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/
Shalom/Saalam
Matisyahu Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Burn the sacrifice of pride and ride on Mount Zion
Rub me the wrong way, taking the highway
Rubbing sticks together but your fire's man made
Capitalize on hot air, soar like an airplane
Yearn to rise in the sky quick high like cocaine
False pride is suicide but you've got nothing to gain
Drowning in their champagne
Explosion pulled the pin in the hand grenade
Soul stain blowing up in your own domain
Fire crackers oh and ah but they never maintain
Fires burning, flames are dancing
Don't burn the house down Lord
Heavenly fire only resides
On an alter made from the ground
Fire descends on high
In the shape of a lion
Burn the sacrifice of pride
And ride on to Mount Zion
Fire descends on high
In the shape of a lion
Burn the sacrifice of pride
And ride on to Mount Zion
One pair of eyes
But see two different things
One person cries
But the other one sings
You walk around
Like everybody owes ya something
Take what you got
Thank G-d for all that life brings
The poor man has it all
But not content with anything
While the rich man's hands are empty
But he's sitting like a kind
Fires burning, flames are dancing
Don't burn the house down Lord
Heavenly fire only resides
On an alter made from the ground
Backpack's getting heavy
Moving at a steady pace
Carrying bricks on your shoulders
And lead around your waist
Making way, run in haste
There is no time to taste what you ate
We should be grateful got a plateful
Fire burns like ice morsels falling fire like rain
Fire descends on high
In the shape of a lion
Burn the sacrifice of pride
And ride on to Mount Zion
Fire descends on high
In the shape of a lion
Burn the sacrifice of pride
And ride on to Mount Zion
The lyrics of Matisyahu's song "Shalom/Saalam" contain deep metaphors and analogies that are open for interpretation. The song is essentially about the power of fire, both physical and metaphorical, and how it can be destructive when misused or harnessed for wrong purposes. The verses caution against pride and false illusions of power, as they lead to a self-destructive end. The song also challenges societal norms that glorify being wealthy and powerful, emphasizing the need for gratitude and contentment. The chorus repeatedly invokes the image of fire descending from on high in the shape of a lion, symbolizing the power of divine forces to bring transformative change.
In the first verse, the lyrics describe how people often try to create their own fire, by rubbing sticks together or using hot air to soar like an airplane, but their fire is only man-made and ultimately unsustainable. The use of the word "Babylon" refers to the biblical story of the Tower of Babel, where people were punished for trying to reach the heavens and create their own power. The metaphor of drowning in champagne brings to mind the excesses of materialism, which ultimately lead to emptiness and destruction.
The second verse talks about how people can perceive the same thing in different ways, and that perspective is important in how we experience the world. The lyrics encourage gratitude for what we have and caution against greed and envy. The final verse suggests that life can be a heavy burden, but we must keep moving forward, with gratitude for what we have and the understanding that fire can be both destructive and transformative.
Line by Line Meaning
Fire descends from on high in the shape of a lion
Divine intervention can be powerful and intense, represented by a fiery lion shape.
Burn the sacrifice of pride and ride on Mount Zion
To spiritually ascend, one must overcome their hubris and head towards one's ultimate goal.
Rub me the wrong way, taking the highway
When constantly agitated, one must take quicker routes to reach their destination.
Rubbing sticks together but your fire's man made
When one struggles to create something genuine, it becomes artificial and unfulfilling.
Capitalize on hot air, soar like an airplane
Take advantage of temporary opportunities and soar to new heights.
Yearn to rise in the sky quick high like cocaine
Desire to achieve quick satisfaction, even if it has negative consequences in the long term.
False pride is suicide but you've got nothing to gain
Being overly confident can lead to one's downfall with no benefits in return.
Babylon's buildings raise like flames
Civilization can rise and fall quickly, much like a flickering flame.
Drowning in their champagne
People can get lost in their luxury, leading to disaster.
Explosion pulled the pin in the hand grenade
An unpredictable event can lead to chaos and destruction.
Soul stain blowing up in your own domain
One's own actions can lead to personal harm and negative impact on others.
Fire crackers oh and ah but they never maintain
Glimmers of excitement can quickly fade and not provide true substance.
Fires burning, flames are dancing
The intensity and beauty of nature's power is enchanting.
Don't burn the house down Lord
A plea to not allow calamity to destroy what one has built through hard work and perseverance.
Heavenly fire only resides
The power and beauty of divinity is unmatched.
On an alter made from the ground
In order to approach the divine, one must first be grounded and humble.
One pair of eyes
Perception can vary from person to person, leading to differing opinions and emotions.
But see two different things
What one person may see or interpret can be vastly different from another's view.
One person cries
Emotions run deep and can bring forth both tears of pain and joy.
But the other one sings
Different reactions to life events can demonstrate the vast range of human emotion.
You walk around
Some people carry themselves with a sense of entitlement.
Like everybody owes ya something
Acting as if the world owes you can end up with disappointment and disappointment.
Take what you got
Appreciate what life has given you and make something of it.
Thank G-d for all that life brings
Gratefulness and humility can bring contentment in life's ups and downs.
The poor man has it all
Success in life cannot always be measured by material wealth.
But not content with anything
Some people are never satisfied with what they have, regardless of how much they may possess.
While the rich man's hands are empty
Having wealth does not guarantee fulfillment or happiness.
But he's sitting like a kind
Even with material wealth, some people may still be humble and kind individuals.
Backpack's getting heavy
Life can sometimes feel like a burden weighing heavy on one's shoulders.
Moving at a steady pace
Keep pushing forward, but take time to rest and pace yourself to avoid burnout.
Carrying bricks on your shoulders
Life's responsibilities can be daunting and heavy to bear at times.
And lead around your waist
Being held down by one's limitations can impede progress and growth.
Making way, run in haste
Sometimes, one must move quickly without second guessing their actions to achieve their goals.
There is no time to taste what you ate
Life can move quickly, without offering the opportunity to appreciate and savor past experiences.
We should be grateful got a plateful
Appreciate the blessings in life, even if they may seem small or insignificant.
Fire burns like ice morsels falling fire like rain
The intensity of the world's elements can come in many forms.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: MATISYAHU MILLER, YOUSSOUPHA SIDIBE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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nice ang ganda talaga ng mga kanta ni MATISYAHU sound trip pa more