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Tzfat Reggae

by Ari Lesser

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1.
Ari Intro 03:39
Lyics & Vocals: Ari Lesser Trumpet Solo: Chanan Schecter Music & Production: Yirmiyahu BenZion Mixing: Maameen Productions
2.
Today 03:07
3.
Oseh Shalom 04:30
Lyics & Vocals: Ari Lesser Music & Production: Yirmiyahu BenZion Mixing: Maameen Productions
4.
Indigenous 03:30
Jews are indigenous to the Middle East And all we’re asking is for little peace Been oppressed ever since we were dispossessed Enslaved, arrested, and put to death But we persevered, never disappeared Been in Israel, for thousands of years Thank G-d, we’ve been able to overcome Still living in the land that we come from Some people say the Ashkenazi Originally came from Germany But ask a Nazi, and he’ll disagree Doesn’t think we’re part of his family tree He’s actually right, about one thing at least We’re not from Europe, we’re from the middle east But the Roman’s came and destroyed our home Overthrown, some of us had to go on the roam And of course those Jews who never left the land Were oppressed so hard they could hardly stand Second class citizens like Jim Crowe All over the region wherever we’d go Divided and conquered our enemies tried To end us with a world wide genocide But Hitler failed, our people prevailed And we still stand strong in Yisrael Cause Jews are indigenous to the Middle East And all we’re asking is for little peace Been oppressed ever since we were dispossessed Enslaved, arrested, and put to death But we persevered, never disappeared Been in Israel, for thousands of years Thank G-d, we’ve been able to overcome Still living in the land that we come from Though I can handle the snow in Ohio If follow my roots and I know where they go I’m Midwest born, but I’m from the Middle East Where my deceased ancestors rest in peace In Hebron, I couldn’t hold back my tears At that grave my forefathers felt so near Stopped in Bethlehem, broke down and cried When I realized this was where my grandmother died In Jerusalem I was bawling cause all That remains of our Temple is the Wailing Wall It’s been standing alone since our exile began When many were forced to flee from our land Some stayed, but those who wandered away Prayed to return three times everyday And now we’ve been answered at last we stand Together with our clan in the Holy Land Cause Jews are indigenous to the Middle East And all we’re asking is for little peace Been oppressed ever since we were dispossessed Enslaved, arrested, and put to death But we persevered, never disappeared Been in Israel, for thousands of years Thank G-d, we’ve been able to overcome Still living in the land that we come from
5.
Give Thanks 03:55
There’s so much I’m grateful for Today a cannot ask for more I have my heart and soul and strength This life is blessed so I give thanks Give thanks to the Universal One Give thanks for the moon and stars and sun Give thanks for the Earth on which we live Give thanks for the bounty she can give Give thanks for tree and the fruit it grows Give thanks for the cup that overflows Give thanks for the food and drink and air Give thanks there’s more than enough to share Give thanks for the extra we can spare Give thanks for the clothes we have to wear Give thanks for the comfort of our beds Give thanks for the roofs above our heads There’s so much I’m grateful for Today a cannot ask for more I have my heart and soul and strength This life is blessed so I give thanks Give thanks to the Only Source Of All Give thanks for the big and for the small Give thanks for the low and the highest height Give thanks for the dark and for the light Give thanks for the times of joy and song Give thanks for the pain the keeps us strong Give thanks because we’re still alive Give thanks this moment has arrived Give thanks our path has brought us here Give thanks, we lived another year Give thanks for the past we left behind Give thanks for the future we will find There’s so much I’m grateful for Today a cannot ask for more I have my heart and soul and strength This life is blessed so I give thanks Give thanks to Infinite Most High Give thanks no matter how or why Give thanks in every time and place Give thanks we’re part of the human race Give thanks for the people that we meet Give thanks for the neighbors on our street Give thanks for the teachers that we had Give thanks for every mom and dad Give thanks for the family that we got Give thanks for the friends we like a lot Give thanks for the ones who we hold dear Give thanks that those we love are hear There’s so much I’m grateful for Today a cannot ask for more I have my heart and soul and strength This life is blessed so I give thanks
6.
Love 03:46
I got nothing but love for another Love all my friends, love for my lover Love like a son, love like a brother And love for one God cause there is no other Got so much love for my fam Without you I just wouldn’t be who I am Together you’ve shaped me down to my core Given me so much and still giving more Wisdom from my father, spirit from my mother Strength from my sister, emotion from my brother As long as you’re around, I’ll never be alone And whenever I’m in town, I always have a home Throughout my whole life since I was a little kid You always supported me, no matter what I did Been there for me through the worst and the best To have family like you I am truly blessed Whatever happens to me, or happens to you Regardless of what I might say or do No matter where we are however far apart I love you all from the bottom of my heart I got nothing but love for another Love all my friends, love for my lover Love like a son, love like a brother And love for one God cause there is no other HASHEM Elokeinu HASHEM Echad Love being part of the ocean of God To which all return, from which all came Eternal One known by many different names Allowing the freedom of life to arise Like drops of water fly through the sky And after we die returning our soul To the endless sea of the Universal Whole If you’re from Earth underneath the sun Or you an alien, no matter what planet you’re from When your life ends and it’s all said and done You don’t exist you’re just part of the One But don’t feel bad, it’s not just you Everything else is part of One too You and I have been One right from the start So I love you from the bottom of my heart I got nothing but love for another Love all my friends, love for my lover Love like a son, love like a brother And love for one God cause there is no other
7.
Life 04:46
Focus on what’s there, not on what there wasn’t What happens, happens, and what doesn’t happen doesn’t Love your fellow woman and love your fellow man And remember, always live your life the best that you can When it’s raining, skies are gray and your feeling bad Think for a minute about what’s making you sad You might be short on money, what’s that really worth All the money in the world couldn’t buy you birth In a race of millions you’re the only sperm that scored You passed the hardest test already, life was your reward Stop feeling down and out and start having a ball Because being alive is the greatest gift of all You can sing and dance you can eat and drink You can run, jump, learn, sleep, walk, talk, or think. So cheer up smile, laugh away your sorrow Today it might be raining but the sun will shine tomorrow And focus on what’s there, not on what there wasn’t What happens, happens, and what doesn’t happen doesn’t Love your fellow woman and love your fellow man And remember, always live your life the best that you can Some folks complain when it's raining sleet Then they moan and they groan in the summer's heat But you're alive, who cares if its could or hot? Just try and be grateful for all that you got Thank G-d you have food, cause some people don’t Thank G-d your getting educated, some people won’t Thank G-d you can see, some people are blind And thank G-d for all of the friends that you find Thank G-d for the weekend, to snap the daily grind Thank G-d you can sleep each night and rest your mind Thank G-d for the books of Moses, one through five But most of all, Thank G-d you’re alive And focus on what’s there, not on what there wasn’t What happens, happens, and what doesn’t happen doesn’t Love your fellow woman and love your fellow man And remember, always live your life the best that you can
8.
9.
10.
Ten Plagues 05:06
11.
Miriam 05:43
We once were enslaved but now we’re saved Oppression was washed away with a wave Our family and we are finally free Let dance like Miriam at the Red Sea Dance like Miriam at the Red Sea Dance like Miriam at the Red Sea Dance like Miriam at the Red Sea Dance like Miriam at the Red Sea Close your eyes and try to pretend You fled from a life of slavery and then Made it to freedom with thousands of friends The young and the old and the women and men Never going to see Pharaoh’s face again So let down your guard no need to defend Play on your drum you got time to spend Now dance like Miriam, set the trend Move your feet let me see you bend And work your body from end to end But don’t get down let your mind ascend All praises to the Most High, Amen We once were enslaved but now we’re saved Oppression was washed away with a wave Our family and we are finally free Let dance like Miriam at the Red Sea Dance like Miriam at the Red Sea Dance like Miriam at the Red Sea Dance like Miriam at the Red Sea Dance like Miriam at the Red Sea Never forget how it was before Forced into slavery we did every chore Our burden was big but they piled on more And worked us until we were tired and sore After ten plagues they showed us the door But Pharaoh’s heart was hard to the core His army pursued us ready for war With chariot, horse, and sharpened sword But now they sleep on the ocean’s floor For they were sunk by the hand of The Lord Dance and sing let the praises pour From your lips out on the seashore We once were enslaved but now we’re saved Oppression was washed away with a wave Our family and we are finally free Let dance like Miriam at the Red Sea Dance like Miriam at the Red Sea Dance like Miriam at the Red Sea Dance like Miriam at the Red Sea Dance like Miriam at the Red Sea Move your feet start kicking up sand Clap those hand we don’t need no band Bang on the drums and sing and dance We’re here and we’re free and that’s a slim chance Escaped from the most narrow place Between a rock and the Pharaoh’s face His army pursued, but the wind it blew The waters split and we passed right through And when we arrived on the other side The water returned and His army died So dance and cheer cause we’re in the clear First time we’re free in four hundred years We once were enslaved but now we’re saved Oppression was washed away with a wave Our family and we are finally free Let dance like Miriam at the Red Sea Dance like Miriam at the Red Sea Dance like Miriam at the Red Sea Dance like Miriam at the Red Sea Dance like Miriam at the Red Sea The bodies of those who came to make war Against us, washed up dead on the shore Our people could barely believe their eyes They laughed and cried they were so surprised A queen Miriam stepped on the scene The prophetess picked up her tambourine She began to dance, all the woman came They followed with drums and they did the same The sons of Israel burst into song Together six hundred thousand strong They praised the One Who Shall Always Be For setting us free on the shore of the sea We once were enslaved but now we’re saved Oppression was washed away with a wave Our family and we are finally free Let dance like Miriam at the Red Sea Dance like Miriam at the Red Sea Dance like Miriam at the Red Sea Dance like Miriam at the Red Sea Dance like Miriam at the Red Sea
12.
King Solomon 06:58
I’m king Solomon, David’s son My wisdom was second to none I loved the Lord with heart and mind Offered praise a thousand times In Jerusalem I reigned Spoke proverbs to all who came I had almost everything For forty years I was the king I was anointed by decree My father passed his throne to me The kingdom came into my hand And there was peace throughout the land One night while sleeping in my bed I dreamt God came to me and said “What is it you wish to achieve Ask me and you shall receive” I said, “You’ve been so kind me You made me king by Your decree Thank You Lord for what you did But I’m still just a little kid So much to do, where should I start? Give me a discerning heart Then for Your people I will tell Right from wrong and govern well” God was pleased and so He said “You ask Me for wisdom instead Of seeking something for yourself Like longer life and lots of wealth So I will give wisdom to you With great riches and glory too And if you walk in all my ways Then you shall live for many days” And God let me understand More than every grain of sand Far wiser than any man My fame spread through out the land Three thousand proverbs along With over a thousand songs I spoke of every tree and plant And beast and bird and fish and ant I’m king Solomon, David’s son My wisdom was second to none I loved the Lord with heart and mind And offered praise a thousand times Up in Jerusalem I reigned Teling proverbs to all who came And I had almost everything For forty years I was the king Before my court two women came Each of them had a