The Dave Matthews Band
Peter Carter
ENGL 1100.47

Throughout my life, written literature such as books, magazines, and poems haven’t greatly affected my life. Growing up and making my way through grade school, English classes, as well as the reading that went along with them, never seemed to appeal to me. Reading never really seemed to be a concern of mine, and I can remember rare occasions where I have read for the mere pleasure of enjoying a piece of literature. Although the written literature found in books may not appeal to me, the spoken literature in song lyrics has played an important role in my life, and the development of my character.

To me, the spoken word has much more power and influence, rather than the written word. Through the written word, there are several ways to interpret what the author is trying to say. Although the same may be true for the spoken word to some degree, I believe that the spoken word has much more clarity within it. I believe that song lyrics have a better appeal to me that written literature because they are spoken and seem much more powerful to me. Another aspect of song lyrics that makes them appealing for me is the rhythm and lyrical patterns within the song. I believe that it is the lyrical pattern and rhythm of these songs that allows me to maintain focus on them, and enjoy the words. In order for someone to get the full message out of a piece of literature they must enjoy it and be able to relate to it, and for me it is through the lyrics of a song that I relate with literature.

My favorite artist whose words have greatly affected me is Dave Matthews. His band, The Dave Matthews Band, is an alternative rock band and has a unique style of music. This band uses electric and acoustic guitars, bass guitar, violin, saxophone, and an electric keyboard in their songs. With all of these instruments being played, it gives the band a sound that is unlike any other band out there, except for those who have tried to copy their style, and have failed in doing so. However, what makes them above and beyond every other band is the unique voice that Dave Matthews has. Every one of their songs has its own style to it, and the lyrics of them have greatly affected my life, and my view on literature. My good friend Billy first introduced me to The Dave Matthews Band in my freshman year of high school. He told me that he had found a new band that was unlike anything he had ever heard. It wasn’t long after that day that The Dave Matthews Band became my favorite band.

The lyrics of The Dave Matthews Band’s songs are powerful and relay a message to his listeners. One of my favorite songs, "Big Eyed Fish," shows how the grass is not always greener on the other side. The first verse of the song,

Look at this big eyed fish swimming in the sea
oh how he dreams to be a bird swoop and diving through the breeze
so one day caught a big old wave up on to the beach
now he’s dead you see beneath the sea is where a fish should be,

has shown me how one should love what one has and don’t try to be anything one is not. These lyrics imply that in order to survive, one should stay true to oneself, and stay within one’s element. The chorus of this song, "but oh God/ under the weight of life/ things seem so much better on the other side," also supports these messages and makes me realize the importance of all I have and accept who I am.

Another Dave Matthews song that has importance in my life is "Digging a Ditch." The main rift of this song is:

Run to your dreaming when you’re alone
unplug the TV and turn off your phone
get heavy on with digging your ditch.
Cause I’m digging a ditch where madness gives a bit
digging a ditch where silence lives
digging a ditch for when I’m old
digging this ditch my story’s told.

This song shows how sometimes we all need time to ourselves, and the "ditch" is a place where one can go to just get away from everything. In the song, it says,

where all these troubles weigh down on me will rise
run to your dreaming when you alone
where all these questions spinning round my head
will die, will die, will die.

All of his worries and troubles disappear when he is at this "ditch," and I alike, sometimes need to get away from what is bothering me and let my troubles slip away. I believe that I can relate to this song because there have been times when I need to be alone, and this song helps me get there.

Another great song that deals with troubles or worries is "Panta Naga Pampa." This is a very short, fast up beat song, that relays a very strong and important message to me. The only lyrics of the song are:

Come and relax now
lay your troubles down
no need to bear the weight of your worries here
let them all fall away.

I believe that this song is very straight to the point. I think it is saying that there is no need to carry all of your stress and worries in your head. It is saying how useless it is, and how it does nothing for you to sit and worry about something. With all of the stress that is going on in my life, this song really helps me to put it all in perspective, and help me to realize what is really important in life.

One of my favorite songs that also has a very powerful message is "Tripping Billies." This song addresses how one should live life to its fullest and have no regrets. My favorite lyric from any Dave Matthews song is "eat drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die". This lyric shows how one should live their life "like there is no tomorrow" and leave nothing behind. I believe that this lyric is implying that no one ever really knows which day is going to be their last, and that everyone should take advantage of all the time they are given. This lyric "let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we shall die" is also found in the bible, in Isaiah 22:13. I believe that the artist, Dave Matthews did a good job at taking a Biblical quote, and molding it into a modern day song. I believe that it gives good meaning to the quote and its carpe diem message. Also in the song, it asks as question that relays another strong message of the importance of friends and loved ones in life: "So why would you care to get out of this place, you and me and all our friends, such a happy human race?" I think this song shows the artist’s love for life, and understanding of what life is. I believe that Dave Matthews sees life as being one day at a time with no guarantees of what the future brings. This song relates to me because I understand the meaning of this song, and I try and live my life with no regrets. I believe that the key to surviving in this world is like the song states, live life to its fullest, because it could be taken away at any time.

The song entitled "Crush" by Dave Matthews has its own style, in that it seems to be more like a poem than a song. This song is unlike any other Dave Matthews song, and I think that is why this is my favorite song of his. It is a slower paced song that touches the emotions of the listener. The emotion in his voice during the song truly makes the song what it is. To me this song shows how the literary aspects within music are just as strong as those in a book or poem. This song is about his love for this "lady" and how he would do anything for her. Dave Matthews uses a good metaphor when he compares this lady to wine. He says in the song,

lovely lady, let me drink you please
wont spill a drop no I promise you
laying under this spell you cast on me
each moment, the more I love you
crush me, come on, oh yeah

there is a strong sense of literature in the lyric as he compares his love to the wine, saying how he won’t spill a drop of it. I think that this lyric shows to me how this song can be more than lyrics. The song uses several literary devices and shows how song lyrics can be a strong type of literature. This song to me is more than just a song because it is showing one man, the artist, professing his love for his lady. I believe that this song can relate to everyone in that, we all have had a "crush," and I think this song goes right along with its title, "Crush." I believe that this is one of The Dave Matthews Band’s best songs in that it can be interpreted in many different ways. One can look at this song as a "crush," as in someone having feelings for another, which definitely goes along with this song. Also, if one looks deeper into this song, they will see that the word "crush" could be referring to the grapes being crushed to make the wine. Perhaps the speaker is even the grapes that are being crushed to make the wine, which happens to be the lady whom he is crushed for. This song shows how literature can be viewed differently by different audiences.

All of these songs, along with there lyrics, have had an important influence on my life. Without these words, I do not believe that I would be where I am today. I have been helped through many hard times, and have had many great times with these lyrics. I used to think that literature had no role in my life, but through the spoken literature in these songs, I have found that literature plays a big role in my life. The Dave Matthews Band has directly affected my life through their musical literature, and has changed my view on literature as a whole. I now have a better understanding of what literature is, and how it is incorporated in my life. I believe that literature has, and will continue to influence me throughout my life.