Songs

Words and melodies are not mine unless otherwise noted. Recorded with GarageBand.

Reasons Why - Nickel Creek


For You - Tracy Chapman


Shnirele Perele


Something in the Way She Moves - James Taylor


Hamal'akh Hagoel Oti

May the angel who has delivered​ me from all harm bless these lads.
May they carry on my name and the names of my fathers, Abraham and Isaac,
and may they grow into a multitude​ on earth.
(translation: http://www.zemirotdatabase.org/view_song.php?id=26)

Based on traditional harmonies learned at Camp Ramah in 2011.

Shir Hama'alot

The prelude to the Grace after Meals for the third meal of Shabbat.

A song of ascents. When Hashem brings Zion out of captivity - it is to us as a dream -
our mouths shall be filled with laughter, our tongues with joyous song.
Then shall they say among the nations, "God has done great things for them."
Hashem will do great things for us, and we shall rejoice.
Return us from our captivity, Hashem, as the streams in the Negev.
They who sow in tears shall reap in joyous song.
One who weeps as he trails the measure of seed along
shall come back with joyous song, carrying his sheaves.
Let my mouth declare Hashem's praise, and let all flesh bless His holy name forever.
As for us, we will bless God from now and forevermore. Praise God.
Give thanks to Hashem for He is good, for His kindness is everlasting.
Who can describe the mighty deeds of Hashem, or utter all His praises?
Psalms 126, 145:21, 115:18, 118:1, 106:2
Translation primarily from the Anim Zemirot bentcher.

Yedid Nefesh

Yedid Nefesh is one of my favorite songs/poems/prayers from the Jewish liturgy. It is traditionally sung on Friday nights, right as Shabbat is starting, and then sometimes again on Saturday nights, right before the end of Shabbat, with a different tune. This recording uses traditional harmonies.

It was especially good for me to have this prayer when I was on a train crossing Russia. The 1 (2) 3 1 (2) 3 1 rhythm matched the rhythm of the turning wheels perfectly.

The text displayed in the video is slightly different text from what I'm singing.


One rhyming translation, from the Siddur Sim Shalom for Shabbat and Festivals:
 
Soul mate, loving God, compassion's gentle source, Take my disposition and shape it to Your will.
Like a darting deer will I rush to You. Before Your glorious presence humbly will I bow.
Let Your sweet love delight me with its thrill, Because no other dainty will my hunger still.
How splendid is Your light, illumining the world. My soul is weary yearning for Your love's delight.
Please, good God, do heal her; reveal to her Your face, The pleasure of Your presence, bathed in Your grace.
She will find strength and healing in Your sight; Forever will she serve You, grateful, with all her might.
What mercy stirs in You since days of old, my God. Be kind to me, Your own child; my love for You requite.
With deep and endless longing I yearned for Your embrace, To see my light in Your light, basking in Your grace.
My heart's desire, find me worthy in Your sight. Do not delay Your mercy; please hid not Your light.
Reveal Yourself, Beloved, for all the world to see, And shelter me in peace beneath Your canopy.
Illumine all creation, lighting up the earth, And we shall celebrate You in choruses of mirth.
The time, my Love, is now; rush, be quick, be bold. Let Your favor grace me, in the spirit of days of old.