Matisyahu ("Gift of God"), Hebrew stagename for Matthew Paul Miller ⋆ 30 Ju… Read Full Bio ↴Matisyahu ("Gift of God"), Hebrew stagename for Matthew Paul Miller ⋆ 30 June 1979 in West Chester, Pennsylvania, is a spiritually minded American-Jewish singer, beatboxer, singjay and songwriter. He grew up in White Plains, New York. His music is an interplay between reggae, rock, hip-hop, and reggae fusion. His debute studioalbum Shake Off the Dust... Arise was released 2004 and his latest, Akeda 2014. Well-known songs are King Without A Crown, One Day and Happy Hanukkah. He sings mostly in English, more rarely in Hebrew and Yiddish. He had an Hasidic appearance until 2011.

Known for blending traditional Jewish themes with Reggae, rock and hip hop sounds, Matisyahu is most recognizable for being an orthodox Jew and writing a number of songs based on his faith and beliefs. Since 2004, he has released four studio albums as well as one live album, two remix CDs and one DVD featuring a live concert, and a number of interviews. Through his short career, Matisyahu has teamed up with some of the biggest names in reggae production including Bill Laswell and duo Sly & Robbie. The Tel Aviv'n Songfacts states several tracks of his fourth studio album, Spark Seeker, were recorded in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Since his debut, Matisyahu has received positive reviews from both rock and reggae outlets. Most recently, he was named Top Reggae Artist of 2006 by Billboard as well as being named a spokesperson for Kenneth Cole.

Matthew Miller was born in West Chester, Pennsylvania, USA on June 30th 1979, corresponding to the Jewish date of the 5th of Tamuz 5740. Shortly after his birth, the Miller family moved to Berkeley, CA and eventually settled in White Plains, NY. Growing up, Matisyahu's parents sent him to Hebrew School a couple of times a week, but like many kids, he resisted the additional school hours and was frequently threatened with expulsion for disrupting the lessons.

By the age of 14, Matthew Miller slid comfortably into the laid-back lifestyle of a teenage hippie. Having fallen in with the "Dead-Head" crowd, he grew dreadlocks and wore his Birkenstocks all winter long. He played his bongos in the lunchroom and learned how to beat-box in the back of class. By 11th grade, despite his carefree days, Matisyahu couldn't ignore the void in his life. After nearly burning down his chemistry class, he knew his mission must begin immediately. He decided to set off on a camping trip in Colorado. Away from his suburban life in White Plains, Matisyahu had the opportunity to take an introspective look at himself and contemplate his environment. It was there in the awe-inspiring landscape of the Rocky Mountains, that Matisyahu had an eye-opening realization: there is a God.

After Colorado, his spiritual curiosity piqued and Matisyahu took his first trip to Israel. There, for the first time in his life, he felt a connection to the God he discovered in Colorado. Israel was a major turning point. Matisyahu relished the time he spent there, praying, exploring, and dancing in Jerusalem. In every nook he encountered, his dormant Jewish identity stirred into consciousness.

Leaving Israel proved to be a difficult transition. Once back in White Plains, Matisyahu didn't know how to maintain his new connection with Judaism. Feeling dejected, he fatefully dropped out of high school and began following Phish on a national tour. On the road, Matisyahu thought seriously about his life, his music, and his thirst for Judaism.

After a few months, burnt out and broke, he returned home. By this time his parents insisted that Matisyahu go and "straighten" himself out at a wilderness school in Bend, Oregon. The school encouraged artistic pursuits and Matisyahu took advantage of this time to delve further into his music. He studied up on reggae and hip-hop. He attended a weekly open-mic where he rapped, sang, beat-boxed, and did almost anything he could to stay creatively charged. It was then that he started to develop the unique reggae-hip hop sound for which he would one day become known.

After 2 years in the "sticks," the 19-year old Matisyahu returned to New York a changed man. He moved to the city to attend The New School where he continued honing his musical craft, and also dabbled in the theater. During this time, he happened on the Carlebach Shul, a synagogue on the Upper West Side, well known for its hippie-friendly vibe and exuberant singing. This encounter further fueled his soul-fire, turning him on to the mystical power of song in Hasidic Judaism. Now, instead of beat boxing in the back of the classroom, he was leaving the classroom to pray on the school's roof. (Religious or not, this guy ain't made for the classrooms.)

While studying at New School, Matisyahu wrote a play entitled "Echad" (One). The play was about a boy who meets a Hasidic rabbi in Washington Square Park and through him becomes religious. Shortly after the play's performance, Matisyahu's life strangely imitated his art. Indeed, years after the initial sparks were lit, Matisyahu met a Lubavitcher rabbi in the park, spurring his transformation from Matthew to Matisyahu.

A person who was once skeptical of authority and rules, Matisyahu began to explore and eventually fully take on the Lubavitch Hasidic lifestyle. He thrived on the discipline and structure of Judaism, making every attempt to abide by Jewish Law. The Chabad-Lubavitch philosophy proved to be a powerful guide for Matisyahu. It surrounded him with the spiritual dialogue and intellectual challenge he had been seeking for the past decade. The turmoil and frustration of his search subsided, and now, 2 years later, Matisyahu lives in Crown Heights, splitting his time between the stage and his yeshiva.

