Passover Story in Secular Song
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
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