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

Don't Drink The Water
Dave Matthews Band Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Come out come out
No use in hiding
Come now come now
Can you not see?
There's no place here
What were you expecting
Not room for both
Just room for me

So you will lay your arms down
Yes I will call this home

Away away
You have been banished
Your land is gone
And given to me
And here I will spread my wings
Yes I will call this home
What's this you say
You feel a right to remain
Then stay and I will bury you
What's that you say
Your father's spirit still lives in this place
I will silence you

Here's the hitch
Your horse is leaving
Don't miss your boat
It's leaving now
And as you go I will spread my wings
Yes I will call this home
I have no time to justify to you
Fool you're blind, move aside for me
All I can say to you my new neighbor
Is you must move on or I will bury you

Now as I rest my feet by this fire
Those hands once warmed here
I have retired them
I can breathe my own air
I can sleep more soundly
Upon these poor souls
I'll build heaven and call it home
'Cause you're all dead now
I live with my justice
I live with my greedy need
I live with no mercy
I live with my frenzied feeding
I live with my hatred
I live with my jealousy
I live with the notion
That I don't need anyone but me

Don't drink the water
There's blood in the water

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Dave Matthews Band's song Don't Drink the Water contain dark imagery and appears to be about conquest, greed, and the consequences of taking over land. The opening lines imply that the singer is calling out to someone in hiding, asking them to come out into the open. The subsequent lines indicate that the singer has taken over the land and there is no room for anyone else. The singer is claiming ownership over everything, even the air he breathes, and wants the other person to leave. The use of "your horse is leaving" sounds like a warning, giving the impression that anyone who stays will be buried, suggesting that they will die. The line "Don't drink the water, there's blood in the water" serves as a warning, reinforcing the idea that the singer is a conqueror, and anyone who opposes him will meet a violent end.

The lyrics to Don't Drink the Water were inspired by the European conquest of the Americas, and its lyrics revolve around themes of colonialism, greed, and violence. The song is notable for its powerful imagery and its raw, emotional quality that is present throughout the verses. The title of the song itself is a warning about the dangers of domination and power.

Line by Line Meaning

Come out come out
I know you're there, don't hide from me

No use in hiding
Hiding won't change anything, I'll find you anyway

Come now come now
Stop delaying the inevitable, face me now

Can you not see?
Are you blind to the fact that I've taken over?

There's no place here
This land belongs to me now, you're not welcome

What were you expecting
Did you really think you could stay here?

Not room for both
Only one of us can stay here, and that's me

Just room for me
I'm the only one who belongs in this place

So you will lay your arms down
You have no choice but to surrender

Yes I will call this home
This land is mine now and I'll make it my home

Away away
Get out of here, leave this place

You have been banished
I've kicked you out, and you'll never come back

Your land is gone
I've taken everything you had, your land is mine now

And given to me
I own everything now, you have nothing left

And here I will spread my wings
I'll take control of this place and make it mine

What's this you say
You have nothing left to say, you're finished

You feel a right to remain
You have no right to stay here, I've taken everything

Then stay and I will bury you
If you stay, I'll make sure you never leave

What's that you say
I don't care what you have to say

Your father's spirit still lives in this place
Your family history means nothing to me, it's all mine now

I will silence you
I'll make sure you never speak again

Here's the hitch
You have a problem, and I have the solution

Your horse is leaving
You're running out of time to leave this place

Don't miss your boat
Leave now, or you'll regret it

It's leaving now
You need to hurry up and leave this place

And as you go I will spread my wings
As you leave, I'll take over everything

I have no time to justify to you
I don't owe you an explanation for what I've done

Fool you're blind, move aside for me
You're too foolish to see what's happening, get out of my way

All I can say to you my new neighbor
I have nothing to say to you now that I've taken over

Is you must move on or I will bury you
You need to leave this place, or else you'll suffer the consequences

Now as I rest my feet by this fire
I'm finally comfortable and at home here

Those hands once warmed here
This place used to belong to someone else, but not anymore

I have retired them
I've taken everything and I'm not giving it back

I can breathe my own air
I'm in control now and I answer to no one

I can sleep more soundly
Now that I've taken over, I won't lose any sleep over it

Upon these poor souls
Those who used to live here are long gone, and it doesn't matter to me

I'll build heaven and call it home
I'll make this place into whatever I want, and it will be perfect

'Cause you're all dead now
I've taken everything, and you're never coming back

I live with my justice
I make my own rules and I get what I want by any means necessary

