It’s 21st-century international music inspired by reggae, rock, rap, hip-hop, and Hasidism.

Matisyahu – “King Without a Crown”

“King Without a Crown” (2004, 2006)

The song “King Without A Crown"  has been classified widely as Hasidic reggae and reggae fusion. If I were to categorize it, I’d probably call it something like “21st-century international reggae.”  Regardless of classification, it became Matisyahu’s biggest hit.

Remixed-up Youth

This version is from Matisyahu’s second album, “Youth,”  from 2006. The original version had appeared on his debut album in 2004. Several other versions exist, including a live version recorded in Texas, and a bonus remix by Mike D of the Beastie Boys.

Matisyahu

Matisyahu (Matthew Paul Miller) is a Hasidic reggae singer / Jewish-American alternative musician. Known primarily for his reggae and reggae fusion music, he also works in rock and hip-hop.   

The Quill of the Soul

Having been raised a Reconstructionst Jew, Matisyahu subsequently explored and espoused several other branches of Judaism. Those detours included periods of rebelling against Judaism, becoming a Phish-head, and experimenting with drugs. Eventually, Matisyahu realized that identifying with one particular sect left him feeling “boxed in.”   

In line with Hasidic beliefs, he considers music to be “the quill of the soul.” 

Given the breadth of his influences, we might want to call his music something like “21st-century international music inspired by reggae, rock, rap, hip-hop, and Hasidism.”   _{(Image source)}

Zee you're all that I have and you're all that I need
Each and every day, I pray to get to know you please
I want to be close to you, yes I'm so hungry
You're like water for my soul when it gets thirsty
Without you, there's no me
You're the air that I breathe
Say sometimes the world is dark and I just can't see
With these, demons surround all around to bring me down to negativity
But I believe, yes I believe, I said I believe
I'll stand on my own two feet
Won't be brought down on one knee
Fight with all of my might and get these demons to flee
Hashem's rays fire blaze burn bright and I believe
Hashem's rays fire blaze burn bright and I believe
Out of darkness comes light, twilight unto the heights
Crown Heights burnin' up all through till twilight
Said, thank you to my God, now I finally got it right
And I'll fight with all of my heart, and all a' my soul, and all a' my might

What's this feeling? My love will rip a hole in the ceiling
Givin' myself to you now from the essence of my being
And I sing to my God, songs of love and healing
I want Moshiach now, time it starts revealing
What's this feeling?
My love will rip a hole in the ceiling
Givin' myself to you now from the essence of my being
And I sing to my God, songs of love and healing
I want Moshiach now. Ya

Strip away the layers and reveal your soul
Got to give yourself up and then you become whole
You're a slave to yourself and you don't even know
Want to live the fast life but your brain moves slow
If you're trying to stay high then you're bound to stay low
You want God but you couldn't deflate your ego
If you're already there then there's nowhere to go
If you're cup's already full then its bound to overflow
If you're drowning in the water's and you can't stay afloat
Ask Hashem for mercy and he'll throw you a rope
Looking for help from God you say he couldn't be found
Searching up to the sky and looking beneath the ground
Like a King without his Crown
Yes, you keep fallin' down
You really want to live but can't get rid of your frown
You try to reach unto the heights and wound bound down on the ground
Given up your pride and the you heard a sound
Out of night comes day and out of day comes light
Said nullified to the One like sunlight in a ray,
Make room for his love and a fire gone blaze     [x 2]

Yah yah, yah yah yo yah yah...

Yo     [x13]

And see, I lift up my eyes where my help come from
And I seen it circling around from the mountain
Thunder!
You feel it in your chest
You keep my mind at ease and my soul at rest
You're not vexed

When I look to the sky where my help come from
And I've seen it circling around from the mountain
Thunder!
You feel it in your chest

Ziggy-yiggy-yo viggy-yiggy-yo
Said Thunder!
You feel it in your, I feel it in your, Thunder!     [x 2]

You feel it in your, I feel it in your,
Yo ho ho..ah!
Woo!

What's this feeling?
My love will rip a hole in the ceiling
Givin' myself to you from the essence of my being
Sing to my God (wah, ha ha ...)

Zee wah yo
Zee wah yo ho ...
Ho yo ...
Zyeh yo ho ho
Yah!   _{(Image source)}
Lyrics by Matthew Miller, Josh D Werner, courtesy of – AZLyrics.com
Reference – Wikipedia
Reference – Wikipedia

Into your ears … through 5 channels

 The various posts are categorized into 5 channels _{(Right-Click to see details)}
         1 – “Music to Your Ears” (MTYE)
         2 – “Cover Versions”
         3 – “Honor Roll”
         4 – “Documentaries”
         5 – “Mock’n’Roll”

More “Music to Your Ears” ...

          Previous posts in this series – "MTYE posts 1–20"  

Links to my other series ...

          Lou Reed – "Anthology of Memorable Lyrics, Part 1"
          Lou Reed – "Anthology of Memorable Lyrics, Part 2"

          Great Lyrics, a compilation – “Part One – My Lyrics Posts 3~30”
          Great Lyrics, a compilation – “Part Two – My Lyrics Posts 31~60”  

          Vocab-Ability – "Introduction to Vocab-Ability"  
          Vocab-Ability – "Index"  to all Chapters and Sections  

          Notes from Under the Tatami Mats – "Part One – Notes 1~50"  
          Notes from Under the Tatami Mats – "Part Two – Notes 51~87"