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
The Last Stop
Dave Matthews Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Moon is high above
Fire grows from the east
How is this
Hate so deep
Lead us all so blindly killing killing
Fools we are
If hate's the gate to peace
For raining tears
War
The only way to peace
I don't fall for that
Raining tears
You're righteous, so righteous
You're always so right
Go ahead and dream
Go ahead believe that you are the chosen one
Raining tears
Oh no
Gracious even God
Bloodied the cross
Your sins are washed enough
Mother's cry
"Is hate so deep
Must a baby's bones
This hungry fire feed?"
As smoke clouds roll in
The symphony of death
This is the last stop
Scream
Right is wrong now
Shut up you big lie
This black and white lie
You comb your hair to hide
Your lying eyes
You're righteous, so righteous
You're always so right
But why your lie
Go ahead and dream
Go ahead believe that you are the chosen one
This is the last stop
Here there's more than is showing up
Hope that we can break it down
It's not so black and white
You're righteous
You're righteous
You're righteous
You're always so right
There you are nailing a good tree
Then say forgive me, forgive me
Why
Raining tears
This is the last stop
Here there is more than is showing up
Hope that we can break it down
It's not so black and white
The Last Stop by Dave Matthews Band is a song that addresses the issue of hate and its consequent war that is raging all around us. The song starts with the imagery of a peaceful night sky, and then the lyrics go on to describe the hatred that has taken over humanity. The hatred that is so deep that it leads us blindly, killing each other. The lyrics question how can we expect peace when we are filled with so much hate? The chorus of the song then comes in, saying that this is the last stop for raining tears and war, and that the only way to peace is not through war but by breaking down the black and white lies we tell ourselves, hoping for something more than what is showing up.
The song highlights the human struggle in the war-torn world and the desperate need to fight against the hate that divides us. The lyrics talk about how even the Mother's Cry cannot stop the hungry fire that feeds on the bones of infants. The lyrics also point out that hate is not just limited to a particular area but is prevalent worldwide. In the end, the lyrics express hope that we can break down the hate and find a way to peacefully coexist.
Line by Line Meaning
Fire the sun is well asleep
The sun has set and the night has begun.
Moon is high above
The moon is high up in the sky and shining bright.
Fire grows from the east
The sun will rise from the east, causing a fire-like glow in the sky.
How is this
The singer questions the state of the world.
Hate so deep
The hate in people's hearts runs deep.
Lead us all so blindly killing killing
People are blindly following leaders and causing destruction and death.
Fools we are
The singer describes the people's foolishness.
If hate's the gate to peace
If hate is the path to peace, then it is a flawed one.
This is the last stop
This current path of hate and destruction can't continue - it is the last stop.
For raining tears
The result of this path is tears and sorrow.
War
War is the end result of this path.
The only way to peace
The singer acknowledges that some believe war is necessary for peace.
I don't fall for that
The singer does not believe this view and rejects it.
You're righteous, so righteous
The singer is calling out people who think they are always right and just.
You're always so right
These people believe they are never wrong.
Go ahead and dream
The singer sarcastically tells these people to keep their idealistic dreams.
Go ahead believe that you are the chosen one
The singer mocks the idea of some people believing they are chosen for a higher purpose.
Oh no
The singer expresses dismay and fear for what is happening.
Gracious even God
The singer acknowledges even God has shown mercy and grace.
Bloodied the cross
The image of the cross as a symbol of sacrifice and redemption is used.
Your sins are washed enough
The singer believes people have been forgiven for their sins.
Mother's cry
The pain caused by this path is compared to a mother's cry.
Must a baby's bones
The singer suggests the innocent are being harmed.
This hungry fire feed?
The path of destruction is like a hungry fire that is never satisfied.
As smoke clouds roll in
The imagery of smoke clouds suggests further destruction and chaos.
The symphony of death
The situation is so bleak that it's like a symphony of death.
Scream
The singer screams in pain and frustration at the current state of affairs.
Right is wrong now
The artist is disillusioned with the concept of right and wrong.
Shut up you big lie
The artist is calling out people who talk, but their words are lies.
This black and white lie
The idea that everything is black and white or absolute is a lie.
You comb your hair to hide
The singer suggests people may try to cover up their true motives or actions.
Your lying eyes
The artist doesn't trust what they see in these people's eyes because of their lies.
Here there's more than is showing up
There is more to current situation that is not visible on the surface.
Hope that we can break it down
The singer hopes that people can come together and solve the problem.
It's not so black and white
The situation is much more complex than just good versus evil or right versus wrong.
You're always so right
The singer repeats their critique of people who never admit they're wrong.
There you are nailing a good tree
The singer uses the metaphor of nailing a good tree to symbolize people doing something harmful or destructive.
Then say forgive me, forgive me
The singer mocks people who try to absolve themselves of any guilt or wrongdoing through empty apologies.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DAVID JOHN MATTHEWS, STEFAN K. LESSARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind