Passover Story in Secular Song

Haggadah Section: -- Exodus Story

Adapted lyrics by Becky & Jeremy Gimbel & Laura Einhorn

(To the tune of “American Pie” by Don McLean)

A long long time ago

In the land of Egypt

Where the Israelites were Pharaoh’s slaves

Pharaoh said, “Hebrew boys should die!”

And the Jewish mothers began to cry

But Yochevet refused to throw her boy away

She and Miriam put him in the Nile

Where he was found after a while

Pharaoh’s daughter saved him

In the palace, his mother raised him

Since from the water was where he came

They decided “Moses” was his name

And he grew up with the morals of a Jew

Spoken: One day, growing up in Pharaoh’s palace, Moses witnessed an Egyptian slave beating a Jew.  Enraged by this action, Moses broke into song…

(To the tune of “For What It’s Worth” by Buffalo Springfield)

There’s something happening here

What it is ain’t exactly clear

There’s a man with a whip over there

Beatin’ a slave like he just don’t care.

I’m singin:

Stop Egypt what’s that sound, everybody look what’s going round

Spoken: In a fit of anger, Moses struck down the taskmaster, and fled to the desert where he tended sheep for a while.  One day, something a little bizarre happened…

(To the tune of “Yesterday” by The Beatles)

Suddenly, God came to me in a flaming tree

Said I want my people to be free

Go to Pharoah, speak for me

Go to Pharoah, speak for me

Spoken: So Moses went to Pharoah…

(To the tune of “Louie, Louie” as adapted by Mah Tovu)

Pharoah Pharoah

Whoa baby let my people go

Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah

Pharoah Pharoah

Whoa baby let my people go

Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah

Well a burning bush told me just the other day

That I should go to Egypt and say

It’s time to let our people be free

Listen to God if you won’t listen to me (I SAID)

Pharoah Pharoah

Whoa baby let my people go

Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah

Pharoah Pharoah

Whoa baby let my people go

Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah

Spoken: Pharoah wouldn’t listen to Moses’ plea, thus, THE PLAGUES

(To the tune of “It’s The End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)” by REM)

Blood blood

Frogs frogs

Lice lice

Beasts beasts

Cattle disease

Boils boils

Hail hail

Locusts

Darkness (2x)

It’s the end of the world as we know it

It’s the end of the world as we know it

It’s the end of the world as we know it

So spill your wine

Break to spill wine

Spoken: At first, Pharoah would let the Israelites go, and then God hardened his heart and Pharoah would change his mind.  Every time.  All through the nine plagues.  Enter the tenth plague, death of the first born.  This one put Pharoah over the top.

(To the tune of “Leaving on a Jet Plane” by John Denver)

Our doors are crossed with blood,

God spared our sons

We’re outta here

We’re moving our buns

But we don’t have buns

They didn’t have time to rise!

We’re leaving en route to Canaan

Don’t think that we’ll be back again

Hey Jews, it’s time to go

(With a groove)

So the Jews left, matzah in hand

From Egypt to the promised land

Got to a sea they couldn’t cross

Moses raised his hand up to the Boss

Pharoah’s army was close behind

Hey, this brings a song to mind

(To the tune of “Footloose” by Kenny Loggins)

Been working, so hard

Time to make these waters part

400 years busting our backs

Finally God’s cutting us some slack

The sea is splitting

Tonight we’ll get out of this town (The sea is splitting we’ll get out of this town!)

The sea is splitting

We’ll cross the sea and not drown

Tonight we’re gonna be free, oo ee

Crossing the red sea

Hum, Miriam, break out the timbrels and drums!

(To the tune of “Miriam’s Song” by Debbie Friedman)

Mi chamochah ba-eilim, Adonai

Mi kamochah nedar bakodesh

Nora t’hilot, oseh feleh

Nora t’hilot, oseh feleh

Source:  
Becky & Jeremy Gimbel and Laura Einhorn

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