The Change Song

The Change Song -- Mutatis mutandis

Tune: These Boots are Made for Walking by Nancy Sinatra

Heracleitus said these words quite early:

You can’t step in that same river twice!

Change is all that’s constant, know it surely -- 

That’s what gives our life that extra spice!

     Mutatis mutandis!

     Is where it’s at, that’s true!

     And every single day, 
     Those changes wash up over you!

Whitehead said each moment we’re evolving –  

We’re not the gal or fella’ that we were;

Life is just a problem for the solving, 

And that is all that we can know for sure!  

       Mutatis mutandis!

       Just try not to stew! 

       You can master change, 
       It doesn’t have to master you!

The path you’re treading may seem harsh and cruel,

Hard luck striking like an ugly toad,

But strife and evil may conceal a jewel,

Hidden in the dust along life’s road –

      Mutatis mutandis,

      Cheer up, don’t be blue!

      Adversity has sweet uses, 
      If you look you’ll see that’s true!  

So when those changes roll into your station,  

Hop aboard and ride for all you’re worth,

You may not know the final destination,

But what a way to travel on this earth!

      Mutatis mutandis!

      No matter what you do!

      You can’t fight it, 
      Learn to love it, let it work for you!  

  

Lyrics © 2000 Joan Levin

NOTE: Mutatis mutandis, Adverb.
Pronunciation: The "a" in mutatis rhymes with "ah."
The "a" in mutandis rhymes with "and" in the U.S. (and "ah" in the U.K.)
Literally this means: Things having been changed that have to be changed.
But in academic use it also means: With the changes having been made, or, the differences having been considered.

And more: 

Mutatis mutandis

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mutatis%20mutandis

mu·ta·tis mu·tan·dis | m(y)o͞oˌtädəs m(y)o͞oˈtändəs, myo͞oˌtādəs myo͞oˈtandəs |

adverb

(used when comparing two or more cases or situations) making necessary alterations while not affecting the main point at issue: what is true of undergraduate teaching in England is equally true, mutatis mutandis, of American graduate schools.

ORIGIN

Latin, literally ‘things being changed that have to be changed’.

Rawnika Lyrics 2008, 2011

"Rawnika is our name for Raw Hanukkah, which started years ago with a Hanukkah great party at Ariane and Rob's house.  I wrote these words to the tunes of well-known Hanukkah songs and these are from the song sheets.

This references most of the equipment used for raw food prep, such as an Excalibur dehydrator, a Cuisinart food processor and a Vitamix blender and foods like raw cacao, carob, goji berries, and coconuts!    

Even the latkes (potato pancakes) although warmed are not cooked (and they're not made with white potatoes either!)   

                                     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

HAPPY RAWNIKA!!!

Tune: Maoz Tzur

At this season long ago,

Miracles came thick and fast.

First the win o’er greater foe,

Oil for eight days was the last.

    But these days we’re dying, 

    Using oil for frying!

    You’ll feel swell, you will kvell, 

    Raw food prep applying!  

         

Grate some carrots with a smile,

Add some yams and chia too.

Only takes a little while,

Full of life to nourish you!

Add your favorite seasoning,

Dry with gentle breezing!

You’ll feel swell, you will kvell,

Latkes are so pleasing!!

Cashews and some lemon juice

For a topping creamy,

Apples in a Cuisinart,

Make a sauce that’s dreamy!

Now you won’t be dying, 

Using oil for frying!

You’ll feel swell, you will kvell!    

Raw food is worth trying!  

********

Tune: Dreydl, Dreydl, Dreydl

I made a little smoothie, 

With mangos and with greens, 

And living vibrant superfoods, 

To keep my insides clean!

Oh blender blender blender –

Keep turning, sov sov sov!

Oh blender blender blender,

You make each day Yom Tov!

And now I’ll make another,

Cacao and carob too,

With coconuts and gojis, 

And this one’s just for you!

Oh blender blender blender –

Keep turning, sov sov sov!

Oh blender blender blender,

You make each day Yom Tov!

*********

Tune: Oh Hanukkah

O  Rawnika, O Rawnika,

The Vitamix is stirring,

The Cuisinart is whirring,

Excalibur is purring!

The festive board is groaning,

With coconuts and kale,

Only tiny candles 

Burn to tell the tale!

 And out in, the meadow –

The animals all dance for glee!

We’ve left them alive, 

So they too will survive,

     Just like the brave Macabees! 

We’ve left them alive,

So they too will survive,

    Just like the brave Macabees! 

*********

Tune: Mi Y Malel

When you are pining for brand new dining, With a new taste, 

We think you need a big bowl of seaweed, You’ll feel fine!

Your life will rock a bit more with Maca,  

In your smoothie,   

Nuts are much better, when they are wetter,  Here, try mine!

Oy, you’ll feel better with a green food tonic!  
If  that won’t work, then go for a colonic! 

Or try Rejuvelac,  or fresh wheat grass!

You’ll feel fine,   And you can bet your –--

ASK me a question, you’ll get an answer, Where’s the protein?

Have some more green-os,

It’s got aminos, all you need!

Collards and kale too, never will fail you, 

Eat some daily, 

These foods are super, never a blooper –-

Now let’s feed!

Lyrics © 2008, 2011 Joan D. Levin

KAM-II Songs

I wrote these lyrics in various Bible Classes and other events at KAM-Isaiah Israel.     

Sisera's Rap*

  Ya'el why did you do me like you did do?

  You took that big ol’ tent peg and you ran me right through!

  There wasn't any judge; there wasn't any jury;

  Just you,  sinful woman, with your heart of fury!

  If the reason is good, can the sin be wrong?

  The rebbes gonna gnaw on this one all day long!

  And if intent is bad, but the mitzvah pure,

  Motive can trump deeds, and that's for sure!

  I could go on and on now, but I won't --

  'Cause you're damned if you do, 
   And you're damned if you don't!

*Written during Rabbi A. J. Wolf’s class on Sex and Violence in the Talmud, November 16, 2005, during discussion of the tale of Yael and Sisera – see Judges Chapters 4 and 5 -- about bad deeds done with good intention, and good deeds done with bad intention.

Lyrics (c) 2005 Joan D. Levin

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The DSM Song

Tune: Baby Face

D-S-M, I’d like to see you in the D-S-M,

You prayed to God and then you said “amen,” way back then,

Laws and rules you’d leave or take ‘em,

Others kept ‘em, you could break ‘em!

Bathsheba, you had her hubby wiped out, just to get that femme –

With Tamar we could see your sociopathy,

As detailed in the D-S-M!

The DSM is the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual used for cataloguing mental health conditions. This was at our Chavura around November 2012 while discussing King David’s psyche as demonstrated by his behaviors towards Bathsheba. David had caused Bathsheba's husband, Uzziah,  to be killed so he could marry her, and he had his daughter Tamar killed as well after she was raped by his son (and Tamar's half-brother) Amron.   

Lyrics (c) 1996 Joan D. Levin

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Written during Adrian Bledstein's Psalms Class, November 15, 2003.   But this is based on 1 Samuel 25 which, as I recall, we were also discussing that day.

Abigail's Song!

Tune: Taking a Chance on Love

There goes that hunk again,

He'll be a king -- I don't know when --

But I will feed his troops till then, 

Taking a chance on love!

My hubby, what a churl!

I will not be his yes-yes girl!

I'll live to be King David's "pearl"

Taking a chance on love!

         I told Nabal the bad news --

         He went and had a stroke!

         Now I will follow David!

         I'll wash his feet,

         I'll go for broke!

David may throw a curse.

To win a war, I'll throw my purse!

To bring his foes from bad to worse --

Taking a chance on love!

Lyrics (c) 1996, Joan D.  Levin

 *************************

Little David’s Band  

Tune: McNamara’s Band

Oh my name is Little David, I’m the leader of a band.

