Jelly Roll, real name Jason DeFord, just released “Hands Up,” a song that’s all about the transformation Christ made in his life.
The title is a contrast between his former life, when he put his hands up as a criminal on the wrong side of the law, and when he puts his hands up now, as a follower of Jesus, praising Him, Crosswalk reported.
The artist filmed the music video for the song at a prison, the San Quentin Rehabilitation Center. He filmed the video with real convicts at the prison. It’s a place Jelly Roll has been several times before. He’s visited to share encouragement with prisoners.
“Truly one of the most special things I’ve ever had the opportunity to do,” he said of the video. “The moment my life truly changed is when I threw my hands up. I know a lot of folks will hear this and remember their ‘hands up’ moment as well.”
The song is a short narration of his life. Some of the lyrics are:
Our last stop’s that little cross I came across some years ago
Comin’ down and hidin’ out back there in that ol’ sinner’s row
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The devil on my shoulder finally found him somewhere else to go
I never did believe in ghosts ‘til the holy one told me to throw my hands up
Oh Lord, I threw my hands up
This song continues Jelly Roll’s ongoing messages about redemption. A former convict and drug addict, he started making music in prison and later came to know the Lord. It changed his life dramatically.
Many of his songs like “Son of a Sinner,” “Save Me” and others are about redemption. He often shares brief testimonies at his concerts and says he wants to make up for his destructive years.
“I want to spend a lot of future years building,” he said.
After a performance of “Hard Fought Hallelujah” earlier this year, Jelly Roll came to tears on stage.
“What I just seen,” he said, “was a room full of people that might not have ever felt it before, but that is called the Holy Spirit of God. And let me tell you something about the Holy Spirit of God. He don’t care anything about your past.”
“He doesn’t care what you’ve been through. He doesn’t care about your drug addiction…. Jesus is for everybody. He doesn’t hate anybody. He loves everybody,” the singer emphasized.
It’s all about what Jelly Rolls says again and again…Jesus saves.
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