WATCH: The uplifting original Chanukah song making parodies passé
Shir Soul's Hannukah song "Lift Yourself Up" challenges viewers with contest
Every year the holiday song landscape becomes more crowded – and predictable. The top five pop songs will receive the Chanukah treatment, probably by an a cappella group.
But Shir Soul is different. Not only have they opted to release an original song – they put it as a free download on their web site.
They’re also running a contest around the video, called “Lift Yourself Up”.
“Join our #LiftYourselfUp 2015 Hanukkah mitzvah campaign!” the band writes (mitzvah is Hebrew for a good or divinely-mandated deed).
“In honor of Hanukkah 5776, we wanted to take this opportunity to help spread goodness, light & love in the world. We hope you will join the campaign and become our partners in this exciting movement!”
The challenge (and the winner gets an iPad) is to share the video with the hashtag #LiftYourselfUp, mention a good deed or warmhearted act that you plan to do for yourself, your family, friends or community this week and tag two friends with a challenge to do the same.
(Write to David Ross to confirm entry)
Here are the lyrics:
LIFT YOURSELF UP
When you’re on the road to nowhere
And there’s no one by your side
When you feel like you are utterly alone
When you see the path before you
And your confidence is tried
And you need a place to rest your tired bones
Woah…
When the nighttime snow is falling
Open up and come inside
Feel the warmth and feel the love it’s everywhere
Where we all can be together
Singing songs of joy and pride
With the message of the history we all share
Lift yourself up higher
Come on light your soul on fire
I said lift yourself up higher
And you’ll find your way back home
When you fight an uphill battle
And the end’s nowhere in sight
You may think that there’s no more of you to give
Know that very deep inside you
There’s a seed that wants to sow
So we plant our roots and finally start to live
Chorus
Like the stars that light the sky
And the sand that salts the sea
Feel your strength get multiplied
Let the history in you set us free
comments