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Her Tenere
Bombino Lyrics


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Tenere
Hegh tenere

Usuf yigane
Dagh tenere
Warhene ammane
Ikhimadas, samad ranagh
Tikmawene, tin tenere

The desert
I am in the desert

Full of nostalgia
In the desert
Without water
I was sitting, meditating
On the problems facing the desert

Overall Meaning

Bombino's song "Her Tenere" is a poignant and introspective reflection on the Ténéré Desert in Niger, one of the most hostile and inhospitable places on the planet. The song starts with Bombino singing "Tenere, hegh Tenere," which means "desert, oh desert". It sets the tone for the rest of the song, which is a meditation on the beauty and harshness of the desert environment.


The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the desert landscape and the emotions it evokes in Bombino. He sings of being full of nostalgia, which suggests a deep attachment to his homeland and a sense of longing for the past. The reference to being without water also highlights the difficulty of survival in such an extreme environment. However, despite the hardships, Bombino shows a deep reverence for the desert, describing himself as "sitting, meditating" on the problems facing it. This combination of reverence and introspection gives the song a spiritual quality, and it feels like an ode to the resilience and majesty of the desert.


Line by Line Meaning

Tenere
The word Tenere refers to the desert, and is mentioned at the beginning to indicate the subject of the song.


Hegh tenere
This line translates to 'I am in the desert'. The singer is expressing their physical location and setting the scene for the rest of the song.


Usuf yigane
The phrase 'Usuf yigane' is difficult to translate directly, but it can be interpreted as meaning 'full of longing' or 'nostalgic'. This line highlights the emotional impact that the desert has on the singer and sets the tone for the rest of the song.


Dagh tenere
This line simply repeats the first line and reinforces the idea that the song is about the desert.


Warhene ammane
Translated as 'Without water', this line sets up a conflict and foreshadows the challenges that the singer will face in the desert - namely: survival.


Ikhimadas, samad ranagh
This phrase is difficult to translate directly, but it can be interpreted as meaning 'I was sitting, meditating'. This line shows that despite the harsh conditions, the singer remains contemplative and introspective, and is seeking a deeper understanding of their surroundings.


Tikmawene, tin tenere
Finally, this line can be translated as 'On the problems facing the desert'. By expressing concern for the desert and its issues, the singer shows a deep connection and attachment to the environment, and reinforces the idea that this song is an ode to the Tenere.




Contributed by Sebastian W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@khadijabahri2543

lyrics:

Tenere
Hegh tenere

Usuf yigane
Dagh tenere
Warhene ammane
Ikhimadas, samad ranagh
Tikmawene, tin tenere

The desert
I am in the desert

Full of nostalgia
In the desert
Without water
I was sitting, meditating
On the problems facing the desert



@iviedhaiku6832

do you hear that
the day is not over
night has not come
*
in the desert
the blade
becomes a stone
*
everything calls you
and you stay
are you the lighthouse of the night
*
smoke in the sky
a drop drifts into the stream of a river
a handful of sand are the days



All comments from YouTube:

@nikolayzimoglyad4915

Восхитительный шедевр, проходящий нитью сквозь мою жизнь. Ощущения на кончиках пальцев, дрожи, эстетического удовольствия. Настоящее искусство!

@mohamedbounaas4697

عليك ان تأتي الجزائر بلد رائع وقارة ومليئة بكل طبوع وثقافات متعددة وشعب مضياف ومحترم وغني بتقاليد رائعة جدا مرحبا بك نتشرف بزيارتكم

@mhmdkabaja7667

من السودان نحبكم جدا ايها الشعب العريق ما بفهم الكلمات لكن استمتع جدا بالموسيقي ادمنت فن الطوارق

@luisalbertorosa7433

enterado

@user-yh4yx8tv7h

Mhmd Kabaja شكر طورق سكن الصلين صحري الا كبير

@mohammedabas9862

الزول دا عجيب صاح ..

@kilani091

والله فعلا موسيقى بمبينو روعة ... أخوك من ليبيا و تحية للسودان و لأهلنا التوارق في النيجر و في كل مكان.

@_dz4394

والله حتى انا من الجزائر ادمنت هذا الفنان

@dusandragojlovic9656

I discovered "sahara blues" only recently, so far i love it. I mostly like Bombino, Mdou Moctar and Tinariwen. I'm open to suggestions for what else i should listen to.

@AstralMarmot

Not sure if Ballake Sissoko counts as blues exactly, but holy God can he play the kora. The album "In the Heart of the Full Moon" by Ali Farke Toure and Toumani Diabate is spectacular (those artists have accented letters in their names but I don't know how to do that on my keyboard). And Oum is a Moroccan blues group that kind of has to be heard to be believed. I'm just starting my journey into the many varied African blues that exist and I hope you like these as much as I do.

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