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
Christmas Song Intro
Dave Matthews Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She be his wife, make him her husband
A surprise on the way, any day, any day
One healthy little giggling dribbling baby boy
The wise men came three made their way
To shower him with love
While He lay in the hay
Shower Him with love love love
Love love is all around
Not very much of His childhood was known
Kept His mother Mary worried always out on His own
He met another Mary for a reasonable fee,
Less than reputable as known to be
His heart was full of love love love
Love love love
Love love is all around
When jesus christ was nailed to the his tree
Said "oh, daddy-o I can see how it all soon will be
I came to shed a little light on this darkening scene
Instead I fear I've spilled the blood of my children all around"
The blood of our children all around
The blood of our children all around
So I'm told, so the story goes
The people He knew were
Less than golden hearted
Gamblers and robbers
Drinkers and jokers, but all soul searchers
Just like you and me
Like you and me
Rumors insisited He soon would be
For His deviations taken into custody
By the authorities less informed than He
Drinkers and jokers, all soul searchers
Searching for love love love
Love love love
Love love is all around
Preparations were made
For His celebration day
He said "eat this bread and think of it as Me
Drink this wine and dream it will be
The blood of our children all around
The blood of our children all around"
The blood of our children all around
Father up above, why in all this anger
Do you fill us up with love love love
Love love love
Love love is all around
And Father up above, why in all this hatred
Do you fill us up with love love love
Love love love
Love love
Is all around
The song "Christmas Song" by Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds is a story about the birth, life, and crucifixion of Jesus Christ with a message of love, hope, and forgiveness. The song starts with the announcement of the birth of Jesus Christ, which is described as a miracle and a surprise. The wise men come to shower the baby with love while he lies in the hay. The chorus of the song emphasizes the message of love saying that love is all around.
The lyrics then move to the adulthood of Jesus Christ. The song refers to Mary, the mother of Jesus, and how worried she was about his safety as he was always out on his own. The song also refers to Jesus meeting another Mary, who was less reputable. However, the song emphasizes that Jesus' heart was full of love despite the company he kept. The lyrics move to the crucifixion of Jesus, where he sheds light on the darkening scene but is eventually killed, and his blood is spilled on the ground.
The song ends with a call for love despite the anger and hatred in the world. It makes a reference to the bread and wine, which are used as a symbol of Jesus' body and blood in the Christian faith. The song encourages people to think of each other as children of God and to fill the world with love.
Line by Line Meaning
She was his girl, he was her boyfriend
The start of a loving relationship between two people
She be his wife, make him her husband
A promise of a long-term and committed relationship
A surprise on the way, any day, any day
The anticipation and excitement of a baby arriving soon
One healthy little giggling dribbling baby boy
The joy and love that a newborn can bring to a family
The wise men came three made their way
The arrival of visitors who came to show love and respect
To shower him with love
The act of giving and showing love to the newborn baby
While He lay in the hay
The humble surroundings of the baby's birthplace
Shower Him with love love love
An emphasis on the importance of love, especially during this holiday season
Love love love
Repeating the importance of love in our lives
Love love is all around
The prevalence of love in our daily lives, especially in this holiday season
Not very much of His childhood was known
The ambiguity surrounding Jesus' childhood
Kept His mother Mary worried always out on His own
The natural worry of a mother who wants to protect and care for her child
He met another Mary for a reasonable fee,
An introduction to the woman who would later wipe Jesus' feet with her hair
Less than reputable as known to be
A societal judgment on the choices made by others
His heart was full of love love love
A repeated emphasis on the importance of love in Jesus' life
When jesus christ was nailed to the his tree
A reference to the crucifixion of Jesus
Said "oh, daddy-o I can see how it all soon will be
Jesus reflecting on his impending death and the impact it would have
I came to shed a little light on this darkening scene
Jesus' ultimate goal to bring light to the darkness of the world
Instead I fear I've spilled the blood of my children all around"
Jesus' lamenting on the blood shed and lives lost in his name
The blood of our children all around
A repetition of the heartbreak caused by the violence that followed Jesus' teachings
So I'm told, so the story goes
A reminder that this story is one that has been passed down over time
The people He knew were less than golden hearted
The imperfection of humanity and those who followed Jesus
Gamblers and robbers, Drinkers and jokers, but all soul searchers
The sinful and broken nature of people but also the desire for meaning and fulfillment
Just like you and me
All people are flawed but can seek redemption
Rumors insisited He soon would be
The anticipation and expectation of his arrest and crucifixion
For His deviations taken into custody
His teachings and way of life were seen as a deviation from the norm, leading to his arrest
By the authorities less informed than He
The irony of the leaders not understanding the message of a man who held the keys to true wisdom
Drinkers and jokers, all soul searchers
A repetition of the line highlighting the fact that all people are searching for something
Searching for love love love
The ultimate answer to what all soul searchers are looking for
Preparations were made for His celebration day
The anticipation and preparation for the celebration of Jesus' birth
He said "eat this bread and think of it as Me
Jesus using bread as a symbol for his body that would be given up for his followers
Drink this wine and dream it will be
The symbolism of wine as Jesus' blood shed for his followers
The blood of our children all around
A repetition of the phrase used earlier to highlight the tragedy of Jesus' death
Father up above, why in all this anger
A question of why there should be anger in the world if love is so prevalent
Do you fill us up with love love love
The truth that even in darkness love can and will be found
And Father up above, why in all this hatred
A continuation of questioning why there should be hatred if love is all around
Do you fill us up with love love love
Emphasizing that no matter what, love is the answer
Love love love
The ultimate message of the song
Love love
A repeat of the chorus
Is all around
The final statement and reminder that love is always present
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DAVID JOHN MATTHEWS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind