Point of No Return will be taking a short break and will be back in the New Year. Until then, posting will be light to non-existent.
As this year marking the fiftieth anniversary of the exodus of the Jews from Algeria draws to a close, I'm leaving you to feast your eyes and ears on this page on Algerian-Jewish culture, courtesy of JIMENA.
Wishing all Readers a very Happy and Prosperous 2013! The popular singer Lili Boniche
Thanks for the excellent page, Bataween. I spotted there the very popular song "Ya rrayeh" (O Traveler/Emigrant), an Algerian song originally by Dahmane Al-Harrachi which practically everyone has heard in Israel and is very popular among Maghreban Jews the world over, here interpreted by Enrico Macias, the emigrant par excellence.
ReplyDeleteIt speaks to those uprooted restless wanderers among us and the yearning for home.
There is even a Hebrew version now by a musician of the Andalusit with a muwwal.
By Enrico Macias
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=9vBO8KWpqXs
By Rachid Taha
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuPhCmmfKiE
Hebrew version
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOYWuuQ_oAM
Comparing the Taha version to the Macias version, I've noticed that Enrico Macias has left out the last stanza, when the Traveler returns to his home. And for good reason.
ReplyDeleteHere are the words:
Ya rayeh win msafer truh ta’ya u twelli
Shhal nedmo la’bad el ghaflin qablek u qabli
Ya rayeh win msafer truh ta’ya u twelli
Shhal nedmo la’bad el ghaflin qablek u qabli
Shhal sheft al beldan l’amrin wa lberr el khali
Shhal diyya’t uqet shhal tzid mazal u tkhelli
Ya lghayeb fi blad ennas shhal ta’ya ma tejri
Tzid wa’d lqudra ulazman unta ma tedri
Ya rayeh ....
‘Alach qalbek hzin u’lash hakda ki zawali
Matdum eshedda wila tzid t’allem u tebni
Ma idumu liyyam wa la idum seghrek u seghri
Ya hlil u meskin lli ghab sa’do ki zahri
Ya rayeh ....
Ya rayeh win msafer truh ta’ya wa twalli
Shhal nedmo la’bad el ghaflin qablek u qabli
Ya rayeh win msafer truh ta’ya wa twalli
Shhal nedmo la’bad el ghaflin qablek u qabli
Ya rayeh ....
(This is missing in Enrico’s version)
Ya msafer na’tik usseyti uddiha ‘abekri
Shuf ma yesleh bik qbel ma tbi’ ou ma tshri
Ya nnayem jani khbarek ma zralek ma zrali
Hakda redd el qelb bel jbin sabhan el 'ali
Ya rayeh win msafer truh ta’ya wa twalli
Shhal nedmo la’bad el ghaflin qablek u qabli
Ya rayeh win msafer truh ta’ya wa twalli
Shhal nedmo la’bad el ghaflin qablek u qabli
I thought I might as well finish the job and give the translation.
ReplyDeleteHere it is.
Oh Traveler where are you going? You’ll go, tire and return
How many naive people have regretted it before you and me.
Oh Traveler where are you going? You’ll go, tire and return
How many naive people have regretted it before you and me
How many crowded cities and empty deserts you have seen
How much time you have wasted and are yet to waste
Oh you the Absent, in the land of others you never stop running
Fate and time continue their march, and you don’t mind
Oh Traveler....
Why is your heart so sad and why are you standing there unhappy
Hardship won’t last and you neither learn nor build anymore
Life won’t last, like my and your youth.
Oh unfortunate one whose luck has deserted him, like it did me.
Oh Traveler....
(This is the part Enrico Macias leaves out)
Oh Traveler I’ll give you my advice, take it as soon as possible
See what’s best for you before you buy and sell
Oh dreamer, I’ve heard the news that what happened to me has happened to you
So does the heart return to its Creator, the Most-High.
Oh Traveler...
Dear Sylvia
ReplyDeleteAs ever thanks for your erudite and insightful contributions - in any language!