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

Let You Down
Dave Matthews Band Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I let you down
Let me pick you up
I let you down
Let me climb up you to the top
So I can see the view from up there
Tangled in your hair
I let you down

I have no lid upon my head
But if I did
You could look inside and see
What's on my mind

You could look inside and see
What's on my mind
I let you down, oh, forgive me
You give me love

Let me walk with you
Maybe I could say
Maybe talk with you, open up
And let me through

Don't walk away
Don't walk away

I have no lid upon my head
But if I did
You could look inside and see
What's on my mind

You could look inside and see
What's on my mind
I let you down
How could I be such a fool like me

I let you down
Tail between my legs
I'm a puppy for your love
I'm a puppy for your love

I have no lid upon my head
But if I did
You could look inside and see
What's on my mind,

Oh it's you
I let you down

I'm a puppy for your love
I'm a puppy for your love

Forgive me
Forgive me

Forgive me
I let you down

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of the song Let You Down by the Dave Matthews Band depict a sense of regret and a plea for forgiveness from a person who has betrayed the trust of their loved one. The first two lines suggest that the singer has let down the person they love but they want to make it right by picking them up and climbing to the top. This can be interpreted as an attempt to show their love and gratitude and do anything to gain back their trust. The line, "So I can see the view from up there, tangled in your hair" is a metaphorical way of saying that the person they love is the very reason they want to redeem themselves.

The next stanza talks about the singer's vulnerability and how they wish the other person could see what's on their mind. The line "I let you down, oh forgive me, you give me love" is a plea for forgiveness from the person they wronged. The next few lines suggest that the singer wants to walk and talk with the other person to make things right and let them through their thoughts.

The final lines suggest that the singer regrets their actions and is willing to beg for forgiveness, "Tail between my legs, I'm a puppy for your love". The entire song is an expression of sorrow and a desire to make things right.

Line by Line Meaning

I let you down
I disappointed you and failed to meet your expectations

Let me pick you up
Let me make it up to you

Let me climb up you to the top
Allow me to use our relationship to elevate myself

So I can see the view from up there
So I can gain a new perspective

Tangled in your hair
Lost in you

I have no lid upon my head
I am an open book

But if I did
If I had privacy or defenses

You could look inside and see
You would be able to see my vulnerabilities and thoughts

What's on my mind
What's troubling me

You give me love
You love me unconditionally

Let me walk with you
Let me be with you

Maybe I could say
Perhaps I can express myself

Maybe talk with you, open up
Perhaps we can have a meaningful conversation and share our vulnerabilities

And let me through
Let me be a part of your life and thoughts

Don't walk away
Don't abandon me

How could I be such a fool like me
I cannot believe I made such mistakes and let you down

Tail between my legs
I am ashamed and submissive

I'm a puppy for your love
I will do anything to earn your love

Oh it's you
You are the one I care about

Forgive me
Please pardon my mistakes

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVID JOHN MATTHEWS, STEFAN K. LESSARD

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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