Dave Matthews Band - Live Song Debut - Lying in the Hands of God

[jryan5646]

Whether Dave believes in God or not is totally irrelevant. He has in fact stated that he does not believe, at least in a personal God, but like said, irrelevant. Dave is an artist, it is the artist's job to capture that which connects to the imagery in our psyche. To bring out concepts that fulfill us as individuals what ever our beliefs are, because deep down they all come from the same place. A quest for understanding, inner transformation and fulfillment in life. Dave does just this.

[ireland1014]

he is not an athiest, he is agnostic. there is a difference



[danielSfishkind]

I cannot imagine an atheist writing a song with these lyrics. Do atheists even sing?

[pjdmb41]

@danielSfishkind slayer



[danielSfishkind]

I cannot imagine an atheist writing a song with these lyrics. Do atheists even sing?

[1KHENTtgha]

:-)

[headstock48]

The song is obviously about a guy who is madly in love with a woman. And in typical Dave fashion, he's taking some kind of risk in being with her, so the relationship has an element of pain.

[KnowThatCode]

I am due for another live Dave show!

[diefuchsjagden]

the lyrics are about leroi dying and dave basically asking him why the fuck he did it to himself.....look in the lyrics, its there

[D1ORIGINAL]

I agree with the sex VS Religion theory: he does say "save your sermons, for someone thats afraid to love".

great song, love it!

[swampsojersey]

great point RythymRiff. Music is whatever you want it to be.

[sjbrimmer]

Also, Leroi was still alive when the song was written and composed (spring '08), and on stage before his accident when Dave sang the lyrics 6/14/08. Leroi plays sax on the GrooGrux record, so his passing didn't inspire the song.

[RhythmRiff]

a song affects every single person differently, lets just enjoy our version in our head.

[MatthewReynoldsMusic]

I hate to burst your bubble but in last month's issue of Total Guitar Magazine, Dave was interviewed and categorically stated 'I do not believe in God'. I had wondered about his religious leanings myself, and now I know. And my interpretation of this song is that it is actually about religion's fear of sex, among other things. Listen carefully to the chorus. He's saying 'save it for the fearful, Im here eperiening something beautiful'.

[loveshack7]

For someone who doesn't believe in God, he sure sings about Him a lot.

[allergymonk]

@loveshack7 Indeed

[awf9287]

Correction: he's agnostic. Well known fact. And I understand why. He's lost. His sister was murdered by her husband in a muder-suicide. His father died of cancer when he was old enough to comprehend loss. One of his four best friends pretty recently died. Dave Matthews is in pain.

[spudchabaz]

@MatthewReynoldsMusic It would seem you really enjoyed bursting his bubble. You shouldnt take such pride in clarifying somones faith or lack there of. And I say this as an agnostic.

[MusicIhave]

i think its rather ironic that the first time i heard this song i thought the chorus was saying "Savior, someone.." when the words are actually "Save your sermons.." if thats what he meant to happen then thats some pretty deep stuff right there

[BiZZiEBucKZ]

It is nice and refreshing to see intelligent comments on youtube for once...

Gotta love DMB and all the fans.

[022100E]

@BiZZiEBucKZ - hey no kidding. Usually all hate and no sense.

[headstock48]

@BiZZiEBucKZ Well, in my humble opinion, this is one of the few music sites where you won't find a bunch of sophomoric bicking. Good stuff.

[Scarr420]

Wow what a beautiful rendition of this song. Why are people arguing about knowing Dave when all you need to know is that this is beautiful and we are lucky to get to hear it? Part of what makes art so great is that each has their own interpretation.

[DMB41TwoStep]

i was thereee

[redbougainvillea]

I actually interpret the lyrics to mean that he has found "God" in his lover and in loving here on earth and that those who preach can save their sermons. This doesn't mean he is or isn't an atheist (I have no idea what his beliefs are), but that one can find "God" in every moment of life.

[dmbfan306]

He is actually agnostic. In case you did want to know.

[nmoney53]

@redbougainvillea totally agree with you that is how i interpreted them also, either way this is one of the best EVER songs by him....so beautiful

[PadmeDorje1]

@redbougainvillea

Exactly, I felt that was the message he was trying to get across....bloody religious types can..well you know...

[stanious]

You're right, most people are simply forming opinions on incomplete information, but Dave has given a number of interviews over the years; he's had the chance to represent himself in his own words. One might argue that he's been insincere, or that the interviewer unfairly edits his words, but then that could go for all interviews, all statements and all documentation, Dave or otherwise. We can't know him like his wife does, but it seems reasonable to take him at his word when he offers it.

[swartd1]

I'm of the opinion that anyone who is silly enough to attempt to state FACT about Dave (any other musician, celebrity, etc) just sounds silly. I can create a web page stating that blue is red, and up is down; doesn't mean it's true.

To be clear, I'm not dis/agreeing with anyone. It ALL sounds silly.

[stanious]

Blue is red? Wow, that's profound, is that supposed to be analogous? And how exactly does history work? Maybe you think nothing can ever be known, or maybe you were drunk when you made this post.

[swartd1]

I*m sorry, I should have pointed out that I was using a couple analogies in order to simplify my point.

No, I wasn*t intoxicated. Simply self-aware enough to know that no matter how closely/long/intimately I follow Dave and his music, I do not know him. I may form an opinion of the person I believe him to be, but saying something like, *Dave is,* or *Dave does(nt)* without the phrase, *I (dont) think,* preceding it seems silly to me.

Did my comment offend you in some way?

[Martofla]

Another new TEMAZO... in porteño means that is fuck

in awesome

[violiny]

fuck this song is so good. Better not live, but jesus, what a song.

[fliphkd4293]

Its probably not better live in this video because I'm pretty sure Dave has a cold. But yeah, this song is fucking brilliant.

[watwatindabutt69]

in his new album the drum beats are very... whats the word... different. especially in the song dive in

[summer4autumn]

I think this song is about atheism.

It's anti-atheism.

Very.

[ilovemanitees]

this is a first, dmb sounding better on the album, instead of live. theres a first for everything. huge gay fan of them all. im married.

[aurchis13]

:-/ ....where's boyd? he's on less than half of the new songs

[gmerrill64]

I totally agree, he did arrange a lot of the orchestral arrangements on the new songs though

[FAYMprod]

@ 7:21 Dave kind of delivers the title like Forrest Gump.

[mbass081]

My wife said that about him a little while ago. Adult autism?

[swilber08]

nah thats dave being dave lol

[C4D2]

adult autism? i don't know where that came from cuz dave is a musical genius.

[Davec775]

lol good one

[FAYMprod]

thanks. this is my favorite cut on the new album.

[vhfan87]

I was there saturday. Absolutely amazing show and this song was great.

[jxlac]

uhhhh i was there friday and not saturday! i wanted him to play this so badlyy!

[minisight2000]

great song!

[marchingant88]

does anyone know what he means when he says "I really should call my mother"?

[diadus]

It's a song about a serial killer, the mother line, along with the line about pulling wings off a butterfly, are references to the unusual behavioral patterns often exhibited in serial killers. Seems like Dave has been reading about Ed Gein, among others.

[D10Teich]

where did u get the serial killer thing from.

[Craigm1841]

What!?!?!? that is a stretch if i have ever heard one.

[alonsondo]

This song is most definitely not about a serial killer

[swilber08]

agreed

[diadus]

Let me guess, you think this song is actually about god, no wait, you think it's about god & love ... well Dave doesn't believe in god, sorry to disappoint. Try google or something, knowledge tends to work better than opinions.

[davembfan85]

dave's also known to be sarcastic about "important" issues. If I were him, I'd try to keep people guessing as much as possible, and I think he does a good job, and I think you're one of those people that's not as knowledgeable of the facts as you think you are, and is still guessing :X

[diadus]

Lucky for us you're not Dave, that would really suck. But I do love the raw emotion and mental gymnastics, please don't change.

[tomlynch1975]

Thankfully you're not Dave either.

[diadus]

Don't be so emotional Tom, just take a second prozac next time.

[mwschmi]

hahahahaha

[tomlynch1975]

Knowledge is power, and you my friend . . are powerless.  Seriously.

[tomlynch1975]

You really don't know Dave. You should consider getting your head checked out to see what your obsession is with serial killers. Cause you're also nuts if you think Dave doesn't believe in a higher power. I'd explain to you what the song is really about, but I don't think you are capable of grasping the idea.

[Ghostman1966]

I agree Tom. Your points are well presented. I have to agree with you on all points... except that I think Diadus has a point... Dave has professed to being agnostic. 2005/2006 era. He admitted to questioning is religious beliefs. But Diadus, that seems to be the point here, what Tom is saying. Dave grew up a Quaker, a Christian up-bringing. In the years leading up to his statement of agnosticism, Dave was drinking heavily, and I'm sure getting by on other things too. A dark time for him.

[Ghostman1966]

He was given an ultimatum by Carter and Leroy. Either it's quits or we put our heads back into it. No one really knows what was going on with Dave leading up to Leroy's death, but what I think is that his death eventually sparked something with Dave, to re-consider his faith and realized that whatever he's feeling, whether he knows what that is 100% or not, something *is* happening within him. I don't claim to know Dave in any way, except that he really is a normal person.

[Ghostman1966]

My wife and I saw DMB in Toronto this year for the first time. He seems clean, sober, and completely focused on performing. Something good has happened to him... and maybe this beautiful song... truly about letting God direct your life, is a testimony to where he was, and where he is not. Matthews wrote the song "What you are". In this we see an agnostic. He also wrote "Lying in the Hands of God". In this, we cannot deny, we see a believer. Cheers

[sjbrimmer]

Ghostman, you argue that sometime in between writing What you Are and Lying in the Hands of God, he "let God direct his life." One year before this performance (in Hartford '08) he sang lyrics from the then unreleased LIHOG directly into What You Are. Doesn't this suggest a middle ground, such as, he has always believed in a divinity spiritually but not religiously?

[420TheDudeAbides]

I love this song & album.Some of DMB's BEST work to date.

[gh0709]

I wish i was there!!

[Mrsully51693]

i was haha

[musicmeanlife]

it has been soooooooo long time since i have heared words voice and music touch me that deep . i cant even stop listen

Fillin' me up, now drain me

Skin begins to grow back slowly,

faster until I'm choking.

I'll be right here lying in the hands of God.

[segrantz]

Yea, does anyone know who the taper was?

[bigsho22288]

Grepson taped it

[fergusonat]

Best new song.

[jm31dmb]

agreed! great live too!

[Giffdev]

great recording for youtube quality :)

[Petesheeah]

amazing

[Faz517xx13]

who recorded this....the quality is crazyyyy good

[dmbcubs4041]

this is gonna turn into a monster live

[Kawigreen]

Fuck yea! Awesome

[letfordg]

amazing...love this song!

[andybeerboobs]

this song is wonderful live.

[mikeybabies]

love this song

[jsbdmb21]

wow.

unbelievable.