Erev Shel Shoshanim (A Hebrew Love Song)

Articles

Erev Shel Shoshanim (A Hebrew Love Song)

By Thomas Keyes
June 16, 2005

Of the many Hebrew songs I know, the one that I learned most recently is “Erev Shel Shoshanim” (“Evening of Roses”), composed in 1957, with music by Yosef Haddar and lyrics by Moshe Dor. The song has also circulated in Arabic, where its title is “Yarus” (O Rose!), as well as Turkish and Armenian.

“Shoshana” (or, more correctly “shoshanah”) is a Hebrew word that may mean either “rose” or “lily”. The plural is “shoshanim”. I’ve never seen the variant “shoshan” before. “Shoshana” is also a feminine name, which translates to “Susan” or “Suzanne”.

So far I haven’t been able to locate a website with the original Hebrew letters, so I’m relying upon a ready-made transcription. Nor have I been able to locate a website for a free sheet-music download. Websites of that kind are few and far between. Usually I play the songs on a soprano recorder, but I’d rather do it from sheet music than by ear. I also sing the songs too, of course. That’s an adjunct to my language learning.

This sensuously beautiful song is typical of Hebrew love songs, which often involve myrrh, frankincense, honey, manna and other such voluptuous delights. It can be heard at the URL next below. Just scroll down and click on “Erev Shel Shoshanim #2), which is far superior to the other version offered.

http://www.jr.co.il/music/midi/jewish.htm

Below I have have listed the transcribed lyrics, where I have added the accent marks that are necessary to pronounce Hebrew words correctly but never appear either in Hebrew or in English transcriptions, except in my articles. This is my own translation, though others can be found on the web. Remember that ‘ch’ is to be pronounced as in German, not English. There is no English-type ‘ch’ is Hebrew. Each stanza is sung twice, and I have shown the lyrics accordingly, but the middle two stanzas are sung to a different melody, like a refrían.

EREV SHEL SHOSHANIM (Original Hebrew Lyrics)

Érev shel shoshaním,
Netséna el habustán.
Mor, besamím ulevoná
Leragleichá miftán.

Érev shel shoshaním,
Netséna el habustán.
Mor, besamím ulevoná
Leragleichá miftán.

Láila yoréd leát,
Verúach shoshán noshvá.
Hàva elchásh lach shir balát,
Zémer shel ahavá.

Láila yoréd leát,
Verúach shoshán noshvá.
Hàva elchásh lach shir balát,
Zémer shel ahavá.

Sháchar homá yoná.
Roshéch maalé tlalím.
Pich el habóker shoshaná
Ektefénu li.

Sháchar homá yoná.
Roshéch maalé tlalím.
Pich el habóker shoshaná
Ektefénu li.

EREV SHEL SHOSHANIM (English Translation)

Evening of roses!
Let’s go out to the garden.
Myrrh and balsam and frankincense
Are a threshold for your feet.

Evening of roses!
Let’s go out to the garden.
Myrrh and balsam and frankincense
Are a threshold for your feet.

Night is descending slowly
And a breeze of roses is blowing.
Come, I’ll whisper you a song in secret,
A melody of love.

Night is descending slowly
And a breeze of roses is blowing.
Come, I’ll whisper you a song in secret,
A melody of love.

At dawn, a dove is cooing.
Your head is full of dew.
Your mouth is a rose to the morning
That I’ll pluck for myself.

At dawn, a dove is cooing.
Your head is full of dew.
Your mouth is a rose to the morning
That I’ll pluck for myself.

------------

About the author Thomas Keyes: I have written two books: A SOJOURN IN ASIA (non-fiction) and A TALE OF UNG (fiction), neither published so far.

I have studied languages for years and traveled extensively on five continents.

Email: udikeyes@yahoo.com

Comment on this article here!

------------

All articles are EXCLUSIVE to Useless-Knowledge.com and are not allowed to be posted on other websites. ARTICLE THIEVES WILL BE PROSECUTED!