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/
On Nature
Matisyahu Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ah
There is a place in the bottom of the soul
It's no bread of restitution
Hearts splash fly like dough
Where there is no pollution
Folks question your solutions
Bedrock of a river that flowed
No times, present or future
We are men of nature
We are made from the earth
At the end of my eighty, I'll return to the dirt
Just sand, just rock, dry land, fast and silent
Only bein' only breathin'
We're just children of believers
Type, fire and water be strong with compassion
In the morning we're born everlasting
Like the grass by the sea
And in with the wind which knocks ya down time and again
We remain and sing
Stand until the dawn of day carries us away
As we sway through the phases of each generation
We leave our trace and then leave this station
Fierce fronts, fantasy phased
No blame, untamed or spoken
Shiggy walks through this space
On dry land that's cracked and broken
We came to taste the rain
We're just, widows and orphans
Not afraid to feel the pain
Or to leave behind our notions
Bathe in showers, taste the tension
Hear the howl, climb the mountain
Kiss the cold and heal the frozen
Read the dreams in this here dungeon
We are men of nature
We are made from the earth
At the end of my eighty, I'll return to the dirt
Just sand, just rock, dry land, fast and silent
Only bein' only breathin'
We're just children of believers
There is fire in these leaves and therefore naturally
I'm not afraid to face these seasons
'Cuz, times change and there's no one to blame
Even when the day is leavin'
Will you rise like a lion in the morning sun
Or will ya, just lay there bleedin'
When the time has come, return to the kingdom
Close my eyes and be screamin "freedom"
Freedom, freedom
Freedom, freedom
Freedom, freedom
We are men of nature
We are made from freedom the earth
At the end of my eighty, I'll return to the dirt
Just sand, just rock, dry land, fast and silent
Only bein' only breathin'
We're just children of believers
We are men of nature
We are made from the earth
At the end of my eighty, I'll return to the dirt
Just sand, just rock, dry land, fast and silent
Only bein' only breathin'
We're just children of believers
Children of believers
The lyrics of Matisyahu's "On Nature" explore themes of the natural world, time, and mortality, all through his unique reggae-infused sound. The song begins by describing a place in the soul that is uncompromised by "pollution" and the bedrock of a timeless river. Matisyahu then sings about humanity's connection to nature, describing how we are made from the earth and are just "children of believers." The song continues to delve into the idea that life is a cycle, with our return to the earth being inevitable. However, Matisyahu urges the listener to rise like a lion and scream for freedom, even at the end of our lives. The powerful message of the song encourages us to embrace the natural world, take risks, and live life to the fullest while we can.
One interesting fact about "On Nature" is that it was featured in the soundtrack for the popular television show, "The 100." Additionally, the song is a part of Matisyahu's sixth studio album, "Undercurrent," which was released in 2017. The album received critical acclaim and marked a shift in Matisyahu's sound towards a more personal, introspective style. Another interesting fact about the song is that Matisyahu wrote it while sitting in his backyard, which he describes as a "beautiful, serene and peaceful" spot. The song also features backing vocals from Stephen Marley, son of the legendary Bob Marley.
Line by Line Meaning
There is a place in the bottom of the soul
The soul has a deep place where nature exists.
It's no bread of restitution
It's not something that can be repaid or returned.
Hearts splash fly like dough
Our emotions are free, unbounded, and precious like a batch of dough.
Where there is no pollution
Only in this deep place in our souls can we escape the pollution of the world.
You would know words to hold
If you reach this place, you would know the right words to express the experience.
Folks question your solutions
Others may doubt or question your understanding of nature.
Bedrock of a river that flowed
The foundation of life is like the solid bedrock of a river that flows from past to present to future.
No times, present or future
Nature simply exists beyond the boundaries of time.
We are men of nature
Human beings are of nature and connected to the earth.
We are made from the earth
Our bodies are made of the same elements as the earth.
At the end of my eighty, I'll return to the dirt
In the end, we all return to the earth, our final resting place.
Just sand, just rock, dry land, fast and silent
The earth is a simple, solid, and ever-present force in our lives.
Only bein' only breathin'
As living beings, all we can do is exist and breathe.
We're just children of believers
We are like children who trust in the natural world that surrounds us.
Type, fire and water be strong with compassion
Nature is powerful with the elements of life, but also compassionate and balanced.
In the morning we're born everlasting
We are reborn with each new day as part of the endless cycle of life and nature.
Like the grass by the sea
Our lives grow and change, like the grass that grows by the sea.
And in with the wind which knocks ya down time and again
We can be knocked down many times by the challenges of life, like the wind on the grass.
We remain and sing
But we persist and carry on, like the grass that continues to grow and grow.
Stand until the dawn of day carries us away
We stand strong until the inevitable dawn of the day when we return to the earth.
As we sway through the phases of each generation
We move forward with each passing generation, swaying with the changing times.
We leave our trace and then leave this station
We leave our mark on the earth and then move on, like travelers passing through a train station.
Fierce fronts, fantasy phased
The world is filled with both harsh realities and imaginative fancies.
No blame, untamed or spoken
We cannot blame anyone for the ways of nature, which is wild and untamed.
Shiggy walks through this space
We move through life aimlessly, like Shiggy, without a clear sense of direction.
On dry land that's cracked and broken
The world is often dry and harsh, with many obstacles in our path.
We came to taste the rain
But like plants thirsting for water, we are drawn to the rain and the nourishment it brings.
We're just, widows and orphans
We are vulnerable and in need of protection, like widows and orphans.
Not afraid to feel the pain
We are not afraid to experience the pain and joys of life.
Or to leave behind our notions
We are willing to let go of our beliefs and assumptions to embrace the natural world around us.
Bathe in showers, taste the tension
We seek out new experiences and sensations, even if they are challenging or uncomfortable.
Hear the howl, climb the mountain
We listen to the sounds of nature and embrace its challenges, like climbers ascending a mountain.
Kiss the cold and heal the frozen
We confront the harshness of life and use it to heal ourselves and others.
Read the dreams in this here dungeon
We can find hope and inspiration even in difficult circumstances.
There is fire in these leaves and therefore naturally
Nature is active and powerful, like the fire that burns within the leaves of a tree.
I'm not afraid to face these seasons
We are not afraid to embrace the changing seasons of life and nature.
'Cuz, times change and there's no one to blame
Change is a natural part of life, and we cannot blame anyone for its effects.
Even when the day is leavin'
Even when things seem to be coming to an end, life and nature continue on.
Will you rise like a lion in the morning sun
Will you greet each day with strength and courage, like a lion in the morning sun?
Or will ya, just lay there bleedin'
Or will you succumb to the challenges of life and let them defeat you?
When the time has come, return to the kingdom
In the end, we must all return to the natural kingdom of the earth.
Close my eyes and be screamin 'freedom'
But even in the face of death and the return to the earth, we can still embrace the freedom of nature and the spirit.
We are made from freedom the earth
We are made from the same free and natural elements of the earth.
Children of believers
And as such, we are like children of nature and believers in the natural world around us.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: David Martin Kahne, Matthew Miller, Rosenstein Ephraim, Trevor Hall
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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nice ang ganda talaga ng mga kanta ni MATISYAHU sound trip pa more