Written in 1998, Hands was released from Jewel's second album entitled Spirit. In the prayerful song, she advises listeners of the deepening need to follow the pack. Throughout life, as Jewel mentions, one may either sit back and allow others to mold the world they want to live it, or they can use their own Hands, no matter how small they may be.
Through the use of alliteration and contrasting diction, Jewel shines light on the criterion that society forces us to abide by. In the first stanza, she inserts two negative statements, "I won't be made useless. I won't be made idle with despair", and immediadely negates those strong statements with a positive, enlightening one, "I will gather myself around my faith." By creating a more pleasant attitude, Jewel indeed bring light from darkness. "For light the darkness most fears." By using alliteration, "...worry 'cause worry is wasteful..." she reemphasizes that constant stressing over things that we cannot change is "wasteful and useless in times like these."
In her lyrics, Jewel utilizes personification to highlight all of the disappointments life itself hands to our community. "Poverty stole your golden shoes... And heartache came to visit me." Although handed many obstacles, she comments on the fact that poverty "didn't steal your laughter", and "I knew it wasn't ever after." To illustrate why those disappointments did not affect her, she uses metonymy. She sings "My hands are small I know, but they're not yours, they are my own, and i am never broken.", to indicate that by working against society's downfalls, she can overcome them. This positive refrain portrays an overall positive attitude and tone that fills listeners with hope.
Through her lyrics, Jewel encourages society to take action, even though others look away, for we may find hope amidst chaos. To wrap up her message, she compares us with God, "we are God's eyes...hands...mind...heart", and encourages listeners to do as God would, no matter the situation.
Through the use of alliteration and contrasting diction, Jewel shines light on the criterion that society forces us to abide by. In the first stanza, she inserts two negative statements, "I won't be made useless. I won't be made idle with despair", and immediadely negates those strong statements with a positive, enlightening one, "I will gather myself around my faith." By creating a more pleasant attitude, Jewel indeed bring light from darkness. "For light the darkness most fears." By using alliteration, "...worry 'cause worry is wasteful..." she reemphasizes that constant stressing over things that we cannot change is "wasteful and useless in times like these."
In her lyrics, Jewel utilizes personification to highlight all of the disappointments life itself hands to our community. "Poverty stole your golden shoes... And heartache came to visit me." Although handed many obstacles, she comments on the fact that poverty "didn't steal your laughter", and "I knew it wasn't ever after." To illustrate why those disappointments did not affect her, she uses metonymy. She sings "My hands are small I know, but they're not yours, they are my own, and i am never broken.", to indicate that by working against society's downfalls, she can overcome them. This positive refrain portrays an overall positive attitude and tone that fills listeners with hope.
Through her lyrics, Jewel encourages society to take action, even though others look away, for we may find hope amidst chaos. To wrap up her message, she compares us with God, "we are God's eyes...hands...mind...heart", and encourages listeners to do as God would, no matter the situation.
