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/
Fire and Heights
Matisyahu Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Each and every day I pray to get to know you please
I want to be close to you, yes I'm so hungry
You're like water for my soul when it gets thirsty
Without you there's no me
You're the air that I breathe
Sometimes the world is dark and I just can't see
With these, demons surround all around to bring me down to negativity
I'll stand on my own two feet
Won't be brought down on one knee
Fight with all of my might and get these demons to flee
Hashem's rays fire blaze burn bright and I believe
Hashem's rays fire blaze burn bright and I believe
Out of darkness comes light, twilight unto the heights
Crown Heights burnin' up all through till twilight
Said, thank you to my God, now I finally got it right
And I'll fight with all of my heart, and all a' my soul, and all a' my might
What's this feeling?
My love will rip a hole in the ceiling
I give myself to you from the essence of my being and I
Sing to my God, songs of love and healing
I want Moshiach now, time we start revealing
What's this feeling?
My love will rip a hole in the ceiling
I give myself to you from the essence of my being and I
Sing to my God, songs of love and healing
I want Moshiach now
Strippin' away the layers and reveal your soul
Got to give yourself up and then you become whole
You're a slave to yourself and you don't even know
You want to live the fast life but your brain moves slow
If you're trying to stay high, bound to stay low
You want God but you can't deflate your ego
If you're already there then there's nowhere to go
If you're cup's already full then its bound to overflow
If you're drowning in the water's and you can't stay afloat
Ask Hashem for mercy, and he'll throw you a rope
You're looking for help from God you say he couldn't be found
Searching up to the sky and looking beneath the ground
Like a King without his Crown
You keep fallin' down
You really want to live but can't get rid of your frown
Tried to reach unto the heights and wound bound down on the ground
Given up your pride and the you heard a sound
Out of night comes day and out of day comes light
Nullified to the One like sunlight in a ray,
Makin' room for his love and a fire gone blaze
Makin' room for his love and a fire gone blaze
What's this feeling?
My love will rip a hole in the ceiling
I give myself to you from the essence of my being and I
Sing to my God, songs of love and healing
I want Moshiach now, time we start revealing
What's this feeling?
My love will rip a skylight in the ceiling
I give myself to you from the essence of my being and I
Sing to my God, songs of love and healing
Yo (X 9)
I lift up my eyes where my help come from
Seen it circling around from the mountain
Thunder!
You feel it in your chest
You keep my mind at ease and my soul at rest
Look to the sky where my help come from
Seen it circling around from the mountain
Thunder!
You feel it in your chest
You keep my mind at ease and my soul at rest
The song "Fire and Heights" by Matisyahu is a spiritual journey recounted in verse form. The lyrics speak about the need for a higher power, a force greater than oneself, and the struggles and obstacles one faces in life in trying to attain a connection to that force. The song begins with the singer acknowledging that they are lost without this higher power and that they feel like they are drowning in a world of negativity. However, the singer maintains their faith that by standing strong and fighting with all their might, they can overcome these obstacles and become closer to the divine force they seek. The lyrics are peppered with religious imagery, such as references to Hashem's rays and the call for the coming of the Moshiach.
The second verse urges listeners to strip away the layers of the self and become whole by giving oneself up to a force greater than themselves. The lyrics warn against attachment to material things and striving for a life of pure pleasure, which can ultimately lead to a feeling of emptiness. The chorus repeats the refrain "What's this feeling? My love will rip a hole in the ceiling," suggesting a sense of overwhelming spiritual longing that cannot be contained. The song weaves together themes of struggle, spiritual longing, and faith, resulting in a powerful and moving message of hope.
Line by Line Meaning
You're all that I have and you're all that I need
The person singing acknowledges that their highest priority is their relationship with God.
Each and every day I pray to get to know you please
The person singing expresses their desire to connect with God on a deeper level and understand their divine nature.
I want to be close to you, yes I'm so hungry
The person singing acknowledges a deep yearning to be spiritually close to God.
You're like water for my soul when it gets thirsty
The person singing metaphorically describes their relationship with God as nourishing and fulfilling, especially during difficult times.
Without you there's no me
The person singing recognizes the essential role God plays in their life, and acknowledges their dependence on God for their existence and well-being.
You're the air that I breathe
The person singing metaphorically states their reliance on God for their most basic needs, much like the air we breathe.
Sometimes the world is dark and I just can't see
The person singing acknowledges that the world can be a difficult and confusing place at times, and highlights the importance of faith and belief during these dark moments.
With these, demons surround all around to bring me down to negativity
The person singing metaphorically describes negative thoughts or influences as 'demons' and acknowledges their ability to bring down one's emotional and mental state.
But I believe, yes I believe, I said I believe
The person singing reaffirms their faith and belief in God despite the challenges they may face.
I'll stand on my own two feet
The person singing asserts their independence and ability to weather difficulties with the help of their faith in God.
Won't be brought down on one knee
The person singing emphasizes their determination to remain strong and resilient even in the face of adversity.
Fight with all of my might and get these demons to flee
The person singing acknowledges their responsibility to combat negative influence in their life and metaphorically describes this battle as a fight against 'demons'.
