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/
Indestructible
Matisyahu Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My spirit, you retrieved
For you I wait silently
It seems that you believe in me
Fear nobody but His Majesty
My spirit, you retrieved
For you I wait silently
Indestructible digging through the rubble
Bubblin' we don't need no more trouble
That bahella-scope vision, hot-hot fiction
Like I'm running a muck upon a rhythm
Stay on the plan so you don't lose the vision
Stay sizzling Peter pan I'm from a land hip like this
From the city feeling it
Ya breathing in, ya put on your glasses and ya see through it
Fear nobody but His Majesty (fear no one)
My spirit, you retrieved
For you I wait silently (his majesty)
It seems that you believe in me
Fear nobody but His Majesty (fear no one)
My spirit, you retrieved
For you I wait silently (his majesty)
It seems that you believe in me
Some of them run-run-running like rats on a wheel
'Trife will find her new deal
Who is their ticket for a meal?
This world is real on the heels of a final generation
I remember that day in November
Standing on the 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 but you're heavy like lead
Fear nobody but His Majesty (fear no one)
My spirit, you retrieved
For you I wait silently (his majesty)
It seems that you believe in me
Fear nobody but His Majesty (fear no one)
My spirit, you retrieved
For you I wait silently (his majesty)
It seems that you believe in me
Just a tool in the hands of the builder
Fill them with the strength to go further
Diggin' deep for eternal treasure
Stay away from quicksand and false pleasure
Dare not speak with arrogance
Appearance like a lion lurkin' in the mist
They surround and they gaze their fix
Grab the rope of God's heritage
Fear nobody but His Majesty (fear no one)
My spirit, you retrieved
For you I wait silently (his majesty)
It seems that you believe in me
Fear nobody but His Majesty (fear no one)
My spirit, you retrieved
For you I wait silently (his majesty)
It seems that you believe in me
Release me from their schemes
My distress you will relieve
Shield me on the path that's dark and slippery
They seek deception and futility
I stand with integrity
Sneak to the roof of that building
Don't want nobody here to see me
To say that I'm living in a fantasy
But I believe in find and keep
And I plead in sincerity
Won't you utterly remove the cloud hangin' over me
Won't cha wave that decree in the shade of your wings
Shelter me from the wicked who have plundered me
From my mortal enemies won't 'cha shield me?
In Matisyahu’s “Indestructible”, the lyrics revolve around fear, faith, and perseverance. The artist suggests that despite living in an unpredictable world, one should not fear anyone other than his or her God. Matisyahu highlights that his spirit was saved by God, who he claims to wait on in silence. He also stresses that it seems like God has faith in him, and he should be able to fearlessly face his challenges due to his trust in God. The lyrics emphasize that whatever happens, the singer will withstand the rubble and trouble since he has faith in God’s providence.
The chorus repeats the statement “Fear nobody but His Majesty,” and it rests on the idea of having unwavering faith in God. The song suggests that it is only through God that one can have indestructible faith, which will carry them through their battles. Matisyahu uses several biblical allusions in the song, and along with the reggae tone of the song, it forms a deep soulful message bordering on religious salvation.
Line by Line Meaning
Fear nobody but His Majesty
Have no fear except for the King of Kings
My spirit, you retrieved
My soul, you have saved
For you I wait silently
I patiently trust in You
It seems that you believe in me
I feel your faith in me
Indestructible digging through the rubble
Unbreakable, searching through the ruins
Bubblin' we don't need no more trouble
Boiling over, we don't need more problems
That bahella-scope vision, hot-hot fiction
That distorted vision, a fiery illusion
Like I'm running a muck upon a rhythm
Like I'm causing chaotic movements to the beat
Stay on the plan so you don't lose the vision
Stick to the plan to maintain the goal
Stay sizzling Peter pan I'm from a land hip like this
Keep shining, Peter Pan, from a cool land like this
From the city feeling it
Feeling the energy from the city
Ya breathing in, ya put on your glasses and ya see through it
Breathing it in, putting on your glasses to see through it
Some of them run-run-running like rats on a wheel
Some of them constantly running in circles like rats
'Trife will find her new deal
Evil will find new avenues
Who is their ticket for a meal?
Who will take advantage of their weakness?
This world is real on the heels of a final generation
This world is tangible, in the wake of the last generation
I remember that day in November
I recall that moment in November
Standing on the roof and I'm feeling so tender
On the roof, feeling vulnerable
All shook up like I've been in the blender
Shaken like I've been through a blender
Fend off the demons in the park after dark
Fight off the darkness in the park at night
Lend me your hand I want to be a member
Help me up so I can belong
Spent too much and now I'm rendered
Spent too much and now I'm depleted
Dead mend these wounds we got to find a common thread
Fix these wounds, we need to find common ground
Want to fly in the sky but you're heavy like lead
Want to soar, but feeling weighed down
Just a tool in the hands of the builder
Just a tool for the Creator
Fill them with the strength to go further
Empower them to go beyond
Diggin' deep for eternal treasure
Digging deep for treasure that will last forever
Stay away from quicksand and false pleasure
Avoid sinking into deceitful pleasures
Dare not speak with arrogance
Do not speak with conceit
Appearance like a lion lurkin' in the mist
Appearing like a roaring lion in the fog
They surround and they gaze their fix
Surrounded, they stare intently
Grab the rope of God's heritage
Take hold of the inheritance from God
Release me from their schemes
Free me from their plans
My distress you will relieve
You will alleviate my pain
Shield me on the path that's dark and slippery
Protect me on the treacherous path
They seek deception and futility
They search for lies and meaninglessness
I stand with integrity
I stand with honesty and honor
Sneak to the roof of that building
Quietly climb to the top of that structure
Don't want nobody here to see me
Don't want anyone to witness
To say that I'm living in a fantasy
To suggest that I'm living in a dream world
But I believe in find and keep
But I believe in discovering and holding onto
And I plead in sincerity
And I earnestly request
Won't you utterly remove the cloud hangin' over me
Please completely remove the cloud that has been hovering over me
Won't cha wave that decree in the shade of your wings
Please declare it with your protective covering
Shelter me from the wicked who have plundered me
Protect me from the evil ones who have taken from me
From my mortal enemies won't 'cha shield me?
From my deadly foes, won't you protect me?
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: IVAN CORRALIZA, JIMMY DOUGLASS, MATTHEW MILLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bryan Valero Gutierrez
nice ang ganda talaga ng mga kanta ni MATISYAHU sound trip pa more