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/
Searchin
Matisyahu Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And if you know where to dig, you will find gold and diamonds
All kinds of treasures
But if you don't know where to dig, all you will find is rocks and dirt
He can show you where to dig, and what to dig for
But the digging you must do yourself (the digging you must do yourself)
Let go of what y'all know
Where the sun hang low and the wind does blow
And the time it move so slow
Creeps and go through the window
Return to the land where the wild mare roam
And the buffalo go, yeah the buffalo go
Where the wild mare roam
Cross the countryside search far and wide
Dig until I reach upon the other side
Streams and the rivers and the oceans and the streets
Gonna swim with the fishes 'til I'm deep
I've been searchin' for you
I've been searchin' far and wide
I've been searchin' for you
All my life, my life
I've been searchin' for you
I've been searchin' far and wide
I've been searchin' for you
All my life, my life, my life
Lift your eyes upon the hillside
Sunrise and I fight to see through the lies
Leap upon the skies on the clouds so high
When I fly by the heights feeling oh so right
Finally find the land and I'm kickin' up sand
When I stand and deliver the plan
Won't you please back down
Or get slammed to the ground
When my slams strike thunder
While your village is under
Now you wonder why you going under
Got yo' self on the run from the number one
That you can't run from
You sped with fate
You feel hunger (hunger)
I've been searchin' for you
I've been searchin' far and wide
I've been searchin' for you
All my life, my life
I've been searchin' for you
I've been searchin' far and wide
I've been searchin' for you
All my life, my life, my life
(In the Earth, there are so many wonderful treasures
And if you know where to dig
You will find gold and diamonds)
I've been searchin' for you
I've been searchin' far and wide
I've been searchin' for you
All my life, my life
I've been searchin' for you
I've been searchin' far and wide
I've been searchin' for you
All my life, my life, my life
(In the Earth, there are so many wonderful treasures
And if you know where to dig
You will find gold and diamonds and silver and all kinds of treasures
But if you don't know where to dig, all you will find is rocks and dirt
A rebbe is the geologist of the soul
He can show you where to dig, and what to dig for
But the digging you must do yourself, the digging you must do yourself)
The lyrics of Matisyahu's song "Searchin" suggest that there are a lot of treasures in the earth, but one must know where to dig in order to find them. The song's message is deeper than just finding physical treasures; it speaks about finding oneself and one's place in the world. The lyrics suggest that one must look deep within oneself and find one's spiritual treasures, and to do that, they must go back to their roots, to the land where they came from.
The lyrics also touch on the idea that finding oneself is a personal journey that requires an individual effort. While a spiritual teacher, or "rebbe," can show the way, the work of digging and searching must be done by the individual. The song suggests that the end result of this journey is finding true happiness and meaning in life.
The lyrics to "Searchin" are introspective and pose a challenge to the listener to look deep within themselves to find meaning and purpose. They encourage the listener to embrace their roots, and to take a journey of self-discovery, an important message that resonates with many.
Line by Line Meaning
In the Earth, there are so many wonderful treasures
There are many valuable things in life
And if you know where to dig, you will find gold and diamonds
If you know where to look, you will find valuable things
All kinds of treasures
There are different kinds of valuable things
But if you don't know where to dig, all you will find is rocks and dirt
If you don't know where to look, you won't find valuable things
He can show you where to dig, and what to dig for
A spiritual leader can guide you to find valuable things in life
But the digging you must do yourself (the digging you must do yourself)
However, you have to do the work yourself
Let go of what y'all know
Release your preconceived notions
Return to the land of the rainbow
Go back to a happier time
Where the sun hang low and the wind does blow
Where the sun sets and the wind blows
And the time it move so slow
Where time seems to move more slowly
Creeps and go through the window
Things can come and go unexpectedly
Return to the land where the wild mare roam
Go to a place where freedom is valued
And the buffalo go, yeah the buffalo go
Where nature is strong and respected
Cross the countryside search far and wide
Explore every corner
Dig until I reach upon the other side
Keep searching until finding something valuable
Streams and the rivers and the oceans and the streets
Everywhere has something valuable to offer
Gonna swim with the fishes 'til I'm deep
Immersing oneself in exploration
I've been searchin' for you
Desire for something valuable
All my life, my life
Longing for something for a long time
Lift your eyes upon the hillside
Look up and see the bigger picture
Sunrise and I fight to see through the lies
Struggle with the confusion and uncertainty in life
Leap upon the skies on the clouds so high
Embrace the beauty and wonder of the world
When I fly by the heights feeling oh so right
Experience a sense of fulfillment when embracing life's beauty
Finally find the land and I'm kickin' up sand
Reaching a destination with excitement
When I stand and deliver the plan
Putting a plan into action
Won't you please back down
Asking someone to stop doing something harmful
Or get slammed to the ground
Facing consequences for harmful actions
When my slams strike thunder
Responding with authority and power
While your village is under
Defending oneself and others
Now you wonder why you going under
Feeling the consequences of harmful actions
Got yo' self on the run from the number one
Trying to escape from inevitable consequences
That you can't run from
Cannot avoid the consequences of actions forever
You sped with fate
Rushing and making unwise decisions
You feel hunger (hunger)
Feeling a desire for more and searching for fulfillment
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Allan Peter Grigg, Matthew Miller
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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