Shem HaMephorash

Shem HaMephorash is the first track off our new album and is the premise for its title ‘Questions for the big answers.’ 

Unless you’re particularly religious Shem HaMephorash may not be a phrase you’ve come cross before, and even if you have it may not be relevant to your faith. It refers to two related but distinct concepts concerning the explicit name of God.  In Hebrew it is the four-letter Tetragrammaton YHWH (pronounced Yahweh) meaning the holy name of God in Judaism. It can also mean a 72-fold derivative of this name. Its most common mystical interpretation is a name for God composed of 72 names of angels, which are said to have been derived from three verses in Exodus 14(19-21).

So why write a song about it?  Well, firstly ancient history is a fascinating subject, and the existence of God is probably the biggest question we have asked about our purpose on this planet, and how we came to be.

When you think about what we actually do know for certain, the answer is quite simply nothing.

Let’s say there was a glorious afterlife in heaven.  Why would any of us still be here on a planet full of suffering?

And what if we knew for sure there is nothing ever after?  It would call into question everything we have been led to believe and dramatically change how our systems govern the way we live our lives.

Everything is speculation and theory, which is where science and religion need to be honest with each other. Science, though, has the advantage because it is the only medium by which knowledge of the material and spiritual world can advance. It is interesting that its quest is ultimately to find the reason for being, which is just another way of finding God ! The crazy thing is, whether you’re a devout follower or an out and out atheist, all these revered institutions claim to have answers to the big questions, when the reality is just the opposite.  So what does that leave us with if not simply that we are all here for one precious moment which we have the opportunity to make the most of and be the best we can.

The song is about one person’s contemplation about the meaning of life, transcending the material world and discovering what awaits us upon our last breath. There is a line in the song - “bit by bit, I’m crawling my way, just to reveal, Shem HaMephorash” which is that person’s perseverance through life just to arrive at the inevitable point where the true nature of God revealed.  All or nothing.