Drawing from the sounds of Bob Marley, Shlomo Carlebach, Buju Banton, and Sizzla, yet remaining wholly original, Matisyahu's performance is an uplifting, powerful experience for all in his presence. Even the most pessimistic in his audience is inspired by his ability to so honestly convey such a delicate topic as faith/spirituality. It is his dedication to his belief and openness to others that compels one to respect his artistry and message. It's in that fleeting moment when our skepticism melts and our souls open up, that Matisyahu enters with his booming sound of faith.

http://www.matisyahuworld.com/

Ancient Lullaby
Matisyahu Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Mist rising on the horizon
Listenin with my ears and listening with my eyes and
Listenin until we've ridden the mud from the parasite
Listenin until our hearts start to glisten, realize
Share the vision and my rhythms and we'll melt the ice
Start sizzling, spilling from the ceiling,___, dripping drizzling
Close to the broken-hearted, them crushed in spirit
Redeem the soul of your servant

Seek his? Pursue it?
Keep the sparkle in your eyes
O You know, we're all gon die
Like flyin
Soul times?
For the times when we'll stay unified
The eyes of Hashem are to the righteous and he hears their
Soul cry, like an ancient lullaby.
Jerusalem breathes, brining me ease from the Brooklyn squeeze,
Dirty ___? bring ya down to ya knees
Trap me like a lion, ___ ? \"leave me be\"
When they come with their disease to drag us into the street,
My law's still pure, you can't take that from me,
3000 yrs until this last century,
Impossible to break the seal of the High Priest,
Yo,
I say
The branches on the trees gon bow to these
Swaying to the melodies
Craving for the slaves to bring redemption please
I am you, you are me
No more leaders, we must flea

We want see God in our enemy,
Soul cry, like an ancient lullaby

Overall Meaning

The first stanza of "Ancient Lullaby" by Matisyahu starts with the imagery of mist rising on the horizon, and the importance of using both ears and eyes to listen. It continues with the theme of listening, riding "the mud from the parasite" until "our hearts start to glisten" and we "share the vision and my rhythms" to "melt the ice." This seems to speak of a spiritual journey towards enlightenment and unity.

The next stanza addresses the broken-hearted and crushed in spirit. Matisyahu calls for the redemption of their souls and the pursuit of righteousness. He acknowledges the inevitability of death but emphasizes the importance of staying unified during times of struggle. This stanza ends with the reference to the righteous calling out to God like an ancient lullaby.

The final stanza is a call for unity and a desire to see God in our enemies. Matisyahu speaks of Jerusalem bringing ease from the “Brooklyn squeeze” and the importance of preserving purity during times of disease and chaos. He calls for an end to the hierarchy of leaders and for everyone to come together as equal. The song ends with another reference to the soul cry, likening it to an ancient lullaby.

Overall, the lyrics of "Ancient Lullaby" express the importance of spiritual connection and unity during times of struggle and hardships. The song encourages listeners to pursue righteousness, embrace diversity, and seek out the music that brings the soul's healing and soothes the heartache.

Line by Line Meaning

Mist rising on the horizon
Observing the mist appearing on the horizon

Listenin with my ears and listening with my eyes and
Engaging every sense in the act of listening

Listenin until we've ridden the mud from the parasite
Listening until the parasitic troubles have been overcome

Listenin until our hearts start to glisten, realize
Listening until the hearts begin to shine, comprehend

Share the vision and my rhythms and we'll melt the ice
Spreading the vision and achieving harmony will resolve any coldness

Start sizzling, spilling from the ceiling,___, dripping drizzling
Sizzling and flowing, from the ceiling to the floor, dripping and drizzling

Close to the broken-hearted, them crushed in spirit
Being near to the downtrodden, the spirit-deprived

Redeem the soul of your servant
Rescue the servant's soul

Seek his? Pursue it?
Search for, and pursue, the soul with dedication

Keep the sparkle in your eyes
Retain the glowing light in your eyes

O You know, we're all gon die
Acknowledging that death is inevitable for all

Like flyin
Like flying

Soul times?
Soulful moments?

For the times when we'll stay unified
For the moments of unity that will last

The eyes of Hashem are to the righteous and he hears their
The eyes of God watch over the righteous and hear their

Soul cry, like an ancient lullaby.
The cries of the soul are akin to an old lullaby

Jerusalem breathes, brining me ease from the Brooklyn squeeze,
Jerusalem offers a sense of relief from the tight living in Brooklyn

Dirty ___? bring ya down to ya knees
Unclean surroundings can cause one to fall to their knees

Trap me like a lion, ___ ? "leave me be"
Trapping one like a lion, asking to be left alone

When they come with their disease to drag us into the street,
When they come with their affliction to publicly humiliate us

My law's still pure, you can't take that from me,
My moral code remains unpolluted, cannot be taken away

3000 yrs until this last century,
3000 years preceding this century

Impossible to break the seal of the High Priest,
The seal of the High Priest is impenetrable

Yo,
An exclamation to mark a new point in the song

I say
An introduction to a statement or declaration

The branches on the trees gon bow to these
The branches of the trees will bend in recognition of this

Swaying to the melodies
Moving in rhythm to the music

Craving for the slaves to bring redemption please
Desiring the timely release of the slaves

I am you, you are me
Affirming that the singer and the listener are interchangeable

No more leaders, we must flea
No longer in need of leaders, we must run away

We want see God in our enemy,
Wishing to view God even in the enemy

Soul cry, like an ancient lullaby
The souls' pleas sound like an old lullaby

Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: AARON DUGAN, JONAH DAVID, MATTHEW MILLER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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