I live with my greedy need
I'll never be satisfied, I always want more

I live with no mercy
I don't care about anyone else, it's all about me

I live with my frenzied feeding
I'm always on the hunt for more power and control

I live with my hatred
I hate everyone who isn't like me and I'll do whatever it takes to get rid of them

I live with my jealousy
I'm envious of anyone who has something I don't

I live with the notion
I truly believe that I'm the only one who matters

That I don't need anyone but me
I have everything I need, and I don't need anyone's help or approval

Don't drink the water
Don't trust me, there's something sinister going on here

There's blood in the water
I've done terrible things to get what I want, and I'll keep doing them to maintain my power

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Capitol CMG Publishing, Songtrust Ave
Written by: DAVID JOHN MATTHEWS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS

No Related Genres

More Genres

No Artists Found

More Artists Load All

No Albums Found

More Albums Load All

No Tracks Found

01Pantala Naga Pampa0:40

02Rapunzel

03The Last Stop11:18

04Don't Drink The Water9:31

PT9M31S

Dave Matthews Band

05Stay (Wasting Time)6:32

06Halloween12:07

07The Stone7:54

08Crush4:11

09The Dreaming Tree16:15

10Pig6:49

11Spoon7:25

Genre not found

Artist not found

Album not found

Search results not found

Song not found

Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@dawningofdesire2618

6y↑25

these lyrics are haunting...
Dave:
"I have retired them
I can breathe my own air
I can sleep more soundly
Upon these poor souls
I'll build heaven and call it home
Cause you're all dead now

I live with my justice
I live with my greedy need
I live with no mercy
I live with my frenzied feeding
I live with my hatred
I live with my jealousy
I live with the notion
That I don't need anyone but me

Don't drink the water
Don't drink the water
There's blood in the water
Don't drink the water"

All comments from YouTube:

@Henchman1977

1y↑74

The ending with Dave and Alanis in harmony is SOFAKING good!

@Kanjo_Bazooie

1y↑6

I really wish they did more together

@davidh5689

1y↑6

They are such good friends, I always wanted the same!!!

@KarlaHernandez-bk1fg

It’s a musical orgasm

@el_papa_de_Rambo

40w

Bela Fleck also rocks in this record.

@michaelfitzsimmons2796

3y↑171

Such a great depiction of the human condition. This band was immensely ahead of it's time.

@realdeal4222

3y↑5

Seriously. Basically timeless. Could've told me this song came out yesterday. But boy do I miss the 90s

@sandi1410

3y↑4

People of color have been doing this forever but good you finally hear the message!

@DrSamE

Just discovered this band (knew by the name, never listened) and definitely sounds like from the 90's but thats why I like it so much!

@graphixch

Old fucker checking in with the obligatory mention of how many times I’ve seen them live: Twice! DMB are legendary music makers.

@aminabdullah350

2y↑1

I have no idea what this song is about. I just crank up the music, super crank up the bass and let it go. I get high on music, my roommates hate it for they don't feel and are as cold as zombies.

6 More Replies...

@the.watcher.84

29w↑7

HAUNTING MASTERPIECE REMAINS TIMELESS FOREVER

@deweytucker5413

3y↑45

This is one of the most beautiful, gritty, creative and emotional songs ever written.

@ghiblinerd6196

https://youtu.be/X1h1VmsNUYM

@WhiteStripesFann

9y↑122

Dave and Alanis are magic together.

@Brooke-rw8rc

8y↑12

+WhiteStripesFann I don't think anyone ever used her voice more effectively.

@jacobotter708

4y↑7

SPOON? are you kidding me? UGH they should've recognized that potential IMMEDIATELY and done a full album. i think Dave was just as complicit as anybody else in the undervaluing of the powerhouse of WOMAN.

@djbakermusic5882

Listen to spoon from both of them pure fire

@shirleyaltabano3248

3y↑1

True 🌟🌟🌟

@raivenneny

3y↑50

I love Alanis & Dave together. Their witty lyrics & music blend together so well.

@jonas3333

4y↑135

This song tears into my soul every time I hear it. It's vastly under-rated.

@McRemmyBaby

3y↑1

Imagine ur mom being a hardcore fan, she’s soon 66, took me to a concert and all way back! Like damn man, obviously im falling in love now, soon 35, n yes this song is 1 my favs!
Lmao one trip up to ny city (from pa) sister and mother tortured me with Halloween, lol i had take n hide cd in trunk lmaoaoao

@ellzedd4113

3y↑2

He sounded to much like Peter Gabtiel in this song and video concept.

