His vocal - sounding very much like the legendary Janis Joplin - is unmatched; and he sings primarily in English. "A genius... A new Messiah" (Rolling Stone Mexico) and "The most interesting voice in the Israeli music scene" are some of the accolades he has received.
Born in Jerusalem, Israel, to diplomats for the Israeli Foreign Office, Avidan spent four years of his childhood in Jamaica and also grew up in New York. In 2006, after breaking up with his long-time girlfriend, he moved back to Jerusalem desiring to pursue a music career. From 2006–2011 he featured in Asaf Avidan & the Mojos.
In 2012, Avidan released the single "Different Pulses", followed by the premiere of his debut solo studio album of the same name. The singer's follow-up record Gold Shadow (2015) was similarly successful in Europe, reaching Gold status in France. The Study on Falling followed in 2017.
Is This It?
Asaf Avidan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Let it shatter on the rocks
Would you pick up all my imperfections
Keep them hidden in your jewelry box
Would you help this old man singing
Would you save this little boy
Would you treat me like a baby
Is this it? Honey is this it?
This is it
Would you break me like a prism
Would you see my different sides
Would you separate the bright ones
Hang them on your laundry line
Would you help this tired Abraham
It's not just Isaac that is crying
For he who is busy loving
Is both living and is also dying
Is this it? Honey is this really it?
This is it
Would you know me like a doctor
Would you sing me like a hymn
Would you touch me like a bridesmaid
In some husband's dirty little dream
When these defeated lips have failed me
Would you save my hungry eyes
Would you milk your breasts for honey
Would you feed me all your pretty lies
Is this it? Honey is this really it?
It's all that we've been praying for
Honey is this it?
It's all that we've been waiting for
It's all that we've been praying for
Is this it? Honey is this really it?
Is this it? Honey is this really it?
This is it
The lyrics of Asaf Avidan's song "Is This It?" explore the themes of love, vulnerability and self-discovery. The singer wonders if their imperfections would be accepted and appreciated by their lover. They ask if their lover would treat them like a helpless child and offer comfort and protection. The singer also alludes to the Biblical story of Abraham and Isaac, calling for help for the "tired Abraham" and not just the crying Isaac. The singer also questions if their lover would be able to see and appreciate all of their different sides, even the bright and positive ones, and compares themselves to a broken prism.
Throughout the song, the singer questions if their lover would truly understand and care for them, comparing their relationship to a doctor-patient or a bridesmaid-husband dynamic. The lyrics are haunting and reflective, with a sense of melancholy running through them. Overall, the song explores the idea that true love is accepting and accommodating all parts of a person, even the imperfect and vulnerable ones.
Line by Line Meaning
If I threw my broken body
If I gave you all of my broken pieces
Let it shatter on the rocks
Let them scatter amongst the debris
Would you pick up all my imperfections
Will you save every little part of me, whether good or bad
Keep them hidden in your jewelry box
Will you guard and treasure every part of me
Would you help this old man singing
Would you assist this elderly person who is expressing himself
Would you save this little boy
Would you protect this young and innocent child
Would you treat me like a baby
Will you care for me as if I am helpless like an infant
And let treat you like his toy
And allow me to play with you like a child playing with a toy
Is this it? Honey is this it?
Is this what we have been looking for? Is this really it?
This is it
This is the answer we have been searching for
Would you break me like a prism
Would you ruin me, cracking me into many pieces
Would you see my different sides
Would you acknowledge all of my various sides
Would you separate the bright ones
Would you divide the positive parts of me from the negative
Hang them on your laundry line
Would you display them proudly for everyone to see
Would you help this tired Abraham
Would you assist this person who is exhausted and defeated
It's not just Isaac that is crying
It's not just one person who is suffering
For he who is busy loving
For someone who is constantly spreading love
Is both living and is also dying
Is both thriving and struggling at the same time
Would you know me like a doctor
Would you understand me as well as a physician would
Would you sing me like a hymn
Would you praise me like a religious song
Would you touch me like a bridesmaid
Would you caress me like a woman who is part of a bridal party
In some husband's dirty little dream
In a man's vulgar and inappropriate fantasy
When these defeated lips have failed me
When I can no longer find the words to express myself
Would you save my hungry eyes
Will you rescue me from the despair that is in my eyes
Would you milk your breasts for honey
Would you give me everything you have to offer
Would you feed me all your pretty lies
Would you tell me everything I want to hear, regardless of the fact that it may not be true
It's all that we've been praying for
It's everything we have hoped and prayed for
Honey is this it?
Is this really what we have been striving for?
It's all that we've been waiting for
It's the single most important thing we have been waiting for
Is this it? Honey is this really it?
Is this what we have been searching for? Is this really all there is?
This is it
This is the ultimate reality
Contributed by Muhammad F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jo mateix
If I threw my broken body
Let it shatter on the rocks
Would you pick up all my imperfections
Keep them hidden in your jewelry box
Would you help this old man singing
Would you save this little boy
Would you treat me like a baby
And let treat you like his toy
Is this it? Is this really it?
This is it
Would you break me like a prism
Would you see my different sides
Would you separate the bright ones
Hang them on your laundry line
Would you help this tired Abraham
It's not just Isaac that is crying
For he who is busy loving
Is both living and is also dying
Is this it? Is this really it?
This is it
Would you know me like a doctor
Would you sing me like a hymn
Would you touch me like a bridesmaid
In some husband's dirty little dream
When these defeated lips have failed me
Would you save my hungry eyes
Would you milk your breasts for honey
Would you feed me all your petty lies
Is this it? Is this really it?
It's all that we've been praying for
It's all that we've been praying for
Is this it? Is this really it?
This is it
catalina
this guy deserve so much more attention, but on the other hand he feels like my little secret, too precious to let dirty ears hear it. i love him
Magic of Love
amazing!
Evca123
Maybe if there was more attention, it would destroy something that is so magical about him.. he is a little secret of us all here, so we should keep it :)
gullsinthesky
same here. Little Avidan Secret.
gullsinthesky
Tomorrow i’m seeing him live. Counting the hours, minutes and seconds :)
Angélique louis
I think the same ;)
On Shipless Oceans
That feeling when you hear, for the first time, a vast and timeless talent you did not know was out there...
lucie henkels
...pure poésie . Asaf , tu es le poète qui lit dans nos âmes , tu écris ce que je vis , cette chanson est magique ...
Angelica B.
I have to sit back to take all of this in and allow the emotions to move through me, thus allowing my soul to heal!
“Would you break me like a prism.
Would you see my different sides
Would you separate the bright ones”
This speaks to me in a level I can’t explain. I am thankful for sharing this lifetime with Asaf, what a gift!
Free Spirit
This guy eh 😭. Helped me accept my own singing voice. This song is one of my many favorites. Keep it up. Hopefully via music we meet one day