Sometimes I lay under the moon
And thank God I'm breathing
Then I pray, "Don't take me soon
'Cause I am here for a reason"
Sometimes in my tears, I drown
But I never let it get me down
So when my negativity surrounds
I know some day it'll all turn around because . . .
All my life, I've been waiting for
I've been praying for, for the people to say
That we don't wanna fight no more
There will be no more wars
And our children will play one day
It's not win or lose
'Cause we all lose
When they feed on the souls of the innocent
Blood-drenched pavement
Keep on moving though the waters stay raging
In this maze, you can lose your way
It might drive you crazy, but don't let it faze you, no way
Sometimes in my tears, I drown
But I never let it get me down
So when negativity surrounds
I know some day, it'll all turn around because . . .
All my life, I've been waiting for
I've been praying for, for the people to say
That we don't wanna fight no more
There will be no more wars
And our children will play one day
One day, this will all change
Treat people the same
Stop with the violence
Down with hate
One day, we'll all be free
And proud to be under the same sun
Singing songs of freedom like one day
All my life, I've been waiting for
I've been praying for, for the people to say
That we don't wanna fight no more
There will be no more wars
And our children will play one day
~ Matisyahu & The Smeezingtons
Today is the first day of Rosh Hashanah. So my song choice today is "One Day" by "Jewish reggae artist" Matisyahu, aka Matthew Paul Miller. (Matisyahu means "Gift of God.") This song appears on his third album, Light, which came out in 2009.
I am not Jewish, so my knowledge of Rosh Hashanah is limited. It is, as I understand it, the Jewish New Year. As for Matisyahu's song, "One Day," it is "an anthem of hope with a big beat, the kind of song that makes you bob your head and open your heart at the same time." Coming from Matisyahu, who was a Phish-head at one time, I suppose he knows a thing or two about head-bobbing. Whether or not head-bobbing is a part of Rosh Hashanah remains to be seen.
I'm not a big fan of Matisyahu, but I am a fan of embracing and understanding other cultures. So I will give a nod to the Jewish reggae artist today and wish Shanah Tovah ("Good Year") to all.
Thank you for the New Year wishes. We are blessed to be able to celebrate twice each year. No matter how you celebrate, the beginning of a new year is exciting, anticipatory, and full of remembrance. It is a time to reflect on the past and consider the future.
ReplyDeleteWe have this in common with other cultures and religions. By the way, the head bobbing, called shuckling, is optional.
Shuckling! I did not know that! I wonder if Phish-heads shuckle!
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