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
34
Dave Matthews Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Been so tired throw away my surrounding
Like the sun and moon take for granted
Soon we move through the flood and we fade away
Lie about it
Cry about it
We'll be ok
Lean upon me
We'll be ok
Oh I lay myself at your feet laughing
Hope mine eye made of the soul choir
Lean upon me
I'll lean upon you
We'll be ok
Lie about it
Cry about it
Soon fade away
Lie about it
Cry about it
We'll be ok
Lean upon me
I'll lean upon you
We'll be ok
In Dave Matthews Band's song #34, the lyrics depict a sense of exhaustion and weariness. The first two lines suggest that the singer is so tired that they want to distance themselves from their surroundings. The following lines refer to how the sun and moon are often taken for granted, indicating that the singer feels like their own existence is just as trivial. As the song progresses, the lyrics become more personal and intimate as the singer talks about leaning on someone and being there for each other in difficult times. The repetition of "we'll be ok" throughout the song acts as a reassurance to the listener and possibly to the singer themselves that everything will eventually work out.
The lyrics are open to interpretation and can be broadly applied to different situations. Some people argue that the song is about the vocalist's fear of losing his wife, while others think the song is a tribute to the band's fans. However, the overall theme of the song seems to be about the importance of human connection in times of difficulty. The lyrics' repeated references to "leaning" on someone and "being ok" demonstrate the singer's need for someone to trust and rely on in difficult situations.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh my head lay back on the seating
I'm exhausted and just want to rest; my head falls back onto the seat.
Been so tired throw away my surrounding
I'm so drained that everything around me seems unimportant and insignificant.
Like the sun and moon take for granted
We often don't fully appreciate the things in our lives that are always there, like the sun and moon.
Soon we move through the flood and we fade away
Life is fleeting and we'll eventually pass away, like a flood that eventually recedes.
Lie about it
Sometimes we're not honest about our feelings or our situations, and we pretend that everything is okay.
Cry about it
It's okay to express our emotions and cry when we're feeling overwhelmed or sad.
We'll be ok
It might not feel like it now, but we'll get through whatever we're facing and come out okay in the end.
Lean upon me
I'm here for you, and you can rely on me for support and comfort.
I'll lean upon you
We can help each other and lean on each other when we're struggling.
Oh I lay myself at your feet laughing
I feel vulnerable and exposed, but I trust you enough to let my guard down and laugh with you.
Hope mine eye made of the soul choir
I hope you can see the depth of my soul and understand me on a deeper level.
Soon fade away
Our time on this earth is limited and we'll eventually pass away.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CARTER A. BEAUFORD, DAVID JOHN MATTHEWS, HAINES FULLERTON, LEROI H. MOORE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind