The 30 Best Dave Matthews Band Songs, from Crash into Me to The Space Between

What is Dave Matthews Band's most famous song?

"Crash into Me" is Dave Matthews Band's most famous song, a 1996 hit from Crash and a favorite slow dance ever since. "Ants Marching", "Satellite", "The Space Between" and "Two Step" are their other signature songs.

Dave Matthews Band's biggest songs

1. "Crash into Me", 1996: a dreamy love song and one of their most played on radio.
2. "Ants Marching", 1995: a fan favorite about the routines of everyday life, closing countless concerts.
3. "Satellite", 1995: a gentle, intricate guitar song from their major-label debut.
4. "The Space Between", 2001: their highest-charting single on the Hot 100 at the time, from Everyday.
5. "What Would You Say", 1994: their breakthrough single, with harmonica by John Popper of Blues Traveler.
6. "Two Step", 1997: a sweeping, building song that stretches out live.
7. "Too Much", 1996: a funky, horn-driven number one on adult alternative radio.
8. "Tripping Billies", 1997: a joyful, fast-strummed live favorite.
9. "Grey Street", 2002: a powerful song from Busted Stuff about a woman trapped in her life.
10. "American Baby", 2005: their biggest Hot 100 hit, number 16.

Songs from Under the Table and Dreaming (1994)

11. "Jimi Thing", 1994: a long, groovy song built for jamming.
12. "Typical Situation", 1994: a thoughtful, rhythmic single.
13. "Warehouse", 1994: a long, winding live favorite.
14. "Dancing Nancies", 1994: a soaring fan favorite.

Songs from Crash (1996)

15. "So Much to Say", 1996: a Grammy-winning rocker.
16. "#41", 1996: a jazzy, beloved song that grows into long jams on stage.
17. "Lie in Our Graves", 1996: an upbeat, carefree song.
18. "Say Goodbye", 1996: a slow, sensual love song.

Songs from Before These Crowded Streets (1998)

19. "Don't Drink the Water", 1998: a dark song about the treatment of Native Americans.
20. "Stay (Wasting Time)", 1998: a breezy, soulful single.
21. "Crush", 1998: a long, romantic, jazzy song and a favorite for weddings.
22. "Rapunzel", 1999: a complex, rhythmic single.

Songs from the 2000s and later

23. "Everyday", 2001: the hopeful title track of the album produced by Glen Ballard.
24. "I Did It", 2001: the bold, rocking lead single from Everyday.
25. "Where Are You Going", 2002: a sweet song from the film Mr. Deeds.
26. "Grace Is Gone", 2002: an aching song from Busted Stuff.
27. "Funny the Way It Is", 2009: a thoughtful single from Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King.
28. "You and Me", 2009: a tender love song and a popular first dance.
29. "Mercy", 2012: a hopeful number one on adult alternative radio from Away from the World.
30. "Samurai Cop (Oh Joy Begin)", 2018: an upbeat song from Come Tomorrow.

Who are Dave Matthews Band?

Dave Matthews Band formed in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 1991. Dave Matthews, who was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, and was working as a bartender, put together a group of local musicians: drummer Carter Beauford, bassist Stefan Lessard, saxophonist LeRoi Moore and violinist Boyd Tinsley. Their mix of rock, jazz, funk and folk, Beauford's dazzling drumming and long improvised jams made them one of the most successful touring bands in the world. Seven of their studio albums in a row, from Before These Crowded Streets to Come Tomorrow, debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, and they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2024.

Dave Matthews Band albums in order

• Under the Table and Dreaming (1994): the major-label debut, produced by Steve Lillywhite.
• Crash (1996): their breakthrough, with "Crash into Me" and "Too Much".
• Before These Crowded Streets (1998): darker and more ambitious, their first number one album.
• Everyday (2001): a polished, electric album produced by Glen Ballard.
• Busted Stuff (2002): new versions of songs from the shelved Lillywhite sessions.
• Stand Up (2005): a groove-heavy record with "American Baby".
• Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King (2009): a tribute to LeRoi Moore.
• Away from the World (2012): a reunion with Steve Lillywhite.
• Come Tomorrow (2018): their seventh straight number one.
• Walk Around the Moon (2023): their tenth studio album.

If you are new to the band, start with Crash, then listen to a live album like Live at Red Rocks 8.15.95 to hear what the songs become on stage.

The Lillywhite Sessions

In 2000 the band recorded an album with producer Steve Lillywhite, then shelved it and made Everyday instead. The unfinished songs leaked online in 2001, and fans fell in love with them. The band re-recorded several of them, including "Grey Street", "Grace Is Gone" and "Bartender", for Busted Stuff in 2002, and the leaked versions are still treasured by fans.

The story behind Crash into Me

"Crash into Me" was the second single from the 1996 album Crash and reached the top ten on adult pop radio. Matthews has described it as a song about being in love from a distance, and its soft, swaying groove made it a favorite slow dance at proms and weddings in the late 90s. It is still the song most fans think of first when they hear the band's name.

Live shows and the jam band legacy

Dave Matthews Band built its following the way the Grateful Dead did, by touring constantly and encouraging fans to tape and trade their concerts. Songs like "Two Step", "#41", "Jimi Thing" and "Warehouse" change every night as the band stretches them out, and their summer tours have been a rite of passage for generations of fans. For more on the original jam band, see our Grateful Dead songs.

LeRoi Moore and the band today

Saxophonist LeRoi Moore died in 2008 after an accident on his farm, and the band paid tribute to him on their next album, Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King, named after his nickname. Violinist Boyd Tinsley left the band in 2018. Guitarist Tim Reynolds, a longtime collaborator, and keyboardist Buddy Strong are now part of the lineup, and the band released Walk Around the Moon in 2023.

Dave Matthews Band songs for a wedding

"Crash into Me", "You and Me", "Crush" and "Say Goodbye" are popular first dances, and "Ants Marching", "Tripping Billies" and "Too Much" fill the dance floor later. For a ceremony, "Where Are You Going" and "Everyday" are sweet, hopeful choices that guests of every age will enjoy. For more, see our 90s wedding songs and first dance songs.

Dave Matthews Band songs for summer or a road trip

For a summer night or a long drive, play "Ants Marching", "Satellite", "Two Step", "Stay (Wasting Time)" and "What Would You Say". Their summer tours, which traditionally end with a multi-night run at the Gorge Amphitheatre in Washington over Labor Day weekend, are legendary among fans. For more, see our songs about summer and road trip songs.

A song as personal as Crash into Me

Dave Matthews writes about love, life and the small moments in between. A personalized song can capture your own story the same way: their name, the way you met and the memories only you two share. It makes a moving wedding, anniversary or birthday gift.

How to create a personalized song

1. Choose a style from 14 genres: rock, acoustic, jazz and more.
2. Add their name.
3. Share three memories or details about them.
4. Review the lyrics and edit or regenerate them for free before any music is made.
5. Listen to 4 free 45-second previews and choose your favorite.

The full 3 to 4 minute song costs $35.99, or $40.99 for Premium with four full versions and editable lyrics. You get the MP3, a gift page and the lyrics as a PDF.

Give them a song of their own: create a song and hear four previews for free.