Karbasi sings in Ladino, Spanish, Hebrew, and - on rarer occasions - English. She is directly descended from both Moroccan and Persian Jews, and is a fan of Flamenco, which provides a strong flavour throughout all her songs. Her early musical performances were with Pena Flamenca in Jerusalem, and her mother