from this very extraordinary gift you've been given. I'm not feeding you a bunch a useless rederick here more than good enough man ; so dont quit on it!!!! Just be patient brother , and let it come to you. Thanks sincerely, ron