Rise Up Darkness
As we are moving deeper into the darkest time of the year, I like to remember that the darkness too is sacred.
When I asked my daughter while working on this song, "what happens in the dark?" She answered, "we sleep and we heal and we grow." She is not afraid of the dark. I love that for all of us. I learned from Rav Kohenet Rabbi Jill Hammer that the darkness is the womb, the night sky, the soil and the deep, deep of the sea.
While most teachings at this time of year turn our attention to our inner spark and the candles that shine to reassure us that the light will always return, I like to take some time to be present with the darkness, its mystery, its power to heal and its power to gestate.
This song is an adaptation of an Israeli Chanukah song that says, “Come let’s banish the dark.” My teachers, Rabbi Jill Hammer and Rabbi David Seidenberg wrote an alternative that says, “come, let’s sanctify the dark.” I adapted their lyrics and wrote the melody and arrangement.
It was written for the intersection of Chanukah and Solstice in 2022. I invite listeners to think of it as a magic spell, welcoming the sacred play of dark and light.
Melody and arrangement by Kohenet Annie Matan
This recording was made at Harlow Sound in Toronto and was produced by Greg English and engineered by Justin McWilliams. Musical accompaniment by Greg English and Justin McWilliams.
Vocals by Annie Matan.
Listen here:
Lyrics:
Rise up darkness,
come up night,
Rise up, to greet the light! (2x)
We’ve come to sanctify the dark,
in our hands a little spark
Each of us a tiny light,
and together we shine bright.
Seeds of fire and of light
Radiant within the night
Rise up darkness,
come up night,
Rise up, to greet the light! (2x)
In weave of darkness nestling
Radiant within the night
We will plant our fire’s seed
Seeds of fire and of light
In our hands, may light and flame
Bejewel, as tapestry of night
We come to sanctify the dark
Afore the sun renews its light
Rise up darkness,
come up night,
Rise up, to greet the light!
Kumah choshekh
Aleh sh’chor
Kumah, likrat ha-or!
Banu choshekh l’kadesh
B’yadeinu or va’esh
Kol echad hu or katan
V’khulanu or eitan
Gar’inim shel esh va-or
Bohakim mitokh hashchor
Kumah choshekh, aleh sh’chor
Kumah, likrat ha-or!
Rise up darkness,
come up night,
Rise up, to greet the light!
If you are in Toronto and seeking opportunities to celebrate darkness and light this season, join me at these Matanot Lev (soon to be Matanot Lilith) events:
https://lu.ma/matanotlev
