Lyrics

How Where Why

© 2025 Issachar Tal van Kekem

Chorus:
While a man is alive, he does not contemplate his existence
He rarely even considers his body’s consistence
However, when his days draw near to die
He begins to ponder: How? Where? And: Why?
Will he first suffer through disease and pain?
Will he decline in haste, or slowly wane?
And will he be allowed to ascend,
Or will he be thrown down?
Will his goodness outweigh his sins?
Will the angel of Death smile or frown?

If during his life, a man is drawn to the Holy One, and observes and obeys
The Holy One will draw him up and in Heaven forever he stays
As in this world, so in the World to Come
Addition and subtraction: a positive sum
I will place you among those standing here
Among my angels, and I will hold you dear!
For that is the reward of the Righteous…

And the eternal question of “Why?”
Why is it that man must die?
Should man then be raised above the other creatures?
What are his greater features?
The ant does all that is demanded,
Never needs to be reprimanded,
So very much unlike the common man,
Who lives without discipline, anyway he can.
Man MUST die, to settle his account:
Does he deserve to climb the mount?
Or must he return, to again churn and burn?
Man must return, to again churn and burn!

Life itself can be either Heaven of Hell:
It is man himself who rings the bell,
Who unlocks, and opens, the door,
Who determines his next floor.
Seven hundred and seventy-seven steps to eternal bliss,
Or six hundred and sixty-six steps to the horrifying hiss
Of Satan the Serpent…

Chorus: