From “Hannah Senesh”
“A MINUTE AT A TIME”
Lyrics: Donfeld Music: Shanin
Hannah
DON'T FEEL THE PAIN.
TRY TO THINK OF ANYTHING, BUT
DON'T FEEL THE PAIN.
YOU KNEW THIS COULD HAPPEN
BUT IT'S REAL
AND IT HURTS.
G-D, I HAVE TO MAKE IT STOP.
SOMEHOW I MUST BELIEVE
I WILL ESCAPE FROM THIS HELL.
I HAVE TO STOP THE FEAR
SILENTLY FLOODING MY CELL,
HOW CAN I END THE PAIN
SCREAMING INSIDE OF MY HEAD?
SOMEHOW I MUST BELIEVE
I CAN HOLD ON BY A THREAD.
A MINUTE AT A TIME,
I CAN FACE AN HOUR
A MINUTE AT A TIME
NOTHING LASTS FOREVER
A MINUTE AT A TIME,
I CAN TAKE THE PAIN,
AND THE FEAR.
AN HOUR THEN A DAY
I CAN FACE A NIGHTMARE
A MINUTE AT A TIME.
I CAN COUNT THE SECONDS
A MINUTE AT A TIME.
I CAN MAKE THE PAIN
DISAPPEAR.
(She takes a deep breath. Her pain is still visible, as she tries to control it.)
BREATHE IN FAMILIAR AIR.
HOME SEEMS A LIFETIME AWAY.
I CAN SEE MAMA THERE,
LAUGHING AS GEORGE AND I PLAY.
RUNNING TO PAPA’S SIDE,
WATCHING HIM READ WHAT I WRITE,
I FEEL HIS RUSH OF PRIDE,
LIFTING ME UP DELIGHT.
A MINUTE AT A TIME,
I CAN FACE EACH HOUR
A MINUTE AT A TIME
NOTHING LASTS FOREVER.
A MINUTE AT A TIME,
I CAN FACE THE PAIN,
AND THE FEAR.
A HOUR OR DAY,
I CAN BREAK THEM DOWN TO
A MINUTE AT A TIME.
I CAN FACE A NIGHTMARE…
“MAMA, THERE’S A NEW WORLD GROWING”
c) Donfeld/Shanin
Hannah
MAMA, THERE’S A NEW WORLD GROWING,
THERE’S NO LIMIT TO WHAT I CAN BE.
WHERE THEY’RE GLAD I’M A JEW
“YOU’RE A JEW, I AM TOO.
IT’S A PLUS. COME WITH US. PLANT A TREE.”
MAMA, THERE’S A NEW WORLD GROWING.
I CAN WORK WITH A PLOW AND A PEN.
IT’S A DREAM COMING TRUE
BEST OF ALL, WHEN WE’RE THROUGH
YOU’LL SEE WE’RE IN
Mother
SUCH A YOUNG IDEALIST, YOU’LL
WIND UP DEAD.
SHAKING WITH MALARIA OR FEVER.
TRY TO BE A REALIST AND
USE YOUR HEAD.
SOMEONE’S SPINNING DREAMS
AND YOU BELIEVE HER!
Hannah
MAMA, THERE’S A NEW WORLD GROWING
AND I’M GOING AS SOON AS I CAN.
IN THIS DREAM, I CAN SEE
YOU’LL BE THERE, NEXT TO ME,
AND WE’LL TRULY BE FREE
AND ALIVE.
I CAN SEE THE CITIES GROWING
BRICK BY BRICK.
I SEE HEAPS OF FOOD UPON THE TABLE.
Mother
I CAN SEE YOU IN A CLINIC PALE AND SICK
I CAN SEE YOU SWEATING IN SOME STABLE.
Hannah
I’d like that.
Mother
What?
Hannah
The stable, I mean.
Mother
Oy!
Hannah
MAMA, THERE’S A NEW WORLD GROWING
THEY ARE SOWING THE FIELDS AS WE SPEAK.
IT WILL BE NO SURPRISE,
Mother
You’ve surprised me enough!
Hannah
WHEN WE WATCH ERETZ RISE
Mother
From the desert? Hah!
Hannah
FROM THE EARTH TO THE SKIES,
Mother
Keep your feet on the ground.
Hannah
RIGHT IN FRONT OF OUR EYES,
Mother
Such a dreamer you are!
Hannah
AND WE’LL FINALLY FEEL FREE
Mother
Look at me! I am free!
Hannah
WE WILL BE TRULY FREE,
AND ALIVE.
“SOCKS”
c) Donfeld/Shanin
Hannah
SOCKS
FIVE HUNDRED SOCKS
IT'S AMAZING HOW MUCH EVERYBODY WALKS.
AND IT COMES AS QUITE A SHOCK
HOW I'VE LEARNED TO HATE EACH SOCK.
Miryam
EACH SOCK!
Both
FIVE HUNDRED SOCKS.
SOCKS,
FIVE HUNDRED SOCKS,
ALL REMINDING ME OF SLIGHTLY ROTTEN LOX.
‘TIL I TRULY START TO DOUBT
THAT THE ODOR WILL WASH OUT OF SOCKS,
SOCKS,
FIVE HUNDRED SOCKS!
Hannah
WASHING SOCKS WAS NOT WHAT I EXPECTED.
I THOUGHT WE WOULD STAY OUT PICKING GRAPEFRUIT IN THE GROVE,
Both
LEMON BLOSSOMS ON THE BREEZE,
ROWS OF CORN AND OLIVE TREES
BOXING ALL THOSE BERRIES WE COLLECTED.
Hannah
I IMAGINED FIELDS OF GRAPES AND ROSES.
I IMAGINED MATZA BALLS IN POTS UPON THE STOVE.
Both
I CAN STILL ENJOY THE SCENT.
I LOVED EVERYWHERE WE WENT,
Hannah
EVERYWHERE BUT HERE, WHERE MY POOR NOSE IS.
Both
SOCKS
FIVE HUNDRED SOCKS,
THAT ARE RIPE WITH THE AROMA FROM THE FLOCKS.
AFTER WASHING FOR A WEEK,
I MAY NEVER LOSE THE REEK OF SOCKS
SOCKS,
FIVE HUNDRED SOCKS.
“ON THE BUS”
c) Donfeld/Shanin
(Singing to a young boy right before crossing the border
into
Hungary
Hannah
I CAN SEE US ON THE ROAD
RIDING ON A YELLOW BUS
I CAN SEE US ON THE ROAD
NO ONE'S LAUGHING MORE THAN US.
OH, THE STORIES WE CAN TELL!
Peretz
THE KIBBUTZNIKS ALL ARE GOING TO KVELL
Hannah
HOW WE MADE A HEAVEN OUT OF HELL
All
WE WILL TELL THEM
ON THE ROAD.
Yoel
I CAN SEE US ON THE ROAD
WE’LL BE WELCOMED EVERY PLACE!
Peretz
I CAN SEE US ON THE ROAD
GIANT SMILES ON EVERY FACE.
All
THEY'LL BE TOASTING OUR SUCCESS,
AND WE'LL ALL BE HEROES, MORE OR LESS.
THERE'LL BE KLEZMER MUSIC, AND I'D GUESS,
THEY WILL BLESS US
ON THE ROAD.
THINK ABOUT THE PEOPLE WE ARE FREEING!
THINK ABOUT THE CHILDREN WHO'LL BE PLAYING IN THE SUN.
THINK ABOUT THE SIGHTS THAT WE'LL BE SEEING.
THERE'LL BE SWARMS OF PEOPLE ROUND THE CLOCK
AS THE SHIPS PULL INTO
Hannah
I CAN SEE US ON THE ROAD,
YOU SIT BACK AND I WILL DRIVE.
Yoel
You?
Peretz
I CAN SEE US ON THE ROAD
SAFE AND HAPPY. AND ALIVE.
Hannah
CLOSE YOUR EYES AND PICTURE US.
Peretz
YOU WILL SEE OUR LANDSMEN MAKE A FUSS.
Hannah
YOU ARE SHY, I KNOW, BUT THAT'S A PLUS
All
ON OUR BUS OUT
ON THE ROAD.
ON THE BUMPY, TURNING
CHOKING, CHURNING,
BUMPY, TURNING,
CHOKING, CHURNING,
POT-HOLED, PITIFUL,
GLORIOUS ROAD!
“THE CODE”
c) Donfeld/Shanin
(The Warden threatens Hannah concerning her mother’s incarceration.”
Warden
NO WARM SHAWL,
NO SOFT BED,
EATING A SLOP THAT'S BARELY FIT
FOR CONSUMPTION.
SHE MIGHT FALL
BANG HER HEAD,
NO ONE WILL NOTICE HER. WELL, THAT'S
MY ASSUMPTION.
SHE LOOKS TOO DELICATE TO ROT HERE IN PRISON.
LOOK AT HER. MAMA’S GETTING OLD.
SHE SHOULD BE IN A PARK, NOT HERE IN PRISON,
SHAKING FROM FEAR OR FROM THE COLD.
(Hannah stokes her mother’s hair.)
Mother
I’m stronger than you think, Hannah.
Hannah
I know, Mama.
Warden
DOES SHE HATE
WHY SHE'S HERE,
HATE THAT HER DAUGHTER IS A SPY AND A TRAITOR?
MAMA'S FATE
ISN'T CLEAR.
WILL SHE BE TORTURED OR WILL FREEDOM AWAIT HER?
LOOK AT HER SITTING THERE, PALE AS A SPECTER.
I'M SURE SHE'S FEELING QUITE CONFUSED.
SHE HAS TO WONDER WHY HER CHILD WON’T PROTECT HER,
WHY YOU WOULD LET HER BE ABUSED.
WILL SHE DIE?
WILL SHE LIVE?
WILL SHE BE STRIPPED...OF HER DIGNITY,
OR SHOT?
IF YOU LIE,
SHE’LL FORGIVE,
BUT YOU CAN BE ASSURED THAT I WILL NOT.
FOR WE BOTH KNOW THAT YOU WERE
CAUGHT WITH A RADIO,
CAUGHT WITH THIS RADIO,
AND YOU REFUSED TO GIVE
(spoken)
THE CODE.
“STAY WITH ME”
c) Donfeld/Shanin
(Yoel has been captured but allowed a moment with Hannah,
who has been badly tortured, as she still refuses to give the Warden her
radio’s code.)
Yoel
(Sotto voce)
HANNAH, YOU MUST SAY SOMETHING,
SOMETHING TO GET THEM TO STOP.
HOW MUCH MORE CAN YOU TAKE?
THEY WON’T STOP 'TIL THEY BREAK YOU,
HANNAH.
(sotto voce)
It’s enough!
Hannah
WHEN HIS STRAP BEGINS TO BURN ME,
WHEN THE FEAR IS SHARP AND REAL,
I ESCAPE. I LEAVE THIS HELL BEHIND.
YOU REACH OUT AND BRUSH MY CHEEK,
IT’S ONLY YOU, I SEE OR FEEL
HIDDEN IN THE CORNER OF MY MIND.
YOU STAY WITH ME
YOU LIFT ME UP AND HOLD ME
YOU STAY WITH ME
YOU SHIELD ME IN YOUR ARMS,
AND KISS ME, OH, SO SOFTLY.
LIKE A COOLING MORNING BREEZE,
YOU STAY WITH ME.
I NEED YOU,
AND YOU’RE THERE.
Yoel
EVERY DAY I KEPT ON SEARCHING,
LOSING HOPE AS WEEKS HAD PASSED,
WANTING YOU; DENYING YOU WERE GONE.
HERE YOU ARE, SO TORN AND WEAK.
YOU’RE FINALLY IN MY ARMS, AT LAST,
BUT HOW CAN YOU SURVIVE IF THIS GOES ON?
YOU’LL STAY WITH ME
I'LL TAKE YOU TO OUR VALLEY
STAY WITH ME
PUT JASMINE IN YOUR HAIR,
THERE BY THE KINNERET
I WILL HEAL YOU IN MY ARMS,
I'LL COME FOR YOU,
I NEED YOU.
PLEASE BE THERE.
Both
STAY WITH ME
WE’LL WATCH THE MORNING
STAY WITH ME
AND LIE HERE IN MY ARMS.
HOLD ON TIL TOMORROW
AND TOMORROW WILL BE OURS.
Yoel
I’LL COME FOR YOU.
Hannah
YOU’LL COME FOR ME.
Yoel
I NEED YOU!
Hannah
I NEED YOU.
Yoel Hannah
PLEASE BE THERE. I’LL BE THERE.
