Lech, Lech Lamidbar! (An Israelí Song)

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Lech, Lech Lamidbar! (An Israelí Song)

By Thomas Keyes
May 21, 2005

“Lech, Lech Lamidbar!” (“Go, Go to the Desert!”), though often passing as a folk song, was composed by the Moscow-born classical Israelí composer Alexander Argov, born Alexander Abramovich, (1914-1995) to lyrics written by Chaim Cheffer. I don’t know the exact date of composition, but I learned part of this song in 1962 from a recording made by the Israelí songstress Geula Gill with the accompaniment of a group called the Oranim Zabar Israel. It was only about two or three years ago that I got the full lyrics, which can be viewed, in unvocalized Hebrew characters, at this URL:

http://shiron.net/songView.aspx?song_id=1968&singer_id=270&song_title=2decb

A really lilting instrumental version of this song, which I like very much, can be heard at the URL next below. Just scroll down and click on the icon on the third line from the bottom.

http://sakura.canvas.ne.jp/spr/marucho/media/midi_e.htm

I have transcribed the Hebrew into English letters, adding accent marks, which do not exist in Hebrew, for convenience. I have also provided a literal translation. I found two versions online and there are a few minor discrepancies, so I did the best I could to make it make sense. I don’t know if an English-language version has ever been published.

I’ve been singing Hebrew songs since around 1960, and I know 26 of them, more than in any other language except English. This does not imply any solidarity on my part with Israeli aspirations.

LECH, LECH LAMIDBAR! (Original Hebrew Lyrics)

Lech, lech lamidbár.
Hadrachím yovílu.
Láil térem ba.
Lech, achí, el hamidbár.

Shuv, shuv, nachazór.
Hatsukím yaríu.
Shémesh gdolá shel or
Od tizrách aléinu.

Lamidbár
Érets lo máyim,
Ho, at, admatí
Shávnu eláich.

Érets meluchá
Rúach vezáam.
Halochamím chazrú,
Ho, kesáar.

Lamidbár
Érets lo máyim,
Ho, at, admatí
Shávnu eláich.

Érets meluchá
Rúach vezáam.
Halochamím chazrú,
Ho, kesáar.

LECH LECH LAMIDBAR (English Translation)

Go, go to the desert.
The roads are winding.
Night has not yet come.
Go, my brother, to the desert.

Come back, come back, let us return.
The cliffs show
A great sun of light
Is still shining upon us.

To the desert,
Land without water.
Ho! Thou, my land,
We have returned to you.

Land ruled
By wind and anger.
The soldiers have returned
Like a storm.

To the desert,
Land without water.
Ho! Thou, my land,
We have returned to you.

Land ruled
By wind and anger.
The soldiers have returned
Like a storm.

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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

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