Erev Shel Shoshanim
Harry Belafonte Lyrics

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Erev shel shoshanim
Nitzeh na el habustan
Mor, besamim ulevana
L\'raglech miftan.

Laila yored le\'at
Veru\'ach shoshan noshvak,
Havah elchash lach shir balat

Zemer shel ahava.

Shachar homa yonah,
Roshech ma\'ale t\'lalim
Pich el haboker shoshana
Ektefenu li.

Laila yored le\'at
Veru\'ach shoshan noshvak,

Havah elchash lach shir balat
Zemer shel ahava.

Overall Meaning

The first verse of Harry Belafonte's "Erev Shel Shoshanim" describes a beautiful evening among the roses, inviting the listener to come join in the fragrant garden of myrtle, spice, and moonbeams. The words "Nitzeh na el habustan" request an affectionate "come" to the garden of roses. The second verse follows the garden invitation into the night where the scent of the rose-scented breeze and the melody of a love song enchant the senses. The third verse references a morning dove and the climbing rose-colored sky as the singer implores the person to bring her a rose from the morning garden, to hold her close.

The song is a traditional Israeli love song that has been covered and arranged in various musical styles over time, yet the loving theme of the song always comes through clearly. The lyrics of the song were written by the Israeli poet Moshe Dor in 1957, and the melody was composed by the prolific Israeli composer Yosef Hadar. It has become a staple of Jewish weddings, and the song's title, "Erev Shel Shoshanim," means "Evening of Roses" in Hebrew.

Line by Line Meaning

Erev shel shoshanim
This is the evening of roses

Nitzeh na el habustan
Please let us go to the garden

Mor, besamim ulevana
Myrrh, spices, and incense are in the air

L'raglech miftan.
Unlock your perfumed tresses

Laila yored le'at
The night descends slowly

Veru'ach shoshan noshvak,
While the scent of roses awakens

Havah elchash lach shir balat
Come, let us hear the ballad

Zemer shel ahava.
The song of love.

Shachar homa yonah,
The dawn rises, a dove coos

Roshech ma'ale t'lalim
Your hair is wreathed in dewdrops

Pich el haboker shoshana
Open to me, my love, like a rose at dawn