Dave Matthews quotes:

When I listen to my favorite songwriters, they have such simple melodies and chords. I occasionally manage to stop at the right time, but all too often I keep on going until I have way too many notes and words. But that's just what I do.

The saddest part of the human race is we're obsessed with this idea of 'us and them,' which is really a no-win situation, whether it's racial, cultural, religious or political.

It's a melting pot, southern Africa. You find these cultural collisions that result in art and music, and it's pretty amazing.

The reason I play music is to touch people - for selfish reasons, as well. It feels good to make someone else feel something, whether it's a kiss, a painting, good idea or it's a song.

I fear that our true motivation is about oil and our own flailing economy; about the failure to destroy Al Qaeda and about revenge.

I do still get shocked every once in a while when I catch my reflection when I'm walking past a glass building, but it's in my mind about getting older and finding out what I'm going to look like as it unfolds - or as it folds, depending on where the marks and scars land.

A guy and a girl can be just friends, but at one point or another, they will fall for each other... maybe temporarily, maybe at the wrong time, maybe too late, or maybe forever.

Nothing is black or white, nothing's 'us or them.' But then there are magical, beautiful things in the world. There's incredible acts of kindness and bravery, and in the most unlikely places, and it gives you hope.

A friend is always good to have, but a lover's kiss is better than angels raining down on me.

South Africa gives me a perspective of what's real and what's not real. So I go back to South Africa to both lose myself and gain awareness of myself. Every time I go back, it doesn't take long for me to get caught into a very different thing. A very different sense of myself.

We give the podium to a lot of people who shouldn't have the podium. The message that's delivered the loudest and in the most entertaining way is the one that we're going to put on because that's what we want. We want ratings more than we want to deliver information. That's just where the culture's gotten.

Well, I've been in a few car wrecks.

I think I am a very kind person. I think I'm joyful, but I could be kinder and I could be more joyful. I do believe peace is a state of grace, and not the absence of violence.

There's a freedom to being young that is harder to come by as time goes on.

It's funny, I get a little quieter with time. I don't want to chase my tail and one day repeat myself and repeat myself and one day have kids going to college and not have memories that I should, because I was too busy doing my thing.

I don't believe in trickle-down economics. I don't think that people who have the most are inclined to share it, generally.

I was regularly advised not to go into music, that I should give up that foolish dream.

Success turns a lot of people off. I have a pretty solid sense of joy and respect that irritates people, and can irritate me, too.

For me, in songwriting, I have a route I can take. Maybe there's some forks, I can go this way, this way. But I know those roads. I still have the experience behind me.

I'm partly obsessed by aging gracefully.

I'm a fairly tormented artist, and I'm less willing to indulge myself in self-pity, outside of songwriting.

Good music is good music, and everything else can go to hell.

Being able to scream at the top of my lungs in front of people is very therapeutic. It is a great gift for me to be able to do that.

We have to be active about kindness and about peace. I've always fantasized that it would be great if there was a Department of Peace.

I use God in my songs a lot but I don't have a relationship. I don't know what that means.

The saddest part of the human race is we're obsessed with this idea of 'us and them,' which is really a no-win situation, whether it's racial, cultural, religious or political."

There's war - there's always been war, as long as most of us have been alive. There have always been people being abused, there's always been horrible things in the world. Why are we outraged? We should just be quiet and figure it out, and work it out together.

People in every direction No words exchanged No time to exchange And all the little ants are marching Red and black antennas waving They all do it the same We all do it the same way

I don't think socialism, and I don't think warmness and respect are necessarily bad words.

I find a therapy in playing music, in many different ways.

I always like to have an atlas just so that I can find things out. It's always good to have an almanac; those sort of things.

If I go before I'm old, Oh brother of mine please don't forget me if I go. Bartender please, fill my glass for me? With the wine you gave Jesus that set him free, after three days in the ground.

We've never played at this place before. This place is big, and I'm kinda nervous, so we're going to make it feel small by pretending we're in a... bedroom. We'll hang off the edge of the bed, take off our shoes and get naked!

Tomorrow is no place to place your better days.

Are you looking for answers, to questions under the stars? If along the way you are growing weary, You can rest with me until a brighter day It's okay

The brightest star on a cloudless night Some kind of miracle, almost empty sky... Just as the bite of the blade wakes the absent mind There's time to dream and there's time to open your eyes

Excuse me please, one more drink Could you make it strong cause I don't need to think She broke my heart, my grace is gone One more drink and I'll move on.

I don't feel like I'm standing in a position where I have some right above other people to say what I think. We should all be talking to each other about what we think is important - whether we're in politics, or whether we're checking out at a grocery store. We shouldn't put walls up between each other.

