A live version of the song also appeared on his album Live at Stubb's.
The song hit #28 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #7 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart.
On some limited editions of Youth and on the "King Without a Crown" three-track EP, there is a bonus track of "King Without a Crown" remixed by Mike D of the Beastie Boys.
Along with the song "Youth", "King Without a Crown" is different from other songs on the album Youth, in that it has a lengthy guitar solo more in the spirit of rock than of reggae.
King Without a Crown was also played in the movie Knocked Up.
King Without a Crown
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
Out of darkness comes light, twilight unto the heights
Crown Heights burnin' up all through till midnight
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
Givin' myself to you from the essence of my being
Sing to my god all these songs of love and healing
Want Moshiach now so it's time we start revealing
What's this feeling?
My love will rip a hole in the ceiling
Givin' myself to you from the essence of my being
Sing to my God all these songs of love and healing
Want Moshiach now
Strip 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 then you're 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
Looking up to the sky and searchin' beneath the ground
Like a King without his Crown
Yes, 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
Givin' myself to you from the essence of my being
Sing to my God all these songs of love and healing
Want Moshiach now so it's time we start revealing
What's this feeling?
My love will rip a hole in the ceiling
Givin' myself to you from the essence of my being
Sing to my God all these songs of love and healing
Want Moshiach now
And see, I lift up my eyes where my help come from
And I 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
You're not vexed
When I look to the sky where my help come from
And I've 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
You're not vexed
In "King Without a Crown," Matisyahu expresses his devotion and longing for a deeper connection with God, who he refers to as Hashem. The lyrics are filled with powerful imagery and metaphors, drawing upon themes of struggle, surrender, and transcendence. He describes God as the source of his strength and inspiration, the water for his thirsty soul. Even in moments of darkness and negativity, he believes that God's light will shine through and that he will emerge victorious in the battle against his personal demons.
The lyrics also touch upon the idea of humility and surrender, acknowledging that one must strip away their ego and become like a "slave to yourself" in order to attain true spiritual freedom. Matisyahu urges listeners to let go of their pride and turn to God for help, in moments when they feel like they are drowning or searching for meaning.
Overall, "King Without a Crown" is a powerful ode to the journey of inner transformation and the quest for spiritual fulfillment.
Line by Line Meaning
You're all that I have and you're all that I need
I depend on you completely and I am grateful for your presence
Each and every day I pray to get to know you please
I seek a deeper connection with you through prayer and reflection
I want to be close to you, yes I'm so hungry
I am yearning for closeness with you, as you bring sustenance to my soul
You're like water for my soul when it gets thirsty
You refresh and rejuvenate me when I am feeling spiritually depleted
Without you there's no me
I recognize that my identity and existence are inseparable from you
You're the air that I breathe
You are essential to my life and complete my being
Sometimes the world is dark and I just can't see
At times, the world appears bleak and overwhelming, clouding my vision
With these, demons surround all around to bring me down to negativity
Negative forces conspire to bring me down and hinder my spiritual growth
But I believe, yes I believe, I said I believe
Despite these obstacles, I hold steadfast in my faith and trust in you
I'll stand on my own two feet
I will not be knocked down by these challenges, rather I will remain firm
Won't be brought down on one knee
I refuse to be defeated and will not back down
Fight with all of my might and get these demons to flee
I will fight with all my strength to overcome the negativity and obstacles
Hashem's rays fire blaze burn bright and I believe
I have faith in your divine presence and your light guides me through the darkness
Out of darkness comes light, twilight unto the heights
I trust that light will emerge from the darkness, leading me to spiritual heights
Crown Heights burnin' up all through till midnight
Your presence is powerful and inspiring, igniting a fire within me
Said, thank you to my God, now I finally got it right
I am grateful for your guidance and I feel that I am on the right path
And I'll fight with all of my heart, and all a' my soul, and all a' my might
I will continue to battle with all my being, unwavering in my determination
What's this feeling?
