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/
WP
Matisyahu Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To seize knowledge we don't need, I forgot my late pass
But I'm early to a arival beatbox, you got raps?
Meet me on the football field, don't sleep on field, the quarterback
No one clapped when we locked in, it was removal of our class
But my flag got captured and I fell between the cracks
My tool for inspiration turned into a handicap
No matter how I tried, I just couldn't fill the gaps
They lost the way, they never had the right map
Needed a sneak attack to slap the demons off my back
So I packed for the schddle dreamed big I wouldn't settle
Put the pedal to the metal and returned to fundamentals
I'll never forget running through the hall with all y'all rebels
Roaming through the high land, young bucks invincible
Echoes in my brain, if kids report to the principle
Substance dulls the mind
Traife wine clouds the heart
You can't sew a stitch with one hand
While you're taking it apart
Bright lights might look nice
But they sure won't make you sharp
You can't sew a stitch with one hand
While you're taking it apart
Yeah, misty morning and my mum's a mess
To make matters worse dog my pops is stressed
Life is a test, make the grade or catch an F
Now death is all that's left to ponder
I wander off hoping to catch my breath
Yeah, misty morning and my mum's a mess
To make matters worse dog my pops is stressed
Life is a test, make the grade or catch an F
Now death is all that's left to ponder
I wander off hoping to catch my breath
And hold it, mold my memories from untold scripts
And roll up in a tornado twist, now I'm certain
There's a pertinent reason I'm on this earth
Seasons change in white plains, but we remain alert
When new school years appear, fools fear for a failure
And crawl away in tears
I play Popeye the Sailor and stay with spinach
We walk the halls with a grimace
Yeah they gossip in groups
I try to mind my business and tell the truth
For instance, I listen, see it all with basketball court vision
Ignoring ignorance in fields of fiction
We lean back in the calmest position
And embrace the honesty found within our tension
What's good?
Substance dulls the mind
Traife wine clouds the heart
You can't sew a stitch with one hand
While you're taking it apart
Bright lights make you blind
But they sure don't leave you sharp
You can't sew a stitch with one hand
While you're taking it apart
Trapped in the elevator of your mind
Is it real, what will you find behind the door
Your imaginations put you in a bind
Around you there's a cloud of gloom
Swallow the key, lock yourself in a room
Can't see outside of your Universe
No more war, there won't be anymore hunger
No jealousy, not even competition
Let go, release, you hold the keys
Time we evaporate into the breeze
We are nothing, we are something
Let go, release, you hold the keys
It's time we evaporate into the breeze
We are nothing, we'll be something
Welcome to the desert of my soul
You can stay if you like
There's room for one more
There's room for one more
In Matisyahu's song WP, he reflects on his high school experience and the lessons he learned about staying true to yourself and embracing honesty. The lyrics touch on various struggles that teenagers often face such as fitting in, feeling lost, and dealing with personal demons. Matisyahu encourages listeners to let go of their fears and to find inspiration to follow their dreams.
The first verse describes the struggles Matisyahu faced in school, including forgetting his late pass, feeling like an outcast and struggling with creativity. He realizes that he needs to pack his bags and return to the fundamentals to find his inspiration. The song continues with lyrics that touch on themes of life being a test, wandering to find oneself, struggling with substances and distractions, and the importance of honesty and letting go of fear.
The chorus "Substance dulls the mind,Traife wine clouds the heart/ You can't sew a stitch with one hand/ while you're taking it apart/ Bright lights might look nice/ But they sure won't make you sharp" reminds listeners that material possessions and substances may seem appealing but can also be distractions from pursuing one's goals and dreams. The bridge of the song talks about getting trapped in one's mind and imagination, and the importance of letting go and releasing oneself to be free.
Overall, the song WP is a reflection on finding oneself in the midst of the struggles and distractions of high school and beyond. Matisyahu encourages listeners to embrace honesty, let go of fear, and find inspiration to follow their dreams.
Line by Line Meaning
Slap me Daft, we sat down in the back of the class
We sat in the back of the classroom without a care for the knowledge being taught
To seize knowledge we don't need, I forgot my late pass
We didn't really care about learning and I forgot my pass to even attend class
But I'm early to a arival beatbox, you got raps?
I arrived early to a beatboxing session, asking if anyone had raps
Meet me on the football field, don't sleep on field, the quarterback
Let's meet on the football field, where the quarterback is not to be underestimated
No one clapped when we locked in, it was removal of our class
When we were locked in, nobody cheered because we were removed from the rest of the class
But my flag got captured and I fell between the cracks
I failed and found myself in a difficult position
My tool for inspiration turned into a handicap
My source of inspiration became a hindrance
No matter how I tried, I just couldn't fill the gaps
Despite my efforts, I couldn't make up for my shortcomings
Those whipper snappers, they got trapped old chap
The young folks got caught up in their ways
They lost the way, they never had the right map
They got lost because they didn't have the guidance they needed
Needed a sneak attack to slap the demons off my back
I needed to surprise the negative thoughts that were weighing me down
So I packed for the schddle dreamed big I wouldn't settle
I prepared and aimed high, refusing to settle for less
Put the pedal to the metal and returned to fundamentals
I worked hard and focused on the basics to get back on track
I'll never forget running through the hall with all y'all rebels
I'll remember running through the hall with all of my fellow rebels
Roaming through the high land, young bucks invincible
We felt invincible as we roamed through the high land
Echoes in my brain, if kids report to the principle
It makes me think of the fear of getting in trouble and having to report to the principal
Substance dulls the mind
Drugs and alcohol can numb and weaken the mind
Traife wine clouds the heart
Consuming non-kosher wine can negatively impact the soul
You can't sew a stitch with one hand
You can't accomplish anything difficult with only one hand at your disposal
While you're taking it apart
If you're destroying something, you can't simultaneously be fixing it
Bright lights might look nice
Fancy things can be appealing
But they sure won't make you sharp
But they won't necessarily make you smart or capable
Yeah, misty morning and my mum's a mess
My mom is upset on this foggy morning
To make matters worse dog my pops is stressed
To worsen things, my dad is also under pressure
Life is a test, make the grade or catch an F
Life is a challenge, either you succeed or you fail
Now death is all that's left to ponder
With no clear path forward, death seems like the only thing left to think about
I wander off hoping to catch my breath
I wander aimlessly, hoping to take a break from the stress
And hold it, mold my memories from untold scripts
I hold onto those memories and try to make sense of them
And roll up in a tornado twist, now I'm certain
I twist and tumble like in a tornado, but now I feel determined
There's a pertinent reason I'm on this earth
I know I have a purpose on this planet
Seasons change in white plains, but we remain alert
The seasons come and go, but we stay vigilant
When new school years appear, fools fear for a failure
At the start of a new school year, some people worry about not succeeding
And crawl away in tears
They may even give up and cry
I play Popeye the Sailor and stay with spinach
I try to be like Popeye and stay strong like he does with spinach
We walk the halls with a grimace
We walk through the halls with a scowl on our faces
Yeah they gossip in groups
Some people like to gossip and talk poorly of others in cliques
I try to mind my business and tell the truth
I try to stay out of it and stick to the truth
For instance, I listen, see it all with basketball court vision
I listen and observe what's going on like I have a bird's eye view of a basketball court
Ignoring ignorance in fields of fiction
I try to avoid being influenced by ignorance and falsehood
We lean back in the calmest position
We relax and take it easy
And embrace the honesty found within our tension
We accept the truthfulness of our struggles
Trapped in the elevator of your mind
Stuck in your own head with your thoughts
Is it real, what will you find behind the door
Wondering if what you're thinking is true or not
Your imaginations put you in a bind
Your thoughts and imaginings can hold you back
Around you there's a cloud of gloom
Feeling surrounded by negativity and sadness
Swallow the key, lock yourself in a room
Feeling like you're trapped and can't escape
Can't see outside of your Universe
Being unable to see beyond your own mindset and experiences
No more war, there won't be anymore hunger
Imagine a world without war and hunger
No jealousy, not even competition
A world without jealousy or competition
Let go, release, you hold the keys
You hold the power to let go and move on
Time we evaporate into the breeze
Time passes quickly and we'll eventually disappear
We are nothing, we are something
We may feel insignificant, but we all have value
Welcome to the desert of my soul
I invite you to explore the barren wasteland of my soul
You can stay if you like
You're welcome to stay if you wish
There's room for one more
There's always space for more growth and connection
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: AARON DUGAN, JONAH DAVID, JOSH D WERNER, MATTHEW MILLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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nice ang ganda talaga ng mga kanta ni MATISYAHU sound trip pa more