Crush by Dave Matthews Band

"Crush" is a song by the Dave Matthews Band, released as the third single from their album Before These Crowded Streets. As a single, it reached #11 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart, #75 on the Billboard Hot 100, #38 on the Top 40 Mainstream, and #20 on the Adult Top 40. As the album version is over eight minutes in length, the song time was cut almost in half for radio airplay. The song was almost omitted from Before These Crowded Streets as the band struggled with it in the studio until bassist Stefan Lessard came up with the opening bass line that set the tone of the song for the rest of the band.The song debuted live on April 18, 1998, ten days before its album release. The song's initial performance lasted around 11 minutes, slightly longer than its album version, and remained in that fashion in performances up to the present day. Currently, "Crush" has been played live by the band over 500 times and remains popular on the band's setlists today. "Crush" is a rock ballad that blends the elements of jazz and blues music. The song is dedicated to Ashley Harper, Dave Matthews' wife, and the lyrics express a man's passion for his lover.