different claim One of the women said to me “I just gave birth and so did she In the same house, there was no one But me and her and our two sons During the night her son died So she took my son from my side Then put her dead son next to me And in the morning I could see The child was dead but I am sure That he was not the son I bore” “No!” the second woman said “My son’s alive and yours is dead” “No!” the first woman replied “My son lives and your son died” I spoke to them, “You both have said ‘My son lives and your son’s dead’ So let’s just cut the child in two And give one half to each of you” The one whose son was alive Had compassion and she cried “I can’t bear to see him dead Give the child to her instead” The other said, “Not me or you Will have the child, cut him in two” And I immediately knew Between the women who was who All of Israel was in awe They saw how I laid down the law Everyone who heard could see That God’s wisdom was with me I’m king Solomon, David’s son My wisdom was second to none I loved the Lord with heart and mind And offered praise a thousand times Up in Jerusalem I reigned Teling proverbs to all who came And I had almost everything For forty years I was the king For me God always did provide The land had peace on every side Free from war I dropped my sword And built a temple for the Lord I sent ten thousand men by sea To Lebanon for cedar trees I put my slaves to work for God It took them all to do the job Each block of rock was pre-carved Before it reached the temple’s yard Eighty thousand cut the stones Seventy thousand hauled them home With work of many hands and feet The Lord’s temple was complete Ninety feet from wall to wall Thirty wide, forty-five tall From the ceiling to the floor I paneled it with cedar boards And the Most Holy Place to hold The Ark I overlaid with gold It took seven years at least And then I offered God a feast Over twenty thousand ox Six times that many from my flocks The temple’s altar was too small It couldn’t nearly hold them all There was no room inside, I led The people to the yard instead All of Israel came through Syria and Egypt too Before the Lord the people praised And celebrated fourteen days I’m king Solomon, David’s son My wisdom was second to none I loved the Lord with heart and mind And offered praise a thousand times Up in Jerusalem I reigned Teling proverbs to all who came And I had almost everything For forty years I was the king My throne was something to behold Of ivory and the finest gold A dozen lions stood to meet All who stepped up to my feet I commanded combat forces Over twelve thousand horses Fourteen hundred chariots All sorts of military shit A navy was built for me They sailed upon the Red Sea Returning with all they could hold Thirty thousand pounds of gold And every king of earth who heard About my wisdom sought my word The whole world came to hear And brought me gifts year after year People came from all around I needed twenty thousand pounds Of flour just to make the bread Everyday to keep them fed Was like all they could eat buffet I slaughtered thirty cows a day A hundred sheep from my herds On top deer, gazelle, and birds I built a palace in the woods Of Lebanon, I had it good Every cup I owned was gold Like everything in my household Silver I just threw away It was worthless in my day When I sat upon the throne Silver sat around like stone I’m king Solomon, David’s son My wisdom was second to none I loved the Lord with heart and mind And offered praise a thousand times Up in Jerusalem I reigned Teling proverbs to all who came And I had almost everything For forty years I was the king The queen of Sheba heard the fame I had attained in God’s name But this woman was not the type To just believe in all the hype She tried to stump me when she came But all she asked I could explain And after I had passed her test Then I received her very best Precious stones and gold were nice But more exquisite was her spice I gave her all for which she yearned Then to her homeland she returned Pharaoh’s daughter was my wife One of the many in my life I married seven hundred times And had three hundred Concubines But my wives led me astray From the Lord I turned away I built temples so they could pray To strange gods, and I would pay Away from God my heart had turned The anger of the Lord burned He said, “Because of what you’ve done I’ll tear the kingdom from your son” And then God lifted up my foes All my enemies arose From Syria down to Edom Even a servant from my home Rebelled, I knew he was the one Who’d tear the kingdom from my son I tried to kill him but he fled And hid from me til I was dead I’m king Solomon, David’s son My wisdom was second to none But my wives led me astray And from the Lord I turned away In Jerusalem I died Buried by my father’s side I had almost everything For forty years I was the king
13.
14.
Psalm 140 02:04
15.
Seeds 04:54
16.
People say Israel’s an Apartheid state But I can’t relate to that baseless hate It’s not really fair to try and compare A racist regime with the war on terror Using common sense against violence Israel had to build up the border fence And if you think that’s Apartheid it’s because You don’t know what Apartheid really was For two thousand years the Jews all roamed But we always called Israel our home Unlike the British and Dutch who came To South Africa where they had no claim They already had countries overseas But they wanted to expand to new colonies So they conquered the natives, bought and sold That land they stole full of diamonds and gold The whites united and decided to create South Africa, as a democratic state But soon they denied blacks voting rights So the whole government was controlled by whites The House and the Senate and all of the courts Were white so the black people got no support Plus the police would arrest, and beat Any peaceful protesters in the street They split everybody into four different races And moved them by force into separate places If you were Indian, black, or brown You had no business in a white town They had segregation of transportation Buses, bus stops, trains and train stations Separate ambulance, different doctor and nurse And the black hospitals were always worse Restaurants, hotels, and the public park Might be off limits if your skin was dark It was crime and you could get more than a fine If you crossed the line of that “Whites Only” sign They had separate teachers at different schools Black and white beaches and swimming pools Cafes and movies theaters wouldn’t let folks in Discriminating if they had the wrong color skin No mixed marriage, it was a criminal act For a white person to have sex with a black Apartheid went from the womb til the tomb Couldn’t even take dump in the same bathroom People say Israel’s an Apartheid state But I can’t relate to that baseless hate It’s not really fair to try and compare A racist regime with the war on terror Using common sense against violence Israel had to build up the border fence And if you think that’s Apartheid it’s because You don’t know what Apartheid really was In Israel, Apartheid is not the case Cause regardless of gender, religion, or race All Israeli citizens black, brown, and white Have equal social and political rights So the Arab Israeli Population Which makes up twenty percent of the nation Might be a minority but at least They can vote, unlike the rest of the Middle East Look at the whole region you’ll see only Israel is truly a democracy Every citizen’s right to vote is protected And Arab officials often get elected That’s an important point, let me stress it There’s a dozen Arabs, with seats in the Knesset Plus an Arab Judge on the Supreme Court So they don’t fall short on government support Everyone has access to the same schools The same beaches and the same swimming pools The same resorts and hotel guestrooms Same public parks and public restrooms The same cinemas, restaurants, and cafes Same trains, buses, taxis, and highways Same doctors, and nurses, all deliveries Of babies are done in the same facilities Arab Israeli life expectancy’s great Up by Twenty seven years since nineteen forty-eight And their infant mortality rate has declined From thirty-two per thousand to less than nine And they’re doing much better economically Relative to every other Arab country There’s no restrictions on choice of career They’re welcome in the military if they volunteer They can work and reside wherever they please From Eilat all the way to the sea of Galilee They live in the very same cities as Jews On the same street in the same house if the choose So people say Israel’s an Apartheid state But I can’t relate to that baseless hate It’s not really fair to try and compare A racist regime with the war on terror Using common sense against violence Israel had to build up the border fence And if you think that’s Apartheid it’s because You don’t know what Apartheid really was
17.
Boycott Israel, if you think that’s just But unless you have a double standard you must Also boycott the rest of the nations With allegations of human rights violations We’re not perfect but if you think we’re the worst First take a look at the rest of the earth Don’t pick and choose to pick on the Jews Pick up the paper and read the news Boycott North Korea I don’t think you’ll see a Country in the world that could be un-freer Boycott China, let’s not forget That they stole the whole country of Tibet Boycott Japan slaughtering thousands Of helpless innocent whales and dolphins Boycott Vietnam where they choose to use Drug addicts as slave to shell cashews Boycott Cambodia, grabbing up land Five million acres from the poor man’s hand Boycott Thailand for shutting the door And deporting refugees back to the war Boycott Burma, don’t let your cash slip Into the grip of that military dictatorship Boycott India, women can’t escape When the government officials are guilty of rape Boycott Pakistan, crazy country Where they execute people for blasphemy And boycott Afghanistan opium land Where poppy fields stand in the Taliban’s hand And boycott Israel, if you think that’s just But unless you have a double standard you must Also boycott the rest of the nations With allegations of human rights violations We’re not perfect but if you think we’re the worst First take a look at the rest of the earth Don’t pick and choose to pick on the Jews Pick up the paper and read the news Boycott Syria their government’s killing Thousands of innocent, unarmed, civilians Boycott Iraq make them change the laws That lock up and torture people without cause Boycott Iran with the greatest rate Of execution out of every other state Boycott Turkey because they’ve always denied And lied about the Armenian Genocide Boycott Turkmenistan, where the only media That you ever see is what the president’ll feed to ya Boycott Uzbekistan, government’s rotten Enslaving children to harvest cotton Boycott Russia because every year More Muslims mysteriously disappear Boycott Ukraine, where the politicians Lock up the opposition, so there’s no competition Boycott Belarus, president’s got to go You know those elections are just for show And boycott Germany, cause there’s no reparation For murdering half the Jewish population And boycott Israel, if you think that’s just But unless you have a double standard you must Also boycott the rest of the nations With allegations of human rights violations Not perfect but if you think we’re the worst First take a look at the rest of the earth Don’t pick and choose to pick on the Jews Pick up the paper and read the news Boycott Sudan, the Darfur genocide Where hundreds of thousands have already died Boycott Egypt and don’t let that narrow Minded president keep acting like Pharaoh Boycott Saudi Arabian oppression Of women getting beat up, treated like possessions Boycott Bahrain police brutality Against the Shi’ites by the Sunni Monarchy Boycott Yemen make them stop the obscene Execution of juveniles under eighteen Boycott Eritrea national slavery Where they work for free indefinitely Boycott the Congo, doing terrible things To sell blood diamond engagement rings Boycott Zimbabwe you’ll find all kinds Of torture behind those government mines Boycott South Africa, make them pay For the hundreds of women raped everyday Boycott Ivory Coast, sound the alarm There’s thousands of slaves on those cocoa farms And boycott Israel, if you think that’s just But unless you have a double standard you must Also boycott the rest of the nations With allegations of human rights violations We’re not perfect but if you think we’re the worst First take a look at the rest of the earth Don’t pick and choose to pick on the Jews Pick up the paper and read the news Boycott Chile because they deny Abortions even if the mother will die And boycott Brazil where the brutal police Kill thousands of people to keep the peace Boycott Venezuela closer inspection Shows that the socialists stole the election Boycott Colombia, putting out the lights Of anyone who fights for union rights Boycott Ecuador for stealing the lands Of indigenous people for their corporate plans And boycott Costa Rica where they’ve applied So much pesticide, that hundreds have died Boycott Honduras where a journalist Gets shot if he writes anything like this Boycott Mexico in the war on drugs The military acts like the cartel thugs Boycott the USA make them pay For torturing people in Guantanamo bay And boycott Cuba, but if the government hears You criticize them, you’ll be locked up for years Boycott Israel, if you think that’s just But unless you have double standard you must Also boycott the rest of the nations With allegations of human rights violations We’re not perfect but if you think we’re the worst First take a look at the rest of the earth Don’t pick and choose to pick on the Jews Pick up the paper and read the news

credits

released August 13, 2013

Lyics & Vocals: Ari Lesser
Music & Production: Yirmiyahu BenZion
Trumpet Solos: Chanan Schecter
Guitar Solo: Lazer Grunwald
Mixing: Maameen Productions & Audio Worx
Cover Art: Yom Tov Blumenthal - YomTov.com

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Ari Lesser Cleveland

Ari Lesser is a singer, songwriter, rapper, and spoken word artist from Cleveland, Ohio. He has performed all over the world, and written hundreds of songs on a wide range of subjects. Ari’s repertoire is expansive, touching on everything from history, to animals, to Star Wars, but now his focus and passion is making music based on the Torah. ... more

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