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/
got_no_water
Matisyahu Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I give myself to you because you treat me right
Put my trust in the world and the world gets tight
Shift my trust to you it's like a crystal clear night
Expand in all directions get the sections to unite
Hashem's rays fire blaze light my way light of my life
And these days well wait no longer night
reaching for my G-d like skyscrapers in the night
Internalize torah vibes bound to feel alright
Whirlwind of praise from below to above
Take flight in the sky got wings like a dove,
Soaring to shamayim (Heaven) where the angels call in love
And the glory of Hashem fits like a glove
Hashem rules the world and Israel is his wife
Love you yes my G-d with all my heart my soul and my might
When I feel you by my side yes I'm flying like a kite
You open up my eyes and give me sight
Super energized and everyday I feel you give me life
I seen the ways of the world intoxifying on pride
Young man don't you know drugs impurify your mind
When Israel left mitzrayim four fifths got left behind
If you got no water how you gonna survive
Roots lead you to the well springs so you could stay alive
Pharaoh claimed to be a G-d and claimed to make the Nile
A crocodile could smile and show his teeth
You could see beauty shining externally but that's the story of Greece
Inside America bleeds, Israel won't you get up from your knees
Its just lies in disguise Torah's truth won't you please realize
Given to the humble one on Mt. Sinai
Whirlwind of praise from below to above
Take flight in the sky got wings like a dove,
Soaring to shamayim (Heaven) where the angels call in love
And the glory of Hashem fits like a glove
Shma why'sroel, Hashem Elokainu, Hashem Echad
(Hear Israel, the lord is our G-d, the lord is one)
The world could just crumble to dust its just us it's not two it's just one
The middle road called truth, Torah you sooth my brain bruise
Open up peruse with knowledge of G-d
And move up an arousal from below till the secrets start to ooze
Don't snooze it's pure light the most high wants us alive
What's the proof?
We got life!
Chabad philosophy that's the deepest well-spring
Gaining knowledge of G-d while your gaining money
Fill up yourself with the light of his majesty
In a world of separation that's the only way to be
It's time we leave we won't flee just walk out easily
If you got no water how you gonna survive
Whirlwind of praise from below to above
Take flight in the sky got wings like a dove,
Soaring to shamayim (Heaven) where the angels call in love
And the glory of Hashem fits like a glove
The song "got_no_water" by Matisyahu is a spiritual and religiously-themed song that talks about the importance of faith and trust in God. The lyrics express the idea that putting trust in the world can lead to disappointment, whereas putting trust in God can lead to fulfillment and enlightenment. The use of water as a metaphor for sustenance and survival underscores this point. The lyrics also reference Jewish history, mentioning the Exodus from Egypt and the importance of Torah, and call for a return to faith and righteousness rather than blindly following materialism and pride. The chorus evokes a sense of soaring to a higher plane of existence through faith and praise of God.
One interesting fact about the song is that it was released as a single in 2018, but was originally recorded in 2001 and was initially known as "Besimcha". The song was reworked and updated for the 2018 release, with new instrumentation and additional vocals. Another interesting fact is that the song was released in conjunction with a crowdfunding campaign for Matisyahu's album "Undercurrent", which he funded independently after parting ways with his major label. The album was produced by Grammy-winner Stu Brooks, who has also collaborated with Matisyahu on several other projects.
