"You Scare The Hell Outta Me" live video

This is one of my favorite songs from the Truth Gone Wild tour. We caught some flack from conservative types for the use of "profanity" but it is in fact a praise and worship song. I am very proud of the lyrics in spite of the bumper-sticker nature of the title.

"Walls of Doubt" live video

Here is yet another clip from our Creation '92 set. This particular version of the DA classic was where we culled the track from Sampler Pak. You will notice that this clip is significantly longer than the edited version on the CD.

"There Goes My Heart Again" live video

Another golden oldie ! Enjoy!

"Dreammaker" live video

DREAMMAKER
I actually dreamed the chorus to this song one night. I woke up with it still echoing in my head and wrote it down on a scrap of paper. I sang it to myself all week in an effort to not forget it.

The next band rehearsal, Mark came in and played us an idea for a new song he had. He played guitar and la-la-laed the melody. When he got to the end I sang the chorus I had dreamed and it fit perfectly. It was really kinda cool the way it worked out. Mark and I put our heads together and hammered out the words. I ended up writing the lyrics for the chorus and the first two verses, Mark penned the third verse himself.

It was one of those rare occasions where we actually collaborated on the writing of a song. Usually one of us would bring in a mostly finished idea and the band would just work out the arrangement. This was a delightful exception and is one of my favorite JT songs. I especially like Mark’s voice on it. He was a much better singer than he ever gave himself credit for.

Rare live JT videos on YouTube.com

Call me sentimental, call me what you will... I'm just a sharing type of guy! In the festive holiday spirit of Christmas, I am posting select live clips from our appearance at Creation Festival in Lancaster, PA, June 1992. This first one is of one of our most classic tun es, "Wind and Wave." We did this song in nearly every single concert throughout our entire career. This particular version is the same one you hear on the 1998 compilation "Sampler Pak."



From my personal journal:

WIND AND WAVE
Even though this song, like most of our songs, is credited to the whole band, I actually wrote it. That’s just the way we did things. We had read somewhere that Lennon and McCartney had a gentlemen’s agreement in the early days to split the songwriting credit regardless of who wrote the song. That sounded neat and romantic to us, so we decided to do that with our songs.

This was one of the first, if not THE first song I wrote as a member of Jacob’s Trouble. It is largely autobiographical and chronicles the struggle I went through actually believing that His grace is enough to save me. I think every believer has to face the doubt of his own salvation.

I was having a hard time with this because my sin was so great in my own eyes. I knew what scripture says about it but the enemy’s lies were clever and seductive. Finally, my wife got tired of hearing me whine. “Do you believe the Bible or don’t you?” she said.

“Yes,” I said.

“Well, then what’s the problem?” And she just threw her arms up and walked out of the room. It left me there thinking. ‘Hey, that’s right. What the heck am I doing?’ The result of that experience was “Wind and Wave.” I wrote it to encourage other believers who might be having the same struggle. I guess I hit a nerve because I’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback from fans regarding that song.

The opening riff is actually based on an old 77’s song called “Falling Down A Hole” from their first record. I always like those opening chords. Whenever I hear something that I wish I had written I usually try to re-write it with enough of a twist to keep from getting sued. I started with the same two chord progressions but whereas the 77’s song repeats them over and over, I continued to move them on down and make it a longer cycle.

“Wind and Wave” also bears the distinction of being the one song that we never cut from the set list. We played it every show from our first to our last. I think it’s largely due to the universal nature of the subject matter but also that it so perfectly captures the whole Jacob’s Trouble vibe. Even though we rocked it a little harder live than on Door Into Summer, it always seemed to have that JT vibe.

E-mail from a fan

I got this email a few weeks ago from a long-time Troublemaker-turned-pastor in Colorado Springs, CO. It was one of those moments where God just knew you needed an encouraging word and moved on someone to say it to you. I asked him if I could share it with you and he was very gracious to give me permission. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Jerry,
A missionary buddy of mine sent me a blog that you had written about your
experience on stage with Third Day. I found it both nostalgic and humorous.
I am a youth pastor in Colorado Springs, and also do all of our association
work and much of the state work with youth. One of my the neat things we do
is concerts to raise money for the Colorado Baptist State Convention.
Therefore, I rottenly am around some of the bigger names in music. This year
I have done shows with Toby Mac, Newsboys, Reliant K, Newsong, Hawk Nelson,
and the likes.
I have said all this to say that, when things are slow and the bands or
artist ask me the kind of music I am into, I explain that God only made one
type of music for me... Jacob's Trouble, Lost Dogs, and The Seventy Sevens.
THIS ALWAYS CAUSES TWO RESPONSES.... The younger guys, (like Sanctus Real
and Thousand Foot Krutch) always reply...WHO? and the ones who have been
around the business, reply with great reverence for you and the dogs, and
etc..
I just wanted you to know this because your writing influenced myself and
many of our peers. We are now all spread around the globe doing God's work,
but when we get together, JT is quoted in the same conversations with the
likes of The Holy Grail, Raising Arizona, and Christmas Vacation. If we run
across a judgmental know it all.... he is a Mr. Hitler... and so on.... I
have quoted your music at youth rallies on 5 continents as well. JT was
simply part of my experience (along with Driving and Crying, Braves
Baseball, and Lewis Grizzard)
So if you are like me.... I rarely get to know when I have made a positive
impact. Now that I "stare down the barrel of a loaded microphone" 2 or 3
times a week, I know to say thank you to those who have influenced me. So
Jerry, know that your writing taught me scriptures when I didn't want to
read and inspired me when my prayer life was in the pits. God Bless You and
your work in Nevada.

(name withheld by request)
Colorado Springs, Colorado

A Christmas Gift for you!

Merry Christmas, Troublemakers young and old!

As a special Christmas present just for you loyal fans, I have made available a rare bootleg recording from my personal archives. For a limited time only, you can download "Jacob's Trouble Live in Hamilton, Ontario, New Year's Eve 1992" absolutely free! It's in an mp3 format and the recording quality is fairly decent. Just click here and drag the folder "Hamilton, Ontario 12-31-92"into your iTunes or whatever media player you use. But hurry! I will be taking it down right after the New Year.

Enjoy the tunes and have a great Christmas!

Jerry Davison