Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds have played over a hundred shows together si… Read Full Bio ↴Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds have played over a hundred shows together since their first performance together in 1992. Both artists play acoustic guitars, though Matthews offers vocals and Reynolds dazzles the audience with complex solos. Besides playing scattered shows together, Dave and Tim (also referred to as D&T) have played extensive tours together, such as the acclaimed 1997 and 1999 tours.

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.

If I Had a Boat
Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Sometimes I can't move my feet it seems
As if I'm stuck in the ground somehow like a tree
As if I can't even breathe
And my screams come whispering out
As if nobody can even see me
Like a ghost
I can't see myself sometimes

Then again if I were a king
If I had everything
If I had you
And I could give you your dreams
If I were giant size
On top of it all
Tell me what in the world would I sing for
If I had it

Sometimes I feel lost
As I pull you out like strings of memories
Wish I could weave them into you
And I could figure the whole damn puzzle out

But then again if I were a king
If I had everything
If I had you
And I could give you your dreams
If I were giant size
On top of it all
Tell me then what I would sing for
If I had it all

Oh
I could take anything
If I had no greed to big
Just poison tainting the green

Remembering time
Much younger than me now
When my breath was light
When the world raised me kind
Here the mother comforts child
Every moment was waking up
But now I have grown tired

If I had it all
Oh I'd fuck it up sure

If I were a king
If I had everything
If I had you
And I could give you your dreams
If I were giant size
On top of it all
Tell me what in the world would I sing for

If I were a king
If I had everything
Piece by piece
If had you
If I could give you your dreams
If I were giant size
On top of it all

Then why in the world would I sing
If I had it all

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Dave Matthews Band's song If I Had a Boat seem to explore the idea of feeling lost and disconnected from oneself, even in the midst of having everything one could desire. The opening lines suggest a sense of stagnation and inability to move forward, perhaps due to a feeling of being trapped or invisible. The mention of being like a tree also suggests a rootedness or a feeling of being stuck in one place. As if in a state of spiritual numbness, the singer's screams come out as mere whispers, indicating a lack of power or agency.

However, the following verse adopts a fantasy perspective, suggesting that if the singer were a king and had everything he ever wanted, he would be able to give his loved one their dreams. The mention of being "giant size" could be interpreted as a metaphor for having a greater sense of power and control, as well as an elevated perspective. Nonetheless, despite these newfound advantages, the singer struggles to find meaning and purpose, asking what he would sing for if he had everything.

The final verse brings a sense of nostalgia, reminiscing about a time when the singer felt more alive and connected to the world around him. The image of a mother comforting her child suggests a time of innocence and purity, while the line "when the world raised me kind" implies a sense of being nurtured and cared for. Yet, as the years pass and the singer grows tired, he still wonders what he would sing for if he had it all.

Overall, the lyrics to If I Had a Boat seem to convey a sense of discontent with the idea of material perfection, instead emphasizing the importance of finding meaning and passion in life.

Line by Line Meaning

Sometimes I can't move my feet it seems
At times, I feel stuck and unable to move forward

As if I'm stuck in the ground somehow like a tree
I feel rooted and unable to change my situation

As if I can't even breathe
I feel suffocated by my circumstances

And my screams come whispering out
I feel unheard and hopeless in my struggles

As if nobody can even see me
I feel invisible and insignificant

Like a ghost
I feel like I am not fully present or alive in my own life

I can't see myself sometimes
I struggle with self-awareness and understanding who I am

Then again if I were a king
In contrast to feeling powerless, I imagine a different reality where I am in control

If I had everything
I imagine a world where I have all that I desire

If I had you
You, the person I love or desire, are central to my imagined reality

And I could give you your dreams
In this reality, I am able to make your dreams come true

If I were giant size
I am no longer small and insignificant, but powerful and towering over my surroundings

On top of it all
I am in control of everything

Tell me what in the world would I sing for
With everything I desire and everyone I love, what more could I ask for or aspire to?

Sometimes I feel lost
Despite this idealized reality, I still feel unmoored and uncertain at times

As I pull you out like strings of memories
I try to piece together past memories of you to make sense of my feelings

Wish I could weave them into you
I wish I could turn you into the perfect version of you that I idealize

And I could figure the whole damn puzzle out
By doing so, I could finally understand everything about my life and my emotions

Oh
An expression of emotion, possibly indicating sadness or resignation

I could take anything
Despite my struggles and uncertainties, I have the resilience to withstand anything

If I had no greed to big
If I were not driven by selfish desires and the need for more

Just poison tainting the green
My negative emotions are spoiling the good things in my life

Remembering time
Reflecting on a past time

Much younger than me now
Recalling a time when I was much younger than I am currently

When my breath was light
A time when my life was less burdensome and more carefree

When the world raised me kind
Life felt more gentle and loving toward me then

Here the mother comforts child
A nostalgic image of being comforted and taken care of like a child

Every moment was waking up
A time when life felt full of possibilities and new experiences

But now I have grown tired
Feeling worn out and disillusioned with life

Oh I'd fuck it up sure
Despite my fantasies of a perfect life, I am aware of my own imperfections and likelihood to make mistakes

Piece by piece
Bit by bit

Then why in the world would I sing
If I had everything and everything was perfect, what would motivate me to keep going or striving for more?

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: GLEN BALLARD, DAVID MATTHEWS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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