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.
maybe you are
Asaf Avidan Lyrics
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He whispered "I ain't got no heart" into the room
She said "I'll make you smile again" and made an airplane
Out of some pretty words put in a spoon
He said "I'll never see again
My eyes are sorta twisted inwards, deep into my throat"
She said "Don't worry, babe, I'll open up your jam
I'll open up my pretty self" and she lay down on his road
She said "How do you know? Maybe you are"
Said "How do you know? Maybe you are"
Said "How do you know-oh? Maybe you are-are-are-are-are"
"Maybe you are-are-are-are-are"
"Maybe you are"
"Maybe you are"
"Maybe you are"
She peeled his skin away, so every day he'd cry
And in those tears he'd lie to find some peace
She'd break from all his words, but she was made of mercury
She'd come together later piece by piece
And it became a game they played under the blankets
In the bed, pretending she was small and he was big
She became so small, he could lift her, body and heart and all
He held her up naked, she was just his fig
Just his fig
Said "How do you know? Maybe you are"
Said "How do you know-oh? Maybe you are"
Said "How do you know-oh? Maybe you are-are-are-are-are"
"Maybe you are-are-are-are-are"
"Maybe you are"
"Maybe you are"
"Maybe you are"
"Maybe you are"
"Maybe you are"
"Maybe you are"
The lyrics to Asaf Avidan & The Mojos's song Maybe You Are tell the story of two people who meet in a hospital. The man doesn't believe he has a heart and tells the woman as much. However, she promises to make him smile again, and she does so by creating an airplane out of some pretty words in a spoon. Despite the man's belief that he will never see again due to his twisted eyes, the woman offers to open up his jam and herself.
As the two become closer, the woman peels away the man's skin so that he cries every day. This allows him to find some peace within his tears. However, the woman is made of mercury and breaks apart from his words, only to piece herself together later. They play a game under the blankets where the woman pretends to be small and the man big, and eventually, she becomes so small that he can hold her up naked like a figurine.
The woman repeatedly asks the man how he knows that he doesn't have a heart, suggesting that maybe he does after all. The chorus repeats the phrase "maybe you are" in reference to this idea, implying that there is a possibility that the man does have a heart and can feel love. The lyrics are poetic and poignant, exploring themes of love, vulnerability, and the power of words.
Line by Line Meaning
They met when he was in a hospital
They met each other when the guy was admitted to a hospital.
He whispered 'I ain't got no heart' into the room
He expressed that he was emotionally dead inside.
She said 'I'll make you smile again' and made an airplane
Out of some pretty words put in a spoon
She promised to bring happiness back into his life and used her charm to lift his spirits.
He said 'I'll never see again
My eyes are sorta twisted inwards, deep into my throat'
He expressed his despair and hopelessness as he felt he would never be able to see the light again.
She said 'Don't worry, babe, I'll open up your jam
I'll open up my pretty self' and she lay down on his road
She assured him that she would help him overcome his obstacles and be there for him every step of the way.
She peeled his skin away, so every day he'd cry
And in those tears he'd lie to find some peace
She helped him uncover his raw emotions and allowed him to cry and find solace in his tears.
She'd break from all his words, but she was made of mercury
She'd come together later piece by piece
She was resilient and able to withstand his harsh words, but eventually she would heal and recover.
And it became a game they played under the blankets
In the bed, pretending she was small and he was big
She became so small, he could lift her, body and heart and all
He held her up naked, she was just his fig
Just his fig
They created a playful and intimate world for themselves where they could escape and be vulnerable. She allowed him to feel powerful and strong, while she found comfort in his embrace.
Said 'How do you know? Maybe you are'
Said 'How do you know? Maybe you are'
Said 'How do you know-oh? Maybe you are-are-are-are-are'
'Maybe you are-are-are-are-are'
'Maybe you are'
'Maybe you are'
'Maybe you are'
'Maybe you are'
'Maybe you are'
'Maybe you are'
She questioned his doubts about himself and asked him to consider the possibility that he was capable of finding love and happiness. They repeated this mantra to reaffirm their hope in the future.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: ASAF AVIDAN, HADAS KLEINMAN, RAN NIR, ROI PELED, JONATHAN YONI JONI SHELEG, ORI WINOKUR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind