Lyrics - Akiva was a shepherd

amother

Mon, May 27 2019, 10:06 pm

Anyone remember this? Of course I also need the tune

Akiva was a shepherd, tending to his flock
He had no books or learning until he saw that rock
If water pierces granite along with passing time,
the Torah's words can penetrate my unlearned mind

No matter what your (knowledge?) it's not just what you know
If you have [sincerity?] the rest is sure to grow

momsrus

Mon, May 27 2019, 10:10 pm

Not this one, right?

He was a forty year old man, Akiva was his name
No scholar, he no saint, a shepherd by his trade
But one day he went down to the riverside, he saw a crevice stones from the waters tide,
And he felt the strength he had inside, he knew then that it's not too late, to reach the sky

So he left his wife, and went, to study by the wise,
And they watched his knowledge grow, and the brilliance in his eye.
For twelve long years he learnt the law, and his mind grew strong, his sprit soared.
When he came home, as he stood by the door, he heard his wife say "I'd gladly give, a dozen more"

From far and wide, they came to him, the people of his nation
For he had become the leader of his generation
But the Romans came with an iron hand, and the study of torah, it was banned
Yet of his people, he did demand, "Don't leave the waters of your faith, you'll be like a fish on land"

So they tortured him with combs of steel, payment for his crime,
But through his pain, he taught us all, a legend for all time
With his students by his side, his eyes were closed, his head held high,
Without a sound, without a cry, "Hashem Echad" was on his lips - that's how he died.

Iymnok

Tue, May 28 2019, 6:07 pm

Momsrus, that is the song on Journeys by Abi’s Rottenberg. There are a few beautiful songs about Akiva.

The one I grew up with is:
Many years ago a poor shepherd boy watched the sheep all day
Akiva didn’t even know the Alef Bais which all of us can say.

Rochel his smart wife gave him good advice, this is what she said,
It’s never too late to start learning torah if you use your head.

(Someone else can finish, I’m too tired.)

penguin

Tue, May 28 2019, 6:37 pm

Now you're reminding me of this, though why I think it related to Rabi Akiva I am not sure

Listen talmidim, very closely to what I have to say
If you learn the torah and review it with a friend,
You'll be a talmid chochom one day.

But it's so hard to learn rebbe,
all the seforim in the library
it will take so long to learn every one
I'm afraid that I'll never be a talmid chochom.

we'll start with the alef bais
then you'll learn how to read and how to write,
...

we'll go on to Breishis & Shmos
Vayikra Bamidbar Devorim
Be sure to review every posuk that you learn so you can remember everything

If you're serious
and you learn the torah each and every day
you might even be a rebbe before long
and your talmidim will hear you sing our song