KIDSONGS 

The Pavement Shines (2001)

In the place that I call home, it rains eight months a year
People ask me all the time how I can stand to live here
I find it hard to tell them how the gray clouds seem to call
But you’ll always find me smiling’ when the raindrops start to fall

‘Cause the pavement shines when the rain comes down
The streetlights make it glisten bright and clean
I may get a little soggy, but I don’t really mind
‘Cause God’s gift makes the land grow evergreen

Many folks around the world don’t see much rain at all
They don’t know Spring’s first crocus or the golden leaves of Fall
I wonder if they’re as thankful for that hot sun shining down
As I am for months and months of raindrops splashing on the ground

‘Cause the pavement shines when the rain comes down
The streetlights make it glisten bright and clean
I may get a little soggy, but I don’t really mind
‘Cause God’s gift makes the land grow evergreen

I’m Sorry (2001)

Some time ago we had a fight, I don’t remember what for
But you told me you didn’t want to see me anymore
Can’t we get together please, to work things out tonight
I want to make it up to you, I want to set things right

I’m sorry for the way I treated you
And I’m so sorry that I made you sad and blue
Oh, please forgive me, just as God forgives us too
And I’ll work hard to be a better friend

Telling you that I was wrong is harder face to face
Than having me in one room and you in another place
But God made us to love, not hate — I hope you’ll understand
That is why I’m standing here and offering my hand

I’m sorry for the way I treated you
And I’m so sorry that I made you sad and blue
Oh, please forgive me, just as God forgives us too
And I’ll work hard to be a better friend

Or Zarua (2013)

I don’t want much, only somewhere I know I belong
I don’t want much, just a place I can call home
I don’t want much, just a warm, dry bed at night
And a morning filled with new light

Or zarua la-tzadik ul’yishrei lev simcha — Or zarua
Or zarua la-tzadik ul’yishrei lev simcha — Or zarua

I want this life to celebrate each waking hour
I want this life to find a way to make things fair
I want my life to be a candle glowing bright
And a heart that’s filled with new light

Or zarua la-tzadik ul’yishrei lev simcha — Or zarua
Or zarua la-tzadik ul’yishrei lev simcha — Or zarua

I don’t want much, just the time we spend to make new friends
I don’t want much, just a smile and a hug to share
I don’t want much, just the sunset in the western sky
And the stars that shine with new light

Or zarua la-tzadik ul’yishrei lev simcha — Or zarua
Or zarua la-tzadik ul’yishrei lev simcha — Or zarua

(from Ps. 97: Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.)

Shabbat Shalom (2014)

Here’s a candle glowing bright, shining in the darkest night
Add another, now there’s two, Shabbat has come for me and you

Shabbat Shalom we say, Shabbat Shalom
Shabbat Shalom today, Shabbat Shalom

Fill your cup — fruit of the vine tastes so sweet and tastes so fine
Fresh-baked challah sure smells good — thanks to God for all our food

Shabbat Shalom we say, Shabbat Shalom
Shabbat Shalom today, Shabbat Shalom

Friends and family gather ‘round, pray and sing, a joyful sound
Everyone wears a great big smile, hope Shabbat stays for awhile

Shabbat Shalom we say, Shabbat Shalom
Shabbat Shalom today, Shabbat Shalom

Let's Come Together (2017) - written with help from the religious school students of Temple Sinai, Houston, TX

Sometimes, this old world can be too much
All you wanna do is stay inside
Well I know what that's like, I know how it feels
It's enough to make you want to run and hide

Let's come together and build a shelter
A place that's safe and dry and warm
Let's work together and build a shelter
And hold each other tight through the storm

So many feel like there's nowhere to go
But we all know what it takes to make a home
A friendly smile and an outstretched hand
open the door to everyone who will come

Let's come together and build a shelter
A place that's safe and dry and warm
Let's work together and build a shelter
And hold each other tight through the storm

Ufros aleinu sukkat sh'lomeicha
v'takneinu b'eitza tovah milfanecha
Ufros aleinu sukkat sh'lomeicha
Ushmor tzeiteinu u'voeinu milfanecha

(fr. the liturgy: Spread over us Your shelter of peace. Guide us with Your good counsel and be our help.)

Oseh Shalom (2017) -- music by Beth Hamon & Ellen Allard

Oseh Shalom bim'romav hu ya'aseh shalom aleinu (2x)
V'al kol yisrael V'al kol yosh'vei teivel (2x)
V'im'ru amein.

(from the liturgy: May The One who makes peace in the heavens make peace for all Israel, and for all who dwell on Earth, and let us say Amen.)

Machane Jehudah Camp songs: These were written with help or inspiration from the kids of Machane Jehudah, a Day camp in Overland Park, KS where I’ve served as the Music and Tefilah Specialist since 2013.

1. Aleinu (2013)

Aleinu l'shabei-ach la-adon, la-adon hakol
Lateit gedulah yotzeir b'reisheet, yotzeir b'reisheet

We praise the One Who gave us everything
And we promise to care for it all
For ourselves, and each other, and those yet to come
Together with You, we can lift up everyone and together we'll lift up the world.

Aleinu...

We won't take anything we have for granted
and we'll share with those who don't have enough
We will work with You to make a better world
With kindness and justice, in goodness and hope, We can pass along a world
built with love --- with Your love

Aleinu...

(Let us praise the Eternal God, Ruler of all, who has made the world...)

2. Good Morning, World/Yotzeir (2014)

Good mornin’ world — so nice to see you again
We didn’t part so well last night
Hopin’ today we’ll be better friends

Good mornin’ light — what’s in store today
Sunshine makes the sky so bright
And today

We wake up to a world so shiny and new
Today’s a blank canvas
But together we can paint it almost any hue

Good mornin’ world — so nice to see you again
We didn’t part so well last night
Hopin’ today we’ll be better friends

Good mornin’ God — thanks for another day
Another chance to get it right
And today

We wake up to a world so shiny and new
Today’s a blank canvas
But together we can paint it almost any hue

Good mornin’ world — so nice to see you again
We didn’t part so well last night
Hopin’ today we’ll be better friends


3. A Sliver In The Sky (2015)

The world turns round and around
While the sun climbs up and goes down
And the days and nights roll by
And we notice the moon’s just a sliver in the sky

Each night it glows with possibility
While we dream of all the good there could be
As the moon grows big and round
Heaven’s blessings of peace find us here upon the ground

Time is the measuring rod
Given to us by God up above
Like lines we mark on the door
We grow older and wiser
As our hearts grow stronger with love

The world turns round and around
While the moon fades without a sound
And the nights and days roll by
And we come back around to that sliver in the sky


4. Yih’yu L’ratzon (2016)

Every morning another day
Open the book, look for something to say
To Someone or Something I can’t see
How do I know that You’ll hear me?

Yih’yu l’ratzon imre fi, imre fi
v’heg-yon libi l’fanecha
Adonai, Tzuri, v’Go-ali
Adonai, Tzuri, v’Go-ali

So many questions on my mind
So many answers to seek and to find
Help me to know what I need to know
And show me the way that I ought to go

Yih’yu l’ratzon…

Sometimes by praying I can share
All that’s in my heart and mind
Sometimes praying is listening
For wisdom to come in its own sweet time

Look at the world, full of worry and fear
What can we do to make everything clear
So we can act with justice and love
Find it within and above
 
Yih’yu l’ratzon…

(May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart
be acceptable unto Thee O God, my Rock and my Redeemer.)

(All songs: music and English lyrics by Beth Hamon. All Hebrew lyrics from the liturgy. All rights reserved.)