My Monster in the Mirror
Are you familiar with the Sesame Street song, "Monster in the Mirror" sung by the Grover (the hapless blue monster who speaks without contractions)?
In the real lyrics by Norman Stiles, Grover sings, "Wubba wubba wubba, wubba wubba wooo".
Here is a link to a video of Grover the Monster performing it.
It's a very cute song as written, but during the Jewish New Year season I always think of it with the following slightly modified lyrics: (Note: "mochel" is the Hebrew word for "forgive". We formally ask each other for forgiveness around this time of year.)Grover: Saw a monster in my mirror when I woke today. A monster in my mirror, but I did not run away.I had to face my fear and look inside my head. Though the monster looked at me and this is what he said:
"Mochel, mochel, mochel", you can join in too. Please will you mochel me? And know I mochel you."
Chorus: He asked, "Won't you, mochel, mochel, mochel, mochel me?
Mochel, mochel, mochel, won't you mochel me please?"
He asked, "Mochel, mochel, mochel" so I asked him too: "Will you mochel me, and I will mochel you."
Monsters: Will you mochel me? Please know I mochel you.
Grover: Told the monster in the mirror, "I am kind of scared." Nervously smiled at him because he saw my soul was bared. Well, the monster wondered what to do, he smiled right back and then... The monster in the mirror sang this song again:
Chorus: He went "Won't you, mochel, mochel" and I sang along, cause "Mochel, mochel, mochel" is a proper song.
Monsters: "Mochel, mochel, mochel" is a proper song.
Grover and monsters: Chorus (a capella/voices only)
Grover: He went, "Won't you, mochel, mochel" and I sang along, (instrumental music returns) 'Cause "Mochel, mochel, mochel" is a Tishrei song.
Monsters: "Mochel, mochel, mochel" is a Tishrei song.
Grover: Every mirror has a monster in it, do not doubt. This kind of situation does not call for freaking out. And do nothing that you would not like to see him do...'Cause that monster in the mirror, he just might be you!
Chorus:
Monsters: Will you mochel me and I will mochel you?
Grover: In Tishrei, "Will you mochel me?" is the thing to do.
Grover and monsters: Yes, please mochel us. We mochel you.
Unidentified monster: (spoken) We mochel you.
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LOL. I love that Grover song but I never quite put that spin on it! Thanks:-)
Nice.
That's great! I actually have a Shalom Sesame Pesach tape with Grover singing that half in English and half in Hebrew. I love when the Hebrew-speaking guy (who has a very deep voice and sounds nothing like lovable, furry old Grover) sings "Vaba, vaba, vaba, vaba, voo, voo, voo"
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