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
Long Black Veil
Dave Matthews Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Someone was killed beneath the townhall light
There were few at the scene, but they all agreed
That the slayer who ran looked a lot like me
She walks these hills in a long black veil
She visits my grave when the night winds wail
Nobody knows, nobody sees, nobody knows but me
If you were somewhere else, then you won't have to die."
I said not a word, though it meant my life,
For I'd been in the arms of my best friend's wife.
Oh, she walks these hills in a long black veil.
She visits my grave when the night winds wail.
Nobody knows, nobody sees, nobody knows but me.
Oh, now the scaffold is high, eternity is near
She stood in the crowd and shed not a tear
And sometimes at night when the cold winds blow
In a long black veil she cries over my bones.
She walks these hills in a long black veil
She visits my grave when the night winds wail
Nobody knows, nobody sees, nobody knows but me.
Oh, she walks these hills in a long black veil
She visits my grave when the night winds wail
Nobody knows, nobody sees, nobody knows but me.
Nobody knows. nobody knows, but me.
Nobody knows but me.
The lyrics to Dave Matthews Band's song Long Black Veil tells a story of a man who was falsely accused of murder which he couldn't defend against because he was in a compromising situation with his best friend's wife. As the story unfolds, the man who was accused and knew deep down he was not guilty chooses not to defend himself so as not to implicate his best friend's wife, who was in fact the real murderer. The woman who killed the victim visited the accused man's grave often and wept in a long black veil, thereby concealing her true identity.
The song tells a story that speaks to love, guilt, and the consequences of one's actions. It highlights the depth of human emotions and the lengths people will go to protect the people they love. The lyrics also depict a deep sense of remorse and regret from the singer because he had to take the blame for a crime he did not commit to protect his best friend's reputation.
Line by Line Meaning
Ten years ago on a cold dark night
It all began ten years ago on an eerie night.
Someone was killed beneath the townhall light
The life of someone ended that fateful night under the dim light of the town hall.
There were few at the scene, but they all agreed
There were not many people around but those who were, recognized the perpetrator.
That the slayer who ran looked a lot like me
I was believed to be the murderer because the man who fled looked suspiciously similar to me.
She walks these hills in a long black veil
A woman wanders these hills in mourning attire.
She visits my grave when the night winds wail
As the winds howl, she visits my burial place.
Nobody knows, nobody sees, nobody knows but me
No one else has any idea about her presence or actions except for me.
The judge said "son, what is your aliby?
The judge asked me for my alibi.
If you were somewhere else, then you won't have to die.
The judge hinted that if I'd been somewhere else, I might not be facing the possibility of execution.
I said not a word, though it meant my life,
Remaining silent might mean that I must pay with my life, but I refused to speak.
For I'd been in the arms of my best friend's wife.
I kept my silence because I was with my best friend's spouse and didn't want to reveal the truth.
Oh, now the scaffold is high, eternity is near
Now that I'm on the verge of execution, I realize that I'm about to face everlasting consequences.
She stood in the crowd and shed not a tear
The woman blended in with the gathering and didn't cry a single tear.
And sometimes at night when the cold winds blow
Occasionally, when the chilly winds come in,
In a long black veil she cries over my bones.
She weeps in despair over my remains, dressed in a long black veil.
She walks these hills in a long black veil
She still dons the mourning attire and walks through these hills.
She visits my grave when the night winds wail
Whenever the night winds start to howl, she visits my tombstone.
Nobody knows, nobody sees, nobody knows but me.
Her sorrowful and secret acts are known solely to me.
Oh, she walks these hills in a long black veil
The woman continues to roam around in the same mourning attire.
She visits my grave when the night winds wail
During nights with gusting winds, she comes to my resting place.
Nobody knows, nobody sees, nobody knows but me.
Again, I stress that just I alone am aware of her private visits.
Nobody knows. nobody knows, but me.
Nobody else knows, except for me.
Nobody knows but me.
For a final time, it is only I who is aware of her actions.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Danny Dill, Marijohn Wilkin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@theddyarguelles3564
Ten years ago on a cold dark night
Someone was killed 'neath the town hall lights
There were few at the scene, but they all agreed
That the slayer who ran, looked a lot like me
Now she walks these hills, in a long black veil
She visits my grave, when the night winds wail
Nobody knows, nobody sees
Nobody knows, but me
The scaffold is high, eternity's near
She stood in the crowd, and shed not a tear
But sometimes at night, when the cold wind moans
In a long black veil, she cries over my bones
Now she walks these hills, in a long black veil
She visits my grave, when the night winds wail
Nobody knows, nobody sees
Nobody knows, but me
The judge said, "Son, what is your alibi
If you were somewhere else, then you won't have to die"
I spoke not a word, though it meant my life
I'd been in the arms of my best friends wife
Now she walks these hills, in a long black veil
She visits my grave, when the night winds wail
Nobody knows, nobody sees
Nobody knows, but me
Nobody knows, nobody sees
Nobody knows, but me
@apruett716
I've chased this song for many years & finally got it at the Gorge.
This version is the absolute best.
Haunting and just perfection.
@josephlandoni8501
Sierra was so good.
@sarapolczynski5296
This song has been my unicorn for 24 years. Someday I’ll catch it, and I’m pretty sure I will bawl my eyes out when it happens.❤❤
@user-qc8ct1mf3n
Always love catching a long waited chaser. Especially when it's not in the tours rotation. Got this once at a D&T show at SPAC in 2017 I believe
@DidYouReadEULA
Carter is simply sublime on that drum kit...what a Maestro. That bass drum work is mesmerizing.
@TK-ib7rm
I've been seeing DMB in concert nearly every year since 1998 and I have only had the pleasure of hearing this song live 1 time. It was a magical experience and one I will never forget.
@dmblvr9156
I've been chasing this song for 23 years... I've been seeing Dave and the gang since 1999 consecutively.
Great song! Butch did a great job- but Buddy Strong would kill this on piano!
@jennifermattison4538
Yes, same here, in Buffalo in 2000
@weylancraig2595
Lucky you.
@jacquelinehobbs8861
@dmblvr9156 just played on 9/3 the gorge night 3. Pretty amazing.