@azdrone233

Why?

@jonas3333

2y↑6

@@azdrone233 Because it's about the brutal takeover of the Native Americans by Europeans and he expresses it so well.

@eleasvlisides2214

@@jonas3333 the brutal should’ve been used to describe the Indians

1 More Replies...

@WizardOfHumor1989

3y↑55

My number one Dave Matthew’s song of all time!

@Staphorst724

44w↑1

The space between.😉

@NovemberRain3D

8y↑72

Who still LOVES this in 2016??

@KenYahh

7y↑1

+Handy Andy well shit.

@hand3and3

lol

@eSam1337

7y↑5

November Rain 2017

@leonard-ralphlyons9239

7y↑1

November Rain 2017.

@PPGarm3

7y↑6

Anyone who appreciates artistry still loves this in 2017

2 More Replies...

@braveinsanity6843

5y↑107

He was lucky to pick up such a prodigy bass player. The entire band is fucking amazing.

@joerillarilla8524

3y↑4

I agree its the combo..the singer always gets most credit .but he's humble and the guy on the violin is extremely critical..I love good music of all I go from Rock to Tupac I respect music it's all about the mood you're in rock music is powerful it can move the mind that just goes to show the power of the Mind the Mind controls every thought you have music only influences it. You can use it for good or for bad that's the whole Free Will thing but yes they are an amazing band some people make fun people that listen to Dave Mathews mostly Millennial kids but then again we all do everything when we were 16

@joerillarilla8524

3y↑1

I have found as soon as you realized you know nothing. The faster you can open your mind and actually learn something. Moral of the story is have a good time and be a good person. Karma will take care of the rest. Everyone out there have a good day people will have a bad sorry about that but you would not know good if you did not have the bad it's just the way human nature is

@midwestcollectibles1299

3y↑5

An absolute star group, every artist is exceptional in the band!

@crossbytedelafade6073

He took his time forming this group. He knew exactly who and what he wanted. He spent years bartending and scouting his players. I don't know why they catch so much crap. They're an absolutely amazing group of musicians who can hold their own against most comers. There's a reason they were the most popular touring band in the world.

@winnigriff8989

@@joerillarilla8524 same here

2 More Replies...

@sylviarippey6488

4y↑139

This song still gives me goosebumps...all these years later.

@dnabart

Because you know we don't belong here.

@definitelynotjasonmomoa

Very much the same. Every time I play this song.

@definitelynotjasonmomoa

@@dnabart no, we don't. We are nothing but intelligent parasites, and sometimes I really wonder about the kntelligence

@notforpurposes

Same

@aaroncapricorn5867

43w↑1

@@dnabart you don't belong here? see ya?

5 More Replies...

@Brian-vk6tz

1y↑10

Can we just appreciate the TRUE LAYERS OF EVERY INSTRUMENT ,boyd on fiddle,lerio on sax,lessard on bass,and beauford BEATING THE DRUMS

@nikmead7171

Don't forget Béla Fleck on the banjo

@jacksonkauflin8024

7y↑396

My US History teacher played us this song yesterday, the first day of 9th grade. Pretty lit.

@kindkidbk

6y↑43

Chuck Schumer Your history teacher sounds like a fucking badass. Big ups to that guy.

@kindkidbk

6y↑13

Glad he’s exposing yall to good music such as this. Try to spread it around to ones you know open to new!

@h.4231

6y↑11

My 9th grade teacher just showed us this today

@JordinE1996

6y↑17

mad props to you actually liking dave matthews in 9th grade bro🤙🤘

@vilecrocodile9171

6y↑7

@@h.4231
Sjw alert

40 More Replies...

@matthermens1355

4y↑28

One of the greatest songs of all time!

@lokz1639

26w↑7

"They put something in it to make you forget"

@boricuadelight

4y↑60

Still my favorite. It gives me chills to this day. Profound and moving and forever relevant

@last7509

2y↑3

I hope it doesn't stay relevant forever

@definitelynotjasonmomoa

@Last unfortunately, it will. We are nothing but seni-intelligent parasites that know nothing but death and murder, and we are even too fucking stupid to leave our beautiful host alive.

I hope we never find out there is truly a God. After we stand in reverence for about 10 minutes, we will start on the path of killing God as well. We say that love is the most powerful want and need, but it's power and control. We want to own and control everything, and we will never stop. We are such a hopeless lot...

@iamworthy5596

26w

Do you know what the song is about/tell me.

