JCC Association's Early Childhood Curriculum Project 'This New Month'

Introduction:

Though it is traditional to sing many songs after the Passover Seder, Chad Gadya remains a favorite among children of all ages. It is the last song sung before "L’shana Ha-ba-ah Birushalayim" (Next Year in Jerusalem). It is a fun song for children to sing and to create animal noises for. There are many different explanations and interpretations for this song. Try looking at several different versions of the Haggadah to see the variety of explanations for this famous song.

Note: Please wait for this page to download completely before listening to the song. If you are not able to hear the song, please email Andy Zhang at andy@jcca.org.

Lyrics:

Chad Gadya (one small goat). (maa)
That aba bought with two shiny coins, (show two fingers)
Chad Gadya, chad gadya.

What came along but a funny little cat, (meow)
It gobbled up the goat (maa)- now whaddaya think of that?
That aba bought with two shiny coins (show two fingers)
Chad Gadya, Chad gadya.

What came along but a mean old dog, (woof)
And it bit the cat (meow), that gobbled up the goat (maa)
That aba bought with two shiny coins (show two fingers)
Chad Gadya, Chad gadya.

What came along but a great big stick, (smack)
It hit the dog (woof) that bit the cat (meow),
That was the cat (meow) that gobbled up the goat (maa),
That aba bought with two shiny coins (show two fingers)
Chad Gadya, Chad gadya.

What came along but a flame of roaring fire, (tzzzz)
It burned the stick that hit the dog (woof),
That was the dog (woof) that bit the cat (meow),
That was the cat (meow) that gobbled up the goat (maa),
That aba bought with two shiny coins (show two fingers)
Chad Gadya, Chad gadya.

What came along but a whoosh of water, (whoosh)
The water doused and put out the fire (tzzzz),
That was the fire that burned the stick (smack),
That hit the dog (woof) that bit the cat (meow),
That was the cat (meow) that gobbled up the goat (maa),
That aba bought with two shiny coins (show two fingers)
Chad Gadya, Chad gadya.

What came along but a very thirsty ox, (mooo)
It took a gulp and swallowed up the water (whoosh),
That was the water that put out the fire (tzzzz),
That was the fire that burned the stick (smack),
That hit the dog (woof) that bit the cat (meow),
That was the cat (meow) that gobbled up the goat (maa),
That aba bought with two shiny coins (show two fingers)
Chad Gadya, Chad gadya.

What came along but a butcher called a shochet, (chop)
He slaughtered the ox (mooo) to sell him at the market,
That was the ox that swallowed up the water (whoosh),
That was the water that put out the fire (tzzzz),
That was the fire that burned the stick (smack),
That hit the dog (woof) that bit the cat (meow),
That was the cat (meow) that gobbled up the goat (maa),
That aba bought with two shiny coins (show two fingers)
Chad Gadya, Chad gadya.

What came along but the Malach Hamavet, (uh-oh)
Better known as the Angel of Death.
It killed the shochet who slaughtered the ox (mooo),
That was the ox that swallowed up the water (whoosh),
That was the water that put out the fire (tzzzz),
That was the fire that burned the stick (smack),
That hit the dog (woof) that bit the cat (meow),
That was the cat (meow) that gobbled up the goat (maa),
That aba bought with two shiny coins (show two fingers)
Chad Gadya, Chad gadya.

Who came along but HaShem, the One and Only, (Hooray)
And that was the end of the Angel of Death.
The Angel of Death had killed the shochet,
That was the shochet that slaughtered the ox (mooo).
That was the ox that swallowed up the water (whoosh),
That was the water that put out the fire (tzzzz),
That was the fire that burned the stick (smack),
That hit the dog (woof) that bit the cat (meow),
That was the cat (meow) that gobbled up the goat (maa),
That aba bought with two shiny coins (show two fingers)
Chad Gadya, Chad gadya.