I am experiencing a strong sensation
My love will rip a hole in the ceiling
My love for you is so intense that it could break through barriers
Givin' myself to you from the essence of my being
I am committing myself to you completely, from the core of my being
Sing to my god all these songs of love and healing
I express my love and gratitude to you through prayer and music, seeking healing and wholeness
Want Moshiach now so it's time we start revealing
I long for the Messianic era and believe that it is time to work towards its realization
Strip away the layers and reveal your soul
I must remove the obstacles and distractions that prevent me from connecting with my innermost self
Got to give yourself up and then you become whole
I must surrender myself to you in order to experience fulfillment
You're a slave to yourself and you don't even know
I recognize that I am held captive by my own ego and unaware of it
You want to live the fast life but your brain moves slow
I desire a fast-paced lifestyle, but my mind is unable to keep up with the demands and distractions
If you're trying to stay high then you're bound to stay low
If I pursue temporary pleasures and materialism, I will remain spiritually empty
You want God but you can't deflate your ego
I crave a connection with you, but my ego is preventing me from experiencing true spirituality
If you're already there then there's nowhere to go
If I have reached my spiritual goal, there is no need to search elsewhere
If you're cup's already full then its bound to overflow
If I am fulfilled spiritually, I will naturally share and give to others around me
If you're drowning in the water's and you can't stay afloat
If I am struggling and overwhelmed, I must turn to you for support
Ask Hashem for mercy and he'll throw you a rope
I trust that you will guide me out of troubled waters and towards safety
You're looking for help from God you say he couldn't be found
I am searching for your help, yet I feel disconnected or far from you
Looking up to the sky and searchin' beneath the ground
I am seeking you everywhere and in everything, hoping to find you
Like a King without his Crown
I feel incomplete and searching for guidance, like a king without his crown
Yes, you keep fallin' down
I am struggling and experiencing setbacks in my spiritual journey
You really want to live but can't get rid of your frown
Despite my desire to live fully, I feel weighed down by my sadness or worries
Tried to reach unto the heights and wound bound down on the ground
I have endeavored to reach spiritual heights, but have found myself falling short
Given up your pride and the you heard a sound
When I let go of my ego and humbled myself, I heard a new message or inspiration
Out of night comes day and out of day comes light
I trust that even from the darkest moments, light and hope can emerge
Nullified to the One like sunlight in a ray,
I am surrendering myself to you, becoming unified with your divine presence
Makin' room for his love and a fire gone blaze
As I let go of my ego and surrender to your love, a fiery passion ignites within me
And see, I lift up my eyes where my help come from
I look upwards to you, knowing that my help comes from you alone
And I seen it circling around from the mountain
I sense your divine presence around me, like a mountain that encircles and protects
Thunder!
I am struck by the power and awe of your presence
You feel it in your chest
I sense your presence deeply, and it stirs my emotions and spirit
You keep my mind at ease and my soul at rest
You provide me with peace and tranquility, calming my mind and soul
You're not vexed
You are not disturbed or upset, but bring stability and strength to me
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Joshua Werner, Matthew Miller
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@johannacoronel5940
You're all that I have and you're all that I need
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
But I believe, yes I believe, I said I believe
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
Out of darkness comes light, twilight unto the heights
Crown Heights burnin' up all through till midnight
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
Givin' myself to you from the essence of my being
Sing to my god all these songs of love and healing
Want Moshiach now so it's time we start revealing
What's this feeling?
My love will rip a hole in the ceiling
Givin' myself to you from the essence of my being
Sing to my God all these songs of love and healing
Want Moshiach now
Strip 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 then you're 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
Looking up to the sky and searchin' beneath the ground
Like a King without his Crown
Yes, 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
Givin' myself to you from the essence of my being
Sing to my God all these songs of love and healing
Want Moshiach now so it's time we start revealing
What's this feeling?
My love will rip a hole in the ceiling
Givin' myself to you from the essence of my being
Sing to my God all these songs of love and healing
Want Moshiach now
And see, I lift up my eyes where my help come from
And I 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
You're not vexed
When I look to the sky where my help come from
And I've seen it circling around from the mountain
Thunder!
You feel it in your chest
@scottr397
It's a man worshiping God with his music. "Sing to my God songs of love and healing"
"Thunder! You feel it in your chest! You put my mind at ease and my fears to rest"
This man is worshiping. He's having a religious experience as he comes close to the presence of God. Proselytizing, pouring out his faith to the room, hopefully illuminating the hearts of those in the room.
"Give myself to you from the essence of my being"
"Make room for His love and the fire gone blaze!"
@Herebrand
I still remember walking around Chicago back in 04...maybe 05? and this guy invited me into this small club with the promise of great live music (it was the middle of the week and they were just letting people in free to fill the place). Out on stage walks this Hasidic Jew and I was wondering what I'd gotten into... it's still one of the greatest live performances I've ever seen!
@sicwititdimeful
#1 comment on thread bravo, crazy how you dont know youre in the good old days until they are actually over
@fernandomuniz6499
Lucky!
@icyuranus404
i see...
@livefreeordie1377
I went to see Badfish 4 years ago in Providence, this band called Shrub opened, it was so awesome we left after they opened. I knew Badfish couldn't deliver anything close. I bought their CD and bounced, lmfao
@jenhuffine7030
Herebrand I’m not a religious person but his music is legit.
@jaylev8674
This song got me through my opioid addiction. It gave me so much hope and motivation. Just after getting clean, I met the love of my life! 17 years later, Im still married to her, and we are blessed with 2 wonderful boys. Thank you
@mercurialcharm9188
That’s right! I’m sober off opiates for 10+ years yall. Keep going. It’s going to be ok. You’ve got this. If I can do it, anyone can. All my love.
@lovesrain8042
@Jay and @mercurial and anyone else congrats and a huge hug on your sobriety🎉❤❤❤🎇🎆🎇🎉🎊🎈I started listening to Matisyahu back in 06' right before a huge move to ATX and then heard he was coming to Stubbs. Wish I could've gone. Cant believe so many yrs hv passed. God bless yous on your continued sobriety 🙏
@FromTheRootsToTheCrown
@mercurialcharm9188 I'm in the hospital now... 4 days clean
. Ready to be discharged and start treatment. I turn 30 in April and I always promised myself I wouldn't get high into my 30s. I kept my promise. But have wanted to die the last couple.days. projectile vomiting and convulsions. Finally coming around . Keeping motivational music near me