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04 January 2006

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Chazzanut Online

Hebrew Songs,
Singable Translations

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This page contains singable translations of Israeli songs, Chassidic songs and a Yiddish song that were offered by members of the Hava Nashira e-mail list.


Songs
Al Kol Eileh
Amar Adon Kohelet
Ba Shana Ha Ba-a
Chevlei Mashiach
Eifo Hem Kol Avoteinu
Lach Yerushalayim
Laugh Oh Laugh / Sachki Sachki
Lu Y'hi
Nevel Mi Zahav
Shneeraleh, Peraleh
Sisu Et Yerushalayim
Tirza
Utsu Eytsa
Y'varech'cha Hashem Mi Tzion
Yerushalayim Shel Zahav I
Yerushalayim Shel Zahav II
Yihiye Tov

Jeff Klepper remarked: "As if you didn't know, it's hard enough translating Hebrew for the printed page, but when it is going to be sung, something has to suffer, either the faithfulness of the translation, or the smooth flow of the lyric. The great Israeli poet Chaim Nachman Bialik once said that reading poetry in translation is like kissing through a veil...."

"In any event, remember that the Israelis (and others) in your audience will expect the Hebrew versions, so make sure you have a coupe of Hebrew verses ready to sing. I'll never forget when "Poogy" first performed in New York, (c. 1975) when they launched into English versions of their Israeli hits, the Israelis in the audience were VERY vocal in their displeasure. Gidi Gov got them to quiet down only by promising that at the end of the concert they would repeat their songs in Hebrew, and that's what they did!"

_________________________________________________________________ Title: Al Kol Eileh
Authors: Naomi Shemer
Translator: Julie Hirsch

Without bitterness, what's sweetness?
To have honey, guard the bee.
And, dear God, my baby daughter...
Care for all of these.

Care for firelight that warms us...
Crystal waters that run free....
And, dear God, care for the man
Who's coming back to me!

Chorus:
For these small things are my great things
O, dear God, take care of these.
Without bitterness, what is sweetness?
To have honey, guard the bee.
Don't uproot the young plants, growing.
Don't uproot our young hopes, too.
Bring him back, God, to this good land
And we'll care for it for You.

_________________________________________________________________ Title: Amar Adon Kohelet
Translator: Julie Hirsch

I see, observed Kohelet, who was Solomon the king
That grace is vain, it's folly and beauty'S a lying thing.
But I, great sir, the smallest of your slaves must say,
That grace is joy and beauty is God's gift to me today!

Chorus:
Oh, beauty's not vanity and grace is not a lie.
All the world's sweetness shines in Rachel's lovely eyes.
Oh, beauty's not vanity and grace is not a lie.
All the world's sweetness shines in Rachel's lovely eyes.

Of course, the beauty inside must be worthy of the name
It's not the outside charm, great king, that really is to blame
It's lack of warmth and tenderness that causes pain
But loving beauty, soft to touch, of that who can complain?
Chorus

Return, my king, and you will know what each day I see
The wonder of my Rachel's eyes as they gaze out at me.
And that is why the smallest of your slaves must say
That grace is joy and beauty is God's gift to me today.
Chorus

Amar Adon Kohelet, she hu Shlomo ha melech...

_________________________________________________________________ Title: Ba Shana Ha Ba-a
Translator: Julie Hirsch

In the peace that will come, we'll sit upon the terrace
Counting birds as they wheel in the sky.
In the fields children play, their voices rising freely
On the air, it will be, bye and bye.....
(Chorus)

For next year and one more will not be like before
There'll be peace, there'll be peace, no more fear...
Oh, how good it will be for our hearts to be free
Of this wait for next year, for next year!
La, la, la, la,........

_________________________________________________________________ Title: Chevlei Mashiach
Translator: Julie Hirsch

I travel on and where I go I neither know nor see
But in my heart, this song's refrain keeps trav'ling on with me,
On with me.

Ka asher ani holech, b'li ayin uv'li an
Al libi k'mo kame-a, yesh li kol ha z'man,
shir katan, shir katan.

_________________________________________________________________ Title: Eifo Hem Kol Avoteinu
Translator: Julie Hirsch

Where is Abraham (Avraham), our father?
Of our people, the first one?
Where is Abraham (Avraham) , our father?
Have mercy on Isaac (Yitzchak), his son.
Have mercy on Isaac (Yitzchak), his son.
La, la, la.

Where is sad Rachel (Rahel), our mother?
Crying for us through the years.
Where is she, Rachel (Rahel), our mother?
Calling to us through her tears.
Calling to us through her tears.
La, la, la.

Where are they, fathers and mothers?
Those who started on the way
Source of life, may we not fail them.
May they bless those here today!
May they bless those here today!
La, la, la.

_________________________________________________________________ Title: Lach Yerushalayim
Translator: Karen Daniel

All for you, Jerusalem,
We lift your name in song
All for you, Jerusalem,
Fortress great and strong
In our spirits, in our hearts,
Is a place you'll always fill
Jerusalem, a brand new light
Shines upon the hill.

_________________________________________________________________ Title: Laugh Oh Laugh / Sachki Sachki
Authors: Tschernichovski (lyrics) and T. Slonsky (music)
Translator: Shirona

Laugh, oh laugh at all my dreams
I'll go on dreaming. and you'll see,
   Never have I lost faith in people -
   For I still do believe in thee       X2

'Tis my soul who longs for freedom
Unforsaken, pure is she
    Faith in people keeps me believing -
    Faith in Spirit, so bold and free   X2

_________________________________________________________________ Title: Lu Y'hi
Authors: Naomi Shemer
Translator: Julie Hirsch

Against the black cloud in the distance
See a white sail, like a dream.
All we ask is peace, let it be.
And in the evening windows, let it be for joy that candles gleam
All we ask is peace, let it be.

Chorus:
Let it be, let it be, oh yes, let it be...
All we ask is peace, let is be.
Let it be, let it be, oh yes, let it be...
All we ask is peace, let is be.

What is that anguished cry I hear, above the shofar, sounds of war?
All we ask is peace, let it be...
Above the battle, keep repeating my one prayer now, as before
All we ask is peace, let it be.
Chorus

And should the sun break through the darkeness
Starlight stream from skies above
All we ask is peace, let it be...
Give life again to dreams of peace and ease of heart to those we love
All we ask is peace, let it be.

_________________________________________________________________ Title: Nevel Mi Zahav
Translator: Julie Hirsch

With my knife I made a harp of finest ivory
Wound it 'round with cords of gold that held a melody
Then my fingers sped the song to the horizon, free
And the echoes drifted gently, slowly back to me.

I have forged a bell of bronze to sound beside the sea
With its clapper swaying like a blossom on a tree.
With my hand I rang its song to the horizon, free!
And the echoes drifted, gently, slowly, back to me.

Ba sakin balat gilafti, nevel mishenhav....
Meitarim alav matachti asu-im zahav.....

_________________________________________________________________ Title: Shneeraleh, Peraleh
Translator: Shirona

Strings of pearls, and banners made of gold
Mashiach Ben David is coming we are told
Holding a goblet in his right hand
Making a blessing, blessing all the land

Amen and Amen, this is true,
Mashiach is coming, through me and through  you
Amen and Amen, this is clear,
Mashiach is coming, Mashiach is near.

Original:
Shneeraleh, peraleh, gildeneh fohn
Ma'shiach ben Dovid, ehr zitzt oybn ohn
Halt ehr a becher in der rechtin handt
Macht ehr a b'rucheh
Oyfn gantzen landt

Ohmein v'ohmein, dos ist vohr
Ma'shiach vet kommen
Heintigs yohr

Ohmein v'ohmein, dos ist klohr
Ma'shiach vet kommen
Heintigs yohr.

Disclaimer of translator:
This song holds no political or "religious"
content for me... it's just a great song!

_________________________________________________________________ Title: Sisu Et Yerushalayim
Authors: Bible (lyrics), Akiva Nof (music)
Translator: Julie Hirsch

Chorus:
All who love Jerusalem, rejoice! Rejoice!
Peace once more is on the city, peace lies on the city.
All who love Jerusalem, rejoice! Rejoice!
Peace once more is on the city.

From your walls, Jerusalem, O David's crown,
We will guard, will guard the city.
Day and night and night and day from hills around.
We will guard, will guard your city.

_________________________________________________________________ Title: Tirza
Translator: Julie Hirsch

Far, far away, on the banks of the Nile
Tirza bends over the water and smiles.
And, like a young girl, awakening
She wonders what new days will bring, la, la, la, la
And, like a young girl, awakening
She wonders what new days will bring.

Far, far away, a young woman-child
Stands by her mirror the whole day and smiles
And, like the tirza, awakening
Wonders what new days will bring, la, la, la, la
And, like the tirza, awakening
Wonders what new days will bring, la, la, la, la

Tirza yaffa v'ahuda - Al ha y'or omedet tz'muta
Kol ha yom ba mayim tzofa - Choshva ma y'hei b'sofa, la, la, la..

_________________________________________________________________ Title: Utsu Eytsa
Translator: Karen Daniel

What tomorrow brings we cannot say
Try to make the most of every day
Even with the best plans
The future's not in our hands
God is the One who leads the way.....

_________________________________________________________________ Title: Y'varech'cha Hashem Mi Tzion
Authors: Psalm 128 (lyrics) and David Vinkrantz (music)
Translator: Karen Daniel

From the hills of Zion, may Hashem bless all of you
May you see Jerusalem shine bright
From the hills of Zion, may Hashem bless all of you
All the days, the days of your life.

May your children and their children too
See peace over all of Israel
May your children and your children's children
Live in peace o'er all of Israel.

_________________________________________________________________ Title: Yerushalayim Shel Zahav I
Authors: Naomi Shemer
Translator: Julie Hirsch

The water wheel for one who thirsted....
The empty market square....
The golden sun that lights the future
For all from everywhere.
How many songs, how many stories
These stony hills recall!
Around her heart my city carries
A lonely, ancient wall.

_________________________________________________________________ Title: Yerushalayim Shel Zahav II
Authors: Naomi Shemer
Translator: Norman Newell

The olive trees that stand in silence
Upon the hills of time
To hear the voices of the city
As bells of evening chime

The shofar sounding from the temple
To call the world to prayer
The shepherd pauses in the valley
and peace is everywhere

Yerushalayim shel zahav
Veshel nechoshet veshel or  X 2
Halo lechol shirayich
Ani kinor

And far away beyond the desert
A thousand suns will glow
We shall be going down to Jordan
By way of Jericho

My simple voice cannot acclaim thee
Too weak the words I choose
Jerusalem - if I forget thee
My right arm may I lose

Yerushalayim shel zahav
Veshel nechoshet veshel or  X 2
Halo lechol shirayich
Ani kinor

_________________________________________________________________ Title: Yihiye Tov
Authors: David Broza and Yehonatan Geffen
Translator: Jeff Klepper (copyright 2003)

Oh I'm looking out my window
And it makes me sad my friend
The spring is nearly over
Will it ever come again?
When the clown becomes a ruler
When the prophet was a clown
I forgot where I was going
But as long as you're around

Chorus:
Yihiye tov, yihiye tov, kein
though I know it's hard to smile
Az halaila, oh, when the night comes
I'll stay with you awhile

When our children join the army
They are answering our call
A call that's never ending
With no answer there at all
Everybody lives with tension
And sometimes it's hard to breathe
When we wake up in the morning
There's a reason we believe (chorus)

Oh I'm looking out my window
And I can't believe my eyes
There's a lamb and there's a lion
There's a rainbow in the sky
Then a bullet breaks the silence
Oh, how many can we stand?
Till the day we find an answer
Please don't let go of my hand (chorus)

up _________________________________________________________________ Keywords: Hebrew songs, Israeli, Chassidic, Yiddish, singable translation, English.