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.
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Fire Of Heaven / Altar Of Earth
Matisyahu Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Burn the sacrifice of pride and ride on to Mount Zion
Fire descends on high in the shape of a lion
Burn the sacrifice of pride and ride on to Mount Zion
Rub me the wrong way, taking the highway
Rubbing sticks together but your fire's man-made
Yearn to rise in the sky quick high like cocaine
False pride is suicide but you've got nothing to gain
Babylon's buildings raise like flames
Drowning in their champagne
Explosion pulled the pin in the hand grenade
Soul stain blowing up
In your own domain
Fire crackers ooh and aah
But they never maintain
Fires burning
Flames are dancing
Don't burn the house down
Heavenly fire only resides on an altar made from the ground
Fire descends from on high in the shape of a lion
Burn the sacrifice of pride and ride on to Mount Zion
Fire descends on high in the shape of a lion
Burn the sacrifice of pride and ride on to Mount Zion
One pair of eyes
But see two different things
One person cries but the other one sings
You walk around like everybody owes you something
Take what you get, thank God for all that life brings
The poor man has it all but not content with anything
While the rich man's hands are empty but he's sitting like a king
Fires burning
Flames are dancing
Don't burn the house down
Heavenly fire only resides on an altar made from the ground
Backpacks's getting heavy, moving at a steady pace
Carryin' bricks on your shoulders and lead around your waist
Making way, run in haste
There is no time to taste what you ate
We should be grateful Got a plateful
Fire burns like ice morsels falling fire like rain
Fire descends on high in the shape of a lion
Burn the sacrifice of pride and ride on to Mount Zion
Fire descends on high in the shape of a lion
Burn the sacrifice of pride and ride on to Mount Zion
The lyrics of the song Fire of Heaven / Altar of Earth by Matisyahu speak about the significance of humility and self-sacrifice. The song starts by talking about the fire that descends in the shape of a lion, calling for the sacrifice of pride. The singer urges the listener to let go of false pride, which is self-destructive, and strive towards humility. This is reflected in the line, "False pride is suicide but you've got nothing to gain." The song also speaks about materialism and how it can lead to ruin if not kept in check. The singer contrasts the poor man, who is content with what he has, and the rich man, who has everything but is never satisfied.
The message of the song is that true success comes not from material wealth or superficial accomplishments but from inner peace and happiness. The lyric, "Heavenly fire only resides on an altar made from the ground," refers to the idea that one must stay grounded and true to oneself to attain true success. The song also speaks about the importance of gratitude, the need to practice self-discipline, and the power of perseverance.
Line by Line Meaning
Fire descends on high in the shape of a lion
The divine power of fire descends from heaven and takes the form of a lion.
Burn the sacrifice of pride and ride on to Mount Zion
To reach the holy land, one must sacrifice their pride and ego.
Rub me the wrong way, taking the highway
Your attitude and behavior towards others is causing trouble and friction.
Rubbing sticks together but your fire's man-made
Your efforts to create something new are futile, as they lack divine inspiration and guidance.
Capitalize on hot air, soar like an airplane
You're taking advantage of empty, meaningless talk to achieve your goals and succeed.
Yearn to rise in the sky quick high like cocaine
Your desire for success and power is similar to an addiction that you cannot control.
False pride is suicide but you've got nothing to gain
Your inflated ego is causing harm to yourself and those around you, without any real reward or benefit.
Babylon's buildings raise like flames
The materialistic and vain world is being built up, but it will ultimately fall and crumble like a burning building.
Drowning in their champagne
The wealthy and powerful are consumed by their own luxurious and excess lifestyle.
Explosion pulled the pin in the hand grenade
A catastrophic event has occurred due to actions that were risky and careless.
Soul stain blowing up in your own domain
Your immoral actions and decisions are causing negative consequences for yourself and your inner self.
Fire crackers ooh and aah but they never maintain
The fleeting enjoyment and happiness from temporary pleasures do not bring lasting fulfillment or contentment.
One pair of eyes, but see two different things
Two people can look at the same thing and interpret it in completely different ways.
One person cries but the other one sings
One individual can be happy and content while another person is upset and unhappy even in the same situation.
You walk around like everybody owes you something
You have a sense of entitlement and expect others to cater to your every need and desire.
Take what you get, thank God for all that life brings
Be grateful for what you have in life and trust that everything happens for a reason.
The poor man has it all but not content with anything
Even though someone may have everything they could ever need, they can still be unhappy because of their lack of inner peace and contentment.
While the rich man's hands are empty but he's sitting like a king
Someone may appear to have it all, but in reality, they may lack the most important things in life like love and happiness.
Backpack's getting heavy, moving at a steady pace
You're carrying a heavy load in life and making progress slowly but surely.
Carryin' bricks on your shoulders and lead around your waist
You're burdened with heavy responsibilities and obligations that weigh heavily on you.
Making way, run in haste, there is no time to taste what you ate
You're rushing through life, without pausing to enjoy the simple things or to reflect on your experiences.
We should be grateful, got a plateful, fire burns like ice morsels falling fire like rain
We should appreciate what we have in life, including the small joys and pleasures, even when things seem difficult, because the fire of life can be unpredictable and challenging.
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