Look down, look down, you’ll always be a slave
Look down, look down, you’re standing in your grave
Look down, look down, don’t look em in the eye
Look down, look down, you’re here until you die
At the end of the day you’re another day colder
And the shirt on your back doesn’t keep out the chill
And the righteous hurry past
They don’t hear the little ones crying
And the guards coming on fast, ready to kill
One day nearer to dying!
At the end of the day there’s another day dawning
And the sun in the morning is waiting to rise
Like the waves crash on the sand
Like a storm that’ll break any second
There’s a hunger in the land
There’s a reckoning still to be reckoned and
We’re gonna be free someday!
At the end of the day.
I dreamed a dream in times gone by
When hope was high
And life worth living
I dreamed that hope would never die
I dreamed that God would be forgiving
Then I was young and unafraid
And dreams were made and used and wasted
There was no ransom to be paid
No song unsung
No wine untasted
Who am I?
Can I condemn these men to slavery
Pretend I do not feel their agony
These innocent who bear my face
Who go to judgement in my place
Who am I?
Can I conceal myself for evermore?
Pretend I’m not the man I was before?
And must my name until I die
Be no more than an alibi?
Must I lie?
How can I ever face my fellow men?
How can I ever face myself again?
My soul belongs to God, I know
I made that bargain long ago
He gave me hope when hope was gone
He gave me strength to journey on
Watch em run amuck, catch em as they fall
Never know your luck till there’s a free for all
Here’s a little nip, there’s a little touch
Most of them are goners so they won’t miss much
One day to a new beginning
[Raise the flag of freedom high!]
Every man will be a king
[Every man will be a king]
There’s a new world for the winning
[There's a new world to be won]
Do you hear the people sing
Tomorrow we’ll be far away,
Tomorrow is the judgement day
Tomorrow we’ll discover what our God in Heaven has in store!
One more dawn
One more day
One day more!
Do you hear the people sing?
Singing the song of angry men
It is the music of a people who will not be slaves again
For the wretched of the earth there is a flame that never dies.
Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise.
They will live again in freedom in the garden of the Lord.
They will walk behind the ploughshed, the will put away the sword.
The chain will be broken and all men will have their reward!
Will you join in our crusade? Who will be strong and stand with me?
Somewhere beyond the barricade is there a world you long to see?
Do you hear the people sing? Say do you hear the distant drums
It is the future that they bring when tomorrow comes.
Will you join in our crusade? Who will be strong and stand with me?
Somewhere beyond the barricade is there a world you long to see?
Do you hear the people sing? Say do you hear the distant drums?
It is the future that they bring when tomorrow comes!
Take a spider out of your friend’s hair
Give your nephew a teddy bear
Leave your waiter a nice big tip
Make sure to never double dip
Smart ways to live, so many smart ways to live
Help an old lady cross the street
Give the homeless something to eat.
Give someone a compliment
Leave a note when you accidentally make a dent
Smart ways to live, so many smart ways to live
Turn off your phone at the movies and table
Thank God for being healthy and able
Eat your veggies and a fruit or two
Close your mouth when you chew your food
Smart ways to live, so many smart ways to live
Always stay positive don’t let sad thoughts defeat you
Treat others like you’d want them to treat you
Maintain a healthy, active lifestyle
Always try your best at everything you do
Be the change you wanna see in the world
They may not rhyme but they’re quite possibly
The smartest ways to live
The smartest ways to live
So many smart ways to live!
I see a light, reflection refraction;
Is it nothing more than a chemical reaction;
It flickers and grows, nobody knows;
How much we feel how quickly it goes;
Turn off the dark and vanquish the night;
Show the whole world for eight days at twilight;
Then and now they fought and we fight;
Fight for the right to live by our own light;
Let me see the light;
Give me something to live by;
Let me see the light;
I need something to live by;
Help me see myself in my reflection;
Shine tonight;
Let me shed the light in each direction;
Shining bright;
I wanna see the light;
A million times the speed of sound;
Fast enough to go around;
the world that we live in, so much cold and strife;
One little light to warm another life;
Fill the darkest night with the brightest light;
Cause its time for you to shine;
A little dedication, a small illumination;
Just one person to change a whole nation;
Let me see the light;
Give me something to live by;
Let me see the light;
I need something to live by;
Help me see myself in my reflection;
Shine tonight;
Let me shed the light in all directions;
Shining bright;
I wanna see the light;
Is this spark that we sing of anything;
Hiding somewhere in between everything;
Let the colors burn in a brilliant burst;
Like a shooting star falling to the earth;
Help me see myself in my reflection;
Shine tonight;
Let me shed the light in each direction;
Shining bright;
Verse: I feel the wind coming in from the east,
And I can hear my homeland calling me,
Hear my homeland calling,
Come back, come back to me now, I can hear my homeland calling me, hear my homeland calling.