Dark clouds may hang on me sometimes, but I'll work it out...

I like to think I'm a night person, because that's my job, but now I'm a father of three. I'm trying to become more of a morning person. I don't know if it will last. I have two choices, right? Either I'm bitter about getting up early, or I start drinking wine earlier and get to bed.

I'll lean on you and you lean on me and we'll be okay.

I can't believe that we would lie in our graves wondering if we had spent our living days well. I can't believe that we would lie in our graves dreaming of things that we might have been.

I am who I am who I am who am I Requesting some enlightenment Could I have been anyone other than me?

I believe in love, but believe it's love that keeps beating me down.

I'm glad some people have that faith. I don't have that faith. If there is a God, a caring God, then we have to figure he's done an extraordinary job of making a very cruel world.

I see you young and soft oh little baby Little feet, little hands, little baby One year of crying and the words creep up inside Creep into your mind So much to say

A dream is a massive magic trick of the mind. No amount of science could explain away the mysterious wonder.

It is criminal to put our servicemen and women in harm's way and to put the lives of so many civilians on the line for the misguided frustrations of the Bush administration.

I want to figure out a way to not be stupid with money, then make a whole bunch of it, then I want to move to Outer Mongolia. I want to milk a yak. Maybe I'll just settle for a cow.

I definitely like the oddballs. There's a song called 'Little Thing,' which is the only song that I have recorded that has no words. And it's the one that I get past my critic inside me.

I don't think everything is going to get peachy ever. But I think we have to fight for what we believe in.

Satellite in my eyes Like a diamond in the sky How I wonder Satellite strung from the moon And the world your balloon Peeping Tom for the mother station

So I watched the Pink Panther last night, and so I'm trying desperately to be funny, and then it's just not working out so good... I wonder if maybe I could've been a comedian or something like that, or maybe I could've been a doctor, then I wouldn't have to make anyone laugh.

The world and the universe are far more wonderful if there's not a puppet master.

The idea of God as a fatherly figure who looks down on us and worries about how we're doing or takes sides when we have fights - it's more irritating than Santa Claus. The world and the universe are far more wonderful if there's not a puppet master.

I found there's a fairly blatant racism in America that's already there, and I don't think I noticed it when I lived here as a kid. But when I went back to South Africa, and then it's sort of thrust in your face, and then came back here - I just see it everywhere.

In so many areas of life, I'm a spaz and incompetent.

Look, here are we on this starry night staring into space, and I must say I feel as small as dust lying down here.

Goodnight moon. Sweet dreams. Smile kindly upon this little blue gum ball of us while we sleep.

Would you not like to be, sittin' on top of the world with your legs hanging free?

I hope that just what I sing about and how I relate to my audience is as much of a political statement as I need to make.

So often we talk about saving the planet, but what we really mean is to save the planet the way it is, so we can live here. So that is can sustain us. Because the planet doesn't need to be saved. It doesn't care if all the squirrels, elephants, and trees die and there's just a couple of amoebas floating around at the poles.

But then there are magical, beautiful things in the world. There's incredible acts of kindness and bravery, and in the most unlikely places, and it gives you hope.

I think some people would say that I do overwhelm the words with the music, and sometimes thank goodness I do.

When I look at how fortunate I've been, being a musician... my response to being overpaid is that I should pay it back to my community in some way.

I've never been much of a craftsman, in an educated way. But I think just the experience of writing makes the avenues I follow a little more efficient in some ways. At the same time, when you're young, you're a little more fearless, and there's less of an internal critic.

I'm a bit of a caveman - I don't go out into the digital space very often. I lie facedown on the grass and count how many bugs I can find.

A lot of the time, I write a lot of angry stuff, but then I don't want to be a finger-pointer - I'd rather be a cheerleader than a judge. I don't want to preach as if I'm in some position of righteousness, but I do want to speak my mind and scream at the clouds and shout out of the pit of hopelessness that I sometimes think the human race is in.

I'm familiar with that feeling of silence that comes with a very imminent catastrophe, when you know you have absolutely no control over a situation.

I think I'm probably a very sad man wrapped in a very joyful package, and I think I'm very resilient, and I think I'm quite generous, sometimes to a fault. And I'm very bad with money, but I don't see that too much of a flaw.

If I find something I like, I'll chase it and see what comes out the other side. Once a song gets momentum and gets away from you, that's a good sign.

So often we talk about saving the planet, but what we really mean is to save the planet the way it is, so we can live here. So that is can sustain us.

I want to figure out a way to not be stupid with money, then make a whole bunch of it, then I want to move to Outer Mongolia. I want to milk a yak. Maybe I'll just settle for a cow. Can you milk a bison?

