She met Abi Ofarim, a guitarist and dancer, in 1959 and subsequently married him. With her husband and without him she began to sing Hebrew and international folk songs.
In 1960 Esther got a small role in the film Exodus. In 1961 Esther won the Song Festival in Tel Aviv, where she sang "Saeni imcha bemachol" and "Neama". Two years later, Esther made the 2nd place at the Eurovision Song Contest with "T'en vas pas", representing Switzerland.
From then on, her duo with her then husband Abi Ofarim began take off. In 1966 they had their first hit in Germany with "Noch einen Tanz". Their greatest success in Germany was "Morning of my Life" in 1967, which was written by the Bee Gees. In 1968 the Ofarims had their international breakthrough with "Cinderella Rockefella", which hit the top of the charts in a number of countries including the UK. They played many live concerts in New York and London, and in 1969 they toured around the world.
As result of problems in both business, and personal relations, they divorced in 1970 [1] (in German).
Esther started her solo career with several albums and concerts. In 1984 she played in Joshua Sobol's piece "Ghetto", produced by Peter Zadek in Berlin (Germany). There she sang some songs, including "Frühling" and "Unter deinen weissen Sternen". The play was extremely successful, which was attributed in part to Esther's strong presence.
Since 1998, Esther Ofarim has been performing several concerts each year, especially in Israel and Germany. This includes annual concerts in the Hamburger Kammerspiele.
Ofarim's songs were prominently featured in the 2004 Israeli film, Walk on Water.
My Lagan Love
Esther Ofarim Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There blows a lily fair
The twilight gleam is in her eye
The night is on her hair
And like a love-sick lennan-shee
She has my heart in thrall
Nor life I owe nor liberty
For love is lord of all.
And often when the beetle′s horn
Hath lulled the eve to sleep
I steal unto her shieling lorn
And thru the dooring peep.
There on the cricket's singing stone,
She spares the bogwood fire,
And hums in sad sweet undertone
The songs of heart′s desire
Nor life I owe nor liberty
For love is lord of all.
For love is lord of all.
Esther Ofarim's "My Lagan Love" tells the story of a man who has fallen under the spell of a beautiful, mysterious woman who lives by the Lagan stream. The imagery used in the lyrics is poetic and evocative. The "twilight gleam" in the woman's eye and the "night" in her hair suggest a woman who is both ethereal and enchanting. The man is entranced by her and says that she has his heart in her thrall, he is willing to give up his liberty and even his life for love. The song ends with a haunting reminder that love is the most powerful force of all.
The song is based on an old Irish folk song and has been covered by many artists over the years. Esther Ofarim's version, however, is perhaps one of the most beautiful and haunting. The melody is simple yet powerful, with Ofarim's angelic voice carrying the lyrics forward in a way that is both soothing and enchanting.
Interestingly, the Lagan river mentioned in the song is a real river in Ireland, and the song itself is believed to be about a woman who lived by the river and was known for her beauty and enchanting voice. The song's popularity has made it an important part of Irish culture, and it is often played at weddings and other important events.
Line by Line Meaning
Where Lagan stream sings lullaby
The peaceful melody of the Lagan stream brings calmness and tranquility to the surrounding environment.
There blows a lily fair
A beautiful and delicate lily flower sways gently in the breeze, adding to the natural beauty of the surroundings.
The twilight gleam is in her eye
The light of dusk reflects in her eyes, creating a serene and dreamy atmosphere around her.
The night is on her hair
Darkness blankets her hair, adding to the mysterious and enchanting aura that surrounds her.
And like a love-sick lennan-shee
She is like a mythical fairy creature who is deeply in love and under a spell.
She has my heart in thrall
I am completely captivated and in love with her, unable to resist her charm and beauty.
Nor life I owe nor liberty
I am willing to give up everything, including my freedom and life, for the sake of love.
For love is lord of all.
Love is the supreme ruler and most important force in the universe that can conquer and overcome any obstacle.
And often when the beetle's horn
During the peaceful evenings, when the beetles chirp in the background,
Hath lulled the eve to sleep
As the night falls, and everything else has gone to sleep,
I steal unto her shieling lorn
I sneak up to her small hut, which is hidden and isolated,
And thru the dooring peep.
And peek inside through the small door to catch a glimpse of her.
There on the cricket's singing stone,
Inside her house, she sits on a rock while crickets chirp around her,
She spares the bogwood fire,
She keeps the fire burning with bogwood, which glows and adds warmth to the dark room.
And hums in sad sweet undertone
In a melancholic yet pleasing tone, she sings the songs of love and passion.
The songs of heart's desire
The music she sings is of the intense yearning and longing for love and affection.
Nor life I owe nor liberty
I am willing to give up everything, including my freedom and life, for the sake of love.
For love is lord of all.
Love is the supreme ruler and most important force in the universe that can conquer and overcome any obstacle.
For love is lord of all.
Love is the supreme ruler and most important force in the universe that can conquer and overcome any obstacle.
Writer(s): Traditional, Integrity Arranger
Contributed by Alaina A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@brett71jay
This shows how amazing looking Esther was at that time.Quite aparr from that fabulous voice.VERY BEAUTIFUL.
@a7k4k5
A wonderful performance ... explicit after fifty years. Thank you very much!
@grahamdonachie6298
Now...I've heard it sang in perfection...
@carstenhohmann2955
Thanks for every song ESTHER sung
@lyricrogersofficial
What are all the songs that are in "Esther Color"? (I know "Mad about The Boy", "Saturday Night", "The Beat Goes On", "Raetsel", "Kleiner Tambour", and "Down By The River" are in it.)
@conmad24
@jeannie1renee2 all clips are from "Esther Color", 1970 and the last clip is a short interview of it, but nothing interesting.
@friederikescholing-kamps3549
Ich bin sicher, den Clip hat Charles Wilp gedreht.