Seder Songs Song Parodies for Your Seder from Broadway, Beatles and Beyond Cover illustration HaggadahCover from CCAR ©1923 www.passoversongparodies.com Dear Reader, elcome to the new edition of Seder Songs, a collection of Passover song parodies to enliven your Passover celebration at home, school or synagogue. This collection of songs began over 20 years ago at our family’s seder. Since then, the collection has grown to include every genre — Broadway, Beatles, oldies, country, standards, and even Gilbert and Sullivan. My husband, daughters, son-in-law and a friend who is a regular guest at our seder table have gotten into the act as lyricists. The songbook should have something for everyone, no matter what your age or musical tastes. As the songs have multiplied, so has their reach. My sister, Randi Rose, a talented graphic designer, created the songbook several years ago with its eye catching graphics, and then created a website for it at www.barbarasarshik.com. Thanks to her efforts and word of mouth, the songbook has spread to many homes, schools and synagogues. I’m delighted, and hope that you’ll find songs to enrich your holiday. This year we’ve re-organized the songbook to make it more user friendly. You’ll find songs organized by specific parts of the seder and themes. Each song has its own number, making it easy to designate particular songs for singing during your seder. Many of the songs provide the right occasion for kids and adults to let out their inner divas. And while some lend themselves to solos, others are just right for times when it’s okay for a group to get a little raucous. Your seder will never be the same after you’ve all performed “Sweet Kosher Wine” to “Sweet Caroline” or “Why You Are Here” to “YMCA.” (Just move the wine glasses out of the way!) And some songs are perfect for situations we all face sooner or later. Do your kids think they’re too grown up to recite the Four Questions? Just challenge them — or even your whole family — to get through the Mah nish-tanah to the tongue-twistery “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.” I encourage you to share these songs with anyone who might enjoy them — your family, friends, religious congregation and other Jewish groups. You can give them the internet link for the songs (www.barbarasarshik.com) and make copies for everyone at your seder. These songs are available to everyone for free. Happy Pesach, everyone! Barbara Sarshik Passover 2013 [email protected] www.passoversongparodies.com Page 1 Section 1 | The Seder SECTION 1: 2. Matzah Ball Tonight Some enchanted seder THE SEDER to the tune of “Comedy Tonight” When the door is open, from A Funny Thing Happened You may see him lope in on the Way to the Forum Across the crowded room. 1. Do You Hear And straight will he head Something historic, something caloric To one special cup, Our People Sing? Something for everyone, a matzah ball To toast our deliv’rance to the tune of “Do You Hear the People Sing?” tonight. And drink the wine up. from Les Miserables Tales that are thrilling, food that is filling Something for everyone, a matzah ball When will it happen? (Chorus) tonight. Rabbis can’t foretell. Do you hear our people sing? Waters that part, great pyramids, But it will happen, Singing “Dayeinu” and “Amen”? Bring on the yentas, kvetchers and kids. This you know full well. Telling the story of a people Something neurotic, something melodic “Next Year in Jerusalem!” Who will not be slaves again! Singing of Hebrews taking flight! That is what you’ll say then, Matzah brei tomorrow, matzah balls That is what you’ll say when From the shank bone to the wine tonight! Down to the final matzah crumbs, Elijah reappears. There is a night about to start Some yadda yadda from the haggaddah Till then you will wait When the seder comes! Something for everyone, a matzah ball And save him a place. tonight Each Passover seder Will you join our seder now So much to question, such indigestion You hope he will grace. And have a matzo ball with me? Something for everyone, a matzah ball Chariot of fire, We’ll tell the tale of how tonight One day it will come. Hide your brioche, throw out your bread. We all got out of slavery. Herald of Messiah, Eat macaroons and matzah instead. One day he will come! We’re happy tonight Something observant, festive and fervent That we all have the right to be free! Praise Adonai with all your might! ©2006 Steve Glickman Matzah brei tomorrow, matzah balls (Repeat Chorus) tonight! 4. We Say a Little Will you drink some kosher wine, Something enduring, see Grandpa snor- Prayer to You And eat some matzo and maror? ing to the tune of “I Say a Little Prayer For You” We will talk of Hebrews dancing Something for everyone, a matzah ball tonight Tonight we are dining. On a dry and distant shore. Motzi and Kiddush, Hebrew and Yiddish All of us are reclining. We’ll pray for Elijah Something for everyone, a matzah ball We say a little prayer to You. To come when we open the door! tonight Tonight we are focused Prayers to be prayed, songs to be sung On boils and lice and locusts. (Repeat Chorus) Family and friends, the old and the We say a little prayer to You. © 2013 Barbara Sarshik young (Chorus) Something so Jewish, so Dayenu-ish, Thank God it all turned out alright! Forever and ever Matzah brei tomorrow, matzah balls We’ll join on this night tonight! and we will love You. Together, forever © 2010 Barbara Sarshik and Andy Pike we’ll sing of Your might. Oh, how we’ll love You. Forever and ever 3. Some Enchanted Seder That’s how it must be to the tune of “Some Enchanted Evening” Because without You from South Pacific None of us here would be free! Some enchanted seder While children are roamin’ You may see a stranger, In search of the Afikomen, You may see a stranger We say a little prayer to You. Across the crowded room. You gave us l’chaim And somehow you know, Bringing us from Mitzrayim. You know even then We say a little prayer to You. The prophet Elijah Has come back again. (Repeat Chorus) ©2000 Barbara Sarshik Page 2 Section 1 | The Seder 5. The Seder General Song I gently mold with my own hands each General: to the tune of “The Modern Major General Manischewitz matzo ball. And so as we recline and celebrate with Song” from “Pirates of Penzance” To make it light and fluffy is the most songs so lyrical, important thing of all! Let’s not forget to praise the Lord for this, (with apologies to Gilbert & Sullivan) His latest miracle: All: This diff’rent night from other nights, General: To make it light and fluffy is the most to run the paschal festival, I am the very model of a modern Seder important thing of all! I am the very model of a modern Seder General, To make it light and fluffy is the most General. I’ve information Biblical, liturgical and important thing of all! ritual, To make it light and fluffy is the most All: Regarding the Haggadah, I’m expert in important thing of all! This diff’rent night from other nights, ev’ry area, to run the paschal festival, I know the rabbis’ names by heart, Akiva General: He is the very model of a modern Seder to Azaria, I know the afikoman is the last dessert on General. The plagues of Egypt verminous, sangui- which we sup nous, and climatical, And never sip the vintage that I pour into © 2005 Stephen H. Glickman The special blessings to be said when Elijah’s cup. Pesach is Sabbatical. About the gifts bestowed on us, I’m teem- All: What, never? ing with the Dayeinus, General: No, never! With many cheerful facts about G-d’s All: What, never? liberation of the Jews! General: Well, hardly ever! I hardly ever sip the vintage poured into All: Elijah’s cup. With many cheerful facts about G-d’s In short, in matters oenological and gus- liberation of the Jews! tatorial With many cheerful facts about G-d’s I am the very model of a modern Seder liberation of the Jews! 6. Think of Me General. to the tune of “Think of Me” With many cheerful facts about G-d’s from Phantom of the Opera liberation of the Jews! All: In short, in matters oenological and gus- Think of me when you explain just what General: tatorial the matzah means. I’m very good at answering the child He is the very model of a modern Seder Remember me when you combine salt inquisitorial, General. water with your greens. The Exodus I recreate for Passover Think of how your lives would be today if memorial. General: you were still in slavery. In short, in matters Biblical, liturgical I studied Torah very hard to reach the When you’re sitting at your seder, spare a and ritual, highest pinnacle, thought for me. I am the very model of a modern Seder But my yeshiva time was brief, my train- General. Think of me when you are drinking your ing non-rabbinical. four cups of wine. In fact, my education has a gap that is All: Think of me during Dayenu and when unfillable – In short, in matters Biblical, liturgical you recline.