For Purim, Rocking Rabbi Puts Positive Spin on ‘Man of Constant Sorrow’

A musically gifted, saintly-looking rabbi reinvented American folk song Man of Constant Sorrow in a parody of the blues track created in honor of Purim. Rabbi Tuvia Bolton, Dean of Yeshiva Ohr Tmimim in Kfar Chabad, Israel, titled the parody Constant Smile and posted it on YouTube last week.

He changed lyrics from the original song to highlight optimism and a positive attitude to life, saying they are preferable to negativity and pessimism. Accompanied by two backup singers Dan Ben-Hur and Shlomo Zacks, the rabbi sings “I am a man that shows no sorrow. A constant smile upon my face. Always looking forward to tomorrow and always grateful for each day.”

“For six years long years I had to wander with no possessions, friends or home,” he sings. “Positive attitude and optimism were all that I could call my own.”

“For your Purim 2014 pleasure. We present this new video ‘Constant Smile.’ It is a Purim Parody based on the Soggy Bottom Boys’ version of ‘A Man of Constant Sorrow’ from the movie, ‘O Brother Where art Thou.’ The lyrics have been changed – from happy-sad blues to happier news,” the rabbi writes on YouTube.

At the time of publication the video had two and a half thousand views.

Bolton is also an author and inspirational speaker and has released three albums.

He “was born in Detroit Michigan and graduated from the University of Michigan with a BA in Philosophy in the middle of the turbulent ’60′s. After graduating he lived in Ann Arbor Michigan for four years, driving a delivery truck by day, and singing in four different bar bands; Black, Rock, Psychedelic and Country by night,” his website says.

“The only thing that kept me sane was Rock and Roll music. It was the only harmony that was going on, Motown, Beatles etc..” he is quoted as saying.

Watch Rabbi Bolton sing Constant Smile below: