Misirlou
Jan August Lyrics
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Natives kneel in prayer by their caravans.
There, silhouetted under and eastern star,
I see my long lost blossom of shalimar
You, Misirlou, Are the moon and the sun, fairest one.
We'll find our Kismet, answering love's command.
You, Misirlou, are a dream of delight in the night.
To an oasis, sprinkled by stars above,
Heaven will guide us, Allah will bless our love.
The lyrics of Jan August's Misirlou describe a romantic, exotic scene in a desert setting where the singer is searching for his long-lost love, the Misirlou. The first stanza sets the scene, with shadows creeping across purple sands and natives praying by their caravans. The second stanza introduces the Misirlou, who is silhouetted under an eastern star. The singer sees the Misirlou as both the moon and the sun, the fairest one. The third stanza continues the search, with old temple bells calling across the sand and the singer confident that they will find their true love, guided by heaven and blessed by Allah.
The song is full of symbolism and captures the allure of the exotic, unknown world of the Middle East. The purple sands, caravans, temple bells, and Allah all evoke a sense of mysticism and enchantment. The Misirlou is the embodiment of this mystery and beauty, an ideal of perfection that the singer longs for. The lyrics suggest that love can conquer all obstacles, even in a harsh and unforgiving environment like the desert.
Line by Line Meaning
Desert shadows creep across purple sands.
The setting of the song is the desert, amidst which shadows are making their way in a creeping manner, through the sand dunes that have a unique purple appearance.
Natives kneel in prayer by their caravans.
The people who inhabit the desert are often seen offering their prayers, and at this very moment, some of them are bowing down before their caravans.
There, silhouetted under and eastern star, I see my long lost blossom of shalimar
A silhouette of someone is visible under the star of the east, and the singer recognizes them to be his long-lost love, the flower of shalimar.
You, Misirlou, Are the moon and the sun, fairest one.
Misirlou, the person the song is dedicated to, is someone who embodies the qualities of both the moon and the sun, making them the most beautiful and fairest of them all.
Old temple bells are calling across the sand.
A distant sound of temple bells can be heard, which appears to be calling out from across the desert terrain.
We'll find our Kismet, answering love's command.
The singer is hopeful that their fate, also known as Kismet, is leading them towards love, and that their affection is the rightful answer to the call of destiny.
You, Misirlou, are a dream of delight in the night.
Misirlou is a dreamlike vision of pure joy and bliss, especially when the darkness of night surrounds them.
To an oasis, sprinkled by stars above, Heaven will guide us, Allah will bless our love.
As they journey towards an oasis, they believe that the heavens and Allah are watching over them, and will bless their love and union for eternity.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Fred Wise, Jose Pina, Milton Leeds, Nicholas Roubanis, Sidney Russell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@michaelmonnat5654
I recently acquired a copy of Tango of the Roses on this label by the same artist which is numbered 2078. I have seen the Canadian pressing of that record but not on this label. Copy is in great shape but have not seen it listed. Just curious as to what year it might have been released. Keep up the awesome job. The first recordings group is just mind blowing. Thanks again for the great job you do. Has to be a labor of love.
@the78prof72
Thank you for the kind words, Michael. Yes, my lifetime hobby provides a very pleasant retirement activity. August appears to have re-recorded "Tango Of The Roses" for Mercury in 1950, but the Diamond release was from 1947 (April, according to this archive.org posting https://archive.org/details/78_tango-of-the-roses_jan-august-rhythm-stylists_gbia0035176b )
@boniek1982
Love it, so glad I found this
@eugeneobrien9064
this boy’s got potential!
@cliffford
You should have a playlist pairing originals with reinterpretations.; this and Dick Dale.
@Forthelemon
This isn't the original; it's an old Arabic folk song
@jamestheredenginefan5268
@Forthelemon Yes, yes it is.
@Forthelemon
@JamesTheRedEngineFan5 it is the original? then what's this? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LW6qGy3RtwY
@zoeuwu7460
@JamesTheRedEngineFan5 No, it absolutely isn't. Its from Greece and is much older
@jamestheredenginefan5268
@Zoe UwU I Remember Someone Telling Me That It Was From Greece And I Am Sorry I Had Forgotten At The Time. How Old Is It? I Think I Remember The Oldest Recording Being From The 1910's - 1920's.