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/

Darkness Into Light
Matisyahu Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I can't stop drop and roll
Fire been burning out of control
And burning keep the hearts all yearning
And the heads them keep on turning

I dig in, I dig in and sinking my teeth in
Spit fire 'cause I'm the last dragon
Knock, knock them down sizzling with a vision

New York City to Jerusalem

Concrete jungle burn down Babylon
'Cause a simple man am I
With my chest up to the sky
When I walk by, my talk rides high like the wind rewind

I'll be by your side when nighttime it runs on
And the children they ride high
I'll be standing on the sun
Burn into the light, burn into the sun

Find these lines that climb from inside
The dream in between, the words you might
Hear me slur as the vision it blurs

And the sun sets you don't know who to follow
And the path that they passed seems shallow
You never know where you might go
But the seed that you plant is the seed that you sew

And rain down at midnight I ride my bike

King with my broken crown
Brooklyn Bridge to Crown Heights

Overall Meaning

Matisyahu's song "Darkness Into Light" is a powerful anthem about overcoming obstacles amidst an unrelenting world. The lyrics open with a sense of urgency, communicating a desperate need for action to quell the inferno of internal struggles. The metaphor of a burning fire creates a sense of chaotic destruction and unbridled passion. The persona identifies himself as the last dragon and implies his fiery breath in the line, "Spit fire 'cause I'm the last dragon."

The lyrics incorporate different elements of symbolism and imagery which have cultural and historical significance. The references to New York City and Jerusalem, for instance, connect the persona's experiences to his Jewish faith and history. In the next verse, the singer juxtaposes the "concrete jungle" of New York City to "Babylon," invoking the Biblical story of a city that falls to ruin for its moral corruption. The singer recognizes his humility in the face of such a powerful and daunting world and claims his own personal agency.

The song's final verse continues to build on themes of transformation and perseverance. The chorus implies a sense of hope amidst a world of darkness and despair. The world is constantly changing, and there is a sense of chaos and confusion within it. The final lines of the song, "Brooklyn Bridge to Crown Heights," represent the persona's personal journey from a life of darkness into one of light. Overall, Matisyahu's "Darkness Into Light" is a deeply reflective and powerful song that encourages listeners to overcome life's challenges through faith and determination.

Line by Line Meaning

I can't stop drop and roll
I can't escape or ignore the fiery burning passion inside me.

Fire been burning out of control
My passion and inner fire have been consuming me and my actions.

And burning keep the hearts all yearning
This fervent burn inside oneself keeps us all striving for more and pushing forward.

And the heads them keep on turning
This consuming energy keeps everyone’s head spinning and creativity flowing.

I dig in, I dig in and sinking my teeth in
I fully commit to my passions and am deeply devoted to my goals.

Spit fire 'cause I'm the last dragon
I am a true force to be reckoned with, and I will always be true to myself and my passion.

Knock, knock them down sizzling with a vision
I have a strong vision, and I'll stop at nothing to achieve it, no matter who or what stands in my way.

New York City to Jerusalem
My passion knows no boundaries or limits.

Concrete jungle burn down Babylon
I'll conquer and tear down anything, even if it may seem impossible or difficult.

'Cause a simple man am I
Despite the intensity of my passion, at the end of the day, I'm just like anyone else.

With my chest up to the sky
I stand tall and am proud of myself and all that I’ve accomplished.

When I walk by, my talk rides high like the wind rewind
Whenever I’m around, people can’t help but be impressed by my words and presence, and I leave a lasting impact.

I'll be by your side when nighttime it runs on
I'll be there for my loved ones no matter what, even in the darkest of times.

And the children they ride high
The next generation is full of hope and possibility, and I am excited to support them.

I'll be standing on the sun
My passion and dreams will take me to incredible heights, even if they may seem out of reach.

Burn into the light, burn into the sun
I will continue to pursue my passion and let it consume me until I reach my ultimate potential.

Find these lines that climb from inside
Find and explore the passion that lies within yourself.

The dream in between, the words you might
Your passion and dreams can sometimes feel abstract and hard to grasp, but they are still important and meaningful.

Hear me slur as the vision it blurs
Even when things seem uncertain or unclear, I will never stop pursuing my passion and vision.

And the sun sets you don't know who to follow
When everything seems dark and uncertain, it can be difficult to know which path to take.

And the path that they passed seems shallow
Sometimes the paths that others have taken may not be right for you or may not hold the same meaningfulness.

You never know where you might go
The future is always uncertain, and you never know where your passion and dreams may lead you.

But the seed that you plant is the seed that you sew
The dreams and passions that you cultivate and pursue now will shape your future and help you achieve your potential.

And rain down at midnight I ride my bike
Even in the darkest and most difficult of times, I will continue to pursue my passions and stay true to myself.

King with my broken crown
Despite setbacks and failures, I still see myself and my passion as powerful and meaningful.

Brooklyn Bridge to Crown Heights
I am limitless and unstoppable, and my passion will take me to incredible places.

Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: BENJI MADDEN, JASON EPPERSON, JOEL MADDEN, MATTHEW MILLER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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