This traditional melody from the Maghreb is traditionally sung in either Hebrew or Darija (Moroccan dialect of Arabic). The Hebrew version ( Eli Shema Koli אֵלִי שְמַע קוֹלִי) is a liturgical poem where the protagonist cries out to God in the hope of redemption. The Darija version (Sidi Habibi سيدي حبيبي) is a secular love song about unrequited love between the protagonist singer and the imagined lover. We call our mash up of the two versions UNTIL WHEN named after the first line of the first Hebrew stanza - עַד מַתָי אֲקַוֶה לִרְאוֹת גְאוּלָתְךָ –Until when shall I wait to see your redemption?
It was especially popular among the Jewish community of Morocco in the early 1950s, in part because the Sultan (and later King) Mohammed V was exiled by the French authorities ( for his calls for Independence) to Madagascar. This older song about an exiled and beloved figure took on a new and subversive meaning.
It has previously been recorded by many Jewish Algerian and Moroccan musicians in both Morocco and Israel as well as many Arab musicians from the Maghreb. As far as we know, this is the first recorded version to alternate complete verses of the Hebrew and Arabic versions of the song.
Traditional melody and lyrics arranged by Aaron Lightstone, Justin Gray, Sundar Viswanathan, Tamar Ilana & Rakesh Tewari
We acknowledge the financial support of FACTOR ( Foundation to Assist Canadian Talent on Recordings), The Ontario Arts Council, The Canada Council for the Arts, and the Toronto Arts Council,
سيدي حبيبي ها هو
أنا وليدي ها هو
غزالي مالو نساني
هايلي أيلي حبيب ديالي فينو هوا
Translation of Lyrics to English
Until when shall I wait to see your redemption?
My God, hear my voice as I cry out to You
From the day I was born, I’ve contemplated You,
O My God, hear my voice when I cry out to You
hear my voice when I am calling
Listen to my pleas
O My God, hear my voice as I cry out to You
Here he is, here he is, my beloved, he has bewitched me
Here he is, here he is, my beloved,
Here he is, here he is, my beloved, I am heartsick
Here he is, here he is, my beloved,
My beloved, where is he?
Come my dear, where is he?
He will come with much grace, where is he?
Why did he forget me, where is he?
My hope is for your answer on the Day of Redemption
O My God, hear my voice as I cry out to You
Don’t go astray from hope even if you are silent
O My God, hear my voice as I cry out to You
hear my voice when I am calling
Listen to my pleas
O My God, hear my voice as I cry out to You
Where has my beautiful one gone
Here he is, here he is, my beloved,
I miss his eyes that stare in with beauty
Here he is, here he is, my beloved,
My beloved, where is he?
Come my dear, where is he?
He will come with much grace, where is he?
Why did he forget me, where is he?
Transliteration
Ad matai akaveh, lir’ot ge’ulatekha
Eli eli, shema koli ki ekra
Miyom shenoladeti, eyni Tsofiyah Lekha
Eli eli, shema koli ki ekra
Shema koli ki ekra,
veshavati ha’azinah
Eli eli, shema koli ki ekra
Al haylalela ouhalali adarbida dyali
Haili, haili h’bibi, dyali fayn houwa
Al warda, al warda al warda beshouka
Haili, haili h’bibi, dyali fayn houwa
Sidi h’bibi – haouwa
Ana ouwledi – haouwa
Oughzali mal ounsani
Haili, haili h’bibi, dyali fayn houwa
Hokhili aniyah, leyom hayeshu’ah
Eli eli, shema koli ki ekra
Lo tovad tikvati, af im at dumiyah
Eli eli, shema koli ki ekra
Shema koli ki ekra, veshavati ha’azinah
Eli eli, shema koli ki ekra
Raw black metal that brooks no compromises, this has all the ferocious guitars, lo-fi aesthetics and infernal howling you crave. Bandcamp New & Notable Jan 30, 2023
