So Hi So Lo

Album: Light (2008)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This Dancehall synth track is from the American Jewish reggae artist Matisyahu's third studio album, Light. The song also appeared on Matisyahu's 2008 EP Shattered. Matisyahu was Hasidic at the time living as an orthodox Jew. In 2011, he shaved his beard, forcing editors everywhere to omit the word "Hasidic" from their descriptions.
  • Matisyahu told Star Pulse that one of the main inspirations for the Shattered EP had been a story called The Seven Beggars written by Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, who lived in the 1800's. He explained: "It's okay not to be familiar with the story since, despite it being a big inspiration, it's only subtly mentioned in the song. The story is of these two children who escape the sacking of their kingdom. They end up spending seven days and nights in the forest. Each night a different beggar comes to them with bread and water, but they won't take them out of the forest. Each beggar has an apparent deficiency that turns out to actually be their advantage in their services to God. There are all these stories within the story. One of the beggars is a hunchback, who is little but carries a lot. And this beggar knows of a tree that's on the side of a road to nowhere. It casts a shade that has a place for every creature in the world. For every bird a spot on its branch. At the end of that song, it says like, 'I am searching for the shade of the tree, I heard about it in the breeze, they say it exists at the side of the road, which road nobody was told.' That's one aspect of the song, but it's multi dimensional. There's also the idea of extremities and going from a high to low place, or of being in the process of high being low."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Michael W. Smith

Michael W. SmithSongwriter Interviews

Smith breaks down some of his worship tracks as well as his mainstream hits, including "I Will Be Here For You" and "A Place In This World."

Verdine White of Earth, Wind & Fire

Verdine White of Earth, Wind & FireSongwriter Interviews

The longtime bassist of Earth, Wind & Fire discusses how his band came to do a holiday album, and offers insight into some of the greatest dance/soul tunes of all-time.

Concert Disasters

Concert DisastersFact or Fiction

Ozzy biting a dove? Alice Cooper causing mayhem with a chicken? Creed so bad they were sued? See if you can spot the real concert mishaps.

Oliver Leiber

Oliver LeiberSongwriter Interviews

Oliver Leiber talks about writing and producing hits for Paula Abdul, and explains his complicated relationship with his father, the songwriter Jerry Leiber.

The Real Nick Drake

The Real Nick DrakeSong Writing

The head of Drake's estate shares his insights on the late folk singer's life and music.

Francesca Battistelli

Francesca BattistelliSongwriter Interviews

The 2011 Artist of the Year at the Dove Awards isn't your typical gospel diva, and she thinks that's a good thing.