Conversation in the Womb

My dear brother, look around and tell me what your eyes behold

Don't deny that you see, it's only you and me
Our existence, it is empty, it is cold
Our existence, it is empty, it is cold

But dear brother
You must have faith that we are not the only ones
For in the distance there's a place, where we'll stand up tall and straight
Oh, I believe there is a world to come, yes, I believe that there is a world to come

My dear brother, don't be blind, don't be stubborn, don't be set.
Imagination it's all right, but it won't light up the night
What you see is exactly what you get; oh what you see is exactly what you get

But dear brother
You will surely find when all is said and done
That the future it will show, Ttere is so much we don't know
Oh I believe that there is a world to come, yes I believe that there is a world to come.

My dear brother, Where have you gone?,
Is this the moment I have known? I can faintly hear the cry
My dear brother must have died
It's all over now forever I'm alone, It's all over now forever I'm alone

But dear brother
Please don't mourn me when my life has just begun
For what you hear are sounds of joy
"Congratulations, it's a boy"
Oh I believe that there is a world to come,
Yes I believe that there is a world to come

'Cause what you hear are sounds of joy
"Congratulations, it's a boy"
Soon you'll be here with me in this world to come.
Soon you'll be here with me in this world to come.

Artist: Abie Rottenberg

Album: Journeys 1

Who Am I?

Artist: Abie Rottenberg

Album: Journeys 3

I have trouble with my words,

They don't seem to come out clear.

But I want you all to know me, so I'll try.

I'm asking one small question,

It won't take up too much time,

Can you tell me,

Can you answer,

Who am I?

Oh, I know I'm very different,

By the things I cannot do.

Why, I find it hard to tell you my own name.

So you wonder jut who am I,

As you try to hide your eyes,

But believe me,

You and I,

Are much the same.

Don't you marvel at a sunset,

As the rays shine through the clouds,

And the night begins to take over the sky?

And don't you love the sound of laughter,

And a lively happy tune?

Well then we are not so different, you and I.

And when you see a mighty eagle,

As it spreads its graceful wings,

Don't you wish inside your heart,

That you could fly?

And when hear a crash of thunder,

Don't you tremble out of fear?

Well then we are not so different, you and I.

Yes, I know my legs can't hold me,

And I cannot shake your hand,

And that looking at me makes you feel so strange.

So you wonder jut who am I,

As you quickly pass on by.

But believe me,

You and I,

Are just the same.

have you known the pain of sadness,

And the feeling that it brings?

Yes, I'm sure there's been some times,

You've had to cry.

And that loneliness is worse of all,

I'm sure that you'll agree.

Then we are not so different, you and I.

And do you know the joy of friendship,

Of caring and of love?

Somehow I get the feeling that you do.

The we are not so different,

We are very much the same.

For you do know who I am.

Yes, you do know who I am,

I'm just like you.

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Teardrop

Artist: Abie Rottenberg

Album: Journeys 2

In a one room apartment, somewhere out in the city,

A story of magic unfolds.

There lived a widow, without any children,

Abandoned, forgotten, alone.

She lived with the memories, of barbed wire fences,

The darkness invading her dreams.

Oh, if ever a woman and reason to cry,

Then surely the woman was she.

But never did she shed a tear,

She asked for no answers, had nothing to fear.

G-d's love is but hidden, in time we'll know why.

But today there's no reason, no reason to cry.

Well, it happened one Friday, there just was no money,

The table, bare, covered in white.

But she found a few pennies, and bought a small candle,

Her Shabbos would still have its light.

And she lit the lone candle, recited the Brocha,

The deepest of joys in her heart.

When a gust of wind blew, through a crack in the window,

The flame, once so bright, had gone dark.

This time the pain was so great,

She tried to hold back - but it was too late.

"Where has my faith gone?" she said with a sigh,

As a small teardrop formed on the edge of her eye.

It rolled down her cheek, heading straight for the candle,

As if with a mind of its own.

Touching the wick, the drop burst out in flames,

Once more, there was light in her home.

No more could she hold back her tears,

She cried out the sorrow of so many years.

G-d's love is but hidden, in time we'll know why -

But the heavens had told her, "It's all right to cry."

