Life of Zarah
Book I - Genesis · Track 5 · Parashat Chayei Sārāg (Genesis 23:1 – 25:18)
My artist name is "Ashley Zarah" and the name "Zarah" comes from my Hebrew name שרה (Sārāh), who is the matriarch of Judaism. This song is about so many things… the weight of womanhood, the challenge of sacrifice, the expectations of leadership, as well as how connected we all are across the fabric of time. Life of Zarah was undoubtedly the hardest of the five songs to complete. Why? Because to be perfectly honest... I was never really fond of Sārāh - and despite it inspiring my artist name... was a name I could never really connect to. I was always taught that Sarah was a doubtful, jealous, hysterical, temperamental woman, who's selfish choices ultimately caused a rift between Jews and Muslims that could seemingly never be reconciled to this day (bad reputation to have if you ask me). In the parasha, Chayei Sārāh (which means, "Life of Sarah"), the chapter is actually about her death, and outlines her husband's eulogy at her funeral. I knew I wanted to challenge myself to find some common ground between myself and this woman - there had to be something in her I could relate to and write about. That's when I realized I actually know nothing about Sarah's life. So I went on a fact-finding mission. And what did I find? That Sarah was another tragic case of a woman being scapegoated for all the unanswered questions and pitfalls of man. She was incredible. I learned about Sarah becoming an orphan, marrying soon after, and having so much faith in G-d, herself and her husband, that she leaves her family and home to pursue a destiny much greater than herself. She is written as so strikingly gorgeous, that multiple Pharaoh's of Egypt try to take her as a wife (and is only stopped by the literal will of G-d) and she was forced to travel hidden in a box because her husband feared other men would kill him to have her. She was patient, poised, a respected leader and a critical thinker in times of disarray (while men in the text are noted for being hysterical, which I thought was funny). And among other amazing traits... she had an unforgettable laugh.. a laugh that I made sure to honor in this song. Life of Zarah, was intentionally composed as an epic song (with Persian instrumentation, in a Persian musical scale, changing tempos and time signatures) that takes us on an epic journey of her life (one that I believe many of can relate to). It begins with the famous Hebrew prayer (the Amidah) that hails G-d as the father of Abraham and Isaac (Sarah's husband and son)... and I decided to stop the list of men in the prayer and include her instead... but without using her name.. using her signature laugh. :) This is a MEATY song... I could write pages about it.... but ultimately it's about a woman grappling with all that we do - faith/doubt, selflessness and sacrifice, making the difficult choices because they are right not because they are popular, being a woman who is hailed as a leader and mother to society but prays every night to be able to bare her own children... she is imperfect, she is complex... she is so real to me. I am very proud to carry the name and legacy of Sārāh, and I hope she is up in heaven, among the stars, feeling seen, heard, appreciated and honored by this epic close to GENESIS.
Lyrics, Transliteration, Translation
The Amidah Prayer
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ
אֱלֹהֵי אַבְרָהָם
אֱלֹהֵי יִצְחָק
וֵאלֹהֵי
(Instrumental Transition)
VERSE 1
I know what you heard
I know what they say
When you hear my name
You think you know everything?
What about the silence in the sentences,
you think you found me now?
Written was my beauty
They locked me in a cage
It took 127 years but
It was worth the wait
It was worth the pain
Pre-Chorus 1
Don’t call me by my given name
Address me as your majesty
Rulers n’ nations will come from me, come from me
When you’ve lost your way
At a crossroad
He said...
HOOK 1
“Listen to her voice"
(Listen to her voice)
VERSE 2
Prophet of composure,
Erased by one mistake
Gave reputation up to make the choices
No one else would make
I'm the first with bridges burned
I'm the last one that they’ll thank
Swore my soul to the greater good
Wasn’t that enough?
What must I do that’s so important I can’t enjoy the simple stuff?
You see the miracles by day,
But at night I cry for love
Pre-Chorus 1
Don’t pity me for I do not
I am more than what we see
Rulers n’ nations will come for me, come from me
When you’ve lost your way
At a crossroad
They always,
HOOK 2
Listen to my voice...