I think we should all talk to our enemies and talk to our friends. Talk! That's the only way we'll find solutions.

Turns out, not where, but who you're with that really matters.

I hate to admit it, but we're badass.

Because life is short but sweet for certain

One sweet world Around this star is spinning One sweet world And in her breath I'm swimming And here we will rest in peace

When I don't say a word and you know exactly what I mean...

What I want is what I've not got, but what I need is all around me

To change the world, Start with one step. However small, the first step is hardest of all.

How could I have been anyone other than me?

You crush me with the things you do, I do for anything too...each moment the more I love you.

A vote for change is a vote for a stronger, safer, healthier America. A vote for Bush is a vote for a divided, unstable, paranoid America. It is our duty to this beautiful land to let our voices be heard. That's the reason for the tour. That's why I'm doing it.

I think we have to be active in teaching our children, and teaching each other. We have to be active about kindness and about peace. I've always fantasized that it would be great if there was a Department of Peace. We have a military, but what if there was a department devoted entirely and truthfully to finding peaceful resolutions?

My songs are like a three-legged dog - you have to get to know them to have any love for them.

The idea that we're somehow centrally important to the planet's existence is pretty comical - although I'd like us to be.

Troubles, they may come and go, but good times, they're the gold.

Some might tell you there's no hope in hand Just because they feel hopeless But you don't have to be a thing like that You be a ship in a bottle set sail

Take what you can from your dreams, make them as real as anything.

So why would you care To get out of this place? You and me and all our friends, Such a happy human race. Eat, drink and be merry, For tomorrow we die.

I grew up in a very politically aware family. My mother always taught me to question everything, never believing anything simply at face value - especially the nicest, most adamant politicians.

I'm from a very politically and socially conscious family. My mother always made a point of making us look at what was going on around us and take stock of our part in it.

I go back to South Africa at least once a year, sometimes twice, and usually for a month. And probably, I'm guessing, I'll spend more time back there as I get older.

Just knowing that the world is round Here I'm dancing on the ground Am I right side up or upside down? Is this real or am I dreaming?

Look Here are we On this starry night staring into space And I must say I feel as small as dust Lying down here What point could there be troubling? Head down wondering what will Become of me Why concern we cannot see But no reason to abandon it Time is short but that's all right Maybe I'll go in the middle of the night Take your hands from your eyes, my love Everything must end some time Don't burn the day away

How we can stay faithful to the people that have supported us from the beginning is a thought in my mind. I always want to keep that part of it alive.

Take these chances Place them in a box until a quieter time Lights down, you up and die

My voice is soft, but oh, my heart roars!

For a moment this good time would never end You and me Just wasting time I was kissing you You were kissing me love From good day into a moonlight

I swear by now I'm playing time against my troubles I'm coming slow but speeding

Don't convince yourself you're over, don't convince yourself you're done, just because the things around you seem heavy, doesn't mean you can't get off this ground.

I'm only this far, and only tomorrow leads my way.

If you've got a question just get in line 'Cause my intentions are to make you mine I'll take care of everything All you need, friend, is right here ..... And if you're lost I will find your way Give me your soul, friend, it's okay

Yorke's lyrics make me want to give up. I could never in my wildest dreams find something as beautiful as they find for a single song - let alone album after album.

When you can no longer differentiate between the insanity spewed onto the blank page, and the madness evident in the all-but shattered mirror...that's when you know you're doing it right.

Six senses keeping Five around a sense of self

I was just wondering if you'd come along to hold up my head when my head won't hold on.

I'll be back 'round again, yes, I'll walk in time with you, old friend. And we'll find that place that we had danced in so long ago.

And when you wake, you will fly away, holding tight to the legs of all your angels. Goodbye, my love, into your blue, blue eyes.

Because one of the properties of music is to entertain and to, I don't mean this lightly, distract us from the things that pull us down. Music should be not only a source for political ideas but also a source of hope.

If you live life, then you become what are.

Isn't it strange how we move out lives for another day? Like skipping a beat, what if a great wave should wash us all away?

I don't want to die, obviously, but really, the wonder of life is amplified by the fact that it ends.

Nine planets round the sun, only one does the sun embrace. Upon this watered one, so much we take for granted; So let us sleep outside tonight, lay down in our mother's arms, for here we can rest safely ... One sweet world around a star is spinning One sweet world And in her breath I'm swimming, and here we will rest in peace.

Everything good needs replacing

Lying under this spell you cast on me Each moment The more I love you.

In your eyes, I see what's on my mind.

You and me have a better time than most can dream of, better than the best.

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 Where all these troubles weigh down on me will rise ..... Where all these questions spinning round my head will die