Tags: 20th century C.E., 58th century A.M., American Jewry of the United States, English vernacular prayer, satire, זמירות zemirot
Excerpt: "[I'm Spending] Hanukkah in Santa Monica" by Tom Lehrer was first written at the request of Garrison Keillor for his radio show The American Radio Company on which it was performed twice, in 1990 and 1992. The song was later released on the album, Bible & Beyond (Larry Milder, 1999). The first recording of Tom Lehrer singing his song can be heard on The Remains of Tom Lehrer (Disc 3) (2000). In 2022, Tom Lehrer gave an enormous Ḥanukkah present to the world, dedicating his entire oeuvre to the Public Domain including this song. . . .
I’m spending Ḥanukkah
In Santa Monica.
Wearing sandals,
Lighting candles
By the sea.
I spent Shevuos
In East St. Louis,
A charming spot
But clearly not
The spot for me.
Those Eastern winters,
I can’t endure ’em,
So ev’ry year
I pack my gear
And come out here
Till Purim.
Rosh Hashonah
I spend in Arizonah,
And Yom Kippuh [Southern accent]
Way down in Mississippuh,
But in December there’s just one place for me.
Amid the California flora
I’ll be lighting my menorah,
Like a baby in his cradle
I’ll be playing with my dreidel,
Here’s to Judas Maccabeus,
Boy, if he could only see us,
Spending Ḥanukkah
In Santa Monica
By the sea.
“[I’m Spending] Hanukkah in Santa Monica” by Tom Lehrer was first written at the request of Garrison Keillor for his radio show The American Radio Company on which it was performed twice, in 1990 and 1992. The song was later released on the album, Bible & Beyond (Larry Milder, 1999). The first recording of Tom Lehrer singing his song can be heard on The Remains of Tom Lehrer (Disc 3) (2000). In 2022, Tom Lehrer gave an enormous Ḥanukkah present to the world, dedicating his entire oeuvre to the Public Domain including this song.
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Contributor: Tom Lehrer
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Name: Tom Lehrer Bio: Thomas Andrew Lehrer (born 9 April 1928) is an American musician, singer-songwriter, satirist, and mathematician, who later taught mathematics and musical theater. He recorded pithy and humorous songs that became popular in the 1950s and 1960s. His songs often parodied popular musical forms, though they usually had original melodies. Lehrer's early performances dealt with non-topical subjects and dark humor in songs such as "Poisoning Pigeons in the Park". In the 1960s, he produced songs about timely social and political issues, particularly for the U.S. version of the television show That Was the Week That Was. The popularity of these songs has far outlasted their topical subjects and references. Lehrer quoted a friend's explanation: "Always predict the worst and you'll be hailed as a prophet." In the early 1970s, Lehrer largely retired from public performance to devote his time to teaching mathematics and musical theater history at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Website:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Lehrer Profile Link:https://opensiddur.org/profile/tom-lehrer
