Chad Gadya - Chava Alberstein (1989)

Dizavin abba bitrei zuzim, chad gadya, chad gadya.

There was a kid [baby goat] that our father bought for two zuzim, so it says in the Haggadah.

And then came a cat that devoured the kid, the little white kid that our father bought.

And then came a dog that bit the cat, that devoured the kid, that our father brought, dizavin abba bitrei zuzim, chad gadya.

And then a big stick appeared, that beat the dog, that bit the cat, that devoured the kid, that our father bought, dizavin abba bitrei zuzim, chad gadya, chad gadya.

And then erupted the fire that burnt the stick, that beat the dog, that bit the cat, that devoured the kid, that our father bought, dizavin abba bitrei zuzim, chad gadya, chad gadya.

And then came the water, that extinguished the fire, that burnt the stick, that beat the dog, that bit the cat, that devoured the kid, that our father bought, dizavin abba bitrei zuzim, chad gadya, chad gadya.

And then came the ox and drank the water, that extinguished the fire, that burnt the stick, that beat the dog, that bit the cat, that devoured the kid, that our father bought, dizavin abba bitrei zuzim, chad gadya, chad gadya.

And then came the ritual slaughterer, that slaughtered the ox that drank the water, that extinguished the fire, that burnt the stick, that beat the dog, that bit the cat, that devoured the kid, that our father bought.

And then came the Angel of Death and killed the ritual slaughterer, that slaughtered the ox that drank the water, that extinguished the fire, that burnt the stick, that beat the dog, that bit the cat, that devoured the kid, that our father bought.

Dizavin abba bitrei zuzim, chad gadya, chad gadya.

But why are you singing Chad Gadya?

Spring isn’t here yet and Pesach hasn’t arrived

And what has changed for you?

What has changed?

I have changed this year

For on all the nights, on all the nights [a line from “The Four Questions,” a song sung during the seder]

I asked only four questions

Tonight I have another question:

How long will the horrible cycle continue?

The pursuer and the pursued

The beater and the beaten

When will this madness end?

And what has changed for you? What has changed?

I have changed this year

I used to be a serene little goat

Today I am a panther and a predatory wolf

I’ve already been a dove and I’ve been a deer

Today I don’t know who I am

Dizavin abba bitrei zuzim, chad gadya, chad gadya.

Our father bought a baby kid for two zuzim

We are starting from the beginning again