An individual with an unusual name, Jelly Roll, is the inspiration and the subject of the documentary titled “Jelly Roll: Save Me,” which depicts a journey toward redemption that is still at an ongoing stage. His first song in the documentary, ‘Son of a Sinner,’ poignantly kicks off this narrative, detailing the struggles of a troubled individual dealing with addictive ways and God’s judgment, reflecting Jelly Roll’s personal journey and the challenges he has faced, including addiction, incarceration, and his path to redemption through music.
What Religion is Singer Songwriter Jelly Roll?
Jelly Roll’s religion is Christian but is not active. That is the religion he was raised in and he talks about it in some of his songs.
“Save Me” was the song that brought the gritty country singer to the forefront of the music industry. Through the medium of music, the documentary provides viewers with a glimpse into the life of a troubled individual who has chosen to walk a path of truth and grace.
However, the documentary can be viewed on the Hulu platform, despite the fact that it was produced by ABC Studios. Jason Deford is the real name of the famous musician; however, when he was younger, his mother gave him the name Jelly Roll (Jelly Roll). The reason he was given that name was because, in his own honest words, he was a “chubby kid.”
This documentary, titled “Jelly Roll: Save Me,” is comprised of interviews, footage from behind the scenes, and footage from his concerts. Two words that come to mind when I think about the documentary are “unfiltered” and “honest.” The artist does not sugarcoat his past transgressions in any way. On numerous occasions, he finds himself in a moment of state of disbelief that he has made such progress. I find it very refreshing when a celebrity is honest about their shortcomings, including the shortcomings with which they continue to struggle.
During the course of the movie, Jelly Roll is heard saying, “I’m the one dude that’s just singing songs of the broken.” My ability to speak on behalf of those who are depressed, stressed, anxious, and addicted has been made possible by this community. I am able to speak on their behalf. This is merely a record of what I observe and what I am aware of. For a time, I was addicted to drugs, including pain pills. As a loser, I have been. I have a history of stealing.
The introduction of the documentary begins with the song “Son of a Sinner,” which is a fitting choice. Over the course of twenty weeks, the country rock song was featured on the Hot Rock and Alternative Songs chart. Throughout the song, the struggles of a “long-haired son of a sinner” who is dealing with addictive behaviors and the judgment of God are described in detail:
Perhaps I’ll take a pill, smoke, and possibly drink something.
Communicate with God and share my thoughts with Him.
Before long, he is going to despise me.
But in the end, He will come to my friend and rescue.
Jelly Roll was born and raised in Nashville, and from a very young age, he was involved with the wrong crowd on the community streets. It wasn’t until Jelly was 15 years old that he had his first experience with hardcore drugs. As a result of his life, he was incarcerated for a significant portion of his younger years. It was a defining moment for jelly roll’s life for him when he discovered that he was a father to a daughter while he was incarcerated. It was his decision to make a change and pursue a career in music.
During the course of the movie, Jelly Roll is heard saying, “I just hope that people judge the music and not the dead man himself.” “For the first time in my life, I am no longer dependent on codeine or pain medication. Cocaine is no longer a lethal addiction that I have experienced. However, in order to keep my head clear, I continue to smoke a small amount of marijuana, and I will still get completely intoxicated. Every once in a while, we’ll engage in some offbeat activity.
His music is a fusion of many different styles, despite the fact that he is a rising star in the country music scene. The music incorporates elements of rock, rap, soul, and even gospel. Given that Jelly has a large cross tattooed underneath his right eye, it should come as no surprise to hear that a significant number of his songs make reference to God or spiritual subject matter.
Jelly’s father was a devout member of the church, and he talked about him in an interview that was uploaded to YouTube. Due to the fact that Jelly’s god and father was a devout member of a Methodist church, Jelly would acquire a great deal of knowledge regarding responsibility and duty. Jelly recalls attending the funeral of his father and seeing hundreds of people from the church and the bar that he frequented most of the time.
When I was at the funeral, I had a fleeting thought that went something like this: “Wouldn’t it be cool to be that guy?” As Jelly Roll put it. What he demonstrated to me was the dual nature of his identity, which was the idea that a person could be so loved in a bar and then be so loved in a church at the same time.
There is a choir featured in the song “Need A Favor” because Jelly wanted the song to have the feel of an old-fashioned church band. It was the same music that he had heard when he was a child and they were attending church. The Fisk Jubilee Singers, an African American a cappella ensemble that sings negro spirituals, was the choir that he decided to use for the song. The Jubilee Choir was established in 1871, making it one of the oldest choirs in existence.
According to Jelly, who is featured in the documentary, “I felt like it needed that back-road Baptist feel (in ‘Need A Favor’) where somebody for the entire sermon scares you to heaven and the organ hits and they go, ‘But there’s hope,’” This new music resonates with me because it reminds me of the sound of the organ playing and the presence of hope.
Due to the fact that Jelly Roll considers his performances to be more than just concerts, the presence of gospel music in his songs is significant.
The fact that this was not a concert was something that I realized very early on. Throughout the album and documentary, Jelly Roll describes this experience as one that is therapeutic. This is something that I consider to be a form of church to a certain extent. Because of the influence that the old Baptist churches on the back roads had on my life, I am aware of the power that they possess.
Even though Jelly Roll is more close than he has ever been to reaching the peak of the mountain, he is still having a hard time. Insecurities and feelings of unworthiness even if his net worth is high are something he struggles with. Both his mental and physical health are up for debate. Despite the fact that he is still in the process of his journey, he is unable to believe how much he has contributed to the world and the community.
One of the things that he says in the documentary is, “I spent a lot of years destroying.” A significant portion of my life in future years will be spent constructing.
As I listen and watch the movie, I find that the verse from Genesis 50:20, which reads, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives,” is a good representation of Jelly Roll’s life.