@boricuadelight

26w

@iamworthy5596 colonists destroying lands and people. So sad. He speaks about this in interviews

@judyalcatraz918

7y↑123

love alanis morissette's voice in the background 👍👍👍

@jmathis2aug

I love deez in the background

@geddoe316

Eh, doesn't really resonate with me

@VELHOEOTEUPASSADO

4y↑7

Wow I did not know about that! So the backingvoice is Alanis! great!

@lucajasonserafini553

17w↑4

Mesmerized to tears
A peace of art.. like many others from this unique band

@darkclouds09

4y↑33

This is my favorite DMB song, and I just now realized why: Alanis Morrissette is singing back up. 23 years and I had no idea!

@colindaggett3301

4y↑1

darkclouds09 me and u both never knew that

@theofficialweirdguyshow1802

And Bela Fleck is playing banjo

@romanator2292

4y↑2

I literally just found out 3 days ago. I was shocked after all these years !

@thevhsvault9184

4y↑3

It's on the CD sleeve! Also, back then, MTV and VH1 used to spin this video all the time and it was in one of their Pop Up Video versions where they mentioned the Alanis contribution because they are very good friends.

@ryano2883

3y↑1

I just realized it myself.

@BkQnsDae

3y↑11

This is BRILLIANT writing!

@RandomN4me

18w↑5

Because they put something in it, to make you forget. I don’t even remember how I got here.

@Sires83

14y↑26

i love their old videos soooo much, they're so artistic and so deep and very creative, its like a lucid dream

@vanessacurvello419

23w

Yes!

@kylehurt3208

8y↑42

It's sad to see that in my generation hardly no one knows about Dave Matthews. Real music has died off unfortunately but i will also be a big Dave fan

@1737550

2y↑2

The real music like this will never die as long as I'm alive!! Blast it and introduce it to younger people. It will Endure!!!

@KyleX515

2y↑1

... Yeah there's totally not young kids wearing Pink Floyd, Misfits, and Foo Fighters shirts nowadays. Maybe instead of being a grump and being a gatekeeper, you should spread the word about older bands to younger people. "Hey if you like __ you would totally like __ since they sound like they're one of their influences!"

Quit sounding like your parents.

@rosemiller2075

Let them know!! Dave is timeless and I’m blessed to have come of age when he was huge !

@Mr.EmeraldTheGreen

3y↑11

Man,,,, I tell you Dave and Alanis together has such amazing chemistry!! And what an amazing song as well. I sure wish she had been in the song more, or at least in the video, that would’ve been orgasmic! This just gives me goosebumps, when Dave sings, “ Cuz you’re all dead now!” And then Alanis’ voice cries out in the background.

@theironmarshmallowg3932

No, she absolutely ruined the song with her incoherent bellowing.

@debrapietrowski8229

@@theironmarshmallowg3932 both of them are two Worldly heathen filths. Two who share secular humanistic beliefs. Speaking on Indian genocide, yet both have similar views on the demonization of the CHOSEN race, the Holy Jewish Tribe. Hypocrites, both sing and speak in generous hypocritical tones… YAHWEH watcheth over the House of ISRAEL!

@SpacedDuck11

4y↑10

I can't honestly think of many artists as underrated as Dave Matthews. Literally listen to the show he did with Tim Reynolds at Radio city and its clear the dude isn't fucking human and basically the best live performer who ever lived.

@jlinms8721

3y↑1

Not in a world where Peter Gabriel exists, but Dave is really great.

@1737550

Underrated??? Have you ever seen how many people are at his shows lol

@someohlin

7y↑49

Just so you all know that's Alanis on back up vocals in outro. Amazing!

@Milklatte

6y↑1

Michael Ohlin was about to ask if it was her, absolutely great. I'd like to hear this covered entirely by her

@buntelrad676

Michael Ohlin for sure love it

@joelschama7495

6y↑1

Yes, we're fans. We read liner notes.

@txismyhome

She is featured on Spoon also on BTCS.

@Tommyhedland

3y↑15

This song is so powerful, it's amazing. Dave Matthews band best song

@definitelynotjasonmomoa

1y↑13

I still think this is the greatest composition this band has ever and will ever come up with. I love everything they do, but this song is on such another level

@dariogiordani4982

3y↑7

Mesmerizing music drowned in a magic lake of superb banjo sound and beat

@justinhayes2194

46w↑3

This is my favorite Dave Matthews song, it gives me this hauntingly peculiar feeling. Sh*t bangs!

