Richmond attended and graduated from Kent State University in Ohio in the late 1980s, where he co-authored a number of musicals.
He worked at The Second City and Child's Play Touring Theatre before he began composing music for the series Saturday Night Live. Richmond left SNL in 2006 to produce and compose music for the situation comedy, 30 Rock.
Werewolf Bar Mitzvah
Jeff Richmond Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This is... scary!
Break it down.
I was working late on my Haftorah
When I heard a knock on my bedroom-doorah
I opened it up and to my surprise
There was a werewolf standing there with glowing gold eyes
But tonight's the time to join the wolfen clan
Tomorrow you will stand at the bimah and pray
But tonight let's gaze at the moon and bay
Werewolf bar mitzvah
Spooky scary
Boys becoming men
Men becoming wolves
Werewolf bar mitzvah
Spooky scary
Boys becoming men
Men becoming wolves
Alright, that was great Tray.
Ok, it's over. That's a wrap! Oh-
The next day what happened, the Talmud didn't teach
Oh, there's more...
I got up in front of everyone to give my little speech
Then my teeth turned into fangs and my nails into claws
And I nearly dropped the Torah when my hands turned into paws
I growled and I roared and my rabbi did as well
It was a rocking werewolf zoo at Temple Beth-Emmanuel
Ey man, where'd you learn all these Jewish words?
My manager, Harvey Lemmings.
Werewolf bar mitzvah
Spooky scary
Boys becoming men
Men becoming wolves
I don't... I-I just don't think this... the idea of the song can substain its self for that long because it... it seems a little sweaty now, so...
This whole premise is sweaty.
We had a reception at the Larchmont Country Club
They served a real nice brisket and an eight foot party sub
I danced with my cousins, I got money from my folks
We had a lot of fun making circumcision jokes
Uh-uh...
Then I remembered the premise of my song
I was at a nice reception but the werewolf part was gone
So we pulled ourselves together and we're wolfmen again
Just in time for monster fight to begin
Noooo...
All the country club employees were brainsucking pack
Who had all turned into zombies and were on the attack
No, man...
So we fought them and some draculas and frankensteins too
Cause you gotta love bar mitzvah, even if you're not a
Werewolf bar mitzvah
There's no such thing as "Frankensteins"...
Spooky scary
"Steins".
Boys becoming men
No plural Frankenstein.
Men becoming wolves
Werewolf bar mitzvah
Kooky hairy
Boys becoming men
Men becoming wolves
I don't want this... I don't like this... this is scary! Turning into werewolves and stuff, you know?
I dunno Tray, I'm not feeling it. This ain't no "Dick In A Box".
Mazel tov.
The song "Werewolf Bar Mitzvah" by Jeff Richmond tells the story of a Jewish boy who, the night before his bar mitzvah, is visited by a werewolf who invites him to become part of the wolfen clan. The boy agrees and they howl at the full moon together. The next day, during his bar mitzvah, the boy turns into a werewolf and chaos ensues as he and his guests fight off zombies, draculas, and frankensteins.
The lyrics of the song are meant to be comical, as they combine Jewish culture and supernatural elements in a whimsical manner. The song plays on the traditional Jewish coming of age ceremony and throws in a bizarre twist with werewolves and monsters. The lyrics are also peppered with Yiddish words and references to Jewish traditions.
Overall, "Werewolf Bar Mitzvah" is a lively and amusing song that celebrates both Jewish culture and pop culture. It offers a fresh and humorous take on a timeless Jewish tradition and showcases the creativity and wit of its creators.
Line by Line Meaning
Aw man, Tray, look up at the sky! It's a full moon... on the Sabbath.
The full moon on the Sabbath is scary.
I was working late on my Haftorah
When I heard a knock on my bedroom-doorah
I opened it up and to my surprise
There was a werewolf standing there with glowing gold eyes
He says tomorrow my son you will be a man
But tonight's the time to join the wolfen clan
Tomorrow you will stand at the bimah and pray
But tonight let's gaze at the moon and bay
A werewolf visited while Haftorah was being read, inviting the boy to join the wolfen clan the night before the Bar Mitzvah.
Werewolf bar mitzvah
Spooky scary
Boys becoming men
Men becoming wolves
Werewolf bar mitzvah
Spooky scary
Boys becoming men
Men becoming wolves
Alright, that was great Tray.
Ok, it's over. That's a wrap! Oh-
The boy's Bar Mitzvah was spooky and scary, with boys becoming men and men becoming wolves. It was a successful wrap.
The next day what happened, the Talmud didn't teach
Oh, there's more...
I got up in front of everyone to give my little speech
Then my teeth turned into fangs and my nails into claws
And I nearly dropped the Torah when my hands turned into paws
I growled and I roared and my rabbi did as well
It was a rocking werewolf zoo at Temple Beth-Emmanuel
Ey man, where'd you learn all these Jewish words?
My manager, Harvey Lemmings.
The day after the Bar Mitzvah, the boy turned into a werewolf and the rabbi followed suit. The boy's manager taught him the Jewish words in the song.
Werewolf bar mitzvah
Spooky scary
Boys becoming men
Men becoming wolves
The boy's Bar Mitzvah was so spooky and scary that boys became men and men became wolves.
I don't... I-I just don't think this... the idea of the song can substain its self for that long because it... it seems a little sweaty now, so...
This whole premise is sweaty.
The idea of the song is unrealistic and not sustainable, thus the premise is sweaty.
We had a reception at the Larchmont Country Club
They served a real nice brisket and an eight foot party sub
I danced with my cousins, I got money from my folks
We had a lot of fun making circumcision jokes
Uh-uh...
Then I remembered the premise of my song
I was at a nice reception but the werewolf part was gone
So we pulled ourselves together and we're wolfmen again
Just in time for monster fight to begin
Noooo...
All the country club employees were brainsucking pack
Who had all turned into zombies and were on the attack
No, man...
So we fought them and some draculas and frankensteins too
Cause you gotta love bar mitzvah, even if you're not a
Werewolf bar mitzvah
There's no such thing as "Frankensteins"...
Spooky scary
"Steins".
Boys becoming men
No plural Frankenstein.
Men becoming wolves
Werewolf bar mitzvah
Kooky hairy
Boys becoming men
Men becoming wolves
The reception was fun until the werewolf part faded. They transformed again just in time to fight off zombies, draculas, and Frankensteins, even though they do not exist. All of them became like werewolves.
I don't want this... I don't like this... this is scary! Turning into werewolves and stuff, you know?
I dunno Tray, I'm not feeling it. This ain't no "Dick In A Box".
Turning into werewolves is scary and the idea doesn't seem that great anyway, it isn't like "Dick In A Box".
Mazel tov.
Congratulations.
Contributed by Liliana B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.