An important moment in his career was in 1995, when he performed at a peace rally at Tel Aviv, a few minutes before Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated.
Aviv Geffen is also the son of well known Israeli poet Yehonathan Geffen, and nephew of former Israeli Foreign Minister Moshe Dayan. He is sometimes criticised for not serving in the IDF, even though he was actually excused for medical reasons.
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Edited by shlevich on 20 Nov 2007, 10:10
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aviv_Geffen
Berlin
אביב גפן Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Watching you smile
We were lost in dreams.
She had told me she'd better move out
To escape from the city
Me and my band just came from the south
And we drove such a long way
But when I looked in your eyes
She was cold just like Berlin
She was broken like Berlin
She was torn just like Berlin
She was crazy like Berlin
Like Berlin.
This rusty old coffee bar
Still reminds me of cold, cold winters
We remembered those places
That still gave us a shelter to love
I stood in your doorway tonight
But I was too scared to call you
So I just walked away on my own
Withered like the night.
She was cold just like Berlin
She was broken like Berlin
She was torn just like Berlin
She was crazy like Berlin.
Like Berlin.
The lyrics to אביב גפן's song Berlin describe a passionate and emotional experience with a lover who is described as having similarities to the city of Berlin. The singer and their band have travelled a long way to be with this person, who intends to leave the city to escape. Despite this, the singer is lost in dreams and captivated by their lover's smile, making the journey worth it. However, the lover is cold, broken, torn, and crazy, just like the city of Berlin, which seems to foreshadow the difficulty of the relationship to come.
The second verse describes a coffee bar that reminds the singer of cold winters, and the places that they and their lover sought shelter in. The singer stands outside their lover's doorway but is too scared to call out, ultimately walking away alone. This moment carries a sense of withering, further emphasizing the difficulty of the relationship. The chorus repeats the comparison to Berlin, suggesting that the roughness and complexity of the city are intertwined with the emotions of the singer's relationship.
Overall, the lyrics to "Berlin" convey the intensity of a relationship, and the complexity and layered history of Berlin serves as a metaphor for the emotions expressed in the song.
Line by Line Meaning
I stayed up all night
I was so captivated by you that I couldn't sleep
Watching you smile
I couldn't take my eyes off of you, and your smile made me feel like everything was alright
We were lost in dreams.
Our time together felt like a dream, one that I didn't want to end
She had told me she'd better move out
The person I cared for felt they had to leave in order to escape a painful situation
To escape from the city
They needed to get away from the source of their pain - the city - in order to find peace
Me and my band just came from the south
We had traveled a long distance to get to this city
And we drove such a long way
The journey was tiring, but we were willing to endure it to be here
But when I looked in your eyes
When I gazed into your eyes, I felt a sense of belonging
It was worth every mile.
The journey was worth it because of the connection I felt with you
She was cold just like Berlin
The person I cared for was emotionally distant and unapproachable, much like the city of Berlin
She was broken like Berlin
The person I cared for was damaged, much like the city of Berlin that had been destroyed in the past
She was torn just like Berlin
The person I cared for had suffered internal turmoil, much like the city of Berlin during times of war and conflict
She was crazy like Berlin
The person I cared for was unpredictable and wild, much like the vibrant, eccentric city of Berlin
This rusty old coffee bar
This coffee bar, though old and rundown, held important memories for us
Still reminds me of cold, cold winters
It brings to mind memories of difficult times and feeling alone
We remembered those places
I recall the numerous locations that held significance for us
That still gave us a shelter to love
These places were our refuge from the world where we could be ourselves and love freely
I stood in your doorway tonight
I was so close to reuniting with you, yet still felt distant
But I was too scared to call you
I let my fear get in the way of reaching out to you
So I just walked away on my own
I left, alone with my thoughts and regrets
Withered like the night.
My spirits were low, and I felt as though I had been defeated
She was cold just like Berlin
The person I cared for was chilly and distant, like the city of Berlin
She was broken like Berlin
The person I cared for was damaged, much like the city of Berlin that had a tumultuous past
She was torn just like Berlin
The person I cared for was troubled, much like the city of Berlin that had undergone significant upheavals
She was crazy like Berlin.
The person I cared for was wild and unpredictable, like the city of Berlin known for its eccentricity
Like Berlin.
The person I cared for embodied the same qualities as the city of Berlin, both beautiful and troubled
Writer(s): Aviv Geffen
Contributed by Lauren J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
rothutbiene
Here are the full lyrics:
Aviv Geffen - Berlin -
I stayed up all night
Watching you smile
We were lost in dreams.
She had told me she'd better move out
To escape from the city
Me and my band just came from the south
And we drove such a long way
But when I looked in your eyes
It was worth every mile.
She was cold just like Berlin
She was broken like Berlin
She was torn just like Berlin
She was crazy like Berlin
Like Berlin.
This rusty old coffee bar
Still reminds me of cold, cold winters
We remembered those places
that still gave us a shelter to love
I stood in your doorway tonight
But I was too scared to call you
So I just walked away on my own
withered like the night.
She was cold just like Berlin
She was broken like Berlin
She was torn just like Berlin
She was crazy like Berlin.
Like Berlin.
bunnyhead71
i am DEFINITELY late to the party here. I have been a fan of Porcupine Tree and the many many side projects that Steven Wilson has been involved in over the past 25 years. One of those being Blackfield. Someone like Wilson would not just work with anyone. Thanks to him I have become a huge fan of Geffen's work. This man is just absolutely brilliant . Wilson has also led me to the work of Ninet Tayeb someone else i'd never had heard of if it were not for him. This is the kind of music I love to introduce people to. Staggeringly brilliant stuff. If fans of his have any suggestions of other things such as this they think I should check out, please let me know. I am a 43 year old music junkie that NEVER stops listening and learning. With a personal music collection of over 5700 lp's, I cover most genres.
Klaas Vos
I hear this song for the first time.😉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kq5BQrjzxCA Great album of a Dutch band. Imo the same sort music. And Disreflect - My Dear.
timetraveler900
I don't think people realise just how extraordinary and incredible this song is.
Jason Musshorn
Unreal! Easily the most beautiful song I’ve ever heard. Just amazing.
rothutbiene
Here are the full lyrics:
Aviv Geffen - Berlin -
I stayed up all night
Watching you smile
We were lost in dreams.
She had told me she'd better move out
To escape from the city
Me and my band just came from the south
And we drove such a long way
But when I looked in your eyes
It was worth every mile.
She was cold just like Berlin
She was broken like Berlin
She was torn just like Berlin
She was crazy like Berlin
Like Berlin.
This rusty old coffee bar
Still reminds me of cold, cold winters
We remembered those places
that still gave us a shelter to love
I stood in your doorway tonight
But I was too scared to call you
So I just walked away on my own
withered like the night.
She was cold just like Berlin
She was broken like Berlin
She was torn just like Berlin
She was crazy like Berlin.
Like Berlin.
PMO
Mesmerising! And his voice in English is beautiful. Long live the King of Israeli music past and present!
lilykuh
i live in berlin and i just realised. this song is very beautiful!
Kaitlyn Hill
Berlin is beautiful, a little sad, and hopeful...and so is this song. :) Thanks for sharing
Yallon Banoun
Wow! What a great song!
Andrea Campisano
no words. all i can say is "thank you"