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.
Dave MatthewsIt's a melting pot, southern Africa. You find these cultural collisions that result in art and music, and it's pretty amazing.
Dave MatthewsThe 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.
Dave MatthewsA dream is a massive magic trick of the mind. No amount of science could explain away the mysterious wonder.
Dave MatthewsWhen 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.
Dave MatthewsIf 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.
Dave MatthewsNine 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.
Dave MatthewsI 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.
Dave MatthewsBecause life is short but sweet for certain We're climbing two by two To be sure these days continue These things we cannot change
Dave MatthewsFor 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.
Dave MatthewsIn many instances, we are much better at fixing our mistakes after we've made them. In some situations, it is easier to sweep things under the rug and forget about them.
Dave MatthewsA 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.
Dave MatthewsI 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.
Dave MatthewsI don't want to die, obviously, but really, the wonder of life is amplified by the fact that it ends.
Dave MatthewsWe look to our leaders once we elect them to either lead us in the right direction or at least not crush us.
Dave MatthewsIt'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.
Dave MatthewsI 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.
Dave MatthewsSuccess turns a lot of people off. I have a pretty solid sense of joy and respect that irritates people, and can irritate me, too.
Dave MatthewsI feel that I have worked my whole life to get to the point where I should have a good understanding of women.
Dave MatthewsSo 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.
Dave MatthewsI don't think socialism, and I don't think warmness and respect are necessarily bad words.
Dave MatthewsHow 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.
Dave MatthewsMy reaction to Radiohead isn't as simple as jealousy. Jealousy just burns; Radiohead infuriate me. But if it were only that, I wouldn't go back and listen to those records again and again. Listening to Radiohead makes me fell like I'm a Salieri to their Mozart. 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.
Dave MatthewsI think making things that aren't necessarily shiny, happy feelings, putting them in that environment is sometimes an easy way to deal with the ugliness. Like, I know that as a kid, that I found - I think I learned this a bit from my mother - that if I could be as warm around strangers, no matter how strange or what different environment I was in, that people tended to be warm back.
Dave MatthewsFunny the way it is, not right or wrong, somebody's heart is broken, and it becomes your favorite song.
Dave MatthewsI'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.
Dave MatthewsI 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.
Dave Matthews