Dave Matthews Band was formed in Charlottesville, VA in 1991 by South Afric… Read Full Bio ↴Dave Matthews Band was formed in Charlottesville, VA in 1991 by South African native singer and guitarist Dave Matthews, bassist Stefan Lessard, the late LeRoi Moore, who played a wide variety of instruments from the saxophone to the flute, violin player Boyd Tinsley, drummer Carter Beauford, and keyboardist Peter Griesar (who left the band in 1993), all of whom Dave met in Charlottesville. In 1998, the band played shows with keyboardist Butch Taylor, although he was not officially a member of the band. Taylor played with the band for the stadium runs of the 1999 and 2000 summer tours. From May 18th, 2001 on, Taylor was a permanent fixture on stage, and in 2003 was no longer listed as "special guest". Even though he was never officially part of the lineup, the band recently announced that Butch was leaving the band via their website, and the 2008 summer tour had some of the first shows without Taylor in years. Rashawn Ross has performed at every normal show from 12.13.05 until the present, leading some to believe that he has joined the band, at least semi-permanently. It is also confirmed that Ross was in the studio with the band during the recent sessions. As of early 2009, Ross, long time collaborator Tim Reynolds, and new saxophonist Jeff Coffin are listed as "Touring Members".

Early 1990s

In the early 1990s, the band established a cult following through relentless touring with weekly stops at Virginia clubs known as Trax and Floodzone, an active taping community, and an independent LP, Remember Two Things. (Keyboardist Griesar left the band in 1993, shortly before the release of "Remember Two Things".) After signing to RCA Records, Dave Matthews Band, under the direction of producer Steve Lillywhite, released Under the Table and Dreaming in 1994, a critical and popular smash that firmly established the band's style of pop-rock with improvisational leanings. Under the Table and Dreaming would be the first of three albums released under Lillywhite's direction. This was followed by Crash (1996). For most of America, Crash was the record that put the Dave Matthews Band on the map. Featuring the hit single "Crash Into Me", as well as fan-favorites such as "Two Step", "Tripping Billies", and the Grammy-winning "So Much to Say", Crash would go on to be the band's best selling album.
The Mercy Songfacts reports that Lillywhite lent his skills to their 2012 album Away From The World. Lillywhite hadn't worked with the band since a series of unreleased recordings in 2000, which led to the leaked Lillywhite Sessions.

History

David John Matthews was born in Johannesburg, South Africa in 1967. Two years later, his family moved to Westchester County, NY. His father was a physicist and worked for IBM at the time. He has two sisters (Anne and Jane) and a brother (Peter). After living in New York, his family moved to Cambridge, England in the early '70s. The family returned to New York where his father died in 1977. In 1980, the family moved to South Africa where the young Matthews went to several schools and "got more wise about the evils of government, there and in general." He first played at a club in Charlottesville (Miller's) where he worked as a bartender. He admitted to Playboy magazine that he was really never that good at bartending, but loved getting customers...well..."drunk as hell!" He was first discovered in a demo tape that he recorded with a couple of current band members. This all came about when he decided to put together a demo tape and decided that he needed some musical accompaniment; which ended up as the Dave Matthews Band. In 1994, his sister Anne died in a domestic tragedy at her home in South Africa. The Grammy nominated album "Under The Table and Dreaming" is dedicated to her.

Community

Dave Matthews Band is highly involved in giving a helping hand. In 2003, the Band held a concert entitled, "The Central Park Concert" which was held in New York City's Central Park. The concert helped New York City Public Schools, the band is a big supporter of education.

The band also held a concert that helped victims of Katrina.

Sadly, Leroi Moore passed away in 2008. After being seriously injured in an ATV accident in Virginia, Moore succumbed to his injuries on August 19, 2008. He was replaced by Jeff Coffin, famous for his work with Béla Fleck and the Flecktones.
Excerpt taken from Wikipedia.org -- the rest of this article can be found at:
Wikipedia

Official site: www.dmband.com

14 Hunger for the Great Light
Dave Matthews Band Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Oh great light, of love
Oh great light, of love
Oh great light, of love
Oh great light, of love

Here you go the dirty girl
Good, God, try to love to try to ahh
God, love is a lively sight

Do you know who needs you?

