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The Chanukah Party Lyrics by David Costabile, Harrison Chad, Alice Playten, Reathel Bean, Veanne Cox, Larry Keith, Anika Noni Rose, Tonya Pinkins

Caroline, or Change (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

2004

[THE GELLMANS & MR. STOPNICK]
Oh, Chanukah, oh, Chanukah
Oh, dreidel and menorah
We celebrate it even though
It isn't in the Torah
Talmud barely mentions it
The way they kept that candle lit
Sages in their colloquies
Say bupkes ’bout the Maccabees
And how with very little fuss
They routed King Antiochus
[THE GELLMANS & MR. STOPNICK, spoken]
Antiochus! Pooh!
[THE GELLMANS & MR. STOPNICK]
Who cares what all the sages say?
We celebrate it anyway!
Chanukah, oh, Chanukah
From Astrakhan to Panama
All along that isthmus
We're celebrating Chanukah
Especially in America!
[GRANDMA GELLMAN]
A whole week more than Christmas!
[ROSE]
You may think it's December
But, Noah, dear, remember
Tonight is Kislev Twenty-Five
[THE ADULT GELLMANS & MR. STOPNICK]
And every single Jew alive
Oy Noahleh, oy bubaleh
Oy vontzeleh, oy pishkeleh
Sings happy, happy Chanukah
Especially in America!
America, America, God shed His grace on thee
Where every Jew’s a Maccabee
And crowned thy good with brotherhood
And bade our blessings multiply
[THE ADULT GELLMANS & MR. STOPNICK, NOAH, spoken]
Mi kamocha ba-eilim Adonai>
Mi kamocha ne-e-dar (Baruch ata adonai, eloheinu melech ha'olam)
Ba-ko-desh? (Asher kidshanu b'mitzvotav)
No-ra t'hilot o-se fe-le (Vitzivanoo l'hadlich ner, shel Chanukah)
No-ra t'hilot o-se fe-le
Omayn
[CAROLINE, spoken]
Give that liver salad a toss
Watch the goose, don't let it dry
Spoon them jars of applesauce
And put them pancakes in the fry
If you don't fry ’em right away
They start turning gray
[NOAH, spoken]
Know why they’re fried in chicken fat?
[EMMIE, spoken]
To crisp 'em up
[CAROLINE, spoken]
Noah, scat
You’s bothering us, you's underfoot
[NOAH, spoken]
To symbolize the Temple Oil
[CAROLINE, spoken]
Dot, don't let the gravy boil
Noah, scoot, I got no use for you tonight
[EMMIE, spoken]
How about the goose? Does that mean something?
[NOAH, spoken]
That's just food
[ROSE]
Noah, out! It’s very rude
To bother people when they're busy
[ROSE, spoken]
You aren't needed in here
Is he?
[CAROLINE, spoken]
No, he ain't
[ROSE]
Go on, don't pout
Go on, out, and see our friends
He never listens!
[MR. STOPNICK]
The South is in a mighty frenzy
[ROSE]
Time to bring the latkes out!
Noah, tell them food is coming
[MR. STOPNICK]
Wait and see!
The old world's ending!
Negroes marching!
Change is coming!
Down with the filthy capitalist chazzerim!
[ROSE]
Come and visit with Grandpa Stopnick
All the way from New York City
[MR. STOPNICK]
Just like we predicted back in the thirties
All the Negroes got to do now
Is stop this nonsense about nonviolence
[GRANDMA & GRANDPA GELLMAN]
Scary, scary, such a tzimmes
Negroes in Louisiana
Aren't like in Mississippi
Not as mad as Alabama
Anyway, is this the way
To talk on Erev Chanukah?
Let's not dwell on ugly things
Let's thank God for the joys He brings
Watch the colored candles melt
Spin the dreidel for Chanukah gelt
[GRANDMA GELLMAN]
Let's be merry
[GRANDPA GELLMAN]
Let's be funny
[GRANDMA GELLMAN]
Noah, look!
[GRANDPA GELLMAN]
It's chocolate money!
[GRANDMA & GRANDPA GELLMAN]
Let's wish our Negro neighbors well
[MR. STOPNICK]
And may Bull Connor roast in hell
[THE GELLMANS & MR. STOPNICK]
Bull Connor! Pooh!
[GRANDMA & GRANDPA GELLMAN]
But tonight, let's just forget
[GRANDMA GELLMAN]
Stuart, play your clarinet
Credits
David Costabile

David Costabile

Harrison Chad

Harrison Chad

Alice Playten

Alice Playten

Reathel Bean

Reathel Bean

Veanne Cox

Veanne Cox

Larry Keith

Larry Keith

Anika Noni Rose

Anika Noni Rose

Tonya Pinkins

Tonya Pinkins

About “The Chanukah Party” by David Costabile

Read the complete lyrics to "The Chanukah Party" by David Costabile, Harrison Chad, Alice Playten, Reathel Bean, Veanne Cox, Larry Keith, Anika Noni Rose, Tonya Pinkins from the album "Caroline, or Change (Original Broadway Cast Recording)" in 2004. On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Broadway, Musicals, Pop.

"The Chanukah Party" is performed by David Costabile, Harrison Chad, Alice Playten, Reathel Bean, Veanne Cox, Larry Keith, Anika Noni Rose, Tonya Pinkins. from the album "Caroline, or Change (Original Broadway Cast Recording)" in 2004 This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "The Chanukah Party", explore more songs by David Costabile, Harrison Chad, Alice Playten, Reathel Bean, Veanne Cox, Larry Keith, Anika Noni Rose, Tonya Pinkins using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

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Frequently asked questions

"The Chanukah Party" is credited to David Costabile, Harrison Chad, Alice Playten, Reathel Bean, Veanne Cox, Larry Keith, Anika Noni Rose, Tonya Pinkins. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"The Chanukah Party" appears on "Caroline, or Change (Original Broadway Cast Recording)" in 2004.

Visit the David Costabile, Harrison Chad, Alice Playten, Reathel Bean, Veanne Cox, Larry Keith, Anika Noni Rose, Tonya Pinkins artist page at /artist/david-costabile for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.