Hassidic Hip-Hop Reggae

I love this song by Matisyahu, as he expresses views of G-d from his Orthodox Judaism in a way that I think many Christians could really learn from.  (I'm using "G-d" in this post to be respectful for his tradition.)  

He talks about G-d as water for his soul and the very air that he breathes.  He thanks G-d with joy and passion.  He expresses how the love he feels out of this relationship is so big that walls cannot contain it -- it will rip a hole in the ceiling!  In response, he gives himself to G-d from "the essence of his being" and sings songs of "songs of love and healing".  

How beautiful and powerful!

He also talks about our need to strip away our ego and the things that hinder our relationship with G-d.  Our pride keeps us from relying on G-d.  It's a great reminder at this point more than half-way through Lent that once we've been introspective and identified the ways we wall off G-d, we need to strip them away!  We need to release ourselves into G-d's care and allow our joy to overcome us -- to bubble out in song and in loving action towards those around us!

Take a listen: 

Lyrics - "King without a Crown" by Matisyahu

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

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 G-d, 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

[Chorus:]  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 G-d all these songs of love and healing

Want Moshiach now so it's time we start revealing

[repeat]

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

You 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 G-d but you can'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

You're looking for help from G-d 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

Tried to reach unto the heights and wound bound down on the ground

Given up your pride and then you heard a sound

Out of night comes day and out of day comes light

Nullified to the One like sunlight in a ray,

Makin' room for his love and a fire gone blaze

[Chorus]

So I lift up my eyes where my help comes from

And I seen it circling around from the moutain

Thunder! You feel it in your chest 

You keep my mind at ease and my soul at rest

You're not vexed

I look to the sky where my help come from

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