@lorisantos3654

3y↑19

Still love this song. Wish they would tour again.

@leticiamendoza8896

DMB is on tour right now! Fall 2021

@Unarmedlime

Try tour all the time! Saw them 4 times in 2022

@aaroncapricorn5867

43w

sweaty crowds. ew

@generaldepartment2928

28w↑3

They put something in it. To make you forget

@AnnaJuist

5y↑10

This should be the anthem for Flint, Michigan.

@jenniferbijoupierre6106

9y↑32

i miss this genre of music

@dankdylan9278

7y↑11

For anyone who hasn't already...check out the version of this incredibly moving and timeless piece of musical magic with Tim Reynolds and Dave at Radio City Music Hall concert...THE most amazing thing I have ever witnessed musically! Dave Matthews is the Bob Dylan of THIS generation without doubt AND without peer musically today!

@deecarter623

8y↑15

Makes the
Choctaw come out of me!

@pleasesendpopmusic2480

4y↑1

kewl

@Scot913319

12y↑4

Dave Matthews has so much charisma, it's startling.

@baileycuervo

11 years later, it's called rizzzzz

@randygurleyjr9460

4y↑7

One of my faves from teenage years!

@Mauricio-oq1tm

22w↑1

So many years without listening to this piece of a song!!!!!!!

@luisdomacena4393

4y↑136

My world history teacher brought me here.

@sdfihsifaaf2057

4y↑3

Bro same

@jessiepadilla5034

4y↑1

@@sdfihsifaaf2057 What other songs did they suggest?

@carsonblahnik2293

4y↑1

same

@thebot6984

Same

@bluecobalt665

SAME!!! Does "holly" sound familiar.

19 More Replies...

@PrepperRapperFairy

3y↑12

My 7 year old loves this song so much he basically has it on repeat and I’m sooooo happy about that !

@azdrone233

Bullshit

@last7509

2y↑2

How's 8 treating him?

@PrepperRapperFairy

2y↑4

@@last7509 so far so good Rage against the machine … Grateful Dead .. a little Bob Dylan .. and more DMB

@venomlily1651

2y↑1

Your 7yr. old ? And he didn't have nightmares after hearing it ? You've raised 1 TOUGH kid ! BE PROUD . 💪👍

@PrepperRapperFairy

2y↑1

@@venomlily1651 no, no nightmares just proud to know the TRUTH. See.. our kids want the TRUTH just like we do He watched Pocahontas and was fuming so i said here let me pour some salt in the wound and I played this song and he now REFUSES to celebrate Thanksgiving. He knows all about the treaties … he will SCHOOL an adult on prepping and preparedness and situational awareness…. He does not trust government .. On and on. I would say I’ve done an amazing job as a single mom. And we aren’t done yet !! Lots to learn in this life and lots to teach our kids so they don’t fall victim to figuring out LIES. What a waste of precious life figuring out lies. Not my child thank you. PS he will also whoop most out playing Roblox and so it’s not all always serious he has fun too

2 More Replies...

@mexicanhelljumper8614

17w↑3

they put something in it to make you forget

@user-ok2bb8rg9k

I don’t even remember how I got here…

@kellywatkins9460

8y↑6

Well said, Mr. Dave Matthews!

@jmuduke99

8y↑4

Crazy how much this song has evolved over the years

@dawningofdesire2618

6y↑25

@lawrenceehrbar8667

2y↑1

Yes, but who is narrating? Take a guess. And why would jealousy even be mentioned if its referring to an indigenous tribe?

@lawrenceehrbar8667

2y↑1

You omitted a key lyric like most websites do as well. I believe the original lyric preceding "I live with the notion" is "And God". Dave usually includes it live and at Central Park. That should be a clue about who the "narrator" on the song really is. Hint - "spread my wings". It sure isn't a man.

@WizardOfHumor1989

5y↑9

This music video and song blew me away big time when I was around 8 or 9 years of age

@apezeroviking

25w↑2

Still an amazing and sadly forever pertinent song...

@angelinasheppard3702

5y↑5

"I can breathe my own air, and I can sleep more soundly, upon these poor souls, I'll build heaven and call it HOOOOOOOME"
I know this is a sad song about the poor treatment of indigenous people but damn Dave sounds like an angel there

@korosuke1788

That's the irony. Others call them "white devils", but they call themselves angels.

@sophiapetrillo5803

2y↑6

This song gives me more Goosebumps than R.L. Stine

@HARRISONIVAZBAND

9y↑192

This is about Native Indigenous People's rights, it is a protest song.

