Jars of Clay is not my favorite band in the world. Maybe that’s a weird way to start an article that’s meant to be a tribute to their music. Fair enough. I’ll make it even weirder. Jars of Clay has never been one of my top 10 favorite bands. For most of their career, they’ve existed mostly on the periphery of my musical interests. My complicated relationship with Jars of Clay started with their breakout debut album.

Back in 1995, I was still holding out hope that the grunge movement that was seemingly destroying the bands and styles that I had loved for most of my life was going to fade into oblivion. It didn’t and the music world was permanently altered. And not for the better as far as I am concerned. I love 90’s music but I am not a fan of what grunge did to music for the most part. I appreciate the grittiness and the lyrical honesty, but I don’t love the dour, angsty, sometimes ugly aesthetic quality of it. Fortunately, there was plenty of 90’s music that borrowed grunge’s positive elements but also incorporated beauty and transcendence.

I am a child of the 80’s and have always been drawn to the big, bold, colorful sounds of that era. The bands I grew up on, like Petra, Whiteheart, and DeGarmo and Key were nearing the end of their runs, in some ways pushed out of the center of the CCM world by the changing musical landscape. Enter: Jars of Clay and their behemoth self-titled album.

Jars of Clay is in no way grunge or beholden to that style of music. But they were unique, cut from a different cloth than the bands I grew up listening to. Their debut album is a mix of acoustic guitars and drum machines, among many other ingredients. My heart was drawn to electric guitars and live instruments. In some ways, their massive, nearly unheard-of early success left a sour taste in my mouth. That’s not to say I hated their music or their sound, but it did bother me that this upstart band, (THAT DIDN’T EVEN HAVE A DRUMMER!), so quickly and easily overshadowed the bands who had been hard at work for decades.

From that point on, Jars of Clay was a band I paid attention to, but never obsessively. I didn’t eagerly anticipate their newest release. I didn’t seek out every song, news item, or interview. But I did keep up with their music. As new albums were released, I would take the time to check out what they were doing. And over time, one impressive album after another, my perspective started to change.

Jars of Clay has always been a wildly inventive and creative band, never content to rest on their previous success. Lesser bands would have coasted on the popularity of their debut album and simply churned out more of the same in hopes of staying in the limelight. Instead, Jars constantly pushed themselves, striving for honest expression and greatness.

I’ve long respected the music of Jars of Clay. No, they will never be my favorite band, but working through their catalog for this article, I have found myself blown away by their musical instincts and courage. They are unceasingly curious, delving into styles and genres with an energy, authenticity, and joy most other bands lack. And while their sound has evolved over time, their music has always been marked by poignant lyrics and striking melodies. This Top 30 is a wonderful representation of everything that makes them so special. I hope that you will be struck with the genuine artistry and the lasting legacy of one of the greatest bands in CCM history.

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A brief word about our ranking system

For this article, two of our regular REO writers (Phill and Michael Lytle) were joined by two Jars of Clay superfans and #CCMTwitter legends, Josh Balogh and Mike Harvat. The four of us each ranked our top 30 Jars of Clay songs in order from 1 to 30. We also added 10 honorable mentions each. Points were awarded for where we ranked each song on our list and the points from our four lists were combined into the master list you are about to read. In total 90 different Jars songs were nominated on the four lists which shows the quality of their output over the years.

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Many of the songs sitting atop of my list of Jars of Clay favorites are strongly tied to live concert experiences, and “I’m Alright” is no exception. While I enjoy the album version of “I’m Alright”, I don’t think I fully appreciated it until I heard it performed live. In the early 2000s, “I’m Alright” was the big “jam” song towards the end of the show, extended far beyond its usual playtime to make room for band introductions and other musical detours. I know for sure that I’ve heard Steve sneak in the riff from Day Tripper before!

Despite my preference for seeing this song performed on stage, the version that appears on If I Left the Zoo includes a performance from the Darwin Hobbs Gospel Choir that’s equally fun. Thankfully, we get the best of both worlds when the choir joins the band on the “From the Stage” portion of their Furthermore album. If you can track down a copy of Jars of Clay’s 11live DVD on eBay, you’ll be able to watch their performance – they even stick around for “Revolution”! (Mike Harvat)

I will forever love that Jars saw the worship trend coming and likely had some pressure on them to deliver a few songs in that vein, but they sought to approach it on their terms. Want a worship album? How about reworking older lesser-known hymns? Want worshipful songs? Sure, we can do that, (because they had done it all along) but we’re gonna go the “Needful Hands,” “Two Hands,” and “I Need You” route which matches their signature sound to more vertically focused lyrics.

“Two Hands” especially does an excellent job with a simple singable chorus while utilizing the verses to go a little deeper lyrically. It’s a great marriage of Dan’s more poetic side while remaining accessible to potential new listeners. (Josh Balogh)

“River Constantine” is the ultimate Jars of Clay lullaby, and possibly their best album closer. Perhaps it’s because I’m a worship leader, but I find myself drawn to Jars of Clay’s more worshipful songs. It’s lyrically simple yet somehow heightened by its sparse instrumentation. The barebones piano solo that precedes the final chorus is one of my favorite moments on If I Left the Zoo. Nevertheless, I have no clue what the significance of the song’s title is. Google tells me that the St. Joseph River in Constantine, Michigan is sometimes referred to as the “Constantine River”…buuuuut I don’t think that’s it. If anyone’s got a clue, please leave a comment on this article! (MH)

I genuinely don’t know the backstory of this song, but to my ears, it’s clearly referencing an older couple that is being robbed of their long-time romance by the ravages of dementia. It’s heartbreaking stuff and if you have ever dealt with this evil disease, the song will leave you reeling. The final verse breaks me every time. (Phill Lytle)

Behind your eyes there is a distance
I ask you if you'd like to dance
You mistake me for a healer
I'm just a desperate man stealing one last chance

Why this song? There has just been some indescribable pull toward the somber tone. It’s tough to put my finger on it. Be it the acoustic guitar tone, the gentle background harmonies, or the meandering pace, I can’t help but return to this lesser-known tune. I think it’s the combination of the subtleties, the mood it puts me in, and the fact that it sounds like a song from The Eleventh Hour era that keeps drawing me back.

Also, I wish it was available to stream as it would make a prime candidate for a much-needed Jars of Clay b-sides and rarity compilation. You can find it on YouTube or the CD compilation album Freedom: Artists United For International Justice Mission. (JB)

I don’t have anything deep or insightful to say about this song. I love it though. The chorus is catchy and will stick in your head for days, and that is definitely NOT a bad thing! The Eleventh Hour is Jars of Clay’s most straightforward pop/rock album. Maybe some listeners discounted it because it was not as experimental as other releases, but it’s full of great songs and the title track is one of the best. (Michael Lytle)

If you don’t count “Flood”, I think it’s possible that “Like a Child” has been performed live more than any other Jars of Clay song. I honestly believe they played it at every single concert I attended between 1997 and 2014. And after that, the only reason they weren’t playing it was because I was mostly going to Christmas shows!

It makes sense that “Like a Child” would make it into so many of the band’s setlists. Not only is it a theologically solid song (Matt 17:20, 18:1-3), it’s also a whole lot of fun! In particular, I was a fan of the tour when Dan would run to the back of the stage and play along with live drummer Joe Porter on a second kit during the instrumental section. Was it necessary? No! But who cares, it was fun! (MH)

Like “Faith Enough”, “Needful Hands” is another song that explores the theme of strength in weakness. But this time, the song is singing directly to God: “You are my eyes when I cannot see; You are my voice, see, sing through me; You are my strength in weakness be, holy.” For a season, Jars of Clay would close their concerts with this song, letting the instruments fade so that by the end of the night, all you were left with was hundreds of voices singing praise to Jesus.

This song is special to me because it was special to my late father. My dad was my Jars of Clay concert buddy – we went to at least a dozen Jars concerts over the years. I’m grateful that he took an interest in the music I liked. I’m grateful that he was willing to go on road trips with me to places like Des Moines, Sioux Falls, Kansas City, Austin, and Nashville just to see my favorite band. I’m grateful that I could hear him singing harmonies along with the music. He was the best dad. (MH)

This great hymn was written in 1774 by John Newton. If you’ve ever heard “Amazing Grace” you are familiar with Newton’s work. I was not familiar with this particular song though until I heard the Jars of Clay version. It’s become one of my favorites from Redemption Songs. Martin Smith of Delirious shares lead vocal duties and his voice perfectly complements Dan Haseltine’s. (ML)

The journey of faith is one marked by seeming contradictions: the first shall be last, and the last shall be first; whoever wants to be great must make themselves a servant; adults must become like children to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Jars of Clay taps into this upside-down perspective with “Faith Enough”. “It’s just enough to be strong in the broken places” evokes the Lord’s promise to Paul: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9).

This simple truth is explored throughout the song, encouraging the listener to rely on faith even when confusion and cynicism threatens belief. “Faith Enough” isn’t one of Jars of Clay’s big hits, but it has always meant a lot to me. When I feel beaten down or discouraged by life, I know I can play this song and be reminded to trust in the Lord with all my heart, not leaning on my own understanding. When things feel backwards or upside down, maybe I’m right where I need to be. (MH)

In the early 2000s praise and worship music was invading the CCM world. In my opinion this trend killed creativity, but that is another topic for a different article. Established artists felt the need to put out a “worship” album and it’s hard to blame them since those albums often sold more than their “regular” records. Jars Of Clay zagged when everyone else zigged.

Instead of a worship album they released a record of old hymns called Redemption Songs. The theological depth of these songs stands in contrast to much of the modern worship stuff. They also did not play it safe with the music on this record. Fusing gospel, folk, country, and rock. The best song on the album is “God Will Lift Up Your Head” and I’m delighted it made our top 30 list. (ML) 

A bit of Talking Heads charisma fused with a powerful and energetic chorus makes “Dead Man (Carry Man)” tick. This is an insanely catchy tune and even though it had some radio exposure, it deserved much more. (PL)

As a father of two boys this song stood out from the first time I heard it. It’s a slow, simple song, but the chorus will work its way into your head and heart. This song has some of my favorite lyrics from the band. (ML)

There will be liars, and thieves who take from you
Not to undermine the consequence
But you are not what you do
When you need it most
I have a hundred reasons why I love you  

This is the first Jars song I ever loved. After hearing a couple of their songs on the radio, I bought their debut CD. “He” stood out and became a favorite. I love the mellow groove of the song and appreciate their willingness to write and record a song about child abuse. Many established artists in the CCM world would shy away from tough topics, so for an aritist to tackle this subject on their debut record took courage. (ML)

This song holds a special place in my heart as now twelve years later it stands as the last album thought wrapping up their last album’s thread of thoughts about relationships and new adventures. I have come to appreciate it as a perfect summation of who the band was all along. “When you are a stranger/Hold your tongue and wager/ love will set you free/until it sets you free.” Much like Odysseus battling to make it home to his beloved, it felt like the band was satisfied with their journey and ready for the next chapter in life. If it truly is their last album’s worth of songs, I think it’s a masterful way to end. (JB)

At its core, “Safe to Land” is a very simple song. It builds to a nice crescendo, but it doesn’t aim for the stars. It doesn’t need to. Its sights are set on things entirely human and relatable: Forgiveness and reconciliation. Pardon the pun, but it unequivocally nails the landing. (PL)

The favorite of the masses. Any band that stays relevant for as long as Jars of Clay has a song like this. It’s the one they are obligated to play at each show because it’s the one song even the most casual fan will know and demand to hear. It’s also likely the first song the band got tired of playing, but all that aside, “Flood” is truly something I had never heard. Driving acoustic guitars with a loud soft dynamic usually reserved for grunge music?

I saw the music video for “Flood” at a youth camp in 1995 before the album’s release and I was hooked. It’s a great song no two ways about it, but it isn’t my favorite Jars song. It is however the one that introduced me to the band, so for that, I’m grateful it exists. (JB) 

I lost track of this song for years. I remember loving it when it came out back in 2003. Maybe it is my aversion to overtly praise and worship music, but for whatever reason, I sort of shelved this one in the back of my mind. That was deeply unfair of me because this song bears no resemblance to mundane, paint-by-numbers stuff that saturates modern Christian radio. This song has soul and purpose and I’m glad I rediscovered it. (PL)

For a long time, this was my favorite song by the band. It’s a lovely acoustic-centered pop ballad, with wonderful harmonies and delicate lyrics. It’s as sweet as the band ever sounded, and it holds a pretty unique place for them as they never really revisited this sound. (PL)

Long Fall Back to Earth is my probably favorite Jars of Clay album. “Headphones” is my favorite song from that album. Dealing with themes of apathy and isolation this is one of the sadder songs that band has released. Katie Herzig’s backing vocals really help this song shine. (ML)  

That wailing guitar solo though! It was perhaps the biggest sign that Much Afraid wasn’t completely Self-Titled part two, although the band waited until track four to fully reveal the progression of sound. I think a solid argument could be made this would have been a terrific album opener. Aside from the electric solo and flourishes, the soft to-loud dynamic is a highlight, and the drums pound delightfully. Great song. (JB)

This song is all about the low end. The bass line, the deep droning mix of the guitars, and the pounding drums. It’s a moment, a groove, a vibe. I feel a lot cooler when I listen to it. (PL)

This is my favorite Jars of Clay song. I liken it to a great film like “Schindler’s List”; a great piece of art that I don’t want to revisit too often because of how devastating it is. And trust me, “Oh My God” is an absolute work of art. It is exacting in its emotional honesty and unflinching in its righteous anger and grief. I cannot listen to this song without feeling nearly overwhelmed. (PL)

Jars of Clay’s fourth album, The Eleventh Hour, frequently gets overlooked, at least in my circles. It’s an impressive album and one that deserves more attention and respect. The crowning achievement of the album is the song “Silence”. It’s a guttural cry from the heart. A broken, almost hopeless plea for God to speak. No answer is given. And that silence makes the song hurt all the more. (PL)

Later in their career Jars of Clay had a knack for writing profound relationship songs. Songs that could only have been written by someone who had been through struggles. Examples include “Water Under the Bridge,” “Scenic Route,” and “Mirrors and Smoke.” These songs are some of my favorites, but the best of the bunch is “Love in the Hard Times.” Appearing on their final album this one packs an emotional punch and reminds us that marriage takes commitment, especially when things look bleak. We can choose to “reach across those battle lines and still love in the hard times.” (ML)  

I’ll never forget the first time I popped Jars of Clay’s self-titled album into my CD player. It’s the perfect album opener, with a growling organ that quickly gives way to a cacophony of sound comprised of drum loops, strings, and the band’s signature “whipita thwackita” (their term, not mine) acoustic guitars. It still blows me away the way it did as I sat in my bedroom at 12 years old. “Liquid” is the quintessential Jars of Clay song. The energy, the harmonies, the bombastic drums, the raw lyrics – I’m here for all of it. (MH)

This one is high on my list of favorites from the band. I remember being hooked by this song and “Frail” upon the first listen to their sophomore album Much Afraid. The organ drum machine combo to start with the live swirling strings giving way to the live drums adding on top later in the runtime was an inspired way to showcase the sound of their debut and also lead listeners into the sonics of a new album and era for the band. This song also rules live in concert. (JB)  

If I were to show someone one Jars of Clay song to prove that there’s more to the band than their hit single, it would be “Frail”. The studio version found on Much Afraid is perhaps their best-produced song, receiving a major lift from a performance by the Nashville String Machine. The vulnerability of the lyrics paired with the haunting instrumentation is a match made in 90s alternative heaven. Frail stands on its own even when you strip away the production, as made clear by the various versions recorded by the band over the years. Two notable versions include the acoustic performance on Furthermore and a piano-based reimagining on iTunes Originals. (MH)

Probably the hardest they have ever rocked on a song, and I am here for it! Some of the most devastatingly powerful lyrics in their discography, and I’m here for that too! It’s the little things that really stand out for me though. Like the way they don’t launch immediately into the chorus after the second verse. Instead, the band slows things down, gives us a short instrumental interlude, and slowly builds their way back to the chorus. They didn’t have to do this. The song would have still been great, but it’s the subtle touches like this that set it apart and make it one of their absolute best. (ML)  

This would be many fans’ pick for favorite overall Jars of Clay song. I can’t blame them, or even really make an argument to the contrary outside of the fact that I just like the vibe and creativity in “Liquid” more. Besides, what’s not to love about a slow burn passionate stream of consciousness lyric that moves you deeply with each listen? The earnest chorus sounds like something the young shepherd boy David might pen in the Psalms.

Take my world apart (To need You) 
I am on my knees (To love You) 
Take my world apart (To need You) 
Broken on my knees

By the time we reach the end of what starts as an unassuming song, there’s a passionate desperation that builds to a fevered pitch before the final satisfying and subdued guitar strum. Perfect song. (JB)

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There you have it. You are now allowed to passionately and respectfully disagree with our list. Let us know in the comments or on any of our social media platforms what you think. We love to hear from our readers.

One final note. We want to give a huge “THANK YOU!” to Josh and Mike for contributing to this article. Their lists and blurbs made it better. If you want to find them on X, follow the links above.

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