The duo gained attention with the release of a 1996 concert "Live at Luther College". VH1 recorded a 1999 performance to air as part of the program "Storytellers."
During the Dave Matthews & Friends tours, Dave and Tim opened with an acoustic set; however, they have played midset at some more recent shows.
Recently, the duo embarked on their first tour of Europe, marking their first tour outside of the States, as well as their first extended tour since the Winter 2003 tour.
Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds have most recently released "Live at Radio City", a 2DVD/2CD album on August 14th, 2007 recorded in April of the same year.
Bartender
Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Before I'm old
Oh, brother of mine
Please don't forget me if I go
[Chorus]
Bartender, please
Fill my glass for me
That set him free after three days in the ground
Oh, and if I die
Before my time
Oh, sweet sister of mine
Please don't regret me if I die
[Chorus x2]
I'm on bended knees
I pray bartender please
When I was young
I didn't think about it
Now I can't get it out of my mind
I'm on bended knees
Father, please
Oh, and if all this gold
Should steal my soul away
Oh, dear mother of mine
Please redirect me if this gold
Bartender, you see
The wine that's drinking me
Came from the vine that strung Judas
From the devil's tree
His roots deep, deep in the ground
Bartender, you see
The wine that's drinking me
Came from the vine that strung Judas
From the devil's tree
It's roots deep, deep in the ground, ground
I'm on bended knees
Oh, bartender, please
I'm on bended knees
Father, please
When I was young
I didn't think about it
Now I just want to run and hide
I'm on bended knees, oh bartender, please
Bartender, please
In "Bartender," Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds sing about their fear of death and their desperate pleas for salvation. They address their loved ones, asking them not to forget or regret them if they die before their time. The chorus features the singer asking the bartender to fill their glass with the wine Jesus drank that set him free after three days in the ground. The singer is hopeful that this wine will also set them free from death. The second verse sees the singer on bended knees asking God for salvation when they die. They fear that all the gold in the world will steal their soul away, and they ask their mother to redirect them if this happens. The final verse repeats the chorus, again asking the bartender to fill their glass with the wine that came from the vine that strung Judas from the devil's tree.
At its core, "Bartender" is a song about the inevitability of death and the fear that accompanies it. The recurring chorus featuring the singer asking for the same miracle that freed Jesus from the grave is heartbreaking and moving. The song's theme is heavy, but its production is gentle and tender, giving the words a consoling quality. Overall, "Bartender" is a beautiful song that reinforces the human condition’s universality.
Line by Line Meaning
If I go
If I die
Before I'm old
Before I reach old age
Oh, brother of mine
Addressing his brother
Please don't forget me if I go
Please remember me if I die
[Chorus] Bartender, please Fill my glass for me With the wine you gave Jesus That set him free after three days in the ground
Asking the bartender for some wine that is said to have set Jesus free after he died and was buried for three days
Oh, and if I die
If I pass away
Before my time
Before my allotted lifespan
Oh, sweet sister of mine
Addressing his sister
Please don't regret me if I die
Please do not feel remorseful if I die
[Chorus x2] Bartender, please Fill my glass for me With the wine you gave Jesus That set him free after three days in the ground
Repeating the request for wine that is supposed to have saved Jesus after his death
I'm on bended knees
He is asking in prayer
I pray bartender please
He is pleading with the bartender
When I was young
In his younger days
I didn't think about it
He did not consider the topic
Now I can't get it out of my mind
Again, repeating he cannot stop thinking about the current subject
Father, please
Asking to God
Oh, and if all this gold Should steal my soul away Oh, dear mother of mine Please redirect me if this gold
Asking his mother to move him away from his greed for wealth, as it can cause him to lose his soul
Bartender, you see The wine that's drinking me Came from the vine that strung Judas From the devil's tree His roots deep, deep in the ground
The wine he's drinking is believed to have come from the same plant that Judas was hanged upon. The plant is said to have deep spiritual roots
Bartender, you see The wine that's drinking me Came from the vine that strung Judas From the devil's tree It's roots deep, deep in the ground, ground
Repeating the same line as above with more emphasis on the roots of the plant being deep in the ground
When I was young
In his younger days
I didn't think about it
He did not consider the topic
Now I just want to run and hide
Now he is scared of the topic
I'm on bended knees, oh bartender, please Bartender, please
Pleading with the bartender to fill his glass with that special wine
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DAVID JOHN MATTHEWS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ringtoredenterprise7349
If I go
Before I'm old
Oh, brother of mine
Please don't forget me if I go
Bartender, please
Fill my glass for me
With the wine you gave Jesus that set him free
After three days in the ground
Oh, and if I die
Before my time
Oh, sweet sister of mine
Please don't regret me if I die
Bartender, please
Fill my glass for me
With the wine you gave Jesus that set him free
After three days in the ground
Bartender, please
Fill my glass for me
With the wine you gave Jesus that set him free
After three days in the ground
I'm on bended knees, I pray
Bartender, please
When I was young, I didn't think about it
Now I can't get it out of my mind
I'm on bended knees
Father, please
Oh, and if all this gold
Should steal my soul away
Oh, dear mother of mine
Please redirect me if this gold
Bartender, you see
The wine that's drinking me
Came from the vine that strung Judas from the Devil's tree
His roots deep, deep in the ground
Bartender, you see
The wine that's drinking me
Came from the vine that strung Judas from the Devil's tree
Its roots deep, deep in the ground
Ground
I'm on bended knees
Oh, Bartender, please
I'm on bended knees
Father, please
When I was young, I didn't think about it
Now I just want to run and hide
I'm on bended knees
Oh, Bartender, please
Bartender, please
@brianalexander6888
I’m going out on a limb to say this is Dave’s all time best performed song. This is everything that a fan could ask for. The power, the chills, the raw emotion. Wow.
@taifun442
Close! I would say "Warehouse" at the Central Park concert. Halfway through, you can tell he thinks its something special.
@Paulamon92
It is everything
@andrewsullivan4646
I’m not sure the best but easily top 5. So amazing
@JoeYo77
It’s up there
@ge-8135
I'm not a DM fan. I share this video with friends and family. Excellence is excellence.
@castrocr
I used to watch this video everyday for like 3 or 4 years, that was like 10 years ago....Today, I just remembered about the clip and watched it for the first time in 10 years and it brought me to tears.....what a song, his voice, the guitars playing....it just made me realize how fast time goes by, remembered things I regret not doing and things I super regret doing haha, so many things have happened in 10 years and history is all they are....now we just get to move on and live one day at the time! If anyone is reading my comment today, be blessed!
@brittanyboone4009
That was beautiful.. blessings to you too❤
@ZChoate
Nostalgia is a tricky btch. I try to remember that today is tomorrows yesterday that I will eventually long for.
@stephenpemberton85
I am thanks to wonderful souls such as you✌️😎👍