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/
Live Like a Warrior
Matisyahu Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They only want to push you away
Some days people don't see you
You feel like you're in the way
Today you feel, as if everyone hates
Pointing their fingers, looking at your mistakes
You do good, they want great
No matter what you give they still want to take
You give your heart they go on attack
When there's nothing left for you,
Only thing that you can do, say
Today, today, live like you wanna,
Let yesterday burn and throw it in a fire, in a fire, in a fire,
Fight like a warrior,
Today, today, live like you wanna,
Let yesterday burn and throw it in a fire, in a fire, in a fire,
Live like a warrior
Some things you should let go, there only gonna pull you down,
Just like weight on your shoulder they are only gonna make you drown
We all swing high, we all swing low,
We all got secrets people don't know
We all got dreams we can't let go,
We want to brave, don't be afraid oh
Today, today, live like you wanna,
Let yesterday burn and throw it in a fire, in a fire, in a fire,
Fight like a warrior,
Today, today, live like you wanna,
Let yesterday burn and throw it in a fire, in a fire, in a fire,
Live like a warrior
Your heart is too heavy from things you carry a long time,
You been up you been down, tired and you don't know why,
But you're never gonna go back, you only live one life
Let go, let go, let go
Let go, let go, let go
Today, today, live like you wanna,
Let yesterday burn and throw it in a fire, in a fire, in a fire,
Fight like a warrior,
Today, today, live like you wanna,
Let yesterday burn and throw it in a fire, in a fire, in a fire,
Live like a warrior
Today, today, live like you wanna,
Let yesterday burn and throw it in a fire, in a fire, in a fire,
Fight like a warrior,
Today, today, live like you wanna,
Let yesterday burn and throw it in a fire, in a fire, in a fire,
Live like a warrior
Matisyahu's song "Live Like a Warrior" is a song about resilience and not allowing negative forces to bring you down. In the first verse, Matisyahu sings about feeling like the world doesn't love you and how some days people don't see you, making you feel like you're in the way. He goes on to say that no matter how much you give, people still want more, causing you to feel drained and attacked. Despite this, the chorus encourages listeners to live like they want to and let go of yesterday's mistakes by fighting like a warrior.
The second verse advises letting go of things that weigh you down because they are only going to pull you further down. Matisyahu sings that everyone has secrets and dreams that they can't let go of and to be brave, not afraid. The song then leads into the idea that sometimes your heart feels heavy from carrying things for a long time, causing you to feel tired and unsure of why, but that you should never go back because you only live one life.
"Live Like a Warrior" celebrates individualism and encourages listeners to choose how they want to live their life without fear of judgment. It highlights that we all have the power to control our own actions and reactions to the events in our lives. Matisyahu ultimately encourages the listener to let go of the past, forgive themselves, and embrace the present moment.
Line by Line Meaning
Feel like the world don't love you
You feel alone and unloved by the world around you.
They only want to push you away
The people around you seem to want you out of their lives.
Some days people don't see you
You feel invisible to others some days.
You feel like you're in the way
You think that you're hindering others or bothering them unnecessarily.
Today you feel, as if everyone hates
Today, it feels like the whole world is against you and dislikes you.
Pointing their fingers, looking at your mistakes
Others are always criticizing you and calling out your mistakes.
You do good, they want great
People's demands keep increasing and you feel like you can't meet them all.
No matter what you give they still want to take
Despite everything you do for others, they keep asking for more.
Give your love and they throw it back
You show love to others, but they don't reciprocate or reject it outright.
You give your heart they go on attack
Others hurt you, even when you're being genuine and openhearted.
When there's nothing left for you,
When you feel spent and incapable of doing more for others,
Only thing that you can do, say
The only option you're left with is to speak your mind and stand up for yourself.
Some things you should let go, there only gonna pull you down,
You should relinquish some things that hold you back, as they will only drag you down.
Just like weight on your shoulder they are only gonna make you drown
These things act like a burden on your shoulders and will eventually overwhelm you.
