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
Diggin' a Ditch
Dave Matthews Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When you're alone
Unplug the TV, turn off your phone
Get heavy on with digging your ditch
Cause I'm digging a ditch where madness gives a bit
Digging a ditch where silence lives
Digging a ditch for when I'm old
Where all these troubles
That weigh down on me will rise
Run to your dreaming
When you're alone
Where all these questions
Spinnin' around my head
Will die, will die, will die...
Run to your dreaming
When you're alone
Unplug the TV, turn off your phone
Get heavy on with digging your ditch
Cause I'm digging a ditch where madness gives a bit
Digging a ditch where silence lives
Digging a ditch when I am through
Digging this ditch I'll dig in for you
Where all these worries
Weigh it down on me will rise
Where all these habits
Pull heavy at my heart
will die
Run to your dreaming
When you're alone
Not what you should be or what you've become
Just get heavy on with digging your ditch
Cause I'm digging a ditch where madness gives a bit
Digging a ditch where silence lives
Where all these dissapointments, grow angry out of me
Will rise...
Will die...
Will die...
Will die...
Run to your dreaming
When you're alone
Unplug the TV
And turn off your phone
Get heavy on with digging your ditch
In “Diggin’ a Ditch,” Dave Matthews Band encourages listeners to unplug and to separate themselves from modern technology and the problems that come with it, in order to dig in and work on their own inner selves. The song speaks to the importance of finding balance by creating a physical and mental space within oneself to grow, to change and to dream.
The lyrics push people to take responsibility for their own lives by proactively seeking to improve and find peace within themselves. In a world often filled with chaos and stress, Matthews reinforces the idea that we can take control of our inner selves by working on our personal growth through introspection and reflection.
Line by Line Meaning
Run to your dreaming
Escape reality by seeking solace in your dreams.
When you're alone
When you have nobody else around you.
Unplug the TV, turn off your phone
Disconnect from the outside world, free yourself from distractions.
Get heavy on with digging your ditch
Full-heartedly pursue your own objectives.
Cause I'm digging a ditch where madness gives a bit
Create a place where you can express yourself unconditionally, a place where you can be an individual.
Digging a ditch where silence lives
Establish a quiet and peaceful place where you can introspectively create your own path.
Digging a ditch for when I'm old
Prepare your mind for the future, envision where you want to be, and appreciate the simplicity of things.
Digging this ditch my story's told
Tell your own story through the things you do, explore who you are and who you want to be.
Where all these troubles that weigh down on me will rise
Conquer the issues that trouble you, do not let them control your thoughts or emotions.
Where all these questions spinnin' around my head will die, will die, will die...
Find clarity in your thoughts and answers to your questions.
Not what you should be or what you've become
Do not conform to society's expectations or norms.
Just get heavy on with digging your ditch
Pursue your passions and objectives without hesitation or external influences.
Where all these worries weigh it down on me will rise
Transform your worries into tangible actions that will help you overcome them.
Where all these habits pull heavy at my heart will die
Eliminate the bad habits that negatively affect you and cultivate new, positive ones instead.
Contributed by Kennedy J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.