MATISYAHU

Matthew Paul Miller (born June 30, 1979), better known by his Hebrew name and stage name Matisyahu, is an American Jewish reggae musician. He was born in West Chester, Pennsylvania and grew up in White Plains, New York. When he was in high school he returned to religious observance following a trip to Israel. Upon his return to the U.S., he left school and starting reggae and hip-hop. When he was 19, he moved to New York and enrolled in university at the New School for Social Research and also started attending a synagogue regularly. After meeting with a rabbi, he also decided to change his name to Matisyahu. Since then he divides his time between studying in a yeshiva and performing in New York clubs.

Matisyahu's music, which is a mix of influences ranging from Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach to Bob Marley, can be described as Hasidic reggae that deals mainly with faith in God and brotherhood among people (a characteristic in reggae music of all kinds). Matisyahu frequently deals in his songs with the personal change he underwent and his life as a religious Jew in a modern society.


Here is one of his songs:


And here is the lyrics:
 
One Day
 
Sometimes I lay
under the moon
and thank God I'm breathing
and pray

Don't take me soon
cause I'm here for a reason
Sometimes in my tears I drown
but I never let it get me down
So my negativity surrounds
I know some day it'll all turn around
because

All my live I've been waiting for
I've been praying for
for the people to say
that we dont wanna fight no more
they'll be no more wars
that our children will play
one day

It's not about
win or loose
because we all lose
when they feed on the souls of the innocent
blood drenched pain
keep on moving though the water's staging
in this maze you can lose your way (your way)
it might drive you crazy but dont let it faze you no way (no way)

Sometimes in my tears I drown
but I never let it get me down
so my negativity surrounds
I know some day it'll all turn around
because
All my live I've been waiting for
I've been praying for
for the people to say
that we dont wanna fight no more
they'll be no more wars
that our children will play

one day
one day this all will change
treat poeple the same
stop with the violence
down the the pain
one day we'll all be free

and proud to be
under the same
singing songs of freedom

one day
all my live I've been waiting for
I've been praying for
for the people to say
that we don't wanna fight no more
they'll be no more wars
and our children will play

one day
ooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhh

Here´s another great song: King without a crown