@Harpoon2theRescue

9y↑17

Who gives a shit.

@ElYeyuno

9y↑40

And a damn good one.

@suddenrushsarge

9y↑35

Harpoon2theRescue I do.

@bruhcashmoney

HARRISON IVAZ BAND ooooooh nobody gives a shit

@Skizane

6y↑67

People with a conscience do. And people mature enough to have figured out that acting like nothing matters doesn't make you look cool, it just makes you look childish or massively ignorant or both. The slaughter of what is estimated to be around 100 million native people should give anyone pause, whether they are related to either side or not.

22 More Replies...

@skeptischism1324

19w↑1

Love the bass on this track. Didn't appreciate his good Stefan was till this song.

@ProjectIcee

4y↑4

My social studies teacher used to play this song most of the time and like I miss my 8th grade teacher everytime I listen to the song I want to go back to the past

@aukent

13y↑12

3:32-4:20 sends chills down my spine

@TEFFTPATTERN

7y↑81

Flint, Michigan

@aliciagonzalez2472

7y↑4

TEFFT PATTERN it would be so epic if he protest flint water crisis to get Gov Snider behind bars.

@trojanguy85

6y↑2

I mean... sure, yep let's go with it.. anything to help

@onlyNtimE

6y↑2

Word

@fromthehaven94

5y↑3

Incompetent Michigan Republicans were to blame for that. Thankfully, the voters in that state wised up in 2018. Unlike Ohio.

@vincentwashington4106

4y↑1

Christopher C...things haven’t gotten any better

1 More Replies...

@Random_UserName4269

Is it bad that I get hyped up to this song!

The song of the conquest of my ancestors!

Everything I see and have and can touch, was given to me through this conquest.

I don’t, and fundamentally can’t see this as a bad thing.

@Nwidmann

9y↑20

Dave Matthews is a musical God. This video is so creative and I love Alanis Morisette during the final chorus.

@eltrut96

Nicholas Widmann I love you... ;) ...Its an amazing song.

@jmcconnor01

7y↑6

seriously. he rarely picks other musicians to assist on his songs, so when he does

fucking Alanis Morisette. don't be fooled by the 'overplayed Ironic' and her '15 minutes of fame'

she's talented as fuck. great choice here dave

@philitwaken885

7y↑1

I was going to search the female vocalist, I knew that voice. I don't know what she is saying but it sounds amero tribal if not in word or vocalization then both. Goose bumps and my spirit leaps to the furthest of its waking flesh tether. WOW

@Scurrow

7y↑106

This has a Peter Gabriel vibe to it.

@IAmTheWalrusGooGooGjoob

6y↑1

I definitely have seen more than one similarly between the two.

@christimentus4425

5y↑1

Scurrow Love Peter Gabriel ♥️🎼♥️

@poohgaze2338

4y↑1

Thematically, it's just about a perfect match with "San Jacinto".

@Scurrow

4y↑1

@@poohgaze2338 Oh yeah!

@labernese

For sure

3 More Replies...

@normanorman

2y↑2

my 46 year old mother told me to listen to this song… knew she was a hippie but no idea she was into the psychedelic rock kinda stuff. funny, i was trying to get into it a while back and i just couldn’t find a good place to start… but i think this is it, thank you momma ❤️

@kewuo

15w↑1

they put something in it, to make you forget. i dont even remember how i got here

@cherokeerose256

7y↑3

Thank you Dave for your support !!! Rock on !!

@natalierozean5989

2y↑3

Dave Mathews is a brilliant writer. I’m a writer and took every college course I could in creative writing, poetry, (iambic pentameter), etc. He just nails it without trying.

@jojonorris8047

4y↑1

Bela Fleck bringin' the pain 💪❤

@GormanGolf

2:52

Aesthetically trippy , beautiful audio

@wantansoup1

9y↑7

Idk why he isn't more popular

@msgdob86

9y↑6

wantansoup1 He's got a net worth of 250 million. He's near the top of the list of richest front men. He's plenty popular.

@lim3ston394

9y↑3

+wjohanw He is actually incredibly popular. But as far as the current, pop-culture and all mainstream things go, sad to say, but Dave has become irrelevant amongst teenagers, young adults, etc. who are the largest demographic of consumers for the music industry. It's all hip-hop and rap shit. I'm 16 & am a true Dave fan to death, one in a million, I know, but I personally think the current mainstream genres, not even songs or artists, but genres, are complete shit

@wantansoup1

+Michael Griffin i know that he is popular. What I mean isn't very mainstream right now. And he deserved more attention for his last album than he got.

