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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Heights
Matisyahu Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Explain like physics leaving your vision blurred
All them righteous men there is no need to worry
Crush the wicked in my way with these fists of fury
I?m sorting rhymes all day
Everyday that?s what I say
I come with consciousness as my sword I slay
All of them crazy murderers are bound to be prey
chorus:
Said a moonlight enlighten my way
A twilight from the heights of my roof
Sing praise and poof
Looking up to the night
I ask for help to get up and get up and get up and get up and get it right.
said me no want no sensimilia, no it only brings me down
Burn away my brain, away my brain is too compound
Purifying my soul and elevating my sound
Like the son of a sun ray
Burning up through the clouds
Torah food for my brain let it rain till I drown
Thunder, let the blessings come down.
Said Torah food for my brain let it rain till I drown
Thunder, let the blessings come down.
L-rd You found my soul raised it up from the ground
Yeah You found my soul, raised it up from the ground
chorus:
Said a moonlight enlighten my way
A twilight from the heights of my roof
Sing praise and poof
Looking up to the night
I ask for help to get up and get up and get up and get up and get it right.
said I been ripping through these lyrics, I been whipping through these words
Explain like physics leaving your vision blurred
All them righteous men there is no need to worry
Crush the wicked in my way with these fists of fury
I?m sorting rhymes all day
Everyday that?s what I say
I come with consciousness as my sword I slay
All of them crazy murderers are bound to be prey
Knock, knock, socking evil man in a delay
I?m dropping bombs on your moms yes unto your dismay
Open up a single way each and every day
I sit back relax and listen to the music play
With headphones on my ears yes I bob the head sway
-missing several lines-
chorus:
Said a moonlight enlighten my way
A twilight from the heights of my roof
Sing praise and poof
Looking up to the night
I ask for help to get up and get up and get up and get up and get it right.
The lyrics of "Heights" by Matisyahu reflect his powerful, unstoppable spirit in the face of any challenge or obstacle. He boasts about his talent for writing and delivering lyrics so potent that they leave listeners bewildered and struggling to comprehend the magnitude of his words. As he battles the wicked, he calls on his consciousness as his weapon, asserting his dominance and control over his circumstances. The chorus of the song speaks to his need for guidance and transcendence, as he looks to the moon and the night sky to light his way towards enlightenment and peace.
The verses are packed with images of violence and aggression, as Matisyahu takes on anyone who tries to stand in his way. He compares himself to a force of nature, burning through the clouds like a ray of light, and describes his incredible capacity for endurance, as he drowns in the blessings of Torah food, purified and elevated by the experience. Ultimately, Matisyahu's message is one of resilience and determination, as he refuses to be swayed by anything less than his own inner strength and insight.
Overall, "Heights" is a powerful and uplifting song that celebrates the power of the human spirit to overcome adversity and rise to new heights of enlightenment and self-mastery.
Line by Line Meaning
Said I been ripping through these lyrics, I been whipping through these words
I have been writing songs with great speed and precision, leaving the listener in awe
Explain like physics leaving your vision blurred
My lyrics are complex and profound, as if they were scientific formulas that make your mind spin
All them righteous men there is no need to worry
Those who follow the right path have nothing to fear
Crush the wicked in my way with these fists of fury
I will overcome the obstacles that come my way, and defeat the enemies of goodness with strength and determination
I come with consciousness as my sword I slay
My mind is focused on spiritual growth and I use it as a weapon to overcome negativity
All of them crazy murderers are bound to be prey
Those who harm others will eventually face the consequences of their actions
Knock, knock, socking evil man in a delay
I am fighting against evil forces and delaying their progress
Said a moonlight enlighten my way
I am asking for divine guidance to show me the way forward
A twilight from the heights of my roof
I am looking up to the sky for inspiration and insight, hoping to gain perspective from a higher vantage point
Sing praise and poof
When I praise the divine, my worries suddenly vanish
Looking up to the night
I am gazing at the stars and feeling humbled by the vastness of the universe
I ask for help to get up and get up and get up and get up and get it right.
I pray for strength and guidance to get back on my feet and stay on the right path
No want no sensimilia, no it only brings me down
I am avoiding negative influences that can cloud my judgment and bring me down
Burn away my brain, away my brain is too compound
I want to simplify my thoughts and focus on what really matters
Torah food for my brain let it rain till I drown
I want to immerse myself in spiritual knowledge and wisdom until it becomes a part of me
Thunder, let the blessings come down.
I am calling for a shower of blessings from above
L-rd You found my soul raised it up from the ground
I am acknowledging the divine intervention in my life, and thanking God for lifting me up from difficult times
I'm dropping bombs on your moms yes unto your dismay
I am surprising my listeners with strong, impactful messages that challenge their beliefs
Open up a single way each and every day
I am looking for ways to improve myself and make a positive impact on the world, step by step
I sit back relax and listen to the music play
I am taking a moment to appreciate the beauty of life and the power of music to heal the soul
With headphones on my ears yes I bob the head sway
I am enjoying the rhythm of the music and letting it uplift me
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: 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