Line by Line Meaning
You quench my thirsting soul and you fill my appetite
You satisfy my deepest desires and fulfill my needs
I give myself to you because you treat me right
I entrust my life to you because you treat me with kindness and goodness
Put my trust in the world and the world gets tight
When I rely on the material world, it becomes constrictive and suffocating
Shift my trust to you it's like a crystal clear night
When I place my faith in you, it's like a clear and serene night sky
Expand in all directions get the sections to unite
As I grow closer to you, all aspects of my life come together in harmony
Hashem's rays fire blaze light my way light of my life
Your divine radiance guides me and gives me purpose and vitality
And these days well wait no longer night
In this moment, I am no longer waiting for fulfillment, as I have found it in you
reaching for my G-d like skyscrapers in the night
I strive towards you with unwavering determination, like towering buildings in the dark
I said I know its hard inside is empty galus (Exile) cuts like a knife
I acknowledge that the struggle is real and the feeling of emptiness in exile is painful
Internalize torah vibes bound to feel alright
By internalizing teachings of the Torah, I am certain to find inner peace
Whirlwind of praise from below to above
An outpouring of heartfelt admiration from earth to heaven
Take flight in the sky got wings like a dove
Ascending towards the heavens with the freedom and grace of a dove
Soaring to shamayim (Heaven) where the angels call in love
Rising up to heaven where the angels sing songs of love and adoration
And the glory of Hashem fits like a glove
The magnificence of the divine fits perfectly into my life, like a well-fitted glove
Hashem rules the world and Israel is his wife
You are the ruler of the universe and Israel is your beloved partner
Love you yes my G-d with all my heart my soul and my might
My love for you, my G-d, is all-encompassing and unwavering
When I feel you by my side yes I'm flying like a kite
When I feel your presence with me, I soar with joy and freedom, like a kite in the sky
You open up my eyes and give me sight
You grant me clarity and understanding
Super energized and everyday I feel you give me life
I am filled with energy and vitality each day, as I feel you infuse me with life
I seen the ways of the world intoxifying on pride
I have witnessed the world's allurements, which are often vain and prideful
Young man don't you know drugs impurify your mind
Young man, be aware that drugs corrupt and defile the mind
When Israel left mitzrayim four fifths got left behind
When Israel left Egypt, four-fifths of the people were unable to leave the bondage of their own minds
If you got no water how you gonna survive
Without the life-giving sustenance of water, survival is impossible
Roots lead you to the well springs so you could stay alive
By following our roots, we find the source of vitality that sustains us
Pharaoh claimed to be a G-d and claimed to make the Nile
Pharaoh arrogantly claimed to be a deity and took credit for the Nile's sustenance
A crocodile could smile and show his teeth
Even a seemingly harmless creature like a crocodile can be deceiving and dangerous
You could see beauty shining externally but that's the story of Greece
Appearances can be deceiving, as Greece demonstrated with its culture of external beauty over internal substance
Inside America bleeds, Israel won't you get up from your knees
America suffers from internalized pain and strife, and Israel is urged to stand up and act
Its just lies in disguise Torah's truth won't you please realize
The world is full of deception, but the truth of the Torah is what we must seek and embrace
Given to the humble one on Mt. Sinai
The Torah was given to the person of utmost humility on Mount Sinai
Shma why'sroel, Hashem Elokainu, Hashem Echad
Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord is one
The world could just crumble to dust its just us it's not two it's just one
The world's success or failure is dependent on us as a unified force, not as separate individuals
The middle road called truth, Torah you sooth my brain bruise
The path of truth offers a calming balm for my troubled mind
Open up peruse with knowledge of G-d
Expanding my understanding of the divine through study and reflection
And move up an arousal from below till the secrets start to ooze
By connecting with the divine, I am able to access new levels of understanding and insight
Don't snooze it's pure light the most high wants us alive
Don't miss out on the opportunity to experience divine radiance, as it is the life force that sustains us
What's the proof?
What evidence is there for this claim?
We got life!
The proof is our very existence and the vitality within us
Chabad philosophy that's the deepest well-spring
The teachings of Chabad offer the richest source of divine knowledge and understanding
Gaining knowledge of G-d while your gaining money
One can acquire wealth while simultaneously enriching their understanding of the divine
Fill up yourself with the light of his majesty
Immerse yourself in the divine radiance and beauty
In a world of separation that's the only way to be
In a world that often divides us, connecting with the divine is the only path to true unity
It's time we leave we won't flee just walk out easily
It's time for us to move away from what holds us down, but we will do so calmly and confidently
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Edwel B Abuan
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