Wherever You Go
Larry Milder Lyrics

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Wherever you go, there's always someone Jewish
You're never alone, when you say you're a Jew
So when you're not home, and you're sowhere kind of...
"new-ish"
The odds are, don't look far, 'cause they're Jewish too

Some Jews live in tents, and some live in Pagodas
And some Jews pay rent, 'cause the city's not free

Some Jews live on farms, in the hills of Minnesota
And some Jews wear no shoes, and sleep by the sea

Amsterdam, Disneyland, Tel Aviv
Oh they're miles apart
But when we light the candles on Sabbath eve
We share in the prayer in one of our hearts

And some Jews wear hats, and some Jews wear sombreros
and some wear Clifeyons, to keep out the sun
Some Jews live on rice, and some live on potatoes
Or waffles, falafels, or hamburger buns

Amsterdam, Disneyland, Tel Aviv
Oh they're miles apart
But when we light the candles on Sabbath eve
We share in the prayer in one of our hearts

Amsterdam, Disneyland, Tel Aviv
Oh they're miles apart
But when we light the candles on Sabbath eve
We share in the prayer in one of our hearts

Wherever you go, there's always someone Jewish
You're never alone, when you say you're a Jew
So when you're not home, and you're somewhere kind of
"New-ish"

The odds are, don't look far, 'cause they're Jewish too
The odds are, don't look far, they're Jews just like you

Overall Meaning

Larry Milder's "Wherever You Go" is a heartwarming song about the Jewish people and the unity they share no matter where they are in the world. The song opens by pointing out the ubiquity of Jewish individuals - wherever you go, there's always someone Jewish - and how the simple statement of identifying as Jewish assures one that they are not alone. The next verse talks about the diverse lifestyles led by Jews. Some live in tents or pagodas, while others live on farms in Minnesota or by the sea. The chorus reinforces the idea that although Jews may be miles apart, they are united in prayer through the lighting of candles. The final verse celebrates the diversity of Jewish attire and cuisine, and the song ends on a joyful note by repeating the opening message: wherever you go, there's always someone Jewish.

Line by Line Meaning

Wherever you go, there's always someone Jewish
No matter where you go, there are always Jewish people around you

You're never alone, when you say you're a Jew
When you identify as Jewish, you are part of a community and not alone in the world

So when you're not home, and you're sowhere kind of... "new-ish"
When you're in an unfamiliar place or situation

The odds are, don't look far, 'cause they're Jewish too
The chances are high that other Jewish people are nearby, so look for them

Some Jews live in tents, and some live in Pagodas
Jewish people live in all kinds of different homes and environments, from tents to Pagodas

And some Jews pay rent, 'cause the city's not free
Some Jewish people are renters because living in the city is expensive

Some Jews live on farms, in the hills of Minnesota
Other Jewish people live on farms in the Midwestern state of Minnesota

And some Jews wear no shoes, and sleep by the sea
Some Jewish people lead simple lives and may sleep by the sea without shoes

Amsterdam, Disneyland, Tel Aviv
These are different places around the world

Oh they're miles apart
These places are far from each other geographically

But when we light the candles on Sabbath eve
On Friday night, Jewish families light candles to welcome the Sabbath

We share in the prayer in one of our hearts
Even though we are in different places, we are united in prayer

And some Jews wear hats, and some Jews wear sombreros
Jewish people wear different kinds of hats, including sombreros

and some wear Clifeyons, to keep out the sun
Jewish people wear hats like Clifeyons to protect themselves from the sun

Some Jews live on rice, and some live on potatoes
Jewish people eat different kinds of foods like rice or potatoes, depending on where they live

Or waffles, falafels, or hamburger buns
Jewish people also eat a variety of different foods, including waffles, falafels or hamburger buns

The odds are, don't look far, 'cause they're Jewish too
If you're in a new place, remember that there are probably Jewish people around you, just like you