When Chanukah Comes To Town
from We Are Going to Bremen To Be Musicians by Geoff Berner
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lyrics
Oh,
Well,
The Christians irritate us with their Christmass-ness,
It seems like every year,
And then the Pagans must remind us they invented this.
Ok! We get it. It's clear.
Jewish children saw the others open presents,
It made them sad and blue.
So their parents found a minor Jewish holiday,
So they could open presents too.
It's a tokenistic cultural compromise
That depresses me with a sigh,
But the little ones seem to like it,
So I guess that that is why---
I--
'm ambivalent about Chanukah
When Chanukah comes around,
The feeling's not a cute
It's chronic of
A thinking which is probably unsound. (UN-SOUND!)
I don't mean to ruin the party,
I'm sorry if I'm bringing you down. (Down, down)
But I'm ambivalent about Chanukah,
When Chanukah comes to town.
Do you know the story of Chanukah?
I wonder if you've ever known.
Well, the Jews resisted Greek civilization,
Till the Greeks just got tired and went home.
A tradition of religious independence,
Which we pass to the fruit of our loins,
Or a festival of violent fanatics,
Punctuated by chocolate coins?
Like the glory of G-d's creation,
At the start of a brand new day,
Some times I could just take it or leave it,
And that is why I say--
Hey!
I'm ambivalent about Chanukah
When Chanukah comes around,
I reach for a great gin and tonic
A
Thinking which is probably unsound (UNSOUND!)
It's not the shallow indifference of the atheist,
It's more Spiritual and profound.
I'm ambivalent about Chanukah,
When Chanukah comes to town
--You know I mean it!--
I'm ambivalent,
It's not an equivalent,
I know it's irrivalent,
But oh well--
What the Hell.
credits
Lyrics and Music by: Geoff Berner
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Geoff Berner Vancouver, British Columbia
Singer / songwriter / accordionist / novelist Geoff Berner's music combines klezmer, punk, political satire and Balkan dance rhythms. He writes sharp, literate songs that make you want to weep, laugh, grind your teeth, or kick out a window - often all at the same time. Having built a cult following with his weirdly compelling stage presence, G.B. has a strange ability to create fun chaos. ... more
discography
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Jul 2023 -
Mar 2021 -
Nov 2019 -
Sep 2017 -
Jul 2017 -
Oct 2015 -
Mar 2011 -
Jan 2009 -
Jan 2007 -
Aug 2005 -
Jan 2003 -
Jul 2017
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