If I could tell the world just one thing
It would be that we're all OK
And not to worry 'cause worry is wasteful
And useless in times like these
I won't be made useless
I won't be idle with despair
I will gather myself around my faith
For light does the darkness most fear
My hands are small, I know
But they're not yours, they are my own
But they're not yours, they are my own
And I am never broken
Poverty stole your golden shoes
But it didn't steal your laughter
And heartache came to visit me
But I knew it wasn't ever after
We'll fight, not out of spite
For someone must stand up for what's right
'Cause where there's a man who has no voice
There ours shall go singing
My hands are small I know
But they're not yours, they are my own
But they're not yours, they are my own
And I am never broken
In the end only kindness matters
In the end only kindness matters
I will get down on my knees, and I will pray
I will get down on my knees, and I will pray
I will get down on my knees, and I will pray
My hands are small I know
But they're not yours, they are my own
But they're not yours, they are my own
And I am never broken
My hands are small I know
But they're not yours, they are my own
But they're not yours, they are my own
And I am never broken
We are never broken
We are God's eyes
God's hands
God's mind
We are God's eyes
God's hands
God's heart
We are God's eyes
God's hands
God's eyes
We are God's hands
We are God's hands
About This Song
"Hands" is an intimate folk-rock ballad that serves as a deeply personal manifesto of self-empowerment and resilience in the face of adversity. The song explores themes of individual agency, spiritual faith, and the refusal to be broken by life's hardships, with Jewel asserting her autonomy through the metaphor of her "small" but distinctly her own hands. Musically, it features gentle acoustic guitar work and Jewel's distinctive, vulnerable vocal delivery that builds from whispered introspection to soaring determination. The lyrics weave together messages about overcoming despair, finding light in darkness, and maintaining hope despite poverty and struggle, making it both a personal anthem and universal statement about human dignity. The song became one of Jewel's signature tracks, representing her ability to transform pain into poetry and her commitment to authentic, unpolished artistry that resonated with listeners seeking genuine emotional connection.
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