There’s a fire in burning in my belly,
And I can hear my mama calling me,
Hear my mama calling,
Come back, come back to me now, I can hear my mama calling me, hear my mama calling me back.
Way down the road, that never ends,
I can hear my father calling me,
Hear my father calling, well, come back,
Come back to me now, I can hear my father calling me,
Hear my father calling,
Chorus:
Come back to me now,
Come back to me now,
Come back to me now,
Whichever road takes you back.
Bridge:
I feel the wind coming in from the east,
And I can hear my homeland calling me, hear my homeland calling,
Come back, come back to me now, I can my hear mama calling me, hear my mama calling,
Well come back, come back to me now, I can hear my father calling me, hear my father calling,
Come back, come back to me now, I can hear my father, hear my father,
Outro:
Calling me back, calling me back, I can hear my father, calling me back. (4X)
Verse:
כשהלב בוכה רק אלוקים שומע
הכאב עולה מתוך הנשמה
אדם נופל לפני שהוא שוקע
בתפילה קטנה חותך את הדממה
Chorus:
שמע ישראל אלוקי אתה הכל יכול
נתת לי את חיי נתת לי הכל
בעיניי דמעה הלב בוכה בשקט
וכשהלב שותק הנשמה זועקת
שמע ישראל אלוקי עכשיו אני לבד
חזק אותי אלוקי עשה שלא אפחד
הכאב גדול ואין לאן לברוח
עשה שיגמר כי לא נותר בי כח
Verse:
כשהלב בוכה הזמן עומד מלכת
האדם רואה את כל חייו פתאום
אל הלא נודע הוא לא רוצה ללכת
לאלוקיו קורא על סף תהום\
Verse:
When the heart cries, only God listens
The pain rises from within the soul
A man falls down before he sinks
With a little prayer, he pierces the silence
Chorus:
Listen, Israel: My God, You can do anything
You gave me my life, you gave me everything
There’s a tear in my eyes, the heart quietly cries
And when the heart is quiet, the soul screams
Listen, Israel: My God, now I’m alone
Strengthen me, my God; make it so that I will not fear
The pain is great, and there is nowhere to run away
Make it end, for I have no strength left
Verse:
When the heart cries, time stands still
Suddenly, man sees his entire life
Into the unknown, h does not wish to go
He cries to his God on the edge of the abyss
יִבָּנֶה הַמִּקְדָּשׁ
עִיר צִיּוֹן תְּמַלֵּא
וְשָׁם נָשִׁיר שִׁיר חָדָשׁ וּבִרְנָנָה נַעֲלֶה
הָרַחֲמָן הַנִּקְדָּשׁ יִתְבָּרַךְ וְיִתְעַלֶּה
‘עַל כּוֹס יַֽיִן מָלֵא כְּבִרְכַּת ה
בֶּן דָּוִד עַבְדֶּֽךָ יָבוֹא וְיִגְאָלֵֽנוּ
‘רֽוּחַ אַפֵּֽינוּ
מְשִֽׁיחַ ה
Verse:
May the Temple be rebuilt, Zion’s city full again,
There we will sing a new song as we go up in joy,
To the Compassionate, the Holy One- may he be blessed and reaised on high-
With a full cup of wine, sign of the blessing of the Lord (Hashem).
Chorus:
The son of David Your servant: may he come and redeem us,
Breath of our life, anointed of the Lord.
(Rabbi Sacks Siddur)
Verse:
Many nights we’ve prayed,
With no proof anyone could hear,
In our hearts a hopeful song,
We barely understood.
Now we are not afraid,
Although we know there’s much to fear,
We were moving mountains,
Long before we knew we could.
Chorus:
There can be miracles
When you believe
Though hope is frail
It’s hard to kill
Who knows what miracles
You can achieve
When you believe
Somehow you will
You will when you believe
Verse:
In this time of fear
When prayer so often proves in vain
Hope seemed like the summer birds
Too swiftly flown away
Yet now I’m standing here
My heart’s so full I can’t explain
Seeking faith and speaking words
I never thought I’d say
Bridge:
אָשִׁירָה לה’ כִּי גָּאה גָּאָה. מִי כָמכָה בָּאֵלִם ה’. מִי כָּמכָה נֶאְדָּר בַּקּדֶשׁ .נָחִיתָ בְחַסְדְּךָ עַם זוּ גָּאָלְתָּ
Chorus:
There can be miracles
When you believe
Though hope is frail
It’s hard to kill
Who knows what miracles
You can achieve
When you believe
Somehow you will
Now you will
You will when you believe
Verse:
ודֶה, נודֶה לְּךָ
וּנְסַפֵּר תְּהִלָּתֶךָ
עַל חַיֵּינוּ הַמְּסוּרִים בְּיָדֶךָ
Chorus:
מודִים אֲנַחְנוּ לָךְ
‘שָׁאַתָּה הוּא ה
אֱלקֵינוּ וֵאלקֵי אֲבותֵינוּ
לְעולָם וָעֶד
Verse:
וְעַל כֻּלָּם
יִתְבָּרַךְ וְיִתְרומַם שִׁמְךָ
שִׁמְךָ מַלְכֵּנוּ
תָּמִיד לְעולָם וָעֶד
Verse:
We will give thanks to you and recount your Praise,
For our lives which are in your hands.
Chorus:
We thankfully acknowledge you,
That you are God, our Lord, and Lord of our fathers forever.
Verse:
For all of these, may Your name,Our King, be blessed,
Uplifted and elevated continually and for all time.
Verse:
I’ve been waiting on the sunset
Bills on my mindset
I can’t deny they’re getting higher
Higher than my income
Income’s breadcrumbs
I’ve been trying to survive
The glow that the sun gives
Right around sunset
Helps me to realize
That this is just a journey
Drop your worries
You are gonna turn out fine
Oh, you’ll turn out fine
Fine, oh, you’ll turn out fine
Chorus:
But you gotta keep your head up, oh
And you can let your hair down, eh
you gotta keep your head up, oh
And you can let your hair down, eh
I know it’s hard, know its hard
To remember sometimes
But you gotta keep your head up, oh
And you can let your hair down, eh
Verse:
I’ve got my hands in my pockets
Kickin’ these rocks
Its kinda hard to watch this life go by
I’m buyin’ into skeptics
Skeptics mess with the confidence in my eyes
I’m seeing all the angles, starts to get tangled
I start to compromise
My life and the purpose
Is it all worth it
Am I gonna turn out fine?
Oh, you’ll turn out fine
Fine, oh, you’ll turn out fine
Bridge:
Only rainbows after rain
The sun will always come again
And its a circle circling
Around again, it comes around again
Only rainbows after rain
The sun will always come again
And its a circle, circling
Around again, it comes around
הַבֵּט מִשָּׁמַיִם וּרְאֵה כִּי הָיִינוּ לַעַג וָקֶלֶס בַּגּויִם. נֶחְשַׁבְנוּ כַּצּאן לַטֶּבַח יוּבָל. לַהֲרוג וּלְאַבֵּד וּלְמַכָּה וּלְחֶרְפָּה
וּבְכָל זאת שִׁמְךָ לא שָׁכָחְנוּ. נָא אַל תִּשְׁכָּחֵנוּ.
Verse:
Look down from heaven and see how we have become an object of scorn and derision among the nations.
We are regarded as sheep led to the slaughter, to be killed, destroyed, beaten and humiliated.
Chorus:
Yet, despite all this, we have not forgotten Your name. Please do not forget us.
(Rabbi Sacks siddur)
רָאוּ בָנִים אֶת גְּבוּרָתו שִׁבְּחוּ וְהודוּ לִשְׁמו. וּמַלְכוּתו בְרָצון קִבְּלוּ עֲלֵיהֶם. משֶׁה וּבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לְךָ עָנוּ שִׁירָה
בְּשִׂמְחָה רַבָּה וְאָמְרוּ כֻלָּם. מִי כָמכָה בָּאֵלִים ה’ מִי כָּמכָה נֶאְדָּר בַּקּדֶשׁ. נורָא תְהִלּת עשֵׂה פֶלֶא
Translation:
Verse:
When the children saw His might, they gave praise and thanks to His name, and willingly accepted His Sovereignty.
Chorus:
Moses and the children of Israel then sang a song to You with great joy, and they all exclaimed:
Bridge:
Who is like you, Lord, among the mighty? Who is like You, majestic in holiness, awesome in praises, doing wonders?