@mattevans7388

9y↑1

+LIM3STON3 You impress me. Its rare to see someone in this younger generation embrace real music.

@lim3ston394

8y↑3

Matt Evans Yeah man, Ive even been called weird by a teacher for liking Dave Matthews in my age range.

2 More Replies...

@hunterandpawpaw

8y↑74

Thank you Dave for Standing With Standing Rock! #NoDAPL
#RezpectOurWater #SacredStoneCamp #RedWarriorCamp

@foodank_atr817

Alaura Askins tasinallb I truly, and without jest, irony, or malice, dedicate this song to the Native Peoples of the American continents.

@gabrielj9776

2y↑2

👑🔥♥️👑 David got blamed for the chains ⛓ bound by Pluto.

@doncampbell9411

23w↑1

That's one bad banjo

@eltrut96

9y↑10

Genius. Period.

@tasinallb

8y↑62

thank you for coming to support us at Standing Rock in Oceti Sakowin Camp. no Dakota access pipeline

@foodank_atr817

6y↑1

tasinallb I truly, and without jest, irony, or malice, dedicate this song to the Native Peoples of the American continents.

@onlyNtimE

Word is keep your land you took

@Velimouree

2y↑2

they played this in my social studies class. the meaning behind it is just woah, besides that what a great song.

@joshuataylor3975

14y↑2

This song,,,, I can remember the first time I heard it in my car. It was SO powerful I had to pull over on account of I was too blown away to drive.... That lyric and Alanis wailing in the background.... It was (and IS) an amazing experience...

@celestestar5439

5y↑3

Song has a powerful message

@emergentform1188

2y↑3

Amazing tune, for a radio friendly hit there's nothing lame or cheesy about it. Masterful song writing that doesn't insult one's intelligence. Fantastic playing and vocals too. Gives me goosebumps (not an easy feat for a prog freak like myself hehe). ❤💯

@marcwhittle9810

I helped film this in Amazonas Venezuela. Yes it was really cheesy! Actually not very respectful to the various cultures and costuming with culturally/ethnically inappropriate to the actors who were Piaroa and Gua-Jibo. Many of the Gua-Jibo went on to act in other Hollywood productions. The old Shaman is Bur'e (translates to 'Grandfather Toad') but also was known to non Piaroa speakers by his given Spanish name of Simon Bolivar a very well known Piaroa Shaman. How the Piaroa came by their Spanish names in the 1960's is a funny story in and of itself. Several of my daughters family were in this video as well. The director Dean had bright green hair. These are Indigenous people and they were amazed by Deans hair jajaja. One of the locations we filmed at was in the Piaroa community of Pendare on the Parguaza River where incidentally the Monster Quest episode on giant tarantulas was filmed with the well known Herpetologist Bill Lamar.

@rodrigoc5493

9y↑2

In my opinion, the best DMB song. And they've got an excellent album career!

@mettawatkutaninwat5411

2y↑1

They put something in it to make you forget, I don’t even remember how I got here.

@gustaavo423

2y↑7

Um hino a ganância humana que destrói o que o mundo tem de melhor.......a inocência. Absolutamente fantástico!!!

@thechannelofashley6986

9y↑6

i love this song ♥♥♥♥♥♥♡♡

@CoolllamaTMM

4w↑1

They put something in it.

@yokuiee3890

4y↑1

Carter is so underrated excellent drummer!

@orpikattack

12y↑3

I just love Alanis' voice in this song.

@zacheymann6453

10y↑72

He can sing pretty good! For a guy who was just traveled back 400 years and was decapitated.

@kylehome8818

6y↑3

Zach Eymann haha. I had to think a few seconds but thats pretty funny!

@maengipachuau8707

4y↑2

🤣🤣🤣🤣

@Sul00777

1y↑2

Dave has a godly sound to his music. The sound Most definitely wakes your soul up.

@MedalionDS9

21w

This was my fave DMB song for the longest time, really encapsulates my late high school and early college years

@bryanfindley1438

3y↑5

ive seen Dave and the band 4 times.. and they have done some amazing stuff.. including this one of a slice of American history.. thanx Dave & band for touching my heart time and time again

@marcwhittle9810

1y↑3

While we were filming Dave Matthews band was afraid to go to Amazonas to film hahaha. The Amazon is far safer than Caracas where they filmed their scenes at the Jardin Botanico Nacional where one of my brother in law was working as a ethnobotanist and working with micro orchids. The rest of the filming minus the band was on location in Amazonas. The filming of the old Shaman, the much respected Bur'e was in his churauata . ,actually right up the road from my house on the Alto Carinagua, almost devolved because there was a lot of Yopo being used, a strong hallucinogenic drug, and it is impossible to work under the influence. I wish they had left more of the scenes from the Yopo ceremony. Lots of funny stories I could tell about this.