BRIDGE
یکی بود، یکی نبود
زیرِ گنبدِ نور
از بالا تا زمین
یه جهانِ سکوت
آواز نازل شد
و همهچی شد خوب
میانِ ستارهها
نامت همیشه ماند
OUTRO
I fall on my face
G-d’ll change my name
Mother to you all
Call to me, your majesty
Got kings on their knees
Nations up in flames
Blame me for it all
زندگیِ سارا
I fall on my face
G-d’ll change my name
Mother to you all
Call to me, your majesty
Got kings on their knees
Nations up in flames
Blame me for it all
زندگیِ سارا
The Amidah Prayer
Barukh atah adona'i
Elo'heynu, v'el'hey avoteinu
Elo'hey Avraham
Elo'hey Itzkhak
V'elo'hey...
(Instrumental Transition)
VERSE 1
I know what you heard
I know what they say
When you hear my name
You think you know everything?
What about the silence in the sentences,
you think you found me now?
Written was my beauty
They locked me in a cage
It took 127 years but
It was worth the wait
It was worth the pain
Pre-Chorus 1
Don’t call me by my given name
Address me as your majesty
Rulers n’ nations will come from me, come from me
When you’ve lost your way
At a crossroad
He said...
HOOK 1
“Listen to her voice"
(Listen to her voice)
VERSE 2
Prophet of composure,
Erased by one mistake
Gave reputation up to make the choices
No one else would make
I'm the first with bridges burned
I'm the last one that they’ll thank
Swore my soul to the greater good
Wasn’t that enough?
What must I do that’s so important I can’t enjoy the simple stuff?
You see the miracles by day,
But at night I cry for love
Pre-Chorus 1
Don’t pity me for I do not
I am more than what we see
Rulers n’ nations will come for me, come from me
When you’ve lost your way
At a crossroad
They always,
HOOK 2
Listen to my voice...
BRIDGE
Yeki bood, yeki nabood
Zire gonbade noor...
Az bālā tā zamin,
Ye jahāne sookoot...
Avāz nāzel shod,
va hamechi shod khoob...
Miyāne setarehā,
Nāmet hamishe moond...
OUTRO
I fall on my face
G-d’ll change my name
Mother to you all
Call to me, your majesty
Got kings on their knees
Nations up in flames
Blame me for it all
Zendegiye Sārāh!
I fall on my face
G-d’ll change my name
Mother to you all
Call to me, your majesty
Got kings on their knees
Nations up in flames
Blame me for it all
Zendegiye Sārāh!
The Amidah Prayer
"Blessed are You, (Lord)
our G-d and G-d of our ancestors,
G-d of Abraham,
G-d of Isaac,
and G-d of..."
(Instrumental Transition)
VERSE 1
I know what you heard
I know what they say
When you hear my name
You think you know everything?
What about the silence in the sentences,
you think you found me now?
Written was my beauty
They locked me in a cage
It took 127 years but
It was worth the wait
It was worth the pain
Pre-Chorus 1
Don’t call me by my given name
Address me as your majesty
Rulers n’ nations will come from me, come from me
When you’ve lost your way
At a crossroad
He said...
HOOK 1
“Listen to her voice"
(Listen to her voice)
VERSE 2
Prophet of composure,
Erased by one mistake
Gave reputation up to make the choices
No one else would make
I'm the first with bridges burned
I'm the last one that they’ll thank
Swore my soul to the greater good
Wasn’t that enough?
What must I do that’s so important I can’t enjoy the simple stuff?
You see the miracles by day,
But at night I cry for love
Pre-Chorus 1
Don’t pity me for I do not
I am more than what we see
Rulers n’ nations will come for me, come from me
When you’ve lost your way
At a crossroad
They always,
HOOK 2
Listen to my voice...
BRIDGE
(Once upon a time,
Under an arch of light...
From up above to the earth,
A universe of silence...
Song/voice descended,
and everything became Good.
Among all of the stars,
Your name always remained...)
OUTRO
I fall on my face
G-d’ll change my name
Mother to you all
Call to me, your majesty
Got kings on their knees
Nations up in flames
Blame me for it all
(The life of Sārāh)
I fall on my face
G-d’ll change my name
Mother to you all
Call to me, your majesty
Got kings on their knees
Nations up in flames
Blame me for it all
(The life of Sārāh)
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