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.
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Struggla
Matisyahu Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Let my prayer rise up
And I struggle every day just to get myself up
For the force of gravity that keeps sinking my ship
Time again one is bound to slip
We rip through these days
We flip through the age
Survive stay alive we won't trip in the haze
I know it's just a phase
But I dread it dread it dread it
I won't let my life go to waste
I'm a struggla
Rise and never fall cause I been through it all
So ask yourself and think twice
Would you want to live your life
Oh we pay the cost
The pain and all the loss
Sell the youth them dreams of ease and fame
Will be a breeze when you got a big name
Cash fast fast cars to escape all of the pain
Escape your brain and so it stays the same
We would not lay down
We won't live in vain
We won't be drained
And I got to maintain
I won't let my life go to waste
I'm a struggla
Rise and never fall cause I been through it all
So ask yourself and think twice
Would you want to live your life
Oh we pay the cost
The pain and all the loss
There's something wrong with the system
That leaves it's people victim
Keep on slipping can't seem to catch up
Try to rise at night but my legs they stay stuck
There's something wrong in the system
That leaves it's children victim
I won't let my life go to waste
I'm a struggla
Rise and never fall cause I been through it all
So ask yourself and think twice
Would you want to live your life
Oh we pay the cost
The pain and all the loss
Oh we pay the cost
The pain and all the loss
Rise and never fall cause I been through it all
So ask yourself and think twice
Would you want to live your life
Oh we pay the cost
The pain and all the loss
Open up the gates let my prayer rise up
Oh we pay the cost
The pain and all the loss
In "Struggla," Matisyahu opens up with the plea "Open up the gate/Let my prayer rise up," setting the tone for the song's message of struggling to connect with a higher power. He talks about the everyday challenges of life and how the force of gravity can weigh us down and sink our spirits. He acknowledges that it's natural to slip up and feel lost in the maze of life, but he refuses to let his life go to waste.
Matisyahu critiques society's obsession with fame and wealth, recognizing that selling dreams of ease and fame to young people is ultimately damaging. He also acknowledges that the system is flawed and leaves people as victims, causing them to constantly slip and struggle to catch up. Despite this, Matisyahu proclaims that he won't be drained and that he'll rise and never fall, having been through it all. The song ends with a repeated message of paying the cost of life's pain and loss and desperately hoping for the gate to be opened and prayer to rise up.
This song on its own does a great job of analyzing life and the challenges faced by everyone, and provides some support for rising up and going through problems rather than trying to avoid them. Matisyahu acknowledges that life is hard, but he does not let this adversity weigh him down, which is a powerful message to all listeners.
Line by Line Meaning
Open up the gate
Begin the prayer session and let my words be heard.
Let my prayer rise up
Let my prayers ascend to heavens above while I struggle to get through the day.
And I struggle every day just to get myself up
Everyday life feels like a battle just to get out of bed and face the challenges ahead.
For the force of gravity that keeps sinking my ship
The constant pressures and negativity of life are like a weight that keeps trying to drag me down.
Time again one is bound to slip
No matter how hard one tries, mistakes will always be made along the way.
We rip through these days
We try to get through life as quickly as possible.
We flip through the age
We try to live life as if it's a race that needs to be won, constantly thinking about the next phase of life.
Survive stay alive we won't trip in the haze
We will make it through the difficult times and keep pushing forward even when it's hard to see through the haze of uncertainty.
Lost in the maze
Life can feel like a confusing labyrinth, making it hard to find one's way.
I know it's just a phase
Although life can feel overwhelming, it's important to remember that it's only temporary and will eventually pass.
But I dread it dread it dread it
Despite knowing it's only temporary, it's still a daunting task to navigate through life.
I won't let my life go to waste
I won't let life pass me by without achieving my goals and making the most of it.
I'm a struggla
I am someone who is fighting and struggling through the difficulties of life.
Rise and never fall cause I been through it all
I will rise up and never fall because I've already been through the worst and know I can overcome anything.
So ask yourself and think twice
Encouragement to take time to reflect and think about the path being taken in life.
Would you want to live your life
Is the current path being taken worth living and fulfilling?
Oh we pay the cost
There are consequences and costs to everything we do in life.
The pain and all the loss
Sometimes we experience great pain and loss in life as a result of our actions or circumstances.
Sell the youth them dreams of ease and fame
The younger generation is often sold the illusion of an easy path to fame and fortune.
Will be a breeze when you got a big name
With fame and fortune comes the assumption that life will be much easier and less of a struggle.
Cash fast fast cars to escape all of the pain
Money and material possessions are often viewed as a way to escape the pain and difficulties of life.
Escape your brain and so it stays the same
Trying to escape one's problems and pain without addressing them will only leave things the same, or even worse.
We would not lay down
We will not give up and let life defeat us.
We won't live in vain
We will strive to make a positive impact on the world around us and not live a meaningless life.
We won't be drained
We will keep pushing forward and not let life drain us of our energy and hope.
And I got to maintain
I need to keep going and pushing through life's difficulties.
There's something wrong with the system
The current societal and political structure is flawed and unfair.
That leaves it's people victim
The people are often left as victims of the system that is supposed to serve them.
Keep on slipping can't seem to catch up
It can feel like I'm constantly falling behind and can't seem to catch up in life no matter how hard I try.
Try to rise at night but my legs they stay stuck
Even when trying to make progress, it can still feel difficult to move forward and make any real headway.
That leaves it's children victim
Even the younger generations are often left as victims of the flawed societal structures and political systems in place.
Open up the gates let my prayer rise up
Once again asking for the prayer to be heard and ascended to the heavens above.
Oh we pay the cost
Reinforcing the idea that everything in life has a cost and consequences, whether good or bad.
The pain and all the loss
The pain and loss we experience in life are often the cost we pay for our actions and decisions.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Barrington Levy, David Martin Kahne, Eric Peter Krasno, Matthew Miller, Robert A. Deitch, Wayne Henry, Adam Deitch, DAVE KAHNE, Eric Krasno, Paul Love
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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queenie abuan
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nice ang ganda talaga ng mga kanta ni MATISYAHU sound trip pa more