@chriskazaam896

1y↑1

@@marcwhittle9810 Good lord I wonder if the scenery is still the same.

@VELHOEOTEUPASSADO

4y↑3

Amazing song!!!

@dragoneyecomix2745

45w↑2

Drinking the water is bad M'kay.

@phlangephace

3y↑1

this is wild

@lumartinscos

9y↑51

my us history teacher brought me here!

@jmathis2aug

5y↑1

No one cares... he take u to the clost too? MERRY YEETMUSSSSSSSSSSS ::DABS::

@tonystewart123

Yep mine to, several years later because I couldn’t remember the song lol

@dmxdxl

7y↑4

Love Alanis's backup vocals....

@kishonna78

7y↑2

before these crowded street was favorite album. it gave me hope when i need it .

@FunkyHonkyCDXX

14y↑2

I haven't heard this song in way too long. I LOVE how dark it is.

@idonttireeasily

5y↑7

My history teacher showed us this song!

@dareallevi515

4y↑1

@@vintagescvrlet same mr Dooley

@promontorium

@@vintagescvrlet You kids dating yet or what? DMB and chill?

@bluecobalt665

Same, does holly sound familiar?

@sponky475

12y↑5

Listen to the album version (aka the full version).

@cleanhomer

5y↑2

I can’t believe this is only 4 minutes long! It seems twice as long from how epic it is!

@RHreal

I wish I could go back and tell 12 year old me to pay attention to the world. Looking back, I wish I knew then what I know now; this is a masterpiece.

@stacyhackney6100

4y↑3

This is us, our species. If we won't change, we're going down. It's quite possible we'll still go down, even if we do change. As of February 2020, this remains my favorite Dave Matthews Band song. I love it because it is so brutually honest, and mostly our species lies to ourselves, very unfortunately.

@stevenjones71

8y↑7

This song pretty much demonstrates the mindset of the "Elite", "Establishment" fill in the blank______. "All I can say to you my new neighbor Is you must move on or I will bury you"

@stevenjones71

8y↑1

KRo yup, trail of tears

@rylanlatone2575

+KRo im lucky I was just put into a smaller area then it was.(pueblo of Zuni) Still here didnt get moved.

@carolyndschmidt6068

+Carolynd Schmidt huh?

@lorraine70

17w

Have no fear 💯

@TjtheTrapper

12y↑1

so much work went into this

@jfrick12317

8y↑17

I wonder if anyone from Flint MI has heard this song as of late?

@dsaff7655

LOL!!!!!!!

@akatsukiawsome13

8y↑1

Don't drink the kool aid man
Don't drink the fluoride
Increases lead absorption....
Flint's not the only one...

@jfrick12317

8y↑1

+akatsukiawsome13 flint isnt the only but its close to home for me

@akatsukiawsome13

8y↑1

Jonah Fricke Yeah, it's a bit disgusting how things are going... There and many places. As soon as people are removed from the processes which provide necessary things for life to them, shit goes wrong. I'm concerned with the lack of attention paid towards the food they are probably eating over there as well. Along with the water, if they've got food sourced from factory farms it's likely got a high amount of more heavy metals arsenic etc in it... But people don't see themselves as having a choice due to the zoning regulations and highly regulated food businesses... But anyone can buy a chicken/cow/goat whole and alive and process it themselves. It's not the same thing as owning one in an urban environment... Only way to prevent shit like that is for a decentralization, and a dissolution of improper zoning laws to take place, in order to allow for greater efficiency on a local level and higher attention to details/quality. I hope someone who knows this is taking the steps in Flint, instead of this being elevated to simply a race issue.

With care from Baltimore- and advocate of food and water freedom

Watch out for brominated food... I'll wager flint also has an iodine problem but I don't know for sure.

@instantkarma1511

7y↑1

D Saff WTH is so funny? Ppl in flint have it much worse then being reported & since many are poor & or black the governor could care less. Would u like to bathe in bottle water or drink the polluted water & let the children drink it? the ppl in Flint have it unbelievably bad.

Load More Comments...

More Comments

just now