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Days of Honey, Days of Onions

from Days of Honey, Days of Onions by Joanie Calem

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about

The title to this song is a translation of a famous Palestinian saying that perfectly describes the reality of life: yam as’l, yam bas’l…one day of honey (sweetness), the next day, onions (tears). We just get to roll with whatever comes...

lyrics

Days Of Honey, Days of Onions © Jan. 2013

There are days of blue herons, days of owls.
Days of laughter, days of scowls,
Days of honey and onions too,
And we never know what kind of day will come.

When she woke in the morning, saw the bright sunshine
She could almost think the day would be fine
But together with the birds’ song, she could hear the guns,
And we never know what kind of day will come.

Chorus:
Yom asl, yom basl, yom tov, yom ra
Can’t live in fear, life’s kind of a see-saw
Yom asl, yom basl, yom tov, yom ra
Just get right back up, after the fall.

They say red sky at night, sailor’s delight
They say red sky in the morning, sailor’s warning.
But when there is a shooting, there is no sky at all,
And we never know what kind of days will come.

Chorus

Muslims say it’s not important, good days or bad
Christians say bad days are maybe ‘cause you’ve sinned
Jews say if it’s bad, we’ve got to fix the world
‘Cause we never know what kind of day will come.

Bridge:
Every year in spring, I see the same old thing
Little dove chases the hawks away.
Dashing across the sky, not afraid despite her size
Making sure her babies are safe

We can learn from nature, and from old folk sayings
We can read the holy books, do the praying
We can watch the little dove as she beats the odds
‘Cause we never know what kind of day will come.

Chorus

credits

from Days of Honey, Days of Onions, track released April 1, 2021
Joanie Calem guitar and vocals; Tom Boyer upright bass

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about

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Joanie Calem Columbus, Ohio

Joanie Calem is a folk musician, singer/song-writer, storyteller and inclusion advocate for audiences of all ages. Joanie writes songs and sings about life's different twists and turns, angles and perspectives, telling stories through her songs of the ups and downs of reality. She performs regularly at festivals, retirement homes, shelters, libraries and schools throughout the US and abroad. ... more

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