Let me tell you a story about days of old When the nights were long and the days were cold Alexander the Great was the king you see Of the land of Judea where the Jews were free To live and worship the only God Adonai Eloheynu Adonai Echad Now Alexander the Great despite his royal fame Grew old and died, ending his reign A new king arrived upon the scene A real pain in the tuchus, if you know what I mean He gathered together all of the Jews and said “Listen closely ’cause I got bad news.” Now this King Antiochus, he thought he was wise He said, “You can’t observe Shabbat or be circumcised You have to pray to great Greek Gods Israel And sacrifice pigs – they squeal!” Bow down to idols of stone indeed That’s not being Jewish it’s plain to see But many Jews were afraid to disobey the king’s order They’d be put to death like a lamb to the slaughter There was a righteous man in Modin town named Mattathias, he refused to bow down he smashed the idols, cried passionately “Whoever’s for the Lord our God follow me!” (Chorus) If you’re a Macabee then your’re a hammer