Journeys 5 | From The Ashes Featuring The Maccabeats with Abie Rotenberg

They staggered to freedom more dead than alive
Flesh barely hiding the bones underneath
Broken and battered their eyes told the tale
– of shattered souls, anguish and grief
But then they started selling sugar cubes – or
anything they could find
Making trades, taking chances – at unproven skills
Each penny slowly earned, invested and
saved – their form of revenge, to rebuild

CHORUS

They rose from the ashes – and relit their matches
To kindle a fire that somehow grew stronger
They suffered in silence – yet lived in defiance
Never forgetting their mothers and fathers
How did they lift themselves from the dust
And build this world they created for us
With all that was theirs – vanished and gone
Where did they find – the will to go on
We have seen the furrowed brows
Pale sullen faces and numbers on skin
No one but they would ever know – the pain
they carried within
Yet they founded our communities and
fought to build our land
Scorning the darkness – striving for light
And millions perpetuate – what nearly was
lost
Reawakened – and bursting with life

CHORUS

While some stood in silence – took comfort
in blindness
There is no denying the crimes that took place
They were witnessed by millions – forever
instilled in
A narrative that can’t be erased
And we’ll pass this torch from father to son
And through the ages will always live on
Events that occurred will always remain
In our collective memory unchanged

BRIDGE:
How Did they Lift – Lift themselves Up From
the Dust?
We stood by a mountain as our nation was founded
Faith etched in our hearts by a voice from on high
It was witnessed by millions – forever
instilled in
Our narrative – to last for all time
And this torch was passed from father to son
And through the ages has always lived on
In the face of despair – confusion and doubt
The flame that defines us – has never gone out
The flame that defines us – will never go out

WORDS & MUSIC BY: Shiffy (Rotenberg) Ochs
ARRANGED BY: Doni Gross & Abie Rotenberg