Hava Nashira (Come, Let's Be Singing)

DESCRIPTION: Hebrew round: "Hava nashira hi yatchil et hasher (x3)." English version: "Come, let’s be singing who’ll, then, begin the song?"
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 2014 (Averill-CampSongsFolkSongs)
KEYWORDS: foreignlanguage nonballad music campsong
FOUND IN:
REFERENCES (2 citations):
Silber/Silber-FolksingersWordbook, p. 412, ""Hava Na Shira (1 text)
Averill-CampSongsFolkSongs, p. 443, "Hava Nashira"/"I Shall Arise" (notes only)
ALTERNATE TITLES:
The Prodigal Son
NOTES [139 words]: I assume the alternate title "The Prodigal Son" arises from the "I Shall Arise" translation cited by Averill (which I have failed to locate). In Luke 15, the Prodigal Son asks his inheritance of his father, squanders it, finds himself feeding pigs for a pittance too slight even to feed himself, and resolves to return to his home, saying in 15:18 (King James version), "I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee...."
This was a fairly popular basis for hymns, including "Far, Far Away from My Loving Father" (found in several shape note hymnals) and "The Prodigal's Return" by Joseph C. Fisher. It also seems to have influenced some versions of "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing (I)."
It's an odd alternate title for a song that originated in Hebrew, though! - RBW
Last updated in version 6.3
File: ACSF443N

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