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
Tripping Billies
Dave Matthews Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You were standing underneath us
We were not yet lovers
Dragons were smoked
Bumblebees were stinging us
I was soon to be crazy
Eat, drink, and be merry
Eat, drink, and be merry
For tomorrow we die
Cause we're Tripping Billies
We're wearing nothing
Nothing but our shadows
Shadows falling down on the beach sand
Remembering once,
Out on the beaches we wore
Pineapple grass bracelets
So why would you care
To get out of this place
You and me and all our friends
Such a happy human race
Cause we're Tripping Billies
We are all sitting
Legs crossed round a fire
My yellow flame she dances
Tequila drinking, oh, our
Minds will wander
To wondrous places
So why would you care
To get out of this place
You and me and all our friends
Such a happy human race
Eat, drink, and be merry
For tomorrow we die
Eat, drink, and be merry
For tomorrow we die
Check 'em out, Boyd, yeah!
Eat, drink, and be merry
For tomorrow we die
Eat, drink, and be merry
For tomorrow we die
The Dave Matthews Band song "Tripping Billies" is a song about living in the moment and enjoying life to the fullest. The song opens with the imagery of being above someone and not yet being lovers, but surrounded by dragons and bumblebees. These lines can be interpreted in different ways, but they hint at the idea of living in a strange, fantastical world where anything can happen. The chorus is a call to enjoy life while we still can, as tomorrow we may die. The song includes several references to partying, such as "tequila drinking" and "legs crossed round a fire". These images represent the carefree attitude of the song's narrator and his friends.
The second verse also focuses on enjoying life in the moment. The singer remembers wearing pineapple grass bracelets while lounging on the beach. He asks why anyone would want to leave such a happy place filled with happy people. The chorus repeats that life is short and we should live it up while we can. The song ends with an instrumental section where Boyd Tinsley plays his violin, adding to the carefree, celebratory mood of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
We were above
We were in an elevated position
You were standing underneath us
You were below us
We were not yet lovers
Our relationship was not yet romantic
Dragons were smoked
We smoked marijuana
Bumblebees were stinging us
We were being stung by bees
I was soon to be crazy
I was about to lose my mind
Eat, drink, and be merry
For tomorrow we die
Eat, drink, and be merry
For tomorrow we die
Cause we're Tripping Billies
Let's enjoy ourselves today since we don't know what tomorrow brings, because we are Tripping Billies
We're wearing nothing
Nothing but our shadows
Shadows falling down on the beach sand
We are naked on the beach and our shadows are visible
Remembering once,
Out on the beaches we wore
Pineapple grass bracelets
We reminisce about the time we wore bracelets made of pineapple grass on the beach
So why would you care
To get out of this place
You and me and all our friends
Such a happy human race
We are happy where we are, surrounded by our friends and fellow humans
We are all sitting
Legs crossed round a fire
My yellow flame she dances
Tequila drinking, oh, our
Minds will wander
To wondrous places
We are sitting around a fire, drinking tequila, and letting our imaginations run wild
Check 'em out, Boyd, yeah!
Eat, drink, and be merry
For tomorrow we die
Eat, drink, and be merry
For tomorrow we die
Let's live life to the fullest, because we never know what tomorrow brings, Boyd!
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DAVID JOHN MATTHEWS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@macgoo32
this song is all about partying with close friends around a camp fire passing a bowl having a good time and being in love with everyone around you... i love it
@afterstars
I don’t think it’s about that.
@darcygreene3151
All about that!
@justinquamme916
Maybe just a little LSD involved.
@kwmiked
Don't forget the Crystals
@brendenkiper4707
Billies are police in South Africa. He was tripping on acid partying with police on a beach in South Africa. It was one of the best nights of his life and he wrote a song about it.
@pedropenduko2714
Damn after 10 plus years I came back to this one of my favourite song and one of my favourite band of all time Dave Matthews Band. Carter Beauford is a drum genius, his open hand approach is smooth as butter!!!🫡🫡🫡🤘🏽🤘🏽🤘🏽
@bdsunshine17
Carter is a beast on the drums... one of the best ive ever heard on the high hat... DMB rocks!!!
@Crazyuncle1
There’s few things as good as watching a great band playing live and loving what they’re doing.
@samanthapinkerton149
Love the dave matthews band today, tomorrow and always and forever. Xo