A WAY TO SAY AH
Beth Schafer
Ruach 5763

[Beth Schafer writes:] A Way to Say Ah was written shortly after the NFTY convention in Los Angeles, 2001. I arrived in LA with a little cold which blossomed quickly into a full-blown-stuffy-head-can’t hear-can’t-breathe thing. I spent an afternoon at the drug store with Julie Silver who helped me pick out remedies that we proceeded to squirt into every hole in my head hoping to unstuff it before boarding a plane back to Florida. No luck. I boarded the plane with the fear that upon our descent, my ears and head would promptly explode, and my music career would be over. Someone on the plane suggested a remedy which I tried as we headed downward. Amazingly, we landed with my ears intact. I realized I had been holding my breath the whole way down. As I let it go, I heard myself utter, “aaaah”. It was a very primal way of saying a Shehechayanu [prayer] for allowing God to deliver me safely to that moment on the ground. We should all find ways to pause and say “ah” or “mmmm” or “oh”. Don’t let the moment pass you by, don’t ignore strange coincidences or miracles. They’re ours to recognize and acknowledge. Ah. Ah, mmm, oh.

VERSE 1
A miracle happened today. Was I aware?
Did I even care? A miracle happened today.

CHORUS
And did I pause enough to find
A way to say "ah," a way to say "mmm,"
A way to say "Oh, thank God I've arrived.
A way to say "ah," a way to say "mmm,"
A way to say "Oh, thank God I'm alive"?

VERSE 2
An incidence happened today.
Was this circumstance happening by chance?
A coincidence happened today.

CHORUS

BRIDGE
A way to sanctify the time
To remem ber that on our journey we are not alone.
A way to not allow my senses to be dulled
To the wonders I will be shown.

FINAL CHORUS
A way to say "ah," a way to say "mmm,"
A way to say "Oh, thank God I've arrived!"
A God I've arrived!"
A way to say "ah," a way to say, "mmm,"
A way to say "Oh, thank God I'm a live!"

Ah, mmm, oh. (Repeat and fade)

© 2001 by the composer. All rights reserved.