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.
Minarets ->
Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Santa Maria virgin child
All our wars over you we are fighting
And all our time faith justifying
Brother caged Babylon will fall
Sister chained and bound, beaten and bleeding
The TV's on, to me this explains it
Screaming from the minarets
Later on we'll all be dancing
Screaming from the minarets
Yes indeed I'm making faces
Rain on the ground in a space
God has grown
Alone till a man looking glass in his hand
He is holding up to you
What you see
What you see
What you see
What you see is human
Screaming from the minarets
The song "Minarets" by Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds is a powerful commentary on the destructive effects of religious conflict, war and authoritarianism. The lyrics are very symbolic and explore the idea of Santa Maria, the virgin child who represents innocence and purity, being used as a tool for violence and oppression by people who claim to be fighting in her name. The first verse sets the scene for this violent conflict, with the image of wars being fought over Santa Maria and time being spent justifying faith rather than finding peace. The second verse turns to the image of a brother and sister who are both victims of this conflict, with the brother being caged and the sister being chained and beaten. This verse also introduces the idea of the media playing a role in perpetuating the conflict, with the TV being on and people wearing ties like daddy speaks it, indicating a conformity to a certain agenda.
The chorus of the song, "screaming from the minarets", is a reference to the towers found on mosques which are used to call Muslims to prayer. The phrase is used metaphorically here to represent the idea of people all over the world calling for peace and freedom from oppression. The line "Later on we'll all be dancing" suggests a hopeful future where people can come together and celebrate, rather than fight. The last verse of the song touches on the idea of individual responsibility, with the image of a man holding a looking glass up to himself and asking what he sees. The lines "What you see is human/screaming from the minarets" remind us that at the end of the day, we are all human and we all yearn for peace and freedom.
Overall, "Minarets" is a powerful and insightful commentary on some of the most pressing issues of our time, including religious conflict, war, authoritarianism, media manipulation and the search for individual meaning and responsibility.
Line by Line Meaning
Santa Maria choose your children
A plea to Santa Maria to protect the innocent.
Santa Maria virgin child
Acknowledging Santa Maria's purity and power.
All our wars over you we are fighting
All the wars are fought in the name of protecting Santa Maria and her believers.
And all our time faith justifying
The time spent in faith is to prove to oneself the righteousness of one's beliefs.
Brother caged Babylon will fall
The oppression of the righteous will eventually result in the fall of the oppressors.
Sister chained and bound, beaten and bleeding
Women, as represented by the sister, are oppressed and mistreated, leading to their suffering.
The TV's on, to me this explains it
The pervasive influence of media has a strong impact on shaping one's worldview
Wearing a tie like daddy speaks it
The conformism in society is evident in how people dress and act in order to fit in.
Screaming from the minarets
The oppressed people are symbolically crying out for help and liberation.
Later on we'll all be dancing
A hopeful vision of a time when people are free to celebrate and enjoy their lives.
Yes indeed I'm making faces
An acknowledgement of the singer's incongruity with society and their tendency to not fit in.
Rain on the ground in a space
A simple descriptive line of the surroundings, but perhaps could imply the need to find grounding amidst chaos.
God has grown
An affirmation that the overarching power of God is growing and becoming more evident, regardless of the state of the world around us.
Alone till a man looking glass in his hand
Despite loneliness, the presence of a mirror could be seen as reflective of the need for introspection and self-reflection in personal growth.
He is holding up to you
The man in the mirror is holding up a reflection to the listener(s), prompting them to take a closer look at themselves.
What you see
Encouraging the listener(s) to pay attention to what they are seeing and taking in from their environment.
What you see
Repeating the emphasis on the importance of observation.
What you see
The final time repeating the emphasis on observation.
What you see is human
A reminder that all that we see and experience is the result of human influence, whether positive or negative.
Screaming from the minarets
Repeating the same line from earlier, emphasizing the continued need for liberation and justice for the oppressed.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DAVID JOHN MATTHEWS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind