LYRIC

THE OLD MAN- Sung & Composed By R’ Michel Twerski- Melave Malka CD

Even now, as I close my eyes
Across the sands of time I see
Though years have passed, I can visualize
The old man clear as can be.

The old man’s face
Like the rising sun
Filled my world with warmth and light
It made me feel like the only one
In whom he took such great delight.

Ever since I was just a lad
We had this special tie
It seemed to matter where I was at
I was the apple of his eye
I loved him so
And in return (so) did he
I really felt blessed from above
If but once more he might look at me
And set my heart free with his love.

CHORUS:
יגיע הזמן
והשיב לב אבות
על בנים
ומחה ה’ דמעה מעל כל פנים
כל זה יהיה במהרה
אם על המלך טוב
כשיבנה ה׳ ביתו
.בימינו בקרוב

Early on, he’d sit me on his knee
And tell me about the world around
About things that were and were yet to be
I’d sit listening spellbound.

He taught me how
The Universe began
And how God shaped the world alone
That the Torah was
His great master plan
And how He chose Jews as His own.

The old man wept
When he told the tale
Of God’s beloved home
How the heathens fired
Every peg and nail
The work in Babylon and Rome
Then he laughed
His face clearly shone
And he’d say with faith so strong
That once more God
Would rebuild His home
And set our hearts free with His song.

CHORUS:
יגיע הזמן
והשיב לב אבות
על בנים
ומחה ה’ דמעה מעל כל פנים
כל זה יהיה במהרה
אם על המלך טוב
כשיבנה ה׳ ביתו
.בימינו בקרוב

Hand in hand
The old man and I
Would walk the paths of Hillendale
We’d watch the young
Sparrow learn to fly
Hear the song of the nightingale.

I remember once
Seeing the sky aflame
With blazing colors of setting sun
It came to me with a sudden pain
That soon the night of dark would come.

Naïve as only
A child could be
I burst forth in a cry
Oh, can you do something
About my plea
Keep the beauty in the sky
He held me tight
His words, firm and wise
He said, my son, fear not the night
You’ll see once more
That the sun will rise
And set your heart free with its light.

CHORUS:
יגיע הזמן
והשיב לב אבות
על בנים
ומחה ה’ דמעה מעל כל פנים
כל זה יהיה במהרה
אם על המלך טוב
כשיבנה ה׳ ביתו
.בימינו בקרוב

It happened once
In the blush of Spring
We came upon a meadow scene
The fragrant blossoms awakening
In a field of verdant green.

We’d returned along summer through
Nature’s perfume to enjoy
The old man knew, as only old men do
The heart of a growing boy.

All at once
The cold winter came
And my paradise was bare
I knew it would never again
Be the same
Life was so painful
So unfair
The old man spoke
Sensing all my gloom
Holding me in his embrace
You’ll see once more
That your garden will bloom
And set your heart free with its grace.

CHORUS:
יגיע הזמן
והשיב לב אבות
על בנים
ומחה ה’ דמעה מעל כל פנים
כל זה יהיה במהרה
אם על המלך טוב
כשיבנה ה׳ ביתו
.בימינו בקרוב

I awoke one day
At the crack of dawn
My heart was gripped with dread and fear
Terror pulsed from the stillness drawn
I prayed the old man would be near.

From my room I rushed
Into the mist of night
From place to place
And on and on
Until the truth emerged
It would no longer hide
My beloved old man was gone.

My heart hurt so
I thought it would break
The ache just seemed to grow
I had to (?)
For I’d failed to say
Old man, I love you so
How foolish I’d been
Not to speak
My admiration to explain
If but once more
I might kiss his cheek
To set my heart free from its pain.

CHORUS:
יגיע הזמן
והשיב לב אבות
על בנים
ומחה ה’ דמעה מעל כל פנים
כל זה יהיה במהרה
אם על המלך טוב
כשיבנה ה׳ ביתו
.בימינו בקרוב

I went back home
The old man’s things to find
Upon his bed, a letter lay
Addressed to me
His own hand signed
I longed to know what he would say.

My child, he wrote
The time has come
That I must journey
To where I’ve yearned
Keep up your courage
For you’ve just begun
Take heart in all you’ve learned.

Some day we’ll be joined once more
When the sun will rise to stay
When your meadow will blossom
As in days of yore
Never again to fade away
When God will come
His home to restore
And forever banish death
And we’ll rejoice together forever more
Our hearts set free by God’s breath.

CHORUS:
יגיע הזמן
והשיב לב אבות
על בנים
ומחה ה’ דמעה מעל כל פנים
כל זה יהיה במהרה
אם על המלך טוב
כשיבנה ה׳ ביתו
.בימינו בקרוב