I want to be your hunger
I want to see you open wide
And when I go down for you
I want to blow your mind

It's
So good of you
To love you

You and I
Such a pretty thing
Smile, smile
You know you thrill me
Cross your heart, and hope to die
You know I'd love to.

I want to be your hunger
I want to see you open wide
And when I go down for you
I want to blow your mind

You and I, uh, uh
Shine, shine

Oh great light of mine
Oh great light of mine
Oh great light, of love
Oh great light, of love

You come is like an answer prayer
Praise God
Try to love try to ah
I have the new dusted eye
Oh oh, I love you

I want to be you hungry
I want to see you open wide
And when I go down for you
I want to blow your mind

You, you, hey yeah

You, you, not I
You, you oh

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to “Hunger For The Great Light” by Dave Matthews Band are quite obscure and open to interpretation. The song opens with a repeated chorus of “Oh great light, of love,” which could be interpreted in many ways. Some listeners may hear it as a plea to a higher power, while others may interpret it as an anarchist’s call to reject traditional societal structures and embrace love.

The verses are equally ambiguous, with lines like “Here you go, the dirty girl” and “God, love is a lively sight” leaving the meaning up to individual interpretation. The second verse mentions “you and I” being a “pretty thing,” and declares “you know you thrill me,” potentially hinting at a romantic relationship. However, the chorus remains the constant, continually referencing a “hunger” for the “great light” of love.

The song seems to be about seeking a deeper connection to love and light, and the hunger that can arise from that desire. The repeated refrain of “I want to be your hunger, I want to see you open wide, and when I go down for you I want to blow your mind” could be interpreted as a sexual metaphor, or as a declaration of dedication to another person or cause. Ultimately, the song’s meaning is left up to the listener’s own interpretation.

Line by Line Meaning

Oh great light, of love
Celebrating the immensity of love that shines brightly like a great light.

Here you go the dirty girl
Referring to a female partner with endearment and lust.

Good, God, try to love to try to ahh
Expressing the effort it takes to truly experience love and pleasure.

God, love is a lively sight
Love is a vibrant force to behold.

Do you know who needs you?
Questioning who truly needs love and connection.

I want to be your hunger
Desiring to become the other's insatiable craving for intimacy.

I want to see you open wide
Longing to witness the other's full surrender to passion and desire.

And when I go down for you
Committed to providing oral pleasure for the other.

I want to blow your mind
Aiming to impress and astonish the other with one's sexual prowess.

So good of you to love you
Grateful for the opportunity to love oneself and others.

You and I, such a pretty thing
Appreciating the beauty and compatibility of the romantic partners.

Smile, smile, you know you thrill me
Expressing delight and excitement in the presence of the other.

Cross your heart, and hope to die, you know I'd love to
Emphasizing the sincerity and depth of one's love and commitment.

Shine, shine, you and I, uh, uh
Glowing with the radiance and happiness of being together.

Oh great light of mine
Addressing the divine presence of love and hope within oneself.

You come is like an answer prayer, praise God
Expressing gratitude and celebration for the arrival of the beloved.

Try to love try to ah, I have the new dusted eye
Exhorting oneself to continuously strive for love and passion, and opening up to new experiences.

Oh oh, I love you
Admitting the depth and intensity of one's love for the other.

You, you, hey yeah, you, you, not I, you, you oh
Dedicating the song to the beloved and emphasizing their crucial role in the relationship.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: BOYD C. TINSLEY, CARTER A. BEAUFORD, DAVID JOHN MATTHEWS, LEROI H. MOORE, MARK CHRISTOPHER BATSON, STEFAN K. LESSARD

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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