New Songs for a Passover Seder

I was thinking about our modern seder, and I realized that all of the songs are either original Hewbrew songs or silly ditties based on very old melodies. So, I thought I'd take a hand at crafting some Passover songs that delved a little deeper into the meaning of Passover and the characters who populate its story.

I wrote the lyrics for the seven songs below, basing them on popular songs from the 60s through last year. Feel free to use them in your seder, but keep in mind that these original melodies have been copyrighted, and so it is illegal to record them or to sell them.

Also, the songs on which they are based are fairly complex melodies with lots of changes, so everyone may not be able to sing along with them. If you use them, I recommend at least one person rehearsing with them in advance, so he or she can become familiar and lead them. My cousin Karen, the lyrics maven, thinks they are pretty good, so here they are:


Let the Seder Start(Sung to the tune of “Let the River Run”—Lyrics
by Reid Fishman)

Let the Seder start.
It’s time to gather at the table,
and tell the tale of Passover.

Family and friends,
recall a story that’s familiar,
referred to as the Exodus.

It’s all about our freedom
from oppression,
under the Egyptians.

It matters more today
than it ever did,
because of all the bad stuff
that gets hidden…

From the media,
so for tonight we’ll be at one with
people all around the world.

What we say tonight,
we say for all who are downtrodden.
May you live in freedom and peace.
May you live in freedom and peace.


That’s Why We Do the Seder Plate(Sung to the tune of “The Way
You Do the Things You Do” —Lyrics by Reid Fishman)

Let’s start off with Karpas.
Greens represent the birth of Israel.
And then there’s some Maror,
Bitterness shows that slavery was real.

And then there’s Haroset,
looks like the bricks we made when slaving.
And Matzah was the bread,
baked on our backs as we were leaving.

Oh, these are the things that we use to commemorate
our time in Egypt.
That’s why we do the Seder plate.

There’s also Zeroa,
The roasted shankbone of an animal.
It signifies sacrifice,
Within the need for our survival.

And finally there’s Baytzah,
a hard-boiled egg that has been roasted,
a symbol of rebirth,
in all the Seders that we’ve hosted.

Oh, these are the things that we use to commemorate
our time in Egypt.
That’s why we do the Seder plate.


A Passover Seder (The Four Questions)(Sung to the tune of “The End of the
World” —Lyrics by Reid Fishman)

Why is this night so different
from every other night?
Don’t you know? It’s a Passover Seder.
We’re here to celebrate it right.

Why do we eat only matzah
instead of all other bread?
Don’t you know? They grabbed all of the bread dough,
And threw it in their bags when they fled.

I’ll wake tomorrow morning and I’ll wonder
why I can’t make some waffles today.
And then I will remember, that it still is Passover,
and that’s just not the kosher way.

Why do we eat bitter herbs?
Why do we dip karpas twice?
Don’t you know, it’s a Passover Seder,
these customs will be made to suffice.

I’ll wake tomorrow morning and I’ll wonder
why I can’t have some Cheerios today.
And then I will remember, that it still is Passover,
and that’s just not the kosher way.

Why sit reclined at the table,
dropping our food on our chairs?
Don’t you know? It’s a Passover Seder.
It ends when we have finished the prayers.


I Hope That Pharaoh Doesn’t Mind(Sung to the tune of “New York State of
Mind” —Lyrics by Reid Fishman)

(The Pharaoh’s daughter sings)

Sometimes, I just take a walk,
take a quiet stroll here along the Nile.
I watch the blue water flow along,
and it makes me smile.
But today there’s a basket, and a baby I did find.
I hope that Pharaoh doesn’t mind.

Surely it is a little boy
that was set adrift by a Jewish slave.
He’s so young and so innocent,
someone that I saved.
I would sure like to keep him;
have him with me all the time.
I hope that Pharaoh doesn’t mind.

It’s been so boring living day by day,
there’s not much for me to do.
But now I have a purpose that is all my own.
I’ll raise this boy…this little Jew.

Should I go ask the Pharaoh now,
what he thinks of this new idea I’ve had?
I'm not sure I should tell him,
but he is my dad.
I’ll name the baby Moses, and with him I’ll be so kind.
I hope that Pharaoh doesn’t mind.
I hope that Pharaoh doesn’t mind.


