How Beautiful, the Universe
About six months ago, I wrote a song for my longtime friend and professional colleague, Steven Labkoff. He was hosting a performance of my “One-Guitar Show” in his driveway for the folks from his synagogue who helped him get through his bout with COVID earlier in the year. I had been wanting to add a special bit to the show where I add a new song to the second act specifically for a particular performance.
Steve and I became friends late last century. We share a profession and a love of acoustic guitar and photography. I lean more toward guitar and Steve has become an amazingly skilled photographer — his astrophotography is especially astounding.
So I wanted his song to somehow incorporate all the aspects of his love of capturing galaxies in pixels and his gratitude to his friends. This is the song I came up with — “How Beautiful, the Universe (Ka-ma Yafeh H’olam).” I finally got around to recording it with Kristen Jones on cello and hubby Rob Hinkal engineering.
Steve and I will be working on a “real” video for the fully mixed song over his winter break. Stay tuned. I have a feeling it will be something very special.
How beautiful, the Universe (Ka-ma yafeh h’olam)
The night is quiet
All is still
Even the wind and clouds have gone
Here in this field
I’m chilled to the bone
But I am not alone
For tonight
My companions are the stars
For tonight
I’m communing with Saturn’s rings
The moons of Mars
Tonight
I’m with my friends
Though they stay miles away from me
Tonight
I’m swimming in this sea I see
How beautiful, the Universe
Ka-ma yafeh h’olam
How beautiful, the Universe
Ka-ma yafeh h’olam
The night is quiet
I am deathly ill
Even my family has gone
Here in my bed
I’m chilled to the bone
Still am not alone
For tonight
My friends don’t stay away
For tonight
They help in ways I can’t repay
Night after night
All my friends
Keep returning faithfully
Tonight
I’m swimming in this love I see
Science says we all are made of stardust
The stars of old are woven in our souls
So everything we do or say
Is tied into the Universe
Every loving deed
A thread in the tapestry
The night is quiet
All is still
Even the wind and clouds have gone
Here in this field
I’m chilled to the bone
Yet I am not alone
For tonight
My companions are the stars
For tonight
I’m communing with Saturn’s rings
The moons of Mars
Tonight
I’m with my friends
They’re all standing here with me
Tonight
I’m swimming in this love I see
But oh, how much more beautiful
I learned the Universe could be
The night the stardust came to me
How beautiful, the Universe
Ka-ma yafeh h’olam
How beautiful, the Universe
The night it came to me
(c)2021 Ross D. Martin