Hashem's rays fire blaze burn bright and I believe
The person singing metaphorically describes the light of God as a source of strength and believes in its transformative power.
Out of darkness comes light, twilight unto the heights
The person singing expresses a belief that difficult times can lead to personal growth and enlightenment.
Crown Heights burnin' up all through till twilight
The person singing references Crown Heights, a neighborhood in Brooklyn, as a symbol of spiritual awakening and renewal.
Said, thank you to my God, now I finally got it right
The person singing expresses gratitude towards God and recognizes the positive changes that have occurred in their life as a result of their faith.
And I'll fight with all of my heart, and all a' my soul, and all a' my might
The person singing reaffirms their commitment to fighting against negative influences with everything they have, both physically and spiritually.
My love will rip a hole in the ceiling
The person singing describes their immense love for God as being so powerful that it will break through any obstacle in its way.
I give myself to you from the essence of my being and I
The person singing metaphorically presents themselves as offering their whole self to God, surrendering completely to their divine nature.
Sing to my God, songs of love and healing
The person singing acknowledges that their spiritual practices involve expressing their love for God and using it as a source of healing.
I want Moshiach now, time we start revealing
The person singing expresses a sense of urgency to experience the coming of Moshiach, or the Jewish Messiah, and believes the time for spiritual awakening is now.
Strippin' away the layers and reveal your soul
The person singing emphasizes the importance of stripping away superficial layers and revealing one's true self, or soul, in order to connect with God.
Got to give yourself up and then you become whole
The person singing acknowledges the importance of surrendering oneself to God in order to become spiritually whole.
You're a slave to yourself and you don't even know
The person singing describes the danger of being a slave to one's ego or negative influences, and highlights the importance of self-awareness in order to overcome these issues.
You want to live the fast life but your brain moves slow
The person singing describes the conflict between hedonistic desires and spiritual growth, and acknowledges the tendency for the former to hinder the latter.
If you're trying to stay high, bound to stay low
The person singing warns of the inevitable low that comes after trying to artificially stay in a high state, and implies that true spiritual growth is a process of consistent effort and discipline.
You want God but you can't deflate your ego
The person singing recognizes the difficulty in truly surrendering oneself to God completely, especially because of the ego's role in personal identity and self-perception.
If you're already there then there's nowhere to go
The person singing acknowledges the paradoxical nature of spiritual growth, where arriving at one level may actually imply the need to pursue further growth.
If you're cup's already full then its bound to overflow
The person singing uses a metaphor of a cup full to describe the idea that one must empty themselves of negative influences in order to receive more positive, spiritual influences.
If you're drowning in the water's and you can't stay afloat
The person singing uses the metaphor of drowning to describe the feeling of being overwhelmed by negative influences and implies the importance of reaching out for help.
Ask Hashem for mercy, and he'll throw you a rope
The person singing implies that asking God for help during difficult times will result in being saved from negative influences and metaphorically 'thrown a rope'.
You're looking for help from God you say he couldn't be found
The person singing describes the false belief that God is absent during difficult times, and implies the importance of recognizing that God is always present.
Searching up to the sky and looking beneath the ground
The person singing metaphorically describes the search for God and implies its importance, as well as the need to explore all avenues in order to find spirituality.
Like a King without his Crown
The person singing uses a metaphor of a king without a crown to describe the feeling of being spiritually lost or disconnected from God.
You keep fallin' down
The person singing acknowledges the tendency to struggle with negative influences and the difficulty in maintaining spiritual growth.
You really want to live but can't get rid of your frown
The person singing implies that negative influences can make life difficult, both externally and internally.
Tried to reach unto the heights and wound bound down on the ground
The person singing acknowledges the difficulty in consistently pursuing spiritual growth and the tendency to relapse into negative patterns of behavior.
Given up your pride and the you heard a sound
The person singing implies that surrendering one's ego is necessary for spiritual growth and highlights the transformative nature of this process.
Out of night comes day and out of day comes light
The person singing uses a metaphor of day and night to describe the cyclical nature of spiritual growth, where difficult times can sometimes result in greater personal enlightenment and growth.
Nullified to the One like sunlight in a ray
The person singing implies that surrendering oneself to God is like being absorbed by the divine nature and compares this to the way light is absorbed by a ray of sunshine.
Makin' room for his love and a fire gone blaze
The person singing describes the transformative power of God's love and implies that fully surrendering oneself to God will result in spiritual fulfillment and joy.
I lift up my eyes where my help come from
The person singing describes the act of lifting up one's eyes towards heaven in search of spiritual guidance and help.
Seen it circling around from the mountain
The person singing implies that spiritual help and guidance is always present, and likens it to a mountain from which the help may come.
Thunder!
The person singing uses the metaphor of thunder to describe the feeling of receiving divine guidance.
You feel it in your chest
The person singing implies that spiritual guidance can be felt on a physical and emotional level.
You keep my mind at ease and my soul at rest
The person singing describes the positive effects of spiritual guidance, including a sense of inner peace and calmness.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: AARON DUGAN, JONAH DAVID, JOSH D WERNER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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nice ang ganda talaga ng mga kanta ni MATISYAHU sound trip pa more