The Leader(Sung to the tune of “The Boxer” —Lyrics by Reid Fishman)

(Moses sings)

I was raised Egyptian though I always felt it strange
that no one could say exactly where I came from other than a floating bassinet.
All lies I say, but there was no explanation to describe why
I was here,
so I wondered if I’d ever find my way.

As I grew a little older, I began to realize, that I was so
very different
from the Pharaoh and all his lowly followers.
But the Jews, they just seemed to make more sense to me in
what they say and do,
and I knew that I was one of them, it’s true.

Lie-la-lie.
Lie-la-la-la. Lie-la-lie.
Lie-la-lie.
Lie-la-la-la. Lie-la-lie.
Lie-la-la-la-lie.

So I realized that I’m a Jew and must defend the slaves from
the tyranny around them,
and that I’m the one to lead them to the promised land.
I went to bat, for my people to leave Egypt,
but the Pharaoh made it clear that what I believe is just not where he’s at.

Lie-la-lie.
Lie-la-la-la. Lie-la-lie.
Lie-la-lie.
Lie-la-la-la. Lie-la-lie.
Lie-la-la-la-lie

But God saw the
situation and he hastened to our aide.
He unleashed the plagues on Egypt, culminating in the killing of the first-born
sons.
The Pharaoh cried as he said he would release us, so we
grabbed our things and left,
and we ran away before he changed his mind.

Lie-la-lie.
Lie-la-la-la. Lie-la-lie.
Lie-la-lie.
Lie-la-la-la. Lie-la-lie.
Lie-la-la-la-lie

Now they see me as the leader, and I don’t know what to do.
I can tell they are not ready to go right to the promised land.
So I guess we’re doomed to wander, and I will be the guy,
I will lead them through the desert, until the day I die.
Die-da-die.
Die-da-die-die-da-da-die.

Die-da-die. Die-da-da-da.
Die-da-die.
Die-da-die.
Die-da-da-da. Die-da-die.
Die-da-da-da-die.


Freeing the Jews
(Sung to the tune of “Someone Like You” —Lyrics
by Reid Fishman)

(Pharaoh sings)

First the water became blood red,
Frogs and lice and flies, soon the cows were dead.
We got boils, hail and locusts flew.
It got so dark that we didn’t know what to do.
But far worse is my son had to die.
He was my first born, and I could only cry.

I sent a summons out to my old friend Moses
and I asked why he did it, why he chose us.
I had hoped he’d tell me that it’s just how it goes,
but what he said is let us go now.

So I find myself freeing the Jews.
I can’t believe it’s all I can do.
I’m conflicted, I know.
Should I just let them go,
or should I send my troops to kill them instead?
So, I sent the troops to kill them, I did.

The Jews got stuck at the Red Sea shore.
My troops found them there and prepared for war.
Moses raised his staff and the waters split,
and they walked right through, crossing all of it.

I sent my troops down into the Red Sea to get them.
They were going to escape, I couldn’t let them,
but the water returned, I can’t forget the way they screamed.
My troops all drowned there.

So I found myself freeing the Jews.
I can’t believe it’s all I could do.
‘Though conflicted, I know,
I should have just let them go,
but I sent the troops to kill them instead.
Now I know just why the Red Sea is red.

So I found myself freeing the Jews.
I can’t believe it’s all I could do.
‘Though conflicted, I know,
I should have just let them go,
but I sent the troops to kill them instead.
Now I know just why the Red Sea is red.


Now the Seder Ends
(Sung to the tune of “Let the River Run”
—Lyrics by Reid Fishman)

Now the Seder ends.
We’ve told a story for the ages,
on this night of Passover.

Don’t forget this tale,
and all the messages behind it,
of liberty and freedom for all.

Help others to remain strong,
under oppression,
wherever it may happen.

Remembering what
the Seder taught
may make it better for
your sons and daughters.

So as we conclude
all the components of the Seder,
Passover has meaning for all.

And we like to say,
that maybe we can be together,
next year in Jerusalem.
Next year in Jerusalem.