Lyrics from "Only This" (1996)                                                    Back to Main Lyrics Page

Click on any song title at right to jump to the lyrics:

1. Mah Tovu 2. Hillel's Song 3. You Guys (instrumental) 4. V'ahavta L'reyacha Kamocha 5. Dodi Li 6. Livracha 7. T'fillat Hashalvah (The Serenity Prayer) 8. Eitz Chaim Hee 9. O, Jerusalem 10. Y'varechecha 11. Only This 12. Hashkeeveynu/Sh'ma Liner notes Credits

Mah Tovu

Mah to-vu o-ha-le-cha Ya'a-cov mish-k'no-te-cha Yis-ra-el
Mah to-vu o-ha-le-cha Ya'a-cov mish-k'no-te-cha Yis-ra-el

Va ‘a-ni b’rov chas-d’cha a-vo vey-te-cha
Esh-ta-cha-veh el hey-chal kod’sh’cha b’yi-ra-te-cha

A-do-nai a-hav’ti m’on, m’on bey-te-cha
U’m’kom mish-kan b’yi-ra-te-cha

Va’a-ni esh-ta-cha-veh v’ech-ra’ah
Ev’r’cha lif-nay A-do-nai o-si
Va’a-ni t’fi-la-ti le-cha A-do-nai eyt ra-tzon
E-lo-him b’rov chas-d’cha, ey-ney-ni b’e-met yi-she-cha

Hillel's Song

A long time ago there lived a great teacher,
Hillel was his name
People would ask him all kinds of questions,
His wise answers brought him fame
Someone once asked, “In a place that is evil
How are we supposed to behave?”
Hillel thought for a moment, he pondered the question
And this is the answer he gave:

Chorus:       B’makom sh’eyn anashim
                  B’makom sh’eyn anashim
                  B’makom sh’eyn anashim
                  Hillel omer hishtadel l’hiyot ish

Every person has two inclinations, for evil and for good
Hillel knew that it’s not always easy to act the way we should
So we look to our parents, our teachers, our children
and we search for the answer inside
And in the struggle between what’s right and what’s wrong
We let this lesson be our guide

Chorus

Where people are acting inhuman
Hillel said “We must strive to be human”
Make peace with your sister and brother,
What is hateful to you do not do to another

So many questions not enough answers
as we travel along the road
But if we remember the words of wise Hillel
we will always know which way to go
When we find ourselves in a place that is evil
And we don’t know how to behave
If we stop for a moment, and ponder the question
We’ll remember the answer he gave

 Chorus

 In a place where there are no human beings,” Hillel said, “strive to be a human being.”

You Guys (instrumental)

V'ahavta L'reyacha Kamocha

V’ahavta l’reyacha kamocha,
V’ahavta l’reyacha kamocha
Zeh k’lal gadol baTorah, baTorah
Zeh k’lal gadol baTorah, baTorah

Love your neighbor, love your neighbor as yourself
Love your neighbor, love your neighbor as yourself
This is the teaching of our Torah
This is the teaching of our Torah
V’ahavta l’reyacha kamocha

Dodi Li

Livracha

T'fillat Hashalvah (The Serenity Prayer)

Eitz Chaim Hee

O, Jerusalem

Y'varechecha

Y'varechecha Adonai v'yishm'recha
(May God bless you, and may God keep you)

Ya'er Adonai panav eylecha vichunekah
(May the light of the Holy One shine on you)

Yisa Adonai panav eylecha, v'yaseim l'cha shalom
(And may God's face be lifted up to you, lifted up to you)

V'yaseim l'cha shalom.
(And may God grant you the precious gift of peace.)

Only This

What does God demand of you? Only this, only this
What does God demand of you? Only this, only this
Do justly, love mercy, walk humbly with your God
Do justly, love mercy, walk humbly with your God   (repeat)

Oo-mah A-do-nai do-resh mim-cha  ki im a-sot mish-pat
V’a-ha-vat che-sed  v’ha-tznay-ah le-chet im e-lo-he-cha

Hashkeeveynu/Sh'ma

Liner notes

Credits