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/
Unique Is My Dove
Matisyahu Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Searching for you, I been searching for you
Where ya been, where ya running to
Where ya got to go, what ya got to do
Don't care where were goin, just wanna be with you
Put your head on my shoulder, tell me what you been thru
When I lose my focus, you remind me of the truth
Lift us up to the heavens, for a birds eye view
One woman for me
Other half of my soul, you are my queen
One woman for me
Other half of my soul, roots of my tree
We could forget about galus for a while, our troubles for a while
Sometimes I look at you and just smile, sit in the park and just laugh all day
Sometimes I just lose it with the things that you say, waiting by the subway
But we missed the train, well take the next one if you can pull me away
Keep me cool down to earth, and no anxiety
Stay Matis with the humble heart always
One woman for me
Other half of my soul, you are my queen
One woman for me
Other half of my soul, roots of my tree
We don't need no umbrella, when we're walking in the rain
Sunlight or clouds, its all the same
Don't need no umbrella, when we're walking in the rain
So smart and sharp, a soul lovely
And beauty shine bright, yes you're there for me
Keep the ways of our fathers, how way it use to be
Moving forward, don't mean erase our history
Look to your ways, and see a girl who wants to do the right thing
Dedicated to your life, bigger than you or me
Build a temple in our hearts, for his majesty
Stay simple, serve god, and keep our deeds clean
One woman for me
Other half of my soul, you are my queen
One woman for me
Other half of my soul, roots of my tree
The lyrics to Matisyahu's song "Unique Is My Dove" speak about a man searching for the other half of his soul, someone who can remind him of the truth when he loses focus and lift them up to the heavens for a bird’s eye view. He does not care where they are going, as long as he is with her. The song speaks of a deep connection between two people, who could forget about their troubles and just enjoy each other’s company, even if they miss the subway.
The song speaks not only of the connection between the two people, but also about their dedication to serving God and keeping their deeds clean. They want to build a temple in their hearts for his majesty and keep the traditions of their fathers, while still moving forward. The lyrics also speak about seeing a girl who wants to do the right thing and being inspired by her dedication to her life.
Overall, the lyrics of the song are a beautiful expression of a deep love and connection between two people, as well as their dedication to serving God and keeping their traditions alive while moving forward. It speaks of the joys of simple moments spent together and the reminder to keep our deeds clean to live a good life.
Line by Line Meaning
On the way into this world, our soul was born in two
Our soul was divided in two before we were born into this world
Searching for you, I been searching for you
I have been searching for my other half, my soulmate
Where ya been, where ya running to
Where have you been and where are you going?
Where ya got to go, what ya got to do
Where do you need to go and what do you need to do?
Don't care where were goin, just wanna be with you
I don't care where we are going, I just want to be with you
Put your head on my shoulder, tell me what you been thru
Rest your head on my shoulder and tell me your story
When I lose my focus, you remind me of the truth
You help me stay focused and remind me of what is true
Lift us up to the heavens, for a birds eye view
Help us rise up above our problems and see things from a higher perspective
One woman for me
I only need one woman in my life
Other half of my soul, you are my queen
You complete me and rule my heart like a queen
We could forget about galus for a while, our troubles for a while
We can take a break from our struggles and find happiness together
Sometimes I look at you and just smile, sit in the park and just laugh all day
You bring me joy and we enjoy simple pleasures together
Sometimes I just lose it with the things that you say, waiting by the subway
Sometimes you surprise me and make me laugh uncontrollably
But we missed the train, well take the next one if you can pull me away
If you can convince me, we can wait for the next train together
Keep me cool down to earth, and no anxiety
You calm me down and keep me grounded
Stay Matis with the humble heart always
Stay humble and true to oneself always
We don't need no umbrella, when we're walking in the rain
We don't need protection from the rain because we have each other
Sunlight or clouds, its all the same
We can find happiness in any situation
So smart and sharp, a soul lovely
You are intelligent and have a beautiful soul
And beauty shine bright, yes you're there for me
Your beauty radiates and you are always there for me
Keep the ways of our fathers, how way it use to be
We should honor our traditions and ancestors
Moving forward, don't mean erase our history
We can move forward without forgetting where we come from
Look to your ways, and see a girl who wants to do the right thing
You are a good person who strives to do what is right
Dedicated to your life, bigger than you or me
Our lives are dedicated to something greater than ourselves
Build a temple in our hearts, for his majesty
We should create a sacred space in our hearts for God
Stay simple, serve god, and keep our deeds clean
We should lead a simple life, serve God, and do good deeds
Other half of my soul, roots of my tree
You are not only my partner, but also the foundation of my life
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: AARON DUGAN, JOSH D WERNER, MATTHEW MILLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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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