The Union Haggadah: After the Meal: Ḥad Gadyo

The Union Haggadah, ed. by The Central Council of American Rabbis [1923], at sacred-texts.com

Ḥad Gadyo

Allegorical meanings have been sought in the Ḥad Gadyo, on the supposition that it illustrates the working of Divine justice in the history of mankind. In reality, it is a rhyme for children, to keep their interest to the end of the Seder. As in the preceding number so in this one, grown people become children. The company reads in unison (not racing as in "Who Knows One" but) with regular rhythm, as to the beat of music; or sings it to one of the following musical settings.

	An only kid! An only kid, My father bought For two zuzim *. An only kid! An only kid!
	2. Then came the cat And ate the kid My father bought For two zuzim. An only kid! An only kid!
	3. Then came the dog And bit the cat That ate the kid My father bought For two zuzim. An only kid! An only kid! p. 95 p. 96
	4. Then came the stick And beat the dog That bit the cat That ate the kid My father bought For two zuzim. An only kid! An only kid!
	5. Then came the fire And burned the stick That beat the dog That bit the cat That ate the kid My father bought For two zuzim. An only kid! An only kid!
	6. Then came the water And quenched the fire That burned the stick That beat the dog That bit the cat That ate the kid My father bought For two zuzim. An only kid! An only kid! p. 97 p. 98
	7. Then came the ox And drank the water That quenched the fire That burned the stick That beat the dog That bit the cat That ate the kid My father bought For two zuzim. An only kid! An only kid!
	8. Then came the butcher And killed the ox That drank the water That quenched the fire That burned the stick That beat the dog That bit the cat That ate the kid My father bought For two zuzim. An only kid! An only kid!
	9 Then came the angel of death And slew the butcher That killed the ox p. 99 p. 100 That drank the water That quenched the fire That burned the stick That beat the dog That bit the cat That ate the kid My father bought For two zuzim. An only kid! An only kid!
	10. Then came the Holy One, blest be He! And destroyed the angel of death That slew the butcher That killed the ox That drank the water That quenched the fire That burned the stick That beat the dog That bit the cat That ate the kid My father bought For two zuzim. An only kid! An only kid!

Ḥad Gadyo

Footnotes