(Rabbi Sacks siddur).
Verse:
Just livin’ in the miracle, candles are my vehicle
Eight nights, gonna’ shine invincible
No longer be divisible, born through the struggle
Keep on moving through all this hustle
Head up, head down through all of the bustle
New York City wanna’ flex your muscle
Look so down, look so puzzled
Huddle ’round your fire through all the rubble
Bound to stumble and fall but my strength comes not from man at all
Bound to stumble and fall but my strength comes not from man at all
Chorus:
Do you believe in miracles
Am I hearing you? Am I seeing you?
Eight nights eight lights and these rites keep me right
Bless me to the highest heights with your miracle
Verse:
Against all odds drive on till tomorrow
Wipe away your tears and your sorrow
Sunrise in the sky like an arrow
No need to worry, no need to cry
Light up your mind no longer be blind
Him who searches will find
Leave your problems behind you will shine like a fire in the sky
what’s the reason we’re alive – the reason we’re alive…
Bound to stumble and fall but my strength comes not from man at all
Bound to stumble and fall but my strength comes not from man at all
Bridge:
Eight is the number of infinity one more than what you know how to be
And this is the light of festivity when your broken heart yearns to be free
קוֹל בְּרָמָה נִשְׁמָע – רָחֵל, מְבַכָּה עַל-בָּנֶיהָ
מִנְעִי קוֹלֵךְ מִבֶּכִי, וְעֵינַיִךְ, מִדִּמְעָה
רַגְלִי מִדֶּחִי ואֶת
נְאֻם-יְהוָה
Translation:
A voice is heard on high…Rachel weeping for her children
Refrain your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears,
and my foot from stumbling
says God
Verse:
See I never thought that I could walk through fire
I never thought that I could take the burn
I never had the strength to take it higher
Until I reached the point of no return
And there’s just no turning back
When your heart’s under attack
Gonna give everything I have
It’s my destiny
Chorus:
I will never say never! (I will fight)
I will fight till forever! (make it right)
Whenever you knock me down
I will not stay on the ground
Pick it up
Pick it up
Pick it up
Pick it up up up
And never say never
Verse:
I never thought I could feel this power
I never thought that I could feel this free
I’m strong enough to climb the highest tower
And I’m fast enough to run across the sea
And there’s just no turning back
When your heart’s under attack
Gonna give everything I have
’cause this is my destiny.
I’ll tell a tale
Of Maccabees in Israel
When the Greeks tried to assail
But it was all to no avail
The war went on and on and on
Until the mighty Greeks were gone
I flip my latkes in the air sometimes sayin ayy ohh spin the dreidel
Just wanna celebrate for all eight nights singin ayy oh, light the candles
We say al hanissim
Oh yea for all eight nights
Then we play dreidel
By the candlelight
And I told you once
Now I told you twice
Bout the miracle
Of the candlelight
They took the field
The rivals thought “are they for real?”
Those maccabees they’d never yield
They charged ahead with sword and shield
The war went on and on and on
Until the mighty Greeks were gone
I flip my latkes in the air sometimes sayin ayy ohh spin the dreidel
Just wanna celebrate for all eight nights singin ayy oh, light the candles
We say maoz tzur
Oh yea for all eight nights
Then we play dreidel
By the candlelight
And I told you once
Now I told you twice
Bout the miracle
Of the candlelight
And the great menorah
For eight days it kept on burning
What a celebration
A great return to Torah learning
Cuz I can feel it
And Ay-ay-ay
Nes gadol, nes gadol
Nes gadol hayah sham
I flip my latkes in the air sometimes sayin ayy ohh spin the dreidel
Just wanna celebrate for all eight nights singin ayy oh, light the candles
We say al hanissim
Oh yea for all eight nights
Then we play dreidel
By the candlelight
And I told you once
Now I told you twice
Bout the miracle
Of the candlelight
The Maccabeats are the premiere Jewish a cappella and Shabbat a cappella group. Read more about what we can do and what we’ve done.
Looking to book the Maccabeats? Want to ask them a question or come to your community next? Shoot them an email, you’ll hear back before you can flip a latke.
Book the group now!
The Maccabeats are excited to announce their new full length album " The Maccabeats Hanukkah". Purchase your copy today! Available NOW on iTunes.
Learn More
We love connecting with our fans online. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest Maccabeats news and notes.
Connect now