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/
Youth
Matisyahu Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Some of them are running
Some of them are looking for fun
Some of them are looking for a way out of confusion
Some of them don't know what to be
Some of them don't know where to go
Some of them just got instincts that something's missing from the show
Some don't fit society
Some of them teachers quash the flame before it had a chance to grow
Some of them embers do glow
Them charcoal, hushed and low
Some of them come with the hunger suppressed, not fed
Them feel a death blow
Young man, control in your hand
Slam your fist on the table and make your demand
Take a stand
Fan a fire for the flame of the youth
Got the freedom to choose
Better make the right move
Young man, the power's in your hand
Slam your fist on the table and make your demand
You better make the right move
Youth is the engine of the world
Youth is the engine of the world
Storm the halls of vanity
Focus your energy
Into a laser beam
Streaming shattered light
Unites to pierce between the seams
And it seems
The world open peering
The children see
Rapid fire for your mind
Half the truth is just a lie
They rub me the wrong way
They say their way or fall behind
Seventeen disconnect left out
The concept as to why
There's a spiritual emptiness
So the youth them get vexed
Skip class and get wrecked
Feel with music and cigarettes
To fill the hole in their chest!
Young man, control in your hand
Slam your fist on the table
And make your demand
Take a stand
Fan the fire for the flame of the youth
Got the freedom to choose
You better make the right move
Young man, the power's in your hand
Slam your fist on the table
And make your demand
You better make the right move
You got the freedom to choose
You better make the right move
You got the freedom to choose
Young man, control in your hand
Slam your fist on the table
And make your demand
Take a stand
Fan the fire for the flame of the youth
Got the freedom to choose
You better make the right move
Young man, the power's in your hand
Slam your fist on the table
And make your demand
You better make the right move
Youth is the engine of the world
Youth is the engine of the world
Youth is the engine of the world
Youth is the engine of the world
Youth is the engine of the world
The song "Youth" by Matisyahu speaks to the struggles of the younger generation. Some of them come seeking fun or a way out of confusion, while others do not know what they want to be or where to go. The song talks about the instinct that something is missing from the show, the feeling of not fitting into society, and the suppression of hunger that can lead to a "death blow." The verses also highlight the role of teachers who sometimes quash the flame of the young before it has a chance to grow, while others manage to keep the embers glowing, albeit sometimes hushed and low.
The song urges the youth to take control of their lives, to make their demands and stand up for what they believe in. The lyrics say that youth is the engine of the world and that fan the fire for the flame of the youth. There is power in their hands, and they must make the right moves. They have the freedom to choose, but they must be mindful of their decisions.
Matisyahu's "Youth" is an empowering and optimistic song, encouraging young people to take charge of their lives, make their voices heard, and recognize the power they hold. It acknowledges the difficulties that the youth face but also points out that they have the potential to change the world if they channel their energy in the right way.
Line by Line Meaning
Some of them come now
Some of the youth may be present in the moment
Some of them are running
Some of the youth are in a hurry to achieve their goals
Some of them are looking for fun
Some of the youth want to enjoy life and have adventures
Some of them are looking for a way out of confusion
Some of the youth are searching for answers to their doubts and uncertainty
Some of them don't know what to be
Some of the youth are confused about their purpose in life
Some of them don't know where to go
Some of the youth are lost in life and don't know which direction to take
Some of them just got instincts that something's missing from the show
Some of the youth feel that there is something not quite right with the world they live in
Some don't fit society
Some of the youth feel they don't fit in with the rest of society
Insides are crying low
Some of the youth are unhappy and struggling inside
Some of them teachers quash the flame before it had a chance to grow
Some of the youth's potential is stifled by their teachers before it has a chance to develop
Some of them embers do glow
Some of the youth have potential that has not yet been ignited
Them charcoal, hushed and low
Some of the youth are lurking in the shadows, unnoticed and unheard
Some of them come with the hunger suppressed, not fed
Some of the youth come from backgrounds where their aspirations and desires are ignored or suppressed
Them feel a death blow
Some of the youth feel like they are dying inside, due to their unfulfilled potential
Young man, control in your hand
The youth have the power to shape their own futures
Slam your fist on the table and make your demand
The youth should boldly make their voices heard
Take a stand
The youth should have a clear sense of what they believe in and be willing to fight for it
Fan a fire for the flame of the youth
The youth should ignite the flame of change and progress
Got the freedom to choose
The youth are free to make their own choices in life
Better make the right move
The youth should choose wisely, as their choices will shape their future
Youth is the engine of the world
The youth have the power to drive the world forward
Storm the halls of vanity
The youth should challenge the corrupt and self-serving power structures
Focus your energy
The youth should focus their energy on what matters most to them
Into a laser beam
The youth's energy should be concentrated and focused
Streaming shattered light
The youth's energy can break down barriers and shine light into darkness
Unites to pierce between the seams
The youth's energy can help unite people and create change
And it seems
It appears that the youth have the potential to make a difference
The world open peering
The youth are ready to face the world head-on and create a better future
The children see
The next generation is watching and learning from the youth's actions
Rapid fire for your mind
The youth's thoughts and ideas can spread quickly and powerfully
Half the truth is just a lie
Not everything the youth hear or believe is true
They rub me the wrong way
Some people or ideas do not resonate with the youth
They say their way or fall behind
Some people do not accept alternative viewpoints or ideas
Seventeen disconnect left out
Some youth feel disconnected and left out of mainstream society
The concept as to why
They may not understand why they feel this way
There's a spiritual emptiness
The youth may feel a void or emptiness in their lives
So the youth them get vexed
This can lead to frustration and anger among the youth
Skip class and get wrecked
Some youth turn to destructive behavior as a response
Feel with music and cigarettes
Some youth turn to music and other substances to fill the void
To fill the hole in their chest!
They may be searching for something to make them feel whole
You got the freedom to choose
The youth have the power to decide their own path
Youth is the engine of the world
The youth are the driving force behind creating a better world
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JOSHUA WERNER, MATTHEW MILLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
MICHAEL FORERO B
Some of them come now
Some of the running
Some of them looking for fun
Some of them looking for away out of confusion
Some of them don´t know where to be
Some of them don´t know where to go
Some of them trust their instincts
That somethings missing from the show
Some don´t fit society
Their insides are crying low
Some of them teachers squashed the flame
´fore it had a chance to grow
Some of them embers still glow
Them charcoal hushed and low
Some of them come with hunger supressed
Not fed them feel the death blow, yo
[Chorus:]
Young man control in your hand
Slam your fist on the table
And make your demand
Take a stand
Fan a fire for the flame of the youth
Got the freedom to choose
You better make the right move
Young man, the power´s in your hand
Slam your fist on the table and make your demand
You better make the right move
"youth is the engine of the world"
Storm the halls of vanity
Focus your energy
Into a laser beam
Streaming shattered light
Unites to pierce between the seams
And it seems
The world open peering
The children see
Rapid fire for your mind
Half a truth is just a lie
They rub me the wrong way
They say their way or fall behind
Seventeen disconnect left out
The concept as to why
There´s a spiritual emptiness
So the youth them get vexed
Skip class and get wrecked
Feel with beer and cigarettes
To fill the hole in their chest!
:v
I'm a zombie on Robot man's Stream! On
Storm the halls of vanity 1:24
Focus your energy
Into a laser beam
Streaming shattered light
Unites to pierce between the seams
And it seems
The world open peering
The children see
Rapid fire for your mind
Half the truth is just a lie
They rub me the wrong way
They say their way or fall behind
Seventeen disconnect left out
The concept as to why
There's a spiritual emptiness
So the youth them get vexed
Skip class and get wrecked
Feel with music and cigarettes
To fill the hole in their chest!
Portugal Silva
Eu sou português, acho que os nossos países se deviam amar mais, amo o Brasil e, no geral, as pessoas brasileiras. Povo alegre, amo isso. Love from Portugal to Brazil, vocês são nossos irmãos
Felipe Viana
Todas as nações deveriam se amar mais amigo. Tamo junto. Deus nos abençoe.
Truð
Que bonito. Um dia iremos sim. Toda a Terra será renovada
Cavalheiro Bruto Realista
Que sejamos todos um só
Tarick Carvalho Alves
Salve Salve conexão Brasil/Portugal! Abraço irmãos!
Isadora Andrade
vaza colonizador
Rodrigo Rocha
meus tempos de mtv......que saudade!!...tenho orgulho de dizer que minha época a galera tinha bom gosto pra música
Pedal entre Amigos
Tamo junto ..amigo hoje a galera tá tanto importância p o dinheiro e não pra riqueza de uma boa letra de música. ..mais tem pessoas que cultiva a cultura inútil
Marlon Costa
+brinquedopn pn reprodutores do sistema que os escraviza. nunca entenderão nossas mentes se continuarem assim.
Sakura Flor
FODA DEMAIS