Their first release in 1985 was a seven-inch single named "Crazy Game", with the B-side "Everybody's Waiting (for Someone to Come Home)". That same year, the Indigo Girls released a six-track Extended play album named "Indigo Girls", and in 1987 released their first full-length album, Strange Fire, recorded at John Keane Studio in Athens, Georgia, and including "Crazy Game". With this release, they secured the services of Russell Carter, who remains their manager to the present; they had first approached him when the EP album was released, but he told them their songs were "immature" and they were not likely to get a record deal.
They were signed to Epic Records in 1989 and won the Grammy for best contemporary folk album later that year (for their self titled release) Some of their hit songs include "Galileo," "Closer to Fine," and "Shame on You."
Aside from being musicians, Ray and Saliers are activists, constantly supporting causes like gun control, women's rights, Native American rights, environmental protection, the abolition of the death penalty, and as lesbians themselves, LGBT rights. They constantly devote their time and money to such causes, often playing benefit concerts.
Ray and Saliers both have side projects. Ray owns and founded Daemon Records, an independent label based in Decatur. She also has a career as a solo artist, and has released two albums thus far. Saliers is the part owner of Watershed, a restaurant and wine bar in Decatur.
Together, the Indigo Girls are constantly touring. Their new album, Poseidon and the Bitter Bug, was released March 24, 2009.
Happy Joyous Hanukkah
Indigo Girls Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Happy joyous Hanukah
Nights and days, days and nights,
Happy joyous Hanukah
[Chorus]
Eight are the nights of Hanukah
Happy joyous Hanukah
Happy joyous Hanukah
How many candles do I light?
Happy joyous Hanukah
Eight are the candles you should light
For a Happy joyous Hanukah
[Chorus]
One for Moses on the Mount
Happy joyous Hanukah
Two for the mother and father love
Happy Joyous Hanukah
[Chorus]
Three for the Books that Ezra taught
Happy joyous Hanukah
Four's for the Hebrew children
Happy joyous Hanukah
[Chorus]
Five for the Brothers Maccabee
Happy joyous Hanukah
Six for the tricks the King did play
Happy Joyous Hanukah
[Chorus]
Seven for the sons of Hannah that died
Not so happy Hanukah
Eight for the newbuilt alter place
Happy joyous Hanukah
[Chorus]
Nine is the light of God that shines
Happy joyous Hanukah
Around this whole wide world tonight
Happy joyous Hanukah
[Chorus]
Nine is for God's light that shines
Eight for the newbuilt alter place
Seven for the sons of Hannah that died
Six for kings and the tricks they tried
Five for the brothers Maccabee
Four for the Hebrew children
Three for the Books that Ezra taught
Two for the father and mother love
One for Moses on the Mount
Eight are the night of Hanukah
Happy joyous Hanukah
Eight are the days and eight are the nights
Happy joyous Hanukah
Happy joyous Hanukah!
The song "Happy Joyous Hanukkah" by Indigo Girls is a celebratory ode to the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. The song starts with the question of how many nights the holiday lasts, which the chorus answers as eight. The eight nights and days of Hanukkah commemorate the miracle of the holy oil burning for eight days in the Temple after the Maccabees' victory over the Greeks.
The song continues with a verse for each of the eight nights, each celebrating a different aspect of the holiday. The verses mention lighting candles, with eight candles in total, representing each night of the holiday. The candles represent different people and events, including Moses, the love of parents, Ezra's teachings, the Hebrew children, the Maccabee brothers, and the miracle of the oil.
The seventh verse breaks the joyful tone of the song, mentioning the deaths of the sons of Hannah, who were martyred for refusing to renounce their faith. The final verse brings back the joy by celebrating the light of God that shines around the world on this special holiday.
Overall, the song is a fun and celebratory way to honor the traditions and history of Hanukkah, reminding us of the many people and events that have contributed to the holiday's meaning and continued importance.
Line by Line Meaning
How many nights for Hanukah?
Asking how many nights Hanukah lasts
Nights and days, days and nights,
Hanukah lasts throughout both days and nights
How many candles do I light?
Asking how many candles need to be lit during Hanukah
Eight are the candles you should light,
The number of candles to light during Hanukah is eight
One for Moses on the Mount
One candle is lit in honor of Moses' appearance on Mount Sinai
Two for the mother and father love
Two candles are lit in honor of the love between a mother and father
Three for the Books that Ezra taught
Three candles are lit in honor of the books taught by Ezra
Four's for the Hebrew children
Four candles are lit in honor of the Hebrew children
Five for the Brothers Maccabee
Five candles are lit in honor of the Maccabee brothers
Six for the tricks the King did play
Six candles are lit in honor of the tricks played by the king
Seven for the sons of Hannah that died
Seven candles are lit in honor of the sons of Hannah who died
Eight for the newbuilt alter place
Eight candles are lit in honor of the newly built altar
Nine is the light of God that shines
The ninth candle represents the light of God that shines over the world
Around this whole wide world tonight
The light of God extends to the entire world during Hanukah
Eight are the nights of Hanukah
Hanukah lasts eight nights
Eight are the days, and eight are the nights
Hanukah lasts for a total of eight days and nights
Happy joyous Hanukah
Wishing a happy and joyous Hanukah
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: LORIN SKLAMBERG, WOODY GUTHRIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind