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/
Circle of Life
Matisyahu Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
From the day we arrive on the planet
And blinking, step into the sun
There's more to be seen than can ever be seen
More to do than can ever be done
Some say eat or be eaten
But all are agreed as they join the stampede
You should never take more than you give
(Chorus)
In the Circle of Life
It's the wheel of fortune
It's the leap of faith
It's the band of hope
Till we find our place
On the path unwinding
In the Circle, the Circle of Life
Some of us fall by the wayside
And some of us soar to the stars
And some of us sail through our troubles
And some have to live with the scars
There's far too much to take in here
More to find than can ever be found
But the sun rolling high
Through the sapphire sky
Keeps the great and small on the endless round
(Chorus repeats)
On the path unwinding
In the Circle, the Circle of Life.
Matisyahu's "Circle of Life" is a song about the intricacies of life and the importance of balance. The song speaks about the journey of life from the day of our birth until our eventual departure. The opening line, "From the day we arrive on the planet and blinking, step into the sun," emphasizes the universal experience of birth. The second line, "There's more to be seen than can ever be seen, more to do than can ever be done," reflects the overwhelming nature of life.
The song touches on the concept of survival of the fittest with the lyrics, "Some say eat or be eaten, some say live and let live." Despite this, the song emphasizes balance and fairness with the statement, "You should never take more than you give." This idea suggests that everyone should contribute equally to create a harmonious society.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the cyclical nature of life with the line, "In the Circle of Life, it's the wheel of fortune, it's the leap of faith, it's the band of hope, till we find our place." The chorus also emphasizes that life is unpredictable, and each experience is unique, "On the path unwinding in the circle, the circle of life."
Overall, Matisyahu's song, "Circle of Life," speaks about the beauty, complexity, and cyclical nature of life. It emphasizes that everyone should work towards creating balance, as there is far too much life to be taken in for one person to experience it all.
Line by Line Meaning
From the day we arrive on the planet
Since the moment we are born into this world
And blinking, step into the sun
Opening our eyes to the world and beginning to experience life
There's more to be seen than can ever be seen
The world is vast with unlimited wonders and sights to explore
More to do than can ever be done
There are endless possibilities and experiences to be had
Some say eat or be eaten
Some believe in competing and taking from others to survive
Some say live and let live
Others believe in peaceful co-existence without harm to others
But all are agreed as they join the stampede
Everyone recognizes the importance of giving back to the world
You should never take more than you give.
We should always aim to give at least as much as we receive
In the Circle of Life
Life is constantly moving and evolving in a circular pattern
It's the wheel of fortune
Life is unpredictable and can bring both good and bad experiences
It's the leap of faith
Believing in ourselves and taking risks to achieve our goals
It's the band of hope
Holding onto hope and faith during difficult times
Till we find our place
Until we discover our true purpose and where we belong in the world
On the path unwinding
Life's journey is always unfolding with unexpected twists and turns
Some of us fall by the wayside
Some people may not succeed or reach their full potential
And some of us soar to the stars
Others may achieve great success and reach new heights
And some of us sail through our troubles
Some people may face challenges but overcome them with ease
And some have to live with the scars
Others may have to endure the lasting consequences of past hardships
There's far too much to take in here
The world is full of so much complexity, diversity and beauty that it's impossible to fully comprehend or appreciate it all
More to find than can ever be found
There are unlimited opportunities for growth and discovery in life
But the sun rolling high
As the sun rises and sets each day
Through the sapphire sky
Glistening blue skies
Keeps the great and small on the endless round
Life keeps moving on and on, making sure everyone has a place in the Circle of Life
In the Circle, the Circle of Life
Reiteration of the life's circular nature
Writer(s): Elton John, Tim Rice
Contributed by Aaliyah I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Gabriel Korsa
Aha, aha...
From the day we arrive on the planet
And blinking, step into the sun
There's more to be seen than can ever be seen
More to do than can ever be done
Some say eat or be eaten
Some say live and let live
But all are agreed as they join the stampede
You should never take more than you give
In the Circle of Life
It's the wheel of fortune
It's the leap of faith
It's the band of hope
Till we find our place
On the path unwinding
In the Circle, the Circle of Life
Some of us fall by the wayside
And some of us soar to the stars
And some of us sail through our troubles
And some have to live with the scars
There's far too much to take in here
More to find than can ever be found
But the sun rolling high
Through the sapphire sky
Keeps the great and small on the endless round
In the Circle of Life
It's the wheel of fortune
It's the leap of faith
It's the band of hope
Till we find our place
On the path unwinding
In the Circle, the Circle of Life
On the path unwinding
In the Circle, the Circle of Life.
Bluesdav
This song is a Masterpiece, perfect match with Matisyahu. It really makes me cry in joy, beautiful!
Christoph Gruhn
Amazing! I love it! :) Good vibrations!
Gabriel Korsa
Aha, aha...
From the day we arrive on the planet
And blinking, step into the sun
There's more to be seen than can ever be seen
More to do than can ever be done
Some say eat or be eaten
Some say live and let live
But all are agreed as they join the stampede
You should never take more than you give
In the Circle of Life
It's the wheel of fortune
It's the leap of faith
It's the band of hope
Till we find our place
On the path unwinding
In the Circle, the Circle of Life
Some of us fall by the wayside
And some of us soar to the stars
And some of us sail through our troubles
And some have to live with the scars
There's far too much to take in here
More to find than can ever be found
But the sun rolling high
Through the sapphire sky
Keeps the great and small on the endless round
In the Circle of Life
It's the wheel of fortune
It's the leap of faith
It's the band of hope
Till we find our place
On the path unwinding
In the Circle, the Circle of Life
On the path unwinding
In the Circle, the Circle of Life.
SolexWindGuardian
This has been chosen for the random song of the day. Definitely a must have on the list. purely awesome
Salvatore Anzalone
This guy is simply amazing
Lilibeth Ram
FASCINANTE!!
andrian pascobillo
Love It <3
Sabbiiiy3
One of the best 3 things on world combinated: Matisyahu, Reggae and The Lion King. What else? :D
Pascal Clyve
Fasciante..... I return child with the song some good moment come up to my memories...
Theoz198
Sorry Sir Elton John, but this song has just kicked yours! Matisyahu is amazing!