The Chanukah Song
“Okay…
This is a song that uhh..
There’s a lot of Christmas songs out there and uhh..
not too many Chanukah songs.
So uhh..
I wrote a song for all those nice little Jewish kids who don’t get to hear
any Chanukah songs.
Here we go…”
Put on your yarmulke
Here comes Chanukah
So much funukah
To celebrate Chanukah
Chanukah is the festival of lights
Instead of one day of presents, we have eight crazy nights
When you feel like the only kid in town without a Christmas tree
Here’s a list of people who are Jewish just like you and me
David Lee Roth lights the menorah
So do James Caan, Kirk Douglas, and the late Dinah Shore-ah
Guess who eats together at the Carnegie Deli
Bowser from Sha Na Na and Arthur Fonzerelli
Paul Newman’s half Jewish, Goldie Hawn’s half too
Put them together, what a fine lookin’ Jew
You don’t need “Deck The Halls” or “Jingle Bell Rock”
‘Cause you can spin a dreidel with Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock- both Jewish
Put on your yarmulke
It’s time for Chanukah
The owner of the Seattle Supersonicahs
Celebrates Chanukah
O.J. Simpson, not a Jew
But guess who is? Hall of famer Rod Carew- he converted
We got Ann Landers and her sister Dear Abby
Harrison Ford’s a quarter Jewish- not too shabby
Some people think that Ebenezer Scrooge is
Well he’s not, but guess who is
All three Stooges
So many Jews are in showbiz
Tom Cruise isn’t, but I heard his agent is
Tell your friend Veronica
It’s time to celebrate Chanukah
I hope I get a harmonicah
Oh this lovely, lovely Chanukah
So drink your gin and tonicah
And smoke your marijuanikah
If you really, really wannakah
Have a happy, happy, happy, happy Chanukah
Happy Chanukah
Listen to the song
Hør sangen
About the carol The Chanukah Song
“The Chanukah Song” was written and performed by American comedian Adam Sandler and first introduced in 1994 on Saturday Night Live. The song was created as a humorous response to the large number of Christmas songs in popular culture and aimed to celebrate Jewish identity during the holiday season. It became one of Sandler’s most famous comedy songs.
The song lists Jewish celebrities and references aspects of Jewish culture while using a playful, conversational style. Rather than explaining religious traditions in detail, it focuses on representation and the idea that Jewish people can also have their own holiday song during a season dominated by Christmas music. Its humor comes from the unexpected combination of a holiday song format with comedy.
Although “The Chanukah Song” is not a Christmas song, it is often associated with the wider holiday season because Hanukkah occurs around the same period. Adam Sandler’s performance helped make it a cultural reference point and gave many listeners a humorous way to recognize and celebrate Hanukkah alongside other seasonal traditions.
