Our team of judges have sifted through decades of English songs and found what they consider the best lines ever!

Welcome to the very first Jewish Lyrics Awards, where our team of judges have sifted through decades of English songs and found what they consider the best lines ever! (We know that lyrics can be a very personal thing, so feel free to disagree.)

AWARD FOR THE BEST EMOTIONAL LINE

Abie Rotenberg: “And that loneliness is worst of all, I’m sure you will agree, for we are not so different, you and I…” (“Who Am I,” on Journeys 3, HASC II)

The Runners Up

Eli Nathan: “But he had one memory, yes, his father he did see, lighting colored candles on the window sill…”  (“Colored Candles,” on Destiny 1)

MBD: “I know I am a Jew, I was bar mitzvah, too, but Shabbos in our home, who ever knew?” (“Just One Shabbos,” on Just One Shabbos)

Moshe Yess: “Who will be the zaidies of our children, who will be the zaidies, if not we?” (“My Zaidy,” on Megama 1)

AWARD FOR THE BEST LOL LINE

Yossi Toiv: “Thank you, Hashem, for kosher pizza and for creating swimming pools, thank You for latkes and for Paskesz, and the snowstorms that keep us home from school….” (“Modeh Ani,” on Country Yossi — Strike Again)

The Runners Up

Abie Rotenberg: “We’d talk about the Rashi, and the Tosfos… and the Mets” (“The Ninth Man,” on Journeys 1)

Zale Newman: “Last time we saw his floor was 1983… The mess grew bigger, every single day….” (“Benji’s Mess,” on Uncle Moishy Vol. 5)

Rebbi Alter Yachnes: “Paroh in pajamas in the middle of the night...” (“Paroh in Pajamas,” on Rebbi Alter Pesach)

AWARD FOR THE BEST LIFE-LESSON LINE

Moshe Yess: “There’s a tombstone now on the 18th hole, where they buried his dearly departed soul, and we knew it had to happen sooner or later, he was buried in a tallis with an alligator…” (“Jack Schwartz,” on Megama 1)

The Runners Up

Abie Rotenberg: “With your true colors showing, will you three still be going…” (“Atheist Convention,” on Journeys 3)

MBD: “You’d better run for your life back to Utah overnight, before the mountaintop opens up and swallows you inside.” (“Yerushalayim Is Not for Sale,” on Jerusalem Not for Sale)

AWARD FOR MOST MEANINGFUL WORDS

Bella Levitan: “When you feel pain, when you rejoice, know how He longs to hear your voice…” (“Shema Yisrael,” on Yaakov Shwekey’s Yedid)

The Runners Up

Chayala Neuhaus: “I’ve been trying since the day I learned to read, but some days I just can’t ask for what I need…” (“Broken Heart,” on Miracles 3)

Yossi Toiv: “It’s the first time that my father’s heard me pray….” (“Deaf Man in the Shteeble,” on Country Yossi — Captured)

The Ribnitzer Rebbetzin a”h: “I’m just a son yearning, a child who is returning, to my father’s embrace…” (MBD, “I’d Rather Pray and Sing”)

AWARD FOR THE BEST PARODIED LINES

Eli Nathan: “Now Velvel’s a real estate millionaire, gives tzedakah along with his wife, he learns with Akiva, who’s still in yeshivah, and probably will be for life…” (“Chazan Man,” on Gershon Veroba’s Variations)

The Runners Up

Lenny Solomon: “Sarah, Isaac, brit milah, angels visit, Akeidah, War of Kings, salty wife, rescue in Sodom…” (“We’ve Got a Strong Desire,” on Shlock Rock — Sgt. Shlockers Magical History Tour)

Seymore Rockoff and Martin Davidson: “I don’t mean Central Park nor Prospect Park…” (“Boro Park,” on Rechnitzer Rejects)

The Maccabeats: “I’ll flip my latkes in the air sometimes, sayin’ ayo, spin the dreidel… now I’ve told you once, and I’ve told you twice about the miracle of the candle lights…” (“Candlelight”)

AWARD FOR THE MOST WHIMSICAL LINE

Abie Rotenberg: “The man inside the toll booth said, ‘Oh, it’s you again…’ ” (“The Shadchan,” on Journeys 1)

The Runners Up

Dave Gold and Gershon Veroba: “I told you take the Belt, you shoulda used the Belt...” (“Belt,” on Just One Shaitel)

Moshe Hauben: “It’s Rosh Hashanah morning, that’s a shofar I was blowing...” (“Benji,” on Jep 4 — Someday)

Shmuel Kunda: “There’s no such thing as a watermelon tree, there never was and there never will be...” (Baruch Learns His Brachos)

AWARD FOR MOST RESOUNDING MESSAGE

Dina Storch: “Our scars and our wounds will disappear...” (MBD, “Someday”)

The Runners Up

Abie Rotenberg: “Won’t you shed a tear for your dear children…” (“Mama Rochel,” on Journeys 4, and Shwekey’s Live in Paris)

Yerachmiel Begun: “We need your tefillah, each and every Yid can bring the Geulah… Don’t talk! Shh, Shh! Just daven…” (“We Need You,” on MBC’s Shabbos Yerushalayim)

Yocheved Reich: “It’s not I am, but who we are…” (Avraham Fried, “Forever One”)

Congratulations to all our amazing winners! Your reward is all the nachas you get and give to others from these great lines!

(Originally featured in Mishpacha, Issue 993)