DEVORAH'S SONG
Debbie Friedman
Ruach 5763

Music: Debbie Friedman
Text: Tamara Ruth Cohen & Debbie Friedman, based on Judges 4:12

I have a beautiful paper cut in my bedroom that I received as a gift for singing at a wedding. It is a picture of the prophet Devorah sitting under her palm tree. One day as I was walking Farfel, my trusted dog, I flashed on that paper cut and the words surrounding it. “Arise, arise, Devorah, arise and sing a song.” Devorah came to be after not having written for a year and a half. She was an inspiration to me. She was a strong character who was peace-loving and whose values, integrity and leadership skills were particularly important examples to us, most especially in these turbulent times. It is my hope that when we sing this song we will find pieces of Devorah in ourselves and allow them to come to be in our own lives.

CHORUS
Arise arise, Devorah!
Arise arise and sing a song.
Arise arise, Devorah!
Uri uri, dab ri shir.

VERSE 1
Devorah the prophet was a judge in Israel.
She sat beneath her palm tree on a hill.
And people came from every where just
Tto hear her judgments honest and fair.
Devorah the prophet, Devorah, a mother in Israel.

CHORUS

VERSE 2
Devorah the prophet was courageous, strong, and wise.
Her people lived in peace for forty years.
The twelve tribes lived together as one
For the first time since the world had begun.
Devorah the prophet, Devorah, a mother in Israel.

CHORUS

BRIDGE
Arise, Devorah.
Arise and sing a song.
Arise, Devorah.
Uri uri, dabri shir.

VERSE 3
Devorah the prophet, a fire, her torch in hand.
She led the Israelites to victory.
Barak said, "D'vorah, I cannot fight
Unless you are standing right by my side."
Devorah the prophet, Devorah, a mother in Israel.

CHORUS

© 2000 Deborah Lynn Friedman (ASCAP), Sounds Write Productions, Inc. (ASCAP). All rights reserved.