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/
Chop 'Em Down
Matisyahu Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Split this wilderness, listen, I'm not missing where it's at
Clear a path so that you could find your way back
Chop 'em down, chop 'em down chop 'em down, chop 'em down
Said time flies by like clouds passing in the sky
Lifetimes even gone in the blink of an eye
March through the desert one step at a time
Said from the forest itself comes the handle for the ax
Drop the staff Moshe Rabbeinu split the ocean in half
March through the desert, this ain't where it's at
Said chop 'em down, Chop 'em down, chop 'em down, chop 'em down
Said patterns engraved not so easily erased
Still wandering trying to find your place
Playing the game I see pain on your face
Now a day's the Yidden like children sold as slaves
Strange ways running through the maze, strange ways always
Lost in the desert trying to find your way
Lost, lost in the desert trying to find your way
From the forest itself comes the handle for the ax
Split this wilderness, listen, I'm not missing where it's at
Clear a path so that you could find your way back
Said chop 'em down, chop 'em down chop 'em down, chop 'em down
Yosef descended sold as a slave
Thrown into a dungeon 'cause he wouldn't be swayed
Interpreted Pharaoh's dreams and Egypt was saved
Stockpiled food for seven years of rain
Sold to all the nations when the drought came
Yosef rose to power and the Yidden stayed
They started to build and success was made
Pharaoh is getting worried, let's make them pay
Bound in chains, firstborn was sent down to their graves
Moshe was saved and a prince he was raised
Hashem spoke to him, "here's a message to relay
Take my Nation from Mitzrayim I see the suffering"
Hard hearts ego breaks take sparks and make way
Trail blaze through the wasteland breaking the chains
Last generation just the remnants
Peel through the desert leaving footprints
Peel off the lid this is just plastic, lord
Get into it, get-get into it
Said heavy hitter stepping solid never quitter
Jump into the ocean before it split got a jump into it
Jump-jump into the ocean, jump into it
Rip-rip through Egypt rip through it
Six hundred thousand witnessed it, no you didn't forget
No you didn't forget
Rip-rip through Egypt rip through it
Said rip-rip through Egypt, yo
Said, in the spiritual desert things are not what they seem
Snakes camouflaged just to fit the scene
Put your faith in a mirage it's just a smokescreen
Just a smokescreen, just a smoke-
In the spiritual desert things are not what they seem
Snakes camouflaged just to fit in the scene
Put your faith in a mirage it's just a smokescreen
Took that path and you know you're in E-
The lyrics of Matisyahu's song "Chop 'em Down" speak about the journey of the Jewish people through challenging spiritual and physical landscapes. The opening line, "Say from the forest itself comes the handle for the ax," is a metaphor for finding the tools needed to overcome obstacles in life. The wilderness that needs to be split is the difficulties that the singer faces on his journey, and he is determined not to miss where he needs to go. He urges himself and the listener to clear a path so that they can find their way back.
The lyrics then talk about the fleeting nature of time, and how lifetimes can pass in the blink of an eye. The desert is used as a symbol of the difficult and trying times that one must march through, one step at a time. The singer acknowledges that the journey is not easy, but he exhorts himself and the listener to keep chopping down the obstacles that block their way.
The song then moves to the story of Joseph, who was sold into slavery in Egypt but was able to overcome his challenges and rise to a position of power. The Jewish people, too, faced challenges in Egypt, but with Moses as their leader, they were able to break free from slavery and march towards the Promised Land. The spiritual desert is another metaphor for the challenges that we face in life, and the singer warns against putting our faith in things that are not what they seem.
Overall, "Chop 'em Down" is a powerful and inspiring song about overcoming obstacles and finding a way forward in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Say from the forest itself comes the handle for the ax
The natural resources provide the necessary tools to clear a path
Split this wilderness, listen, I'm not missing where it's at
Break through the obstacles and pay attention to your instincts
Clear a path so that you could find your way back
Create a trail to guide you back to your starting point
Chop 'em down, chop 'em down chop 'em down, chop 'em down
Take action and clear the path to move forward
Said time flies by like clouds passing in the sky
Life is fleeting and passes by quickly
Lifetimes even gone in the blink of an eye
Our time on earth is short and can end abruptly
March through the desert one step at a time
Keep moving forward through the challenges
Said from the forest itself comes the handle for the ax
The tools we need to succeed are within our reach
Drop the staff Moshe Rabbeinu split the ocean in half
With faith and determination, even the impossible is achievable
March through the desert, this ain't where it's at
Don't settle for mediocrity and keep striving for greatness
Said patterns engraved not so easily erased
Harmful habits and behaviors are difficult to overcome
Still wandering trying to find your place
Feeling lost and searching for direction
Playing the game I see pain on your face
Feeling the struggles and challenges of life
Now a day's the Yidden like children sold as slaves
Facing oppression and hardship like the Jews in ancient Egypt
Strange ways running through the maze, strange ways always
Life is full of unexpected twists and turns
Lost in the desert trying to find your way
Feeling lost and unsure of how to move forward
Yosef descended sold as a slave
Joseph was forced into servitude
Thrown into a dungeon 'cause he wouldn't be swayed
Punished for standing up for his beliefs
Interpreted Pharaoh's dreams and Egypt was saved
Joseph used his skills to help others and prevent disaster
Stockpiled food for seven years of rain
Planning and preparation for the future
Sold to all the nations when the drought came
Sharing resources with others during a crisis
Yosef rose to power and the Yidden stayed
Rising to a position of authority and preserving one's identity
They started to build and success was made
Working together to achieve great things
Pharaoh is getting worried, let's make them pay
Those in power may feel threatened by progress and success
Bound in chains, firstborn was sent down to their graves
Suffering and loss can occur even amidst progress
Moshe was saved and a prince he was raised
Even those who start in humble beginnings can rise to greatness
Hashem spoke to him, 'here's a message to relay
Receiving guidance and direction from a higher power
Take my Nation from Mitzrayim I see the suffering'
Recognizing the hardship and working towards freedom
Hard hearts ego breaks take sparks and make way
Breaking through resistance and negativity with determination
Trail blaze through the wasteland breaking the chains
Leading the way towards freedom and liberation
Last generation just the remnants
The current generation is the last of its kind
Peel through the desert leaving footprints
Leaving a legacy and impact for future generations
Peel off the lid this is just plastic, lord
Uncovering the truth and seeing beyond surface level
Get into it, get-get into it
Fully engage and commit to the journey
Said heavy hitter stepping solid never quitter
Being strong and resilient, never giving up
Jump into the ocean before it split got a jump into it
Having faith and taking action before seeing the result
Jump-jump into the ocean, jump into it
Taking bold and courageous steps towards success
Rip-rip through Egypt rip through it
Breaking down barriers and obstacles
Six hundred thousand witnessed it, no you didn't forget
A powerful movement that impacted many
In the spiritual desert things are not what they seem
Things may not be as they appear in times of spiritual uncertainty
Snakes camouflaged just to fit the scene
Dangers and obstacles may blend in and be hard to detect
Put your faith in a mirage it's just a smokescreen
Believing in false hope and illusionary solutions
Took that path and you know you're in E-
Following the wrong path can lead to spiritual emptiness and confusion
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Joshua Werner, Matthew Miller
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Edwel B Abuan
on One Day (New Album Version)
queenie abuan
Edwel B Abuan
on One Day (New Album Version)
queenie abuan
Bryan Valero Gutierrez
on Indestructible
nice ang ganda talaga ng mga kanta ni MATISYAHU sound trip pa more