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Rebbe Nachman's classic tale inspired me to compose this melody. Not only is this my favorite story, but the "Simple One" is my favorite character. It's the story of the underdog. Wherever he goes, people are smarter, stronger and more talented than he is. He's the brunt of endless ridicule and disparagement. He has one major virtue - simple emuna. Rebbe Nachman shows us where that takes him. See the lyrics below in English and in Hebrew.

Credits:

Guitar, arrangement: Guy Tzvi Mintz

Violin: Daniel Ahaviel

Melody, Lyric, native Israeli flutes: Rabbi Lazer Brody

English

I’ll tell you a story from old, about a simple person with a plain mind. Despite that fact that people ridiculed him, by virtue of his innocence and integrity, he became the Viceroy of the kingdom.

People call me simpleton

But that just suits me fine

I don’t look at other folks

I’m happy with what’s mine

So what if they have a high IQ

And I’m not very smart

They complain all the time

But I’m happy with my part.

Everyone makes fun of me

But I really do not care

It’s better to be a simple guy

Than some high-brow debonair.

עברית

אספר לכם סיפור מימים ימימה, על איש תם עם שיכל פשוט. למרות שכולם לעגו לו, בסופו של דבר, בזכות תמימותו וישרותו, נהיה משנה למלך.

זה מעשה שלו

וזה מעשה שלי

למה לנו לסתכל

ולדבר על אחרים

אז מה אם כולם חכמים

ואני תמים לרוב

הם תמיד מתלוננים

ולי תמיד טוב...

כל העולם צוחק עלי

בלב כה רם

אך טוב יותר להיות תמים

ולא להיות חכם! 

החכם אוכל אומצת בקר

ואני אוכל פרוסה

הוא רודף תענוגים

ולי אין שום תאוה

הוא אף פעם לא מרוצה

ולי יש הסתפקות

החכם תמיד מדוכא

אך אני תמיד מבסוט!

כל העולם צוחק עלי

בלב כה רם

אך טוב יותר להיות תמים

ולא להיות חכם! 

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