Story Behind The Song
Jews (and those who love or employ them) always have to have two calendars on hand. The Jewish calendar is arranged according to the lunar cycles and has to re-set every year. The Julian calendar, which is the standard everyone uses (and includes Leap Year to account for the extra hours that accumulate over four years), doesn't line up with the now-obsolete lunar calendar. Consequently, Jews have to check each year when their holidays will occur on the Julian calendar, because those holidays are still set according to the lunar calendar--so Jewish holidays are on a different Julian calendar day every year. This creates plenty of confusion, and the singer is worried about finding Chanukah. The bridge gives an abridged version of the "historical" Chanukah story, along with the holiday's dates (eight days) on the Jewish calendar. The clarinet provides a Klezmer-esque flavor to the song, and the lyrics should be considered fun and tongue-in-cheek. After all, what special insight would a moyel have into Chanukah? (A moyel is the guy who performs the bris, or circumcision, on new-born baby boys...oy.)
Song Description
An earnest celebrant of Chanukah is nervously trying to figure out when the Jewish holiday will occur--a difficult task each year, because the Jewish calendar is based on the lunar cycles and doesn't match the Julian (regular) calendar.
| Song Length |
3:33 |
Genre |
Unique - Holiday |
| Tempo |
Medium Fast (131 - 150) |
Lead Vocal |
Female Vocal |
| Mood |
Nervous, Anxious |
Subject |
Birthdays, Other Holidays |
| Similar Artists |
Barenaked Ladies |
Language |
English |
| Era |
2000 and later |
| |
Lyrics
I'm looking for Chanukah
I'm looking for Chanukah
Sometime in October, the worry sets in
The problem is simple--I don't know where to begin
Sometime in November, I toss in my bed
While visions of dreidels spin and dance in my head
Chorus
I'm looking for Chanukah, they tell me it's lunar
So some years it's later, but some years it's sooner
I'm looking for Chanukah, can anyone help me here?
It's making me crazy cuz the date changes every year
Chanukiah polished, and candles galore
When Chanukah's over, we'll have lit 44
I buy the potatoes, stock up on the oil
Leave a message for the rabbi, place a call to the moyel
Chorus
Bridge
Kislev 25 is when the Temple welcomed Jews again
The drops of oil that they could get would last eight days--til 2 Tevet!
I use a different calendar, so I am never really sure
If Kislev will land in November or light up a dark December
Burning for eight days and nights, the miracle of lasting light
Hammer of the Maccabees, tell me what the date is, please!
Chorus