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/
Indestructable
Matisyahu Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fear nobody but his Majesty
My spirit, you'll be deep
For you I wait, silently
It seems that you believe in me
Indestructible, digging through the rubble
Bubblin', we don't need no more trouble
Like I'm running a muck upon a rhythm
Stay on a plan so you don't lose the vision
Stay sizzlin', pitter patter in the pan just like drizzling from the ceiling you're feeling it
Your breathin’ it
You put on your glasses and you see through it.
(Chorus 2: X2)
(Fear no one) Fear nobody but his Majesty
My spirit, you'll be deep
(His Majesty) For you I wait, silently
It seems that you believe in me
Some of them run, run, runnin' like a rat on a wheel
Try feel fine, a new deal
Who is there? Ticket for a meal
This world is real, and it heals for a final generation
I remember that day in November
Standing on a roof and I'm feeling so tender
All shook up, like I've been in the blender
Fend off the demons in the park after dark
Lend me your hand, I want to be a member
Spent too much and now I'm rendered…dead
Mend these wounds, we got to find a common thread
Want to fly in the sky ya heavy like lead
(Chorus 2: X2)
Just untooling the hands of the builder
Fill them with the strength to go further
Digging deep for eternal treasure
Stay away from quick sand and false pleasure
Them mouth's speak with arrogance
Appearance like a lion lurking in the mist
They surround and they gaze their fix
Grab the rope of God's heritage
(Chorus 2: X2)
Release me from their schemes
My distress you will relea-
-shield me on the path that's dark and slippery
Basic deception and futility
I stand with integrity
Sneak to the roof of that building
Don't want nobody here to see me
They're saying that I'm living in a fantasy
But I believe if I did keep
And I bleed in sincerity
Won't you utterly remove the cloud hanging over me
Won't you wave that decree in the shade of your wings
Shelter me from the wicked who have plundered me
From my mortal enemies, won't you shield me…
(...Oooh Mama, yo yo yo yo...)
The song "Indestructable" by Matisyahu is about staying strong and holding onto one's beliefs and values, even in the face of adversity. The chorus repeats the message of "fearing nobody but his Majesty" which could be interpreted as staying true to one's faith and beliefs. The verse talks about digging through the rubble of life, facing challenges and overcoming them. The lyrics express the idea of staying on track towards one's goals as if running towards something hot and sizzling. This idea is reinforced in the line "stay on a plan so you don't lose the vision". The song then goes on to talk about struggling in life but finding hope and healing.
The lyrics of "Indestructable" are filled with metaphors and imagery. For instance, "bubblin', we don't need no more trouble" is a reference to water boiling and how it suggests that more complications are not necessary. In the line "lend me your hand, I want to be a member," the singer is asking for help and support on their way to their goals. The song also has a sense of urgency, conveyed through lines like "fend off the demons in the park after dark" and "release me from their schemes". The song's blend of powerful lyrics, soft melodies, and gentle beat make it a stirring and uplifting song.
Line by Line Meaning
Fear nobody but his Majesty
I only fear God
My spirit, you'll be deep
My being and soul are profound
For you I wait, silently
I patiently await divine guidance
It seems that you believe in me
I feel your faith in my abilities
Indestructible, digging through the rubble
I am resilient and persevering despite hardship
Bubblin', we don't need no more trouble
I'm hopeful of a better future without problems
Never had this cold vision, hot hot friction
This is a new struggle unlike any other
Like I'm running a muck upon a rhythm
Feels like I'm wildly moving on a beat
Stay on a plan so you don't lose the vision
Stay focused to not lose sight of your goal
Stay sizzlin', pitter patter in the pan just like drizzling from the ceiling you're feeling it
Stay passionate and dedicated, like oil in a pan sizzling, you can sense it
Your breathin’ it
You're living and breathing your passion
You put on your glasses and you see through it.
When you have a clear vision, everything becomes obvious
Some of them run, run, runnin' like a rat on a wheel
Some people are stuck in the same cycle of chasing things with no outcome
Try feel fine, a new deal
Trying to feel good and get something new
Who is there? Ticket for a meal
Who's willing to share something meaningful?
This world is real, and it heals for a final generation
This world has a real impact and may be remedied in the future
I remember that day in November
I remember an impactful moment from the past
Standing on a roof and I'm feeling so tender
On a rooftop, feeling emotional and fragile
All shook up, like I've been in the blender
Feeling disoriented and shaken, as if blended
Fend off the demons in the park after dark
Resist temptation and negative influences
Lend me your hand, I want to be a member
Please support me, so I can be part of a group
Spent too much and now I'm rendered…dead
Wasted so much time and resources, feels like giving up
Mend these wounds, we got to find a common thread
We need to unite and recover from our struggles together
Want to fly in the sky ya heavy like lead
Desire to achieve something great despite heaviness
Just untooling the hands of the builder
Undoing what has been constructed so far
Fill them with the strength to go further
Replace it with the energy to venture farther
Digging deep for eternal treasure
Seeking a lasting reward from within
Stay away from quick sand and false pleasure
Avoiding traps that provide temporary satisfaction
Them mouth's speak with arrogance
Despite their arrogance, they speak loudly
Appearance like a lion lurking in the mist
Seeming to be hiding, but powerful and intimidating
They surround and they gaze their fix
They're noticing and targeting me
Grab the rope of God's heritage
Holding onto my faith amidst adversity
Release me from their schemes
Free me from their plans
My distress you will relea-
Ease my pain and suffering
-shield me on the path that's dark and slippery
Protect me on this difficult and uncertain journey
Basic deception and futility
Simplicity leads to hopelessness and false promises
I stand with integrity
I will remain honest and true to myself
Sneak to the roof of that building
Quietly climb to the top of the structure
Don't want nobody here to see me
I don't want to reveal my feeling to anyone
They're saying that I'm living in a fantasy
They don't believe in my aspirations
But I believe if I did keep
But I continue to believe
And I bleed in sincerity
I am genuinely invested in my beliefs
Won't you utterly remove the cloud hanging over me
Please take away my troubles and doubts completely
Won't you wave that decree in the shade of your wings
Please grant me peace and protection, under divine grace
Shelter me from the wicked who have plundered me
Protect me from malicious individuals who have hurt me
From my mortal enemies, won't you shield me…
Protect me from my enemies who wish to harm me
Contributed by Dominic W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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