Ooh Hoo Yeah (Ooh)

Let me tell a story, at parts it’s kind of gory
And some say it’s not quite divine
But maybe, baby, it’s just right for Purim time

Oh its got women, princes and villains
Plots that get reversed just in time
Baby, come with me, to Shushan at Purim time

Inside the Megilla, you will find Esther
Her courage must match Haman’s wile
Baby, Baby, You’ve got to roll me and call me the Purim dice

Oh then there’s Morty, he always has to worry
His people are the apple of his eye
Morty, Morty (I know), you’re not waiting for a good luck sign

Haman says, “King baby, I’ll be right outside
You can be my partner in crime”
Baby, baby, You’ve got to roll me and call me the Purim dice
Call me the Purim dice

Solo

My my my it’s so hard to choose
Esther you can do it in time
Baby, baby, You’ve got to roll me and call me the Purim dice
Got to roll me . . . (extended repeat)
Keep on rolling . . .

Oh Vashti
(Sung to the tune of Day Tripper by the Beatles)


Got a good reason for taking the easy way out
Memuchan said it, I should kick Vashti out

What must be done to Vashti in accordance with the law
When the queen doesn’t come when I call
She didn’t come

If I do nothing all the princes will know
If I ignore it they say the problem will grow

What must be done to Vashti in accordance with the law
When the queen doesn’t come when I call
She didn’t come

Solo

Tried to tell her but she wouldn’t come to my side
I can’t really blame her; but now there’s no place to hide

What must be done to Vashti in accordance with the law
When the queen doesn’t come when I call
She didn’t come

Oh Vashti, Oh Vashti yeah

The Wind Cries Esther
(Sung to the tune of The Wind Cries Mary by Jimi Hendrix)


After all the kings are in their castles
And the servants have all gone to bed
You can hear Mordecai chanting on down the street
The Torah dressed in red

And the wind cries Esther

Hadassah is wearily sweeping
Up the broken pieces of yesterday’s life
Somewhere a queen is weeping
Somewhere a king has no wife

And the wind cries Esther

Solo

The Purim lots may turn up Jew tomorrow
And shine their emptiness down on our heads
The tiny people sags in Persia
Because the life they live may soon be dead

And the wind screams Esther

Will the wind ever remember
The names it has blown in the past
And with this book, this young woman and her wisdom
It whispers, “no this won’t be the last”

And the wind cries Esther
 

Sympathy for Haman
(Sung to the tune of Sympathy for the Devil by the Rolling Stones)


Please allow me to introduce myself I’m a prince of wealth and taste
I’ve been in Shushan for a long long year, so many a mans sold his fate
I was round when Queen Vashti had her moment of doubt and pain
Made sure Ahasuerus washed his hands and sealed her fate

Pleased to meet you, hope you guessed my name
But what’s puzzling you is the nature of my game

Stuck around Shushan when I saw it was a time for a change
Tricked the king and his ministers, Mordechai screamed in vain
I rode a steed of the king’s own breed while Memuchan raged
And the paupers stank

Pleased to meet you, hope you guessed my name
But what’s puzzling you is the nature of my game

I watched the gleams (hoo hoo)
while your priests and kings gilt the Torah scrolls for the laws they made
I shouted out “who destroyed the temple?” when after all it was you and me
Let me please introduce myself I’m a prince of wealth and taste
I lay traps for fools and boors who get killed before they reach my gate

Pleased to meet you, hope you guessed my name
But what’s puzzling you is the nature of my game

Solo

Pleased to meet you, hope you guessed my name
But what’s confusing you is the nature of my game

Just as every Jew is an Agagite and all the sinners saints
My wife Zeresh just calls me Haman cause I’m in need of some restraint
So if you meet me have some courtesy have some sympathy and some taste
Use all your well-learned politics or I’ll lay your people to waste

Pleased to meet you, hope you guessed my name
But what’s puzzling you is the nature of my game

Solo (Bass and Guitar) with “get on down, tell me baby,
tell me what’s my name . . .” to end

Into the Mystic
(Sung to the tune of Into the Mystic by Van Morrison)


We were born of dust and wind
Traveled miles beneath the desert sun
Before this journey is done
We must sail into the mystic

Hark now hear the rabbis’ cry
Smell the sea and feel the sky
Let your soul and spirit fly
Into the mystic

And when that shofar blows
I will be coming home
And when that shofar blows
I want to hear it, I don’t have to fear it

And I want to rock your gypsy soul
Just like way back in the days of old
And magnificently we will flow into the mystic

Solo

Repeat: “And when that shofar blows . . .” until
“And together we will flow into the mystic”

Solo to end with “Come on Esther”
 

The Weight
(Sung to the tune of The Weight by The Band)


I pulled into Shushan I was feeling ‘bout have past dead
My cousin Esther and I needed somewhere to lay our heads
“Hey mister can you tell me where a Jew might find a bed”
He just grinned and shook my hand “No” was all he said

Take a load off Esther, take a load for free
Take a load off Esther, put the load right on me

I got a job at the King’s gate, my religion I didn’t hide
Then I saw the King and Haman walking side by side
Haman said, “Hey King, come on lets talk some dough”
King said, “Do what you want--just so I don’t have to know”

Take a load off Ahasuerus . . .

My cousin told me, “Essie there’s something you can say
Though it’s dangerous I can’t see another way”
“Well Mort my cousin, what about Queen Vashti?”
He said, “Do me a favor cuz, won’t you stay and keep the King company”

Take a load off Vashti . . .

Queen Esther invited me, then she caught me in the fall
She said, “I will fix your rap if you call the whole thing off”
I said, “Hey Esther, you know I’m a persuasive man”
She said, “Haman, I just have to take a stand”

Take a load off Morty . . .

Don’t eat your dinner and put away the sine
My people are in trouble and I do believe it’s time
To talk to the King, you know he’s the only one
Who brought me here and he can get it done

Take a load off Esther/Ahasuerus/Vashti/Morty . .

Oh Queen Esther
(Sung to the tune of Desperado by the Eagles)


Wicked Haman, he wants to slaughter our people
He’s an arrogant creep who’ll wipe out the Jews
It may be Haman today or Hitler tomorrow
Our pain and our sorrow have us singin’ the blues

Oh, Queen Esther, you’ve got a crown on your head now
You must conquer your dread now and go to the king
It takes a hard one like you to go in there fighting
With God’s righteous lightning you’ll let freedom ring

Fourteen Adar he plots his crime
Do you think that you can act in time
You must begin your plan this very day
A feast of fools prepare the man
I tell you if you care you can prevail

Oh, Queen Esther, your deed will live on in story
The end will be gory for the villainous knave
Then there’ll be drinkin’ and song and plenty o’noshin’
We’ll eat hamantaschen and dance on his grave

Solo (over bridge)

Oh, Queen Esther, your deed will live on in story
Your name will bring glory to God up on high
Call up your courage for there’s an angel above you
Ya know we’re all gonna love you (all gonna love you)
We’re all gonna love you because you try

Cypress Tree
(Sung to the tune of Cypress Tree by the Black Crowes)

So ya thought you’d finally kill us
Yeah you with the mad eyes
I guess your thumbprint on the orders don’t lie, no
Yea I guess I saw it comin’
But now boy it’s you who’s done in
And through this crime we will survive

They’re gonna’ hang ya from the cypress tree
And the crowd’s gonna cheer when they see ya swing
They’re gonna’ hand ya from the cypress tree
Oh tell me now do you believe me?

Well glory halleluyah
They raised their glasses to ya
And they bowed their heads with utmost respect
So I guess it’s only fair to warn ya
That there’s a storm that’s comin down upon ya
And with your own word the King will direct

They’re gonna’ hang ya from the cypress tree
And the crowd’s gonna cheer when they see ya swing
They’re gonna’ hand ya from the cypress tree
Oh tell me now do you believe me?

Ain’t it funny how it ends?
In another life we might have been friends
I guess I’ll see you when we’re ashes again

They’re gonna’ hang ya from the cypress tree
And the crowd’s gonna cheer when they see ya swing
They’re gonna’ hand ya from the cypress tree
Oh tell me now do you believe me?

Serve Somebody
(Sung to the tune of Serve Somebody by Bob Dylan)

You may be an ambassador to Shushan or France
You may like to gamble you might like to dance
You may be the King of Persia or all the known world
You might be the queen with a long string of pearls

But you’re gonna’ have to serve somebody
Yes you’re gonna have to serve somebody
Well it might be the devil or it might be the lord
But you’re gonna’ have to serve somebody

You might be a palace guard you might be a young tough
You might be the head of some big olive oil network
You may be rich or poor you may be blind or lame
You might be living in another country under another name

But you’re gonna’ have to serve somebody . . . (chorus)

You might be sleeping in a palace or working in a home
You may be praying in a temple or praying in a dome
You may own swords and soldiers you may even own men
You may sign your name to dangerous words that you can’t take back again

But you’re gonna’ have to serve somebody . . . (chorus)

You may be a rabbi or a priest filled with spiritual pride
Maybe a city councilman taking bribes on the side
May be working in a barbershop you may know how to cut hair
May be somebodies mistress maybe somebody care

But you’re gonna’ have to serve somebody . . . (chorus)

Might like to wear cotton might like to wear silk
Might like to drink wine might like to drink milk
Might like to eat matzah might like to eat bread
Maybe sleeping on the floor maybe sleeping in the king’s bed

But you’re gonna’ have to serve somebody . . . (chorus)

You may call me Mordechai or you may call me Morty
You may call me Hadassah or you may call me Essie
You may call me Haman or you may call me Ray
You may call me anything no matter what you say

You’re still gonna’ have to serve somebody,
Yes you’re gonna have to serve somebody
Well it might be the devil or it might be the lord
But you’re gonna’ have to serve somebody

What’s so Funny ‘Bout Peace Love and Understanding
(by Elvis Costello)


As I walk through this wicked world
Searching for light in the darkness of insanity
I ask myself this auto blast (?)
Is there only pain and hatred and misery

And each time I feel like this inside
There’s one thing I want to know
What’s so funny ‘bout peace love and understanding
What’s so funny ‘bout peace love and understanding

Instrumental (4 bars)

As I walk on through troubled times
My spirit gets so downhearted sometimes
So where I was wrong and who I trusted
And where is the harmony sweet harmony

‘Cause each time I feel it slippin’ away
Just makes me want to cry
What’s so funny ‘bout peace love and understanding
What’s so funny ‘bout peace love and understanding

Instrumental (guitar solo begins at 3rd bar)

So where I was wrong and who I trusted
And where is the harmony sweet harmony

‘Cause each time I feel it slippin’ away
Just makes me want to cry
What’s so funny ‘bout peace love and understanding
What’s so funny ‘bout peace love and understanding

Instrumental to End