Understanding The Message Behind Jelly Roll’s Latest Single, ‘Halfway To Hell’
Jelly Roll says he wanted to open the album with a song that meant something. That’s why he chose “Halfway To Hell.”
Jelly Roll; Photo by ABC/John Argueta
Fresh off three consecutive No.1 singles, Jelly Roll is set to release the track “Halfway To Hell” as his next single to country radio. Here, we explore the lyrics and meaning of the song.
The song is already a fan-favorite and appears as the opening track of his debut country record, Whitsitt Chapel.
Why Did Jelly Roll Choose To Open The Album With This Track?
“‘Halfway to Hell’ baby, the best way to start the album, an absolute banger! I wanted to start this album with something hard, and something that meant something and something that felt something,” he explained. “And something that was about that constant duality of life that I love to write songs about. Being somewhere between right and wrong.”
Written by Jelly Roll with Jesse Frasure, Matt Jenkins, and Jessie Jo Dillon, “Halfway To Hell” finds the genre-bending star crooning over finding balance in his life between Heaven and Hell. It’s an autobiographical tune that mirrors Jelly Roll’s real life as he previously served time in prison and now uses his newfound fame to do good in the world.
Listen To “Halfway To Hell”
On the opening verse, Jelly Roll sings, “I’m a county jail revival/ I’m a bottle and a Bible/ I’m a rolling stone disciple/ With a cross across my face/ I’m a trailer park tornado/ Jagged edges on my halo/ Hope the chariot gon’ swing low/ And carry me away.”
As the song continues, the newly crowned CMA New Artist of the Year paints a vivid picture of the struggle he faces with inner conflict and being torn between two forces. An example of this is the lines “I’m a dive bar Sunday sermon/ Holy water with my bourbon.”
In the chorus, he ponders, “Halfway to Heaven or halfway to hell/ My angels and demons at war with myself/ One foot in the fire and I still can’t tell/ Am I halfway to Heaven/ Halfway to Heaven or hell?”
What Is The Meaning Of Jelly Roll’s Song “Halfway To Hell?”
Overall, the song explores themes of inner conflict, redemption, and the constant battle between right and wrong.
He Previously Performed “Halfway To Hell” On The Tonight Show
In October, Jelly Roll had the opportunity to bring the song to national television during his appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. During his standout performance, the Tennessee native gave a nod to his son, Noah, with his name on the lapel of his shirt.
The current GRAMMY nominee will officially send the song to country radio on January 22, according to Country Aircheck. This will follow his previous radio chart-toppers “Son of a Sinner,” “Need a Favor,” and “Save Me” with Lainey Wilson.
Kicked Off 2024 With A Bang
The breakout star wrapped up his wildly successful year by seeing a lifelong dream come true with his performance on Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2024. Performing live from Times Square, Jelly Roll shared a mashup of his hits, including “Halfway to Hell”, “Wild Ones” (with Jessie Murph), and “Need a Favor” with fans watching around the world.
He had his daughter, Bailee Ann, and wife, Bunnie XO, by his side for this monumental moment and later reflected on meant to him to be a part of the iconic New Year’s Eve show.
He wrote, “I’ll try to make this short. When I was growing up Nashville was a really small town. Like 1/6 of what it is now. And even though Nashville was a party town even back then , we didn’t have a big New Year’s Eve scene when I was a kid. And my daddy would always say ‘we don’t go out and drink with the amateurs on holidays’ so we always stayed in, and back then especially, just like the rest of the world our eyes would be glued to BALL in Times Square.”
In Disbelief
The chart-topping star went on to explain how the show has been a focal point of so many New Year’s Eve nights in his life and admitted that he is in disbelief that he had the chance to perform.
“I have literally watched dozens of Dick Clark’s Rocking New Year’s Eve. Even a few of New Year’s that Bunnie and I have been together we have watched this show. And both talked about how much it meant to our childhood,” he shared. “To get the call to not only be a participant in it but to also be able to bring my family was something I will cherish forever. I got to watch the Ball drop in the middle of Times Square standing next to my Daughter, Wife, Ryan Seacrest and LL Cool J on National Television.”
Jelly Roll confessed that these are moments that he “never even dreamed could happen.”
After a landmark year in 2023, it’s safe to say fans are already anticipating what Jelly Roll has in store for 2024.
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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