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
Minarets
Dave Matthews Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Santa Maria virgin child
All our wars over you we are fighting
And all our time faith justifying
Brother caged Babylon will fall
Sister chained and bound, beaten and bleeding
The TV's on, to me this explains it
Screaming from the minarets
Later on we'll all be dancing
Screaming from the minarets
Yes indeed I'm making faces
Rain on the ground in a space
God has grown
Alone till a man looking glass in his hand
He is holding up to you
What you see
What you see
What you see
What you see is human
Screaming from the minarets
When analyzing the lyrics of Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds's song "Minarets," it becomes clear that the song is touching on themes of war, religion, and societal struggles. The opening lines of the song address the Virgin Mary, a religious figure who is often revered for her purity and motherly love. The lyrics suggest that children have been chosen or taken by the world's conflicts, and that the wars we fight are all in her name. The following lines mention a brother "caged," hinting at the many prisoners or hostages who are held captive in war zones. Similarly, the mention of a sister who is "chained and bound, beaten and bleeding" seems to suggest the horrors of war and the ways in which innocent civilians are caught in the crossfire.
The next lines reveal a commentary on the media and the way that society is influenced by the messages we receive. The lyrics say that "the TV's on" and that someone is wearing a tie like their father, suggesting a sense of conformity and a lack of independent thought. The idea of screaming from the minarets becomes a metaphor for the ways in which people are seeking to be heard, to make a difference, and to convey their pain in the midst of conflict. The later verses speak of a future where people will dance and celebrate, but also suggest that we must stand up and see the humanity in one another if we want to create a better world.
Line by Line Meaning
Santa Maria choose your children
Addressing Santa Maria, pleading for her to protect her followers
Santa Maria virgin child
Referring to Santa Maria's purity and emphasizing her importance to the singers
All our wars over you we are fighting
Explaining that religious conflicts arise due to different beliefs about Santa Maria
And all our time faith justifying
Describing the ongoing process of defending one's belief through faith
Brother caged Babylon will fall
Acknowledging the confinement and oppression of fellow believers and predicting the eventual downfall of oppressors
Sister chained and bound, beaten and bleeding
Describing the physical suffering and torture faced by others for their beliefs
The TV's on, to me this explains it
The singer thinks that watching television helps them to understand current events and religious conflicts
Wearing a tie like daddy speaks it
Commenting on the conformist attitude and prescribed norms of how to dress and behave
Screaming from the minarets
Referring to the call to prayer from Islamic towers, implying that the artists are calling for help and support
Later on we'll all be dancing
Predicting that someday the world will be a better place where people can rejoice and celebrate freely
Yes indeed I'm making faces
Acknowledging that the current serious and oppressive environment is depressing and that humor and lightheartedness is needed to cope
Rain on the ground in a space
Describing the setting and mood of the current moment, which feels bleak and lonely
God has grown
Suggesting that the conception of God has evolved and changed over time
Alone till a man looking glass in his hand
Describing a person who is reflecting upon themselves and their beliefs
He is holding up to you
Imploring the listener to be open and honest with themselves
What you see
Encouraging the listener to be introspective and examine what they believe
What you see
Again reminding the listener to reflect upon and question their beliefs
What you see
A final plea for honest self-examination
What you see is human
Recognizing that beliefs and actions are fundamentally human, and that imperfection and subjectivity are inherent in these things
Screaming from the minarets
Repeating the earlier call for help and support
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DAVID JOHN MATTHEWS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sear8719
Always a classic. I want this segued into MME!!
@michaelcooke6267
YES!
@RealAlphaDrum
i love that they have officially documented pretty much every concert for the 15 years or so. it's virtually unlimited content and Live Trax. ha
@Onetwothreefour.
Goes back further than that but yah, it’s great. Gotta wonder what they’ll do with it all. I kinda wish they wouldn’t release these official videos as often as they do. Takes away a lot of the mystery. I remember grabbing the 2001 mile high release and literally could not wait to get back and watch. It’s just not like that anymore. But also has to do with even the amateur videos that are out and are a small step away from this quality. But,what can ya do.
@user-gf5vz4zu7b
Yes but WHEN?!?!?! what are they keeping them from us for?!?!?! By the time they release everything, the people who were actually there will be dead!!!!! I love them so much that I'm still watching the crappy videos recorded on flip phones!!!! And frustratingly loving it LOL
@Rob_Povia
First to comment!!! Will forever love this song. I'm enjoying the similar vibes to Madman's Eyes
@joeano
Gotta love the old school skat intro!
@DannyYankou
They're uploading a lot of songs that haven't been played this year yet. Minarets, Tripping Billies, Captain, Proudest Monkey... Also Can't Stop, but I won't complain about that lol
@connorfeezel995
Well they played one of them last night…
@Dumballa
Home run!!