Maoz Tzur & Oh Hanukkah: Learn These Traditional Hanukkah Songs

Learn the Lyrics and Music to Well-Known Hanukkah Tunes

One of the traditions of Hanukkah is to sing songs after the candles have been lit. Here are the tunes and lyrics of two of the most traditional Hanukkah songs, so you can sing along!

Maoz Tzur​

מָעוֹז צוּר יְשׁוּעָתִי
לְךָ נָאֶה לְשַׁבֵּחַ
תִּכּוֹן בֵּית תְּפִלָּתִי
וְשָׁם תּוֹדָה נְזַבֵּחַ
לְעֵת תָּכִין מַטְבֵּחַ
מִצָּר הַמְנַבֵּחַ
אָז אֶגְמוֹר
בְּשִׁיר מִזְמוֹר
חֲנֻכַּת הַמִּזְבֵּחַ

Ma'oz tzur yeshu'ati,
lecha na'eh leshabe'ach,
tikon beit tefilati,
vesham todah nezabe'ach.
Le'et tachin matbe'ach
mitzar hamenabe'ach.
Az egmor
beshir mizmor
chanukat hamizbe'ach

Common English Lyrics

Rock of Ages let our song
Praise thy saving power

Thou amidst the raging foes
Was our sheltering tower.

Furious, they assailed us,
But thine armour veiled us.

And thy word broke their sword 
When our own strength failed us.

Literal English Translation

My refuge, my rock of salvation!
It is a pleasure to sing Your praises.
Let our house of prayer be restored.
And there we will offer You our thanks.
When You will have prepared the slaughter
Of the the barking foe,
Then we will celebrate with song and psalm
The dedication of the altar.

Audio file


Hanukkah Oh Hanukkah

Oh Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah
Come light the menorah
Let's have a party
We'll all dance the horah

Gather 'round the table
We'll give you a treat
Dreidels to play with
And latkes to eat.

And while we
Are playing
The candles are burning low
One for each night
They shed a sweet light
To remind us of days long ago.

Yiddish Lyrics

Chanukah oy Chanukah
A yontif a shayner,
A lustiker a freylekher
Nisht do nokh azoyner
Ale nakht mit dreidlech shpiln mir,
Frishe heise latkes, esn on a shir.

Geshvinder, tsindt kinder
Di Chanukah likhtlech on,
Zogt "Al Hanisim", loybt Got far di nisim,
Un lomir ale tantsen in kon.
Zogt "Al Hanisim", loybt Got far di nisim,
Lomir ale tantsen tsuzamen.

Audio file

Looking for more great Hanukkah music? Check out our two Hanukkah playlists, including one that's perfect for families with young children.