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/
Dispatch the Troops
Matisyahu Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Left hers father house
To walk streets that never rest
Maybe they'll hear me in metropolis
So I'm sending an SOS
Fighting with her ta
She wants out of this mess
And those big city lights
You know that I'm tired and you know that I'm stressed
You can't stop me and you can't stop this
You could call the police try to make an arrest
Today is the day that I repossess
Leaving on the first bus that I can get
Now its rings around eyes sopping wet from rain droplets
Window shopping for some solace
No address and penniless
That's the price you pay for running away from the stress
Feeling the pain like dance by the DJ
Reminds me of a time when things were ok
Frightened by her own shadow
Now she wants to go home
Many names for one G-d
Trotting on, through the facade
You were all my children
Got a dig for that feeling
Love will break through concealment
Strip away the serpent's skin
We came to win
Dispatch the troops
Send the captain
My gem is held captive in the dungeon
Don't come back till you end the mission
If it takes a long time
Don't lose the vision
If you're stuck
Check the blueprint
Look within
Reflection
Got to find the rhythm
Won't you please return child
Where you been
She says I can't come home because he won't let me in
And besides we don't need no more friction
Uses to look so nice, how'd you get so thin?
With a heart like ice, it's a heart of sin
Skin white like a ghost with a pale complexion
Pray to g-d for the dead we need resurrection
Don't you know wherever you go thick and thin
You are still my children
Since you've been gone my soul's been hearting
Wondering through this world
We are just boys and girls
Many names for one G-d
Trotting on, through the facade
The lyrics to Matisyahu's song Dispatch the Troops describe a daughter of Zion who has left her father's house and is walking through the restless streets of the city. The girl is fighting with her ta, trying to escape the mess she's in, and hopes that the city lights will brighten up her darkness. She is determined to leave her current situation behind and is willing to face the risks that come along the way. She takes the first bus she can and finds herself penniless, with no address or solace. However, through it all, she is reminded that there are many names for one G-d and that she is still loved, despite everything she's been through.
The song is about the struggle to find oneself and to overcome the obstacles that come with it. It is a call to dispatch the troops and to send the captain in, in order to find the gem that is held captive in the dungeon. It is a reminder of the power of love and the importance of finding the rhythm within oneself. The lyrics encourage us to look within for the blueprint, to strip away the serpent's skin, and to have faith that love will break through any concealment.
Line by Line Meaning
Daughter of Zion once precious princess
A young lady who is supposed to be precious has left her father's house
Left hers father house
She abandoned her home
To walk streets that never rest
She is wandering around in a big city
Maybe they'll hear me in metropolis
She's hoping someone will listen to her in this city
So I'm sending an SOS
She's asking for help
Fighting with her ta
She's struggling with herself
She wants out of this mess
She wants to escape her current situation
And those big city lights
The lights of the city are attractive to her
Might brighten up the darkness
The city might help her forget her problems
You know that I'm tired and you know that I'm stressed
She's exhausted and anxious
You can't stop me and you can't stop this
She's determined to leave and nothing will change her mind
You could call the police try to make an arrest
She's not afraid of the law and won't be detained
Today is the day that I repossess
She is taking back control of her life
Leaving on the first bus that I can get
She's leaving as soon as possible
Now its rings around eyes sopping wet from rain droplets
She has dark circles around her eyes from crying
Window shopping for some solace
She's trying to find comfort in shopping
No address and penniless
She's broke and has nowhere to go
That's the price you pay for running away from the stress
She's realizing the consequences of her actions
Feeling the pain like dance by the DJ
She's hurting and the music reminds her of happier times
Reminds me of a time when things were ok
She's nostalgic for simpler times
Frightened by her own shadow
She's scared of herself and her thoughts
Now she wants to go home
She's homesick
Many names for one G-d
There are many names to describe one God
Trotting on, through the facade
She's pushing through the fake facade of the city
You were all my children
She's referring to all her people and followers as her children
Got a dig for that feeling
She wants to get back to that feeling of being close to her people
Love will break through concealment
She believes that love will overcome any obstacles
Strip away the serpent's skin
She's calling for a change and wants to get rid of the negativity
We came to win
We're in this for the long haul and we want to succeed
Dispatch the troops
She's calling for backup
Send the captain
We need a leader to guide us
My gem is held captive in the dungeon
She has something valuable that's being held hostage
Don't come back till you end the mission
She wants her people to be successful no matter what
If it takes a long time
She's willing to wait for a successful outcome
Don't lose the vision
She's reminding her followers to stay focused on the goal
If you're stuck
If you're having trouble
Check the blueprint
Look at the plan and guidelines we've created
Look within
Find the solution inside yourself
Reflection
Take some time to reflect on your actions and thoughts
Got to find the rhythm
Get back on track and find the groove again
Won't you please return child
She's begging for her child to come home
Where you been
Where have you been all this time?
She says I can't come home because he won't let me in
She can't return home because someone is stopping her
And besides we don't need no more friction
We can't afford to have any more problems between us
Uses to look so nice, how'd you get so thin?
You used to be healthy, how did you become so thin?
With a heart like ice, it's a heart of sin
Your cold, heartless behavior is sinful
Skin white like a ghost with a pale complexion
You look pale and sickly
Pray to g-d for the dead we need resurrection
We need help and guidance to revive our spirits
Don't you know wherever you go thick and thin
No matter where you are or what happens, we're in this together
You are still my children
We're all connected and part of the same group
Since you've been gone my soul's been hearting
She's been feeling sad and empty since her followers have left
Wondering through this world
She's wandering around aimlessly
We are just boys and girls
We are all young and inexperienced and need guidance
Many names for one G-d
There are many different ways to refer to God
Trotting on, through the facade
We're continuing to push through the fake aspects of life
Lyrics © A SIDE MUSIC LLC D/B/A MODERN WORKS MUSIC PUBLISHING, Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JONAH DAVID, AARON DUGAN, MATTHEW MILLER, JOSH D WERNER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@cj-mayo
+Angel Fajardo
Like Chassidic kids in crowns at the kotel,
Singing to their Ta to rebuild the temple:
Jumpin' up and down up in a circle
Like Chassidic kids in crowns at the kotel,
Singing to their Ta to rebuild the temple
Jumpin' up and down up in a circle we want -- Redemption
Now let's get out of the exile
The man was knock, sockin' the wall
Lion paw strong arm the last guard
Standing, demanding with palms landing
On his forehead wondering why his companion went into hiding,
Whisperin' love songs to the stones, while children chanting, panting
Breaths and kisses: microphone all alone,
You keep knocking but there's nobody home
You can knock knock knock but there's no body home...
@andreettienne3231
Like Hasidic kids in crowns at the Kotel
Singing to their Ta
To rebuild the temple
Jumpin' up and down up in a circle
Like Hasidic kids in crowns at the Kotel
Singing to their Ta
To re-build the temple
Jumpin' up and down up in a circle we want
Redemption now let's get out of the exile
The man was knock, sockin' the wall
Lion paw strong arm the last man
Standing demanding with palms
Landing on his forehead wondering why his
Companion went into hiding
Whisperin' love songs to the stones
Wile children chanting, panting
Breaths and kisses
Microphone all alone
You keep knocking but there;s nobody home
You can knock knock knock but There's no body home
Oh oh oh
Wondering through this world
We are all just boys and girls
Many names for one G-d
Trotting on, through the facade
You were all my children
Got a dig for that feeling
Love can break down this concealment
@ozarksliving1927
I still wonder if people know that all the riddles and metaphors of our existence can be found within these gems matisyahu has dropped over the years
@jasperedwards5432
I heard this song in my art class senior year -my friend put it on because we were aloud to listen to music while we painted and worked on our art
@allenmoses110
Masterpiece!
@m0she4
Matisyahu is a gret singer and his songs are just the best thing ever!!!!!!
@fastmotionforme
⎝ Greatest song⎝ Matisyahu ROCKS ⎝ ⎝⎝⎝⎝⎝⎝⎝⎝⎝⎝⎝⎝⎝⎝⎝⎝⎝⎝⎝
@jasperedwards5432
incredible song
@jasperedwards5432
I love when he sings
I can't come home because he won't let me in/ and besides we don't need no more friction
@SlaMarWa
The hasidic reggae superstar! PEACE & LOVE from Russia :)
@octasdacia
And to come back at this clip, Matisyahu , may YHWH bless u!
@rafaelborrayo2248
Old comment 👋👋hii