Although we’re few in number we’re the finest in the land!

Oh I’ve hit the very bottom, but I’ll soon surpass them all,

And it will not be my funeral, ‘cause soon I’ll march on Saul!

Oh, my harp goes “pling” as I take wing, and Sheol seems far away,

Jonathan abides close by my side, God’s given us the day!

My fortunes may go up and down, Up’s where I’d like to stand!

So follow me to Jerusalem, With Dovid HaMelekh’s band!

Lyrics (c) 1996  Joan D. Levin

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Loshon Hora Song

(Loshon Hora means "evil speech" which is forbidden.)

Loshon Hora Song. Tune: Never Mind the Why & Wherefore – Gilbert  & Sullivan, HMS Pinafore

This fits the score perfectly except there is no second verse. Go from verse 1 to 3.  Also some of the small patter lines between verses were omitted.  See on You Tube at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=46&v=y4-7lFCYi3Y  

For more about the expression, Loshon Hora, see:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lashon_hara 
and 
https://chofetzchaimalessonaday.wordpress.com/2010/02/14/loshon-hora-a-definition/

---------------------------------------

FIRST VERSE:

We won’t sink to Loshon Hora,

For it’s written in our Torah,

That we do a mitzvah simply using language that is nice,

So although we might be angry, we will keep those words on ice!

Chorus tune 1, repeated after EACH verse:

Keep the lid on nasty speeches,

Never kvetch when you can kvell,

That is what our Torah teaches,
We must learn this lesson well!

    (Never kvetch when you can kvell, 
Let us learn that lesson well, 
That is what our Torah teaches, 
We must learn this lesson well!)  

Chorus tune 2, repeated after EACH verse: 

Ugly words are just like arrows,

That can do more harm than Pharaohs,

And once spoken, just like feathers,

They can fly around forever!

Chorus tune 3 words after FIRST Verse only:

Gossip only leads to evil,

Sharper than a serpent’s tooth,

Let our thoughts and words and actions,

Ring with kindness, care and truth!

SECOND VERSE  (the last verse of the G&S version) 

Rabbi Yisroyel* once said it,

And we’ve got to give him credit,

As the Chofetz Chaim he helped keep our language in its place,

We can just say “no” to gossip with a smile upon our face!

Chorus tune 1, repeated after EACH verse:

Keep the lid on nasty speeches,

Never kvetch when you can kvell,

That is what our Torah teaches,

We must learn this lesson well! 

 (Never kvetch when you can kvell, let us learn that lesson well, that is what our Torah teaches, we must learn this lesson well!)  

Chorus tune 2, repeated after EACH verse: 

Ugly words are just like arrows,

That can do more harm than Pharaohs,

And once spoken, just like feathers,

They can fly around forever!

Chorus tune 3, after LAST VERSE ONLY:

Let our thoughts and words and actions,

Give full honor to our Torah

Rise above dissent and factions,

Let’s not sink to Loshon Hora!

Chorus tune 4 after LAST VERSE only. 

Guard your tongue lest evil words,

Fly abroad like deathly birds,

It’s a mitzvah you can do,

And that is (my) (our) advice to you!

* Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagin 1838-1933 known as the Chofetz Chaim

Lyrics © 2002 Joan D. Levin

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A Naughty Song that Flies in the Face of the Loshon Hora Song Above.

(This song relates to a situation where tensions emerged among clergy and congregants that I won't go into here!)

The Diva

Tune: Buttercup from Gilbert and SullivanPinafore

They call me the Diva,

And would you believe a

Great shul can be bent to my will?

I’m loved and adored by some folks on the board,

And now I’m the queen of the hill!

I’ve high notes and low notes,

And I’ve got enough votes,

To stay while the rebs come and go!

They may like their bima,

But just watch my steam, a

Smart rebbe won’t cross me, I know!

I make a great sound but I work underground,

And you won’t know until it’s too late!

I’m sweetness and smiling but all that beguiling,

Goes on while I’m sealing your fate!

So here is my chorus,

If you give me tsorus,

You’ll simply be making my day!

But if you’d receive a

Good word from the Diva,
You’d better stay out of my way!

*****************************

The Malakh ha Mohves Song
Last but not least, a song to be sung by the Angel of Death, 
known as the Malakh ha Mohves [MA-lakh ha MOH-ves].
Tune: Save the Last Dance for Me

Many long years have passed, my dear,

And I've been watching you!

You knew I was there all along, 

And I knew you knew!

For I’m the Malakh ha Mohves, 

And I’ve been waiting for you patiently,

So darling, save your last dance for me!

Oh you’ve been whirling and twirling,

All around life’s dancing floor;

And when the music stopped, 

You clapped your hands,
And said you wanted more!

And never once did you ever stop to think,
Who your last partner would be,
But darling, that partner is me!

Bridge: 

Oh I’ll take you by the hand, 

And I’ll lead you to the floor,

Then my kiss will be so soft, 

As I walk you through the door!

Now the band is slowing, the lights are dimming,
And the time has come!
I’m the Malakh ha Mohves but I stood aside
And let you have your fun.

You’ve danced with lots of others in your life, 
But now I’m sure that you can see,

You’ve been saving this last dance for me!

© 2008 Joan D. Levin

#########################

Pantoums with Mark Strand

pantoum

 noun

pan·​toum | \ pan‧ˈtüm\

plural -s

Definition of pantoum:

A series of quatrains rhyming abab in which the second rhyme of a quatrain recurs as the first in the succeeding quatrain, each quatrain introduces a new second rhyme (as bcbc, cdcd), and the initial rhyme of the series recurs as the second rhyme of the closing quatrain (xaxa)

Or read this article:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantoum

Correspondence with Mark Strand and Judy and Mike Spock, and my Pantoum (e-mails in reverse chronological order)   

----- Original Message -----

From: Mark Strand

To: Joan D. Levin

Sent: Tuesday, April 18, 2000 3:26 PM

Subject: Re: Lovely evening! 

Dear Joan, that pantoum fragment was terrific. Yours actually rhymes, making the job more difficult. I've been either on the road or teaching. 

I can't wait for this to be over--this teaching. Although I do love teaching Kafka. Nice evening the other daY, the Moroccan food, etc. 

Best, Mark

At 04:45 PM 3/29/00 -0600, you wrote:

  Judy, Mike, Mark -- It was good to see you all last night! This morning in my Basic Program class (which I hope will improve my mind although this hasn't happened yet) our instructor passed around Mark's poem: "Eating Poetry." We had a lively discussion which wandered into the outfield with talk (because one classmate is a librarian) about public

perceptions of librarians versus books, reading & poetry. I always liked Eating Poetry and thank you Mark for writing it! 

It occurred to me then that I hadn't explained pantoums very well (at least as I understand them, which may have no resemblance to what they really are) -- but 

here's my concept about how they go and what came to mind during class this morning:

  Drinking Moroccan Wine -- 3/28/00

  Please pass that good red wine;

  We're dining au Moroc,

  And suppertime is fine,

  With friends from Antioch.

  We're dining au Moroc,

  With olives, bread and chatter.

  With friends from Antioch,

  The goblets hardly matter.

  With olives, bread and chatter,

  We sip the ruby red.

  The goblets hardly matter?

  The Prophet shakes his head!

  We sip the ruby red,

  The river straight to Hell?

  The Prophet shakes his head;

  We say: This drink is swell!

  The river straight to Hell?

  Please pass that good red wine!

  We say: This drink is swell --

  And suppertime is fine!

  That's all, Folks! Joan

                   ******

Here is another  Pantoum!  I wrote it for my friend Andrea Monsees around 1996 - we had been talking about Pantoums and she had given me a poetry encyclopedia for Hanukkah in which "Pantoum" was one of the entries. 

Pantoums in this post(c)1996 Joan D. Levin 

*******