Chazzanut Online
Hebrew Songs,
Singable Translations
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.
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)
Keywords: Hebrew songs, Israeli, Chassidic, Yiddish, singable translation, English.
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