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The Place Where I Belong

Artist: Abie Rottenberg?

Album: Journeys 1

I was made back in 1842,

By a humble man, a real G-d fearing Jew.

Who did his work with honesty, feeling and with pride,

He was know in Kiev as Yankele the Scribe.

With loving care, his hand so sure and still,

He formed me with some parchment, ink and quill.

Each day he'd slowly add to me just a few more lines,

With words to last until the end of time.

And on the day that I was finally complete,

The whole town came and filled the narrow street.

And they sang and danced and held me high and carried me away,

To the little wooden Shul where I would stay.

And as the Rabbi held me close against his chest,

He spoke out loud and clear to all the rest.

He said, "No matter if you're very young, or even if you're old,

Live by the words you'll find inside this scroll."

Three days a week they read from me out loud,

It filled my soul with joy, it made me proud.

They followed each and every verse with fire in their eyes,

The words that told them how to live their lives.

I watched the generations come and go,

I saw the old men die, their children grow.

But never in a century did I miss my turn once,

For the fathers, they had left me with their sons.

But the hatred from the west came to Kiev,

And they rounded up the Jews that had not fled,

But Moishele the Shammosh, he was brave and he was bold,

He hid me in his cellar, dark and cold.

And for years and years I waited all alone,

For the people of my town to take me home,

And they'd sing and dance and hold me tight when they carried me away,

To my little wooden shul where I would stay.

But it was someone else who found my hiding place,

And to America he sent me in a crate.

And the men who took me off the boat, they said I was a prize.

But they were Jews I did not recognize.

And in a case of glass they put me on display,

Where visitors would look at me and day,

"How very nice, how beautiful, a stunning work of art,"

But they knew not what was inside my heart.

And across the room I saw upon the shelf,

Some old friends of mine who lived back in Kiev.

A silver pair of candlesticks, a menorah made of brass,

We'd all become mere echoes of the past.

So if you hear my voice, why don't you come along,

And take me to the place where I belong,

And maybe even sing and dance when you carry me away,

To some little wooden shul where I could stay.

And as the rabbi holds me close against his chest,

He'll speak out loud and clear to all the rest.

He'll say, "No matter if your very young, or even if you're old,

Live by the words you'll find inside this scroll."

Live by the words you'll find inside... my soul.

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Little Kite

Artist: Abie Rottenberg

Album: Journeys 2

The sky bright and clear, the wind's blowing strong,

Winter has past, now the sun's shining proud.

What a glorious day to send up a kite,

To dance and to soar high over the clouds.

Through the traffic and noise, I ran to the park,

An island surrounded with castles of stone.

With my kite and a spool of clear plastic like,

We journey together, along way from home.

Little kite tell me, for I cannot fly,

Can you see distant oceans and mountains so high?

But most of all tell me, for I cannot see,

Is there a G-d in heaven, does He know of me?

Lighter than air, my little kite flew,

Riding the wind like an angle in flight.

So far away now, just a speck in the sky,

Reaching the heavens it vanished from sight.

Little kite tell me, for I cannot fly,

Can you see distant oceans and mountains so high?

But most of all tell me, for I cannot see,

Is there a G-d in heaven, does He know of me?

Well someone passed by and looked at me strange,

He asked, "Wtcha doing on this day so fair?

Flying a kite, well how could that be:

Can't you see little boy, there's nothing up there."

Little kite tell me why I've been so blind,

Using my eyes, oh, in place of my mind?

For though I can't see you, I do understand,

You're tuggin' and pullin' the string in my hand.

You're tuggin' and pullin' the string in my hand.

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The Rebbe of lublin

Artist: Moshe Yess

Album: Journeys 2

Won't you gather round my friends and listen to my tale,

It's a lesson about life itself and how I learned it well.

'Cause you think you know the answers,

And things are the way they seem,

But I found out it's just ain't so, from the Rebbe of Lublin.

You see, I worked as the Shamosh for this Rebbe form Lublin,

I'd wash his clothes and shine his shoes,

And keep house real clean.

But one thing I did not like about this job of mine,

Was coking him his daily meals and serving them on time.

See, the Rebbe would come home from Shul each day and sit down in his seat,

And he'd say 'Ribbono Shle Olam, could I have a little bit to eat,

'Cause you sustain all mankind with your goodness and your grace.'

And right on cue I'd come on out and put food down in it's place.

So now you know what got me mad, why, it's plain as day to see,

I say, his food don't come from heaven, but from the cook, and that's me.

So I schemed and I conspired to set this Rebbe straight,

Tomorrow there won't be no food to put down on his plate.

Now, the Rebbe left to go to Shul, early morning that next day,

When a tearful man approached him, Stood in the Rebbe's way.

'My wife is ill,' He cried out, 'There's no hope for her life.'

The Rebbe said 'I'll pray for her. With G-d's help she'll be alright.'

The Rebbe of Lublin came home from Shul just like any other day,

And he sat down at the table, I could hear him start to pray.

I came out with his empty tray and said,

'This is what you've been praying for.'

But with the last words of his prayer came a knocking at the door.

Standing in the doorway was a man whose eye's did shine.

'Rebbe, it's a miracle! My wife, she's feelin' fine!

Please accept this little gift to show our gratitude.'

Well I'm sure by now you've guessed it folks...

It was a package filled with food.

The Rebbe would come home from Shul each day and sit down in his seat,

And he'd say, 'Ribbono Shel Olam, could I have a little bit to eat,

'Cause you sustain all mankind with your goodness and your grace.'

And right on cue I'd come on out,

You could betcha bottom dollar I would come on out...

ANd put his food down in it's place.

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Neshome'le

Artist: Abie Rottenberg and Mordechai Ben David

Album: Journeys 2 and The double album

'Come with me, little Neshome'le, let me hold you in my hand,

And we'll fly away, you and I together, to a place down on the land.'

'Come with me, little Neshome'le, don't shy away, do as you're told,

There's a child waiting to be born today, you're to be his spark, his soul.'

'But dear Malach'l. No! I don't want to go,

There's so much paon and evil on the earth below.

Let me stay here up in heaven where it's safe and i'll be pure,

Please don't make go away, can't you see i'm so afraid.'

'Come with me, little Neshome'le, it's time you faced your destiny,

And as we fly beneath the clouds now, I will show you, there is so much you can be.'

'Yes, dear Malach'l, I can see kedusha over there,

Look, someone's learning Torah, and there's another deep in prayer.

I will stay here if you answer me, it's all i need to know,

You must promise me dear friend, that I too will be like them.'

'Come with me little Neshome'le, oh, it's a task that I must do,

As I tap you on the lip you will forget me, you're on your own, it's up to you.'

'Come with me, little Neshome'le, let me hold you in my hand,

And we'll fly away, you and I together, to a place above the land.'

'But dear Malach'l, no! I don't want to go,

I'm not ready to go with you, where you take me I don't know.

Let me stay right here where I am, there's so much more I need to do,

Please don't make me go away, can't you see I'm so afraid.'

'Come with me, little Neshome'le, i've only come to take you home,

There's no need to fear your destination, you've earned a place right by the throne.'

(together) 'A place right by the throne.'

Ride the train

Artist: Abie Rottenberg

Album: Journeys 2

Come on and ride the train,

Step on board, take your ticket, no two are the same,

You'll soon be going for a ride,

There's nowhere to run, no place to hide,

You're ridin', ridin', ridin' on the train.

But you try to check you ticket,

And you don't know what it means,

Will you get to sit on velvet and dine on fine cuisine.

Or is it your place to be upon a worn out wooden seat,

With a slice of old and crust bread,

Your only food to eat.

Come on and ride the train,

The doors are closed, the whistle's blowing,

Now you must remain.

The locomotive's on a roll,

There's just some things you can't control,

You're ridin', ridin', ridin' on the train.

So you ask an older passenger,

'How long will this ride be?'

He says, 'Sorry son, I can't say, there is no gaurentee.

It might be the next station, we'll be there in no time.

But maybe if you're luckey,

You can stay till the end of the line.'

Then you take a walk all through the train,

Each box car one by one.

Most are filler with people saying, 'This ride's just for fun.

Why think about tomorrow, when you've got today instead?

Sit back, enjoy the view,

There's miles and miles or rail ahead.'

Ride the train,

Come on, ride the train (x 2)

But one car seems so different,

Inhabited by few,

Who say there is no time to waste, We're only passing through.

The choices that you male today, are all that's gonna last.

This train is moving down the track,

And it's moving awful fast.

Come on and ride the train,

Step on board, take your ticket, no two are the same,

You'll soon be going for a ride,

There's nowhere to run, no place to hide,

You're ridin', ridin', ridin' on the train.

The ninth man

Artist: Abie Rottenberg

Album: Journeys 1

When we were young Yeshiva boys way back in '65,

We were known throughout the city as the bums from the east side.

In school we never studied, all we did was laugh and play,

No Rebbe ever lasted long they all just ran away.

Rebbe tried to teach us Torah each and every day,

But we just closed our eye's and ear's to everything he'd say,

And all we liked to do was sit and watch our T.V. sets,

We'd talk about the Yankees and the Dodgers and the Mets.

Well the Principle brought the new Rebbe in on the first day of the term,

And he said to him 'Show discipline, be strong and tough and firm'.

'Don't think these youngster run the school', he said with a big frown,

'And by the way, for the next few weeks I'm going out of town'.

But this here Rebbe he was strange, he never lost his cool,

He just kept on teaching while we broke all the rules,

And though we hadn't even learnt a single word all year,

It was Pesach time already, and the Rebbi was still here.

Rebbi tried to teach us Torah each and every day,

But we just closed our eye's and ear's to everything he'd say,

And all we liked to do was sit and watch our T.V. sets,

We'd talk about the Yankees and the Dodgers and the Mets.

When Lag B'omer came around it was time to play that game,

Against those boys' from Brooklyn, how we prayed it wouldn't rain.

All nine of us got on that bus with our gloves and bats,

Rebbe also came along in his jacket, tie and hat

Right from the start we all could see things weren't going right,

Some big strong kid from Bensonhurst had hit one out of sight.

And just when things were looking up, the tie about to turn,

Our catcher went a broke his leg while sliding into third.

'It's a forfeit'. cried the other team, 'you only got eight guys',

'No we don't', a deep voice said, much to our surprise,

'Since I am their Rebbe, well the fair thing it would seem,

Is let me be the ninth man, the ninth man on this team'.

Rebbe went, picked up the bat, faced the pitch with a smile,

Knocked the cover off that ball, went about half a mile.

He flew around the bases, and scored the winning run,

We danced and cheered untill he said 'Now boys' you owe me one'.

Next day in the classroom, no one moved and no one stirred,

Rebbe started teaching, and his voice it could be heard,

We all said, 'Hay, its interesting. The man he is no bore',

The legendary side-bums were gone for ever more.

Rebbi used to teach us Torah each and every day,

We opened our eyes and ears to everything he'd say,

No more did we sit all day and watch our T.V. sets,

We talked about the Rashi and the Tosfos and the Mets! Shhhh.

It's time to say good Shabbos

Artist: Abie Rottenberg

Album: Journey 1

The sun is going down, its shining through the trees,

Another week's gone bye, become a memory,

So throw away your hammer, there's nothing left to do,

Go on home and find the gift that's waiting there for you.

Oh, its time to say Good Shabbos, 'cause all your work is done,

Gonna spend the day together with the Holy One,

Say a special blessing on a cup that's filled with wine,

Man and his creator its a very special sign.

Your candles will be burning, they'll fill your home with light,

Singing sings of Shabbos, well into the night,

So throw away your hammer, there's nothing left to do,

Go on home and find the gift that's waiting there for you.

Oh, its time to say Good Shabbos, 'cause all your work is done,

Gonna spend the day together with the Holy One,

Say a special blessing on a cup that's filled with wine,

Man and his creator its a very special sign.

You can spend time with your family, You'll study and you'll pray,

When i wait till after shabbos, all those nails wont run away,

So throw away your hammer, There's nothing left to do,

Go on home and find the gift thats waiting there for you.

Oh, its time to say Good Shabbos, 'cause all your work is done,

Gonna spend the day together with the Holy One,

Say a special blessing on a cup that's filled with wine,

Man and his creator its a very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very veeeerrry special sign.