May We
Lyrics
May we always be forgiven
May we search for ways to grow
May we always have compassion
For those we know and those we don't
May we seek a brighter future
Find answers in actions, not in words
May we question what we know
And may we always question status quo
Shana tova
Shana tova
Shana tova u'metukah
May we seek out our reflections
To learn from the mistakes of our past
May we not just light the way for others
But teach them how to light their own path
Shana tova
Shana tova
Shana tova u'metukah
So we pray for opened eyes
And we pray once more for peace
We pray for those in need of healing and of love
We pray to shine in our beliefs
Shana tova
Shana tova
Shana tova u'metukah
Credits
Music & lyrics by Ellie Flier
Produced by Josh Goldberg and Marty Rifkin
Instrumentals:
Ellie Flier: Acoustic guitar
Josh Goldberg: Acoustic guitar, background vocals
Beth Alex: Violin
Julian Javor: Additional strings
Choir:
Emily Siner, Lisa Forberg, Cantor Tracy Fishbein, Jacob Ruden, Josh Goldberg, Sarah Ruden
Behind the Song
“May We” is the song that sparked the album. Not only does the line “pray for open eyes” come from this song, but what the song meant to me and the message it sends to the world are what I wanted to album to emulate.
I wrote this song on Halloween night, 2016. It was just over a week before the presidential election. We as a country had gone through a hellish campaign period where racism and violence had reared their ugly heads. I had also just come out of the Jewish high holiday period, which had been a very positive and meaningful experience. I was ready to put all the ugliness behind me in anticipation of the election.
I started thinking about what it truly means to have a “shana tova” -- literally, a “good year.” It was all about my hopes for the future, and how we were going to heal from everything that had happened before.
Now, after the situation has become so much worse than I ever could have imagined, the song is now even more important to me and to everyone else who listens to it.