The Hava Song – Nissim Black
Nissim's new song is a modern rendition of the traditional “Hava Nagila.” He raps about gratitude, his place in Jewish society, and the coming Messianic age.
The niggun has been attributed to the Sadigurer Chassidim, who lived in what is now Ukraine. Members of the community began to immigrate to Jerusalem in 1915. The modern version of the niggun was composed in 1915 either by Dr. Abraham Zevi Idelsohn (1882–1938), a professor at Hebrew University, or by Moshe Nathanson, Dr. Idelsohn’s student.
The lyrics are based on Psalm 118:24:
זֶֽה־הַ֖יּוֹם עָשָׂ֣ה יְהֹוָ֑ה נָגִ֖ילָה וְנִשְׂמְחָ֣ה בֽוֹ:
This is the day that the Lord made; we shall be glad and rejoice in it.
LYRICS
Hava hava nagila (yeah)
Hava hava hava nagila yeah (I know they’re like)
Hava hava nagila (oh no we didn’t)
Hava hava hava nagila yeah (and I’m like)
Hava hava nagila (yes we did)
Hava hava hava nagila yeah (ah ha ha ha)
Hava hava nagila (yes we did)
Hava hava hava nagila
Hava Nagila I’m breathing, Hava nagila we even
Got a Mazel Tov for the game, but I really do the thang
Dance homey, God’s only, God’s man how they know me
Call me NIS in the streets, but we nobel like peace
I ain’t tryna hurt nobody, we just came here to party
Like it’s 59.99, they gone see us in our prime
Big house coming down, from thе sky to the crowd
We gon sing it out loud, Black Jewish and I’m proud
Ain’t a political man, ain’t no political stancе
But when the beat knock I jam, and I got that HAVA in hand
Rikud when the beat smooth, 16’s on a sweet tune
Fast-forward then I rerun it, then I get down how we move
Hava, Hava Nagila, Hava Nagila, Nagila v’nismech
Hava, Hava Nagila, Hava Nagila, Nagila v’nismecha
Hava, Hava Nagila, Hava Nagila, Nagila v’nismech
Hava, Hava Nagila, Hava Nagila, Nagila v’nismecha
Back on my shteeze, rap and unwrapping the beat
And it happens to be, I see how they reacting to me
I stay running from drama, but everyone I know and they mamma
Got burning questions on the table, they want answers if I’m able
Mr. Black you got a caption?, on Mr. Cannon and the Jacksons
Did you read Wiley on Twitter?, shut the feed/none of em‘ considered
They may be strong but I’m bigger, so move on I won’t listen
I work for the Boss, so Ima win caused HE rigged it
All of it’s predicted, I ghost ride then I whipped it
Speeding on em no tickets, G–D touched so I’m gifted
I got plans to make em dance, I came here to make em move
I know it feels familiar, but this a brand new groove
Hava, Hava Nagila, Hava Nagila, Nagila v’nismech
Hava, Hava Nagila, Hava Nagila, Nagila v’nismecha
Hava, Hava Nagila, Hava Nagila, Nagila v’nismech
Hava, Hava Nagila, Hava Nagila, Nagila v’nismecha
Hava hava nagila
Hava hava hava nagila yeah
Hava hava nagila
Hava hava hava nagila yeah
Hava hava nagila
Hava hava hava nagila yeah
Hava hava nagila
Hava hava hava nagila yeah
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