Nov 9, 2026

Hamavdil song/ havdalah glimmer

HaMavdil is a traditional song for Saturday havdalah. I learned this one melody and turned it into a new song, writing new English words to it. 


https://soundcloud.com/cricketmice/havdalah-glimmer-bring-that

—-

day is done, the moon is rising,

Stars are in the night sky shining,

If you kiss me it’s not surprising,

That you love me by day and night 


Cinnamon cloves, allspice ginger,

Turn the lights a little dimmer,

See the havdalah candle glimmer 

Let us bless this Saturday night!


(Chorus) 

Bring that day that’s not day or night,

But is the day beyond all sight,

Elijah raise the trumpet tonight -

redemption arrives at midnight 


Beat your swords into plough shares,

And don’t stop (yet,) don’t stop there,

Make your plough into harps for prayer 

And let David’s harp play all night 


The lion shall lay down with the lamb 

You will have peace in the land 

tigers with rams, panthers with deer,

Peace, peace for the far and near 


A waltz goes one two three, one two

And ballet needs a special shoe

But A tango is built for two

Let’s dance together all night!

—-

Key: F? 


melody notes: 



Chorus: 



—-

I heard this melody at the Jews of color mishpacha retreat. Since I learned it by ear, I did not learn it precisely so my melody is slightly different. The closest version online is here 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=IkCXedzGkzn1tAh3&v=MDANN9n_J2c&feature=youtu.be , described as a yekkish (german) melody. My transcription may also be inaccurate 


Mar 26, 2023

Brussele


New song: this is my new version of the classic folksong Tumbalalaika


Brussele brussele brusselelaika
Brussele brussele brusselelaika
Brusselelaika, sprouts-balalaika
Brusselelaika, grinen zol zayn 

Sheyt a kocher, shteyt in kich
Kochen and zorgn aleyn shlept zikh
Velche tsu bakn, velche tsu makhn?
For all di gestn, shabbos faresn 

Shnaydn shnaydn, knbol un tsibl
Vashn vashn, di grine tzmochpilil
Hetsyn di fendl
Hetsyn di eyl
Tsen minutn kochen
Un gebn di vayn 

Hosting and cookings harder than it looks
Stressing and fretting the whole night long
Milchig or fleishig? Vegan or gluten?
Everyone’s allergic so we’re pareve tonight 

Dice onions, garlic and ginger
Cut your sprouts
Heat up the oil
Add in the wine,
Soy sauce, vinegar, salt and pepper, lemon juice and thyme


Note: "tzemoch" is sprout in hebrew, tzmochpil is either nonsense or a word I coined to fit the rhyme

Feb 18, 2023

Dec 31, 2022

Cave

 


Dec 28, 2022

Them birds


The Boyds 

Dec 22, 2022

Blessing


 

Nov 7, 2022

Red Sea

 


Nov 4, 2022

Narrows