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Longings for Longings
Words and music by Kobi Oz
℗&© Anana Ltd
| בְּלִי לָלֶכֶת סְחוֹר וּסְחוֹרזֶה עָשָׂה לִי טוֹב לַחֲזוֹרהִנֵה שׁוּב הִגַעְתִי לַמָּקוֹרזֶה כְּמוֹ עָבְרוּ שְׁנוֹת דּוֹרוְעַכְשָיו חִיבּוּק גָּדוֹלוְשׁוּב הַלְּבָבוֹת בְּיַחַדהִנֵה מִּזְדָחֵל לוֹ הַסָפֵק גַעֲגוּעַי לַגַּעֲגוּעִיםהוֹפְכִים יַמַי לְחִזָיוֹן תַּעֲתוּעִיםגַם אִם יָגַעְתִּי מִדַיוּמָצָאתִי וַדַּאיהִתְעָצַבְתִי מֵרוֹן שַׁעֲשׁוּעִים. מִמָדוֹר לְעוֹד מָדוֹרוּמֵאֲפֵלָה לִשְׁחוֹרמַעֲבָר שֶׁאֵין בּוֹ שׁוּם מָזוֹרשׁוּב זָכִיתִי לַחֲזוֹרוְעַכְשָׁיו נִישׁוּק עָנָקאֲנִי מַרְגִישׁ פִּתְאוֹם בַּבַּיתאֲבָל הִנֵה הִנֵה בָּא לוֹ הַמַחֲנָק גַעֲגוּעַי לַגַּעֲגוּעִיםהוֹפְכִים יַמַי לְחִזָיוֹן תַּעֲתוּעִיםגַם אִם יָגַעְתִּי מִדַיוּמָצָאתִי וַדַּאיהִתְעָצַבְתִי מֵרוֹן שַׁעֲשׁוּעִים. חָסֵרָה הָיִיתְ כָּל כָּבִּלְעָדַיִ מְדוּכְדָבְּלִי קִרְבָה אֲנִי מוּנָחלְלֹא רֵעַ לְלֹא אָחוּלְפֶתַע דוֹם פְּגִישָׁהוּמְלַטֵּף אֶת תַּלְתָּלַיִוְלִיבִּי דוֹפֵק דוֹפֵק לוֹ לְאָחוֹר גַעֲגוּעַי לַגַּעֲגוּעִיםהוֹפְכִים יַמַי לְחִזָיוֹן תַּעֲתוּעִיםגַם אִם יָגַעְתִּי מִדַיוּמָצָאתִי וַדַּאיהִתְעָצַבְתִי מֵרוֹן שַׁעֲשׁוּעִים. | Rather than chasing my tailIt did me good to returnHere I’ve reached the source againIt’s like light-years have passedAnd now a huge embraceAnd again hearts join as oneHere the doubt crawls in My longing for longingsTurn my days into a vision of the unrealAnd though I struggled – so muchAnd made it – no doubt (1)These delightful diversions (2) left me vexed From section to another sectionFrom mist to darkFrom the unhealable pastAgain I was honored to returnAnd now a huge kissI feel suddenly at homeBut here – here – here comes the suffocation My longing for longingsTurn my days into a vision of the unrealAnd though I struggled – so muchAnd made it – no doubtThese delightful diversions left me vexed I missed you so muchMiserable without youWithout intimacy I’m laid lowLacking friend or neighborAnd suddenly the silent encounterAnd stroke of your curlsAnd my heart-heart beats backwards My longing for longingsTurn my days into a vision of the unrealAnd though I struggled – so muchAnd made it – no doubtThese delightful diversions left me vexed |
To download the pdf, click here
To follow the guiding questions online, click here.
- This is a play on a well-known phrase – יגעת ומצאת תאמין – ‘believe that through struggle you will make it’
- “Diversions” is a particular translation, playing on the more straightforward understanding of שעשועים – entertainment – and the underlying suggestion of illusion.
Guiding questions for My Longings for Longings
Kobi Oz introduces this song by suggesting that the Jewish People spent two thousand years longing for Zion, but now we have a State here, all Israelis do is long for a trip abroad! Incidentally, he lays this critique at both the observant and the non-observant: He refers to the Rabbis’ complaint at how many men leave their families on Rosh Hashana to pray at Rabbi Nachman’s grave in Uman…
Do you ever feel this dynamic of longing from afar but discomfort on arrival with regards Israel?
Can you see this circular image of longing – arriving – wishing to leave once more – as referring to more than just a relation to the Land of Israel?
- Do you ever experience a similar cycle when thinking about your relationship to your Judaism?
The music for this song has been likened to the Gypsy Kings. Would you say there is anything significant about this song having a ‘gypsy’ feel to it?
Why do you think this song – describing an almost-tragic lack of satisfaction – is so upbeat?
