Stunt Man played a fifteen minute "Irish Set" for his brother's wedding, staying in character throughout. He was so effective at bringing joy to his brother and his new sister-in-law and their guests that one attendee quipped, "This is the first time in my life I've regretted not being born Irish."
Well, G-d gathered us in from the four corners of the world into the Jewish family for some reason or other. Could be to add a few songs, and a little color.
Here's a short sample of brotherly love.
Hat tip to the band Gaelic Storm and to Josh Polak, who taught the lad nearly everything he knows.
Because there is a certain amount of sadness in the air -- it's right around the third anniversary of the Mercaz HaRav massacre, about which I still cannot write; Gilad Shalit just passed his seventeen-hundredth day in captivity; memories of Mumbai are surfacing; and the world is teetering, teetering on who knows what -- I just don't have a post in me.
Fortunately, one's children can sometimes come to the rescue.
Here, for your entertainment, is a love song. It is not religious. It is not about anyone in particular. The only thing Israeli or Jewish about it is that it was written and performed by a young IDF soldier I know and love.
Let me know what you think -- but as always with these nachas posts -- only if you love it. :-)
Sara Lee's a girl who just turned sixteen She likes to be alone She knows that she ain't beautiful She hides from everyone
Today she's sittin' on her favorite bench In the corner of the school yard Wishin' she could be just like them Wishin' life wasn't so hard
Billy Joe's a boy who's new at school Today is his first day He stands at the edge of the school yard He figures he'll just wait
He turns his head -- now what does he see On a bench underneath the shade? The most beautiful girl that he has ever seen Oh and he just can't look away
Chorus: He sees an angel with big blue eyes Lord, he just can't look away He's starin' at an angel with big blue eyes Why can't Billy look away?
She's just eighteen years old, it's the school prom Her dear mama begged her to go Nobody's asked her to dance at the prom She's wishin' she hadn't shown
Standin' in the middle of a thousand smilin' faces She starts to feel so alone She closes her eyes and dreams of a man Starts dancin' on her own
Billy Joe walks in and looks around the room Oh my -- what has he found? Standin' in the middle, there's a beautiful girl She's spinnin' round and round
He makes his way through the screamin' crowd And makes his way over to her Puts his hands around her and she opens up her eyes Suddenly, Billy's lost for words
Chorus: He sees an angel with big blue eyes Lord, he just can't look away He's starin' at an angel with big blue eyes Why can't Billy look away?
It's seven years later, she married Billy Joe They live together at home Billy stayed home to watch over the kids Sara Lee's out drivin' all alone
It was a dark and slippery night A bitter cold winter She never saw that thin black sheet of ice Ten feet in front of her
Billy Joe's sittin' at the kitchen table When the phone gives an angry scream "Sir, would you please come to the county hospital. There's been an emergency."
Billy Joe walks in, and Sara turns away "Please don't look at me. They said they did all that they could do. And I don't want you to see."
Billy Joe walks over and puts a hand on her face Says "Baby, look at me." She turns her head, and he cannot help but smile Says "Let me tell you what I see."
Chorus: "I see an angel with big blue eyes and I just can't look away And I'm starin' at an angel with big blue eyes And I swear I'll never look away."
