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/
Buffalo Soldier
Matisyahu Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I used to be a mobster burning down the block
Buffalo soldier, I know I'm not a rasta
I used to be a mobster burning down the block
Don't judge a book by the cover
Everything will be in this world is your brother
When I lost the fun ? uncover
So we burn to return to the mother
And we yearn to unlearn all they told ya about yourself
Who you are, what you should be,
I'm gonna be free leave it up to me!
Shouts through the sky, look out to the night
Feel alright!
Stars burn bright, I like the moonlight
You'll be alright!
Buffalo soldier, I know I'm not a rasta
I used to be a mobster burning up the block
Buffalo soldier, I know I'm not a rasta
I used to be a mobster burning up the block
Buffalo soldier, I know I'm not a rasta
I used to be a mobster burning up the block
This is the medicine, I'm out like the Bedouin
This knife I'm burying and this life I'm treasuring
This is the medicine, I'm out like the Bedouin
Buffalo soldier, I know I'm not a monster
Buffalo soldier, I know I'm not a monster
Buffalo soldier, I know I'm not a monster
I went running away to the cave
Went in a slave and came out all flames
I went running away for the hills
Back to my roots and I'm running still
But now I'm running to face my dreams
Found my place and what it means
Find yourself and no one else
You have to leave it up to me, leave it up to me!
Buffalo soldier, I know I'm not a rasta
I used to be a mobster burning up the block
Buffalo soldier, I know I'm not a rasta
I used to be a mobster burning up the block
Buffalo soldier, I know I'm not a rasta
I used to be a mobster burning up the block
This is the medicine, I'm not like the Bedouin
With this knife I'm burying and this life I'm treasuring
Buffalo soldier, I know I'm not a rasta
Buffalo soldier, you know I'm not a rasta
I used to be a mobster burning down the block
I shot the sheriff, the DA, and the deputy
Sorry Al Sharpton I don't need you to lecture me
Maybe I'll stop talking about guns
When you talk about the funds that they cut for the youth
Let's cut to the truth, ain't enough for the youth
So tell me how you judge me til you're stuck in the shoes, man!
Where the Congressmen, where all the Senators?
They're thinking about their green, not the color of the President?
This is just a relevance, survival is the sentiment
Narcotics is the only way you know that I'm a measure it!
They say that we are in a post Obama era
Well exactly what that mean? you needn't make it clearer
Does it mean that the rich are gonna finally start to share up
Re-proportion the wealth and make things fairer
Asking God "why do poor people suffer" but now I'm such a hypocrite,
The Rolls Royce mufflers.
In the gutters nobody never loved us
I am just the result of pain and hunger!
Buffalo soldier, I know I'm not a rasta
I used to be a mobster burning up the block
Buffalo soldier, I know I'm not a rasta
I used to be a mobster burning up the block
Buffalo soldier, I know I'm not a rasta
I used to be a mobster burning up the block
The lyrics of "Buffalo Soldier" by Matisyahu encourage the listener not to judge others based on their appearance or past actions. The song begins with the artist admitting that he used to be a mobster burning down the block, but he has since found a different path. The chorus repeats the phrase "Buffalo soldier, I know I'm not a rasta," acknowledging that he is not a follower of the Rastafari movement but is still on a spiritual journey. The verse speaks of uncovering ancient words that teach him to love and returning to the mother, a reference to the mother earth, and unlearning what others have told him about himself.
Matisyahu continues to encourage self-discovery and finding one's own path. He talks about running away to the cave and coming out all flames, representing the idea of being reborn and finding oneself. The line "you have to leave it up to me" emphasizes the importance of personal responsibility and finding one's own way instead of relying on others to guide them.
Overall, "Buffalo Soldier" is a song of self-reflection and personal growth, encouraging listeners to see beyond the surface and find their true selves.
Line by Line Meaning
Buffalo soldier, I know I'm not a rasta
Acknowledging that he is not from the Rastafarian movement
I used to be a mobster burning down the block
He used to be a violent criminal causing destruction in his community
Don't judge a book by the cover
Don't make assumptions based on appearances
Everything will be in this world is your brother
Everyone in the world is connected and should be treated as family
When I lost the fun ? uncover
When he felt lost, he found guidance in ancient teachings
Ancient words that teach me to love ya!
He found valuable lessons in ancient wisdom about love
So we burn to return to the mother
He and others strive to return to the mother earth and nature
And we yearn to unlearn all they told ya about yourself
He wants to remove learned negative beliefs about oneself
Who you are, what you should be,
Challenging society's expectations and guidelines for individuals
I'm gonna be free leave it up to me!
He wants to be free to make his own choices and decisions
Shouts through the sky, look out to the night
Encouraging listeners to take a moment to appreciate nature
Feel alright!
Promoting positivity and good vibes
Stars burn bright, I like the moonlight
Enjoying and appreciating nature
This is the medicine, I'm out like the Bedouin
This music is the medicine that helps him forget things and relaxes him
This knife I'm burying and this life I'm treasuring
Leaving behind the past and valuing his current life
I went running away to the cave
He sought solace in nature by running away to a cave
Went in a slave and came out all flames
He used his time alone in the cave to transform himself
Back to my roots and I'm running still
He is reconnecting with his roots and continuing to grow
But now I'm running to face my dreams
Now he is pursuing his aspirations with determination
Found my place and what it means
He discovered where he belongs and his purpose
Find yourself and no one else
Emphasizing the importance of self-discovery and not following others' paths
You have to leave it up to me, leave it up to me!
He wants autonomy to direct his own life
I shot the sheriff, the DA, and the deputy
Referencing his past violent behavior
Sorry Al Sharpton I don't need you to lecture me
Rejecting judgment from others
Maybe I'll stop talking about guns
Acknowledging that he has talked about guns in the past
When you talk about the funds that they cut for the youth
Highlighting the lack of funding for youth programs
Let's cut to the truth, ain't enough for the youth
The truth is there isn't enough support for the youth in society
So tell me how you judge me til you're stuck in the shoes, man!
Encouraging empathy and understanding before judging others
Where the Congressmen, where all the Senators?
Questioning where politicians are and what they're doing
They're thinking about their green, not the color of the President?
They care about money more than the issues the President faces
This is just a relevance, survival is the sentiment
Highlighting the importance of survival in society
Narcotics is the only way you know that I'm a measure it!
Perceiving that society measures his worth based on narcotic use
They say that we are in a post Obama era
Referring to the time after President Obama's term ended
Does it mean that the rich are gonna finally start to share up
Questioning if the wealthy will begin to distribute wealth more fairly
Re-proportion the wealth and make things fairer
Calling for redistribution of wealth to create a more equal society
In the gutters nobody never loved us
Feeling neglected and unloved by society
I am just the result of pain and hunger!
His life has been shaped by difficult circumstances
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Allan Peter Grigg, Matthew Miller, Shyne Shyne
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Crazyscience101
I think that this change is good because he is venturing out into the world of music. Just roll with it, if your a true fan!
@DancinSurfer777
I'm so fascinated by this new sound.... It's the soundtrack to the change his soul and self are going through. I can't say I like it or dislike it because to an artist that's like someone saying "your child is ugly"... extremely offensive. I admire him as an artist and LOVE that he's so open with his changes! So for those of you who don't like the music, just think a little deeper, the music is the representation of his soul of who he is. Cool right???? MATISYAHU YOU ARE SO RAD!!!!!
@angeliquesalgado6937
Amen to the top comment that defends Matisyahu. Respect him and his decisions if you don't like it then that's your loss. his new album is great and different.just because its something new doesn't mean hes any less of the person he was. Be a REAL fan and a REAL supporter.
@Sterling1426
Matisyahu is a great artist, and anybody who rejects his music simply because his style changes is not a true fan.
@amira_shmira
The end of the song (3:33) is my FAVORITE part. The instruments remind me of a combination of Arabic & Native American music. So beautiful
@shmirapatrol3293
nobody has the right to make any comments on anyone. Growing up Around Matisyahu when he first got singed. Performing with him in a well know group Pey Dalid many times. Everyone goes through their journey. Why when a person becomes famous only then do people care but if he was an average person nobody would give a damn. Everyone should be treated equally, Thankfully he has a gift which has allowed him to reach higher heights. Lets support and stand by him like anyone else in this world.
@MsDjADD
A true man IS Matis; for a man who dos not know the love of GOD, is nothing but an animal...and Shyne, yes, a true G, yes indeed and Amen to that!!
@TheGrilo21
matisyahu is lettin me down
@steventucker80
He's branched out with his music style, as every good artist should, but one thing people need to realize is that the message in his music remains the same. His lyrics have meaning which is special in the days of "Call Me Maybe" and Nicki Minaj. I've been a fan since 06, and I'm gonna continue to support this great artist as he goes through his personal journey.
@ihaveahulahoop
Matisyahu is doing what he wants and changing, that's basically the definition of an artist who ISN'T a sellout- and I like his new stuff & just because it's different, his true fans should to.