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
Anyone Seen the Bridge?
Dave Matthews Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Playing your love you don't have so predicab[le]
Thinking of ever going long i stop
Play it out they begun smoke gots a big game
How's it rolling
Swing it up up a day
Play like it always did hey
And always something we bring here
Funny still game close your eyes
Toys and gasoline we could save the world
Nothing's obscene if you close your eyes
Boys and girls let's do this joyride
:scatting:
Hey you're so like swine
Swine only one more time stay
Money is clean if you scrub it good
Guns and gasoline we will save the world
Nothing's obscene if you close your eyes
Boys and girls welcome to this joyride
Ride
Ride
This ride
:scatting:
I got a bobblehead jesus
Do my thing
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
Oh i'm supposed to go say things
Say things to go by
Don't play it like i do do do coochie pie
A run it like we're running ? you're gon' die
Money is filthy so we scrub it good
Guns and gasoline we will save the world
Nothing's obscene if we just close our eyes
Boys and girls welcome to your joyride
Ride
Oh ride
Oh this ride
This joyride
6.18.04 -
:scatting:
I got a bobblehead jesus
Keep me
Keep me safe from harm
Suck it all day
Money is clean if you scrub it good
Guns and gasoline we will save the world
Nothing's obscene if we just close our eyes
Boys and girls welcome to this joyride
:scatting:
Money is clean if we scrub it good
Guns and gasoline who could save the world
Nothing's obscene if we just close our eyes
Boys and girls welcome to this joyride
Ride
Ride
Ride
:scatting:
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
:scatting:
Money is clean if you scrub it good
With guns and gasoline we will save the world
Nothing's obscene if we just close our eyes
Boys and girls welcome to your joyride
Ride
Ride
Ride
The lyrics to Dave Matthews Band's song "Anyone Seen the Bridge?" are quite abstract and seem to be referencing the idea of a joyride as a metaphor for life. The song starts with an upbeat tone, talking about Saturday light shows and how love can be unpredictable. Matthews then describes a desire to break away from the norm and do things differently, using smoke signals to communicate with others. He asks, "How's it rolling?" before launching into a scatting section that seems to celebrate the freedom that comes with taking risks.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the idea of a joyride, suggesting that life can be an exciting adventure if we're willing to let go of our inhibitions. Matthews sings about toys and gasoline as well as guns and money, suggesting that anything is possible if we're willing to be bold and take risks. The song ends with a repetition of the chorus, driving home the message that life is a ride that we should all be willing to take.
Overall, "Anyone Seen the Bridge?" seems to celebrate the idea of living life to the fullest and taking risks. The lyrics are abstract and open to interpretation, but the message seems to be one of positivity and hope.
Line by Line Meaning
Saturday light shows
The band is performing a live show on a Saturday night.
Playing your love you don't have so predicab[le]
The audience is dancing to the music despite not having a romantic partner to share the moment with.
Thinking of ever going long i stop
The band is considering extending the song but decides to end it at this point.
Play it out they begun smoke gots a big game
The audience is enjoying the show and lighting up cigarettes or other substances to enhance the experience.
How's it rolling
The band asks the audience how they are doing and if they are enjoying the show.
Swing it up up a day
The band encourages the audience to dance and enjoy themselves.
Play like it always did hey
The band plays the song in the same style as always to ensure a good performance.
And always something we bring here
The band brings a unique energy and vibe to each concert they perform.
So in love love as they come hey
The audience is feeling a strong sense of love and connection during the concert.
Funny still game close your eyes
Despite the humorous and light-hearted tone of the concert, the band asks the audience to close their eyes and feel the moment.
Toys and gasoline we could save the world
The band suggests that with creativity and energy, anything is possible, even saving the world.
Nothing's obscene if you close your eyes
The band suggests that ignoring the outside world and focusing on the music can make anything permissible.
Boys and girls let's do this joyride
The band encourages everyone to enjoy the ride and have fun during the concert.
:scatting:
These lines are improvised and do not have a specific meaning.
Hey you're so like swine
The band is teasing someone in the audience, comparing them to a pig.
Swine only one more time stay
Despite the teasing, the band wants the audience member to stay and continue enjoying the concert.
Money is clean if you scrub it good
The band suggests that with hard work and dedication, one can earn money in an honest and ethical manner.
Guns and gasoline we will save the world
The band suggests that with power and energy, they can change the world for the better.
Don't play it like i do do do coochie pie
The band warns against trying to imitate their music style too closely, and encourages creativity and originality.
A run it like we're running ? you're gon' die
The band suggests that without proper technique and energy, trying to replicate their music style could be dangerous and ineffective.
I got a bobblehead jesus
The singer has a toy of Jesus in the form of a bobblehead.
Keep me safe from harm
The singer wants to be protected from harm and danger by Jesus.
Suck it all day
This line is likely a humorous or vulgar reference to something unrelated to the rest of the song.
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
These lines are repeated throughout the song as a way to convey excitement and energy.
Contributed by Isabelle N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@CrazyStupidMonkey96
Love how happy Carter looks!!! And how the whole band smiles when Carter plays the intro
@renadenison6759
God I love Dave, can't wait to see you guys in Tahoe this fall. 😁
@nicholaswilkinson63
I admire and respect the fact that Jeff Coffin didn't even attempt at copying the baritone sax solo that LeRoi Moore used to do for this bridge.
@SammyMakepeace
BRING 👏 THIS 👏 SHIZ 👏 TO LONDON 👏
@rockoutmichigan
Carter always looks like he's having a great time...
@ericrogers7569
🎶Big fella just brought the house down🎺
@maxmissingham
Take ‘em to the mathews bridge
@abe3298
to me it seems that rashawn and jeff planned their little duet without the band knowing. watch daves face when they start playing. carter also laughs.
@daniellelaubach8410
🎸❤️🎶🎶
@daisycrawford9763
6 people have apparently never seen the bridge