Friday nights have a new meaning here
Sitting by the yeshiva meal
Waiting
For that first hour to be up
For the moment where we can leave
The clock ticks so painfully slow
Tic…
Tic…
Tic…
Finally!
Me and three fiends
The three best guys here
Quickly grab our coats
But not to go ‘hang out’
Nor go for a walk
Not for a sholom zachar either
Naw
Rather to a place just down the road
Where we sing nigunim the whole night long
Aye it’s so nice first walking in
So happy to see you, so welcoming
As if we’re family come in from out of town
We talk a bit
And then we sing
First Friday night zmiros
The classic YG tune
Slow
Consistent
Beautiful
The Pilpul nigun is next
Pada v”Shalom right after
Followed by L”chatchilla Ariber
The first niggun I ever learned
When we sing my gaze phases out
As I lose myself in the melody
Oh!
With every key my chest swells!
I get so excited!
I want to jump and wave my fists and hit the table!
The nigunim are so tangible!
But I don’t
With enormous restraint I only sway to and fro
And bottle it up inside me
We sing other familiar nigunim
Many of which remind me of things past
Of long drives to LA
Sailing through the desert night
Car window cracked to let in cool dry air
Parents softly speak
A CD plays these very tunes
More stars than you could possibly count
Occasionally one falls in burning death
As a little boy dozes off to these same sweet songs
He makes a wish on that shooting star
Because that’s what little boys do
But he doesn’t wish for little boy things
Not for candy nor for toys
Rather for the future
That it be full of opportunities
And lots of lovely memories
What would he have thought if he could have known?
That it was for this that he wished?
Hey! Why don't you use the time you have to wait to appreciate the fact that some of your wishes have been fulfilled?
ReplyDeleteIf you wouldn't have the wait you'd appreciate it less!
What are zmiros???
ReplyDeletethat song you seen Friday night that has hectic kabbalistic lyrics.
ReplyDeleteI'd appreciate it just the same but for LONGER!
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ReplyDeleteI wished on that star, too. And this is also what I wished(I have tears in my eyes.)
ReplyDeleteIt's ttrue those niggunim are pwerful and we're priveleged to share them . let all homes have unlocked doors. you're welcome every shabbos
ReplyDelete