We all swing high, we all swing low,
We all have ups and downs in life,
We all got secrets people don't know
We all have hidden secrets that we don't want others to know.
We all got dreams we can’t let go,
We all have aspirations that we can't give up on.
We want to brave, don't be afraid oh
We desire to be courageous and not fear the consequences.
Your heart is too heavy from things you carry a long time,
You bear a heavy load in your heart from carrying things for too long.
You been up you been down, tired and you don't know why,
You've experienced various high and low points, feeling exhausted and uncertain of the reason.
But you're never gonna go back, you only live one life
Despite everything, you won't give up or turn back, as you only have one life to live.
Let go, let go, let go
You need to release the things that are holding you back and weighing you down.
Today, today, live like you wanna,
Take charge of today and live it on your own terms,
Let yesterday burn and throw it in a fire, in a fire, in a fire,
Let go of yesterday and leave it in the past forever.
Fight like a warrior,
Be a fighter and face each day with courage and strength.
Live like a warrior
Live life with the determination and resilience of a warrior.
Lyrics © Budde Music Publishing GmbH, BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: VINCENT STEIN, JACK KNIGHT, MATTHEW MILLER, KONSTANTIN SCHERER, ALLAN GRIGG, KORI WITHERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@triciasalazar2001
Feel like the world don't love you
They only want to push you away
Some days people don't see you
You feel like you're in the way
Today you feel, as if everyone hates
Pointing their fingers, looking at your mistakes
You do good, they want great
No matter what you give they stilll want to take
Give your love and they throw it back
You give your heart they go on attack
When there's nothing left for you
Only thing that you can do, say
Today, today, live like you wanna
Let yesterday burn and throw it in a fire, in a fire, in a fire
Fight like a warrior
Today, today, live like you wanna
Let yesterday burn and throw it in a fire, in a fire, in a fire
Live like a warrior
There some things you should let go, there only gonna pull you down
Just like weight on your shoulder they are only gonna make you drown
We all swing high, we all swing low
We all got secrets people don't know
We all got dreams we can't let go
We want to brave, don't be afraid
Noo
Today, today, live like you wanna
Let yesterday burn and throw it in a fire, in a fire, in a fire
Fight like a warrior
Today, today, live like you wanna
Let yesterday burn and throw it in a fire, in a fire, in a fire
Live like a warrior
Your heart is too heavy from things you carry a long time
Been up you been down, tired and you don't know why
But you're never gonna go back, you only live one life
Let go, let go, let goooo
Let go, let go, let goooo
Today, today, live like you wanna
Let yesterday burn and throw it in a fire, in a fire, in a fire
Live like a warrior
Today, today, live like you wanna
Let yesterday burn and throw it in a fire, in a fire, in a fire
Live like a warrior
Today, today, live like you wanna
Let yesterday burn and throw it in a fire, in a fire, in a fire
Fight like a warrior
Today, today, live like you wanna
Let yesterday burn and throw it in a fire, in a fire, in a fire
Live like a warrior
@user-fn6be2tb6u
Who's listening in 2024❤️
👇
@GabrielRevert
I do ❤
@user-bz8hg4ui6z
I've been addicted to it since two weeks ago
@ashanims24
Me
@Samjacob82828
me
@megacane
I am listening to it still even after all the years that have passed... 💙
@devinsanmiguel7771
How about 2020? Any warriors 👍.
Update: made it through 2020 that’s what warriors do. Now who’s ready for 2021!
“Calling all warriors”.
LIVE LIKE A WARRIOR ! 2022 update.
You all have done well my fellow warrior brother’s and sister’s. The fight isn’t over, but rather just beginning. I ask that you all stand with me, for 2023 will be tough but together we will persevere. WARRIOR’S WHO’S WITH ME !
Alright! To all my warrior brothers and sisters, 2024 is here. It will be tough Even questionable, but together we will come out victorious!
Warrior’s fight for Justice!
@user-ry8zk9gc4z
+1
@controller2550
Me
@talusdistrect5041
ME!!!