Shir L'Shalom
Hebrew text by Ya'akov Rotblit
Singing English translation by Leonard Lehrman
for the musical setting by Yair Rozenbloom
Copyright 1995
as published by The Lehrman Family Newsletter, 1996
and Jewish Currents, Nov.-Dec. 2003

Even though the sun may rise,
no matter where or when,
Even prayer that death defies
can't bring us back again.
He whose candle was snuffed out
and came home in a sack
Neither bitter cry nor shout
can ever bring him back.
No one can revive the dead
that fell amid the strife.
No, neither songs of joy nor songs of victory
can bring us back to life.
Just sing a song of peace, of shalom,
and let it rend the air!
Better to sing a song of shalom
than murmuring a prayer.

Even though the sun may shine
and pierce the dark at dawn,
Don't look back! What's left behind
is buried, dead and gone.
Lift your eyes with hope once more.
Don't aim. Look up above.
Do not sing a song of war,
but sing a song of love.
Do not say, "It's just a dream
that we won't live to see."
It's not a dream. It's peace that we must work for now
'Til it's reality.
Just sing a song of peace, of shalom,
and let it rend the air!
Better to sing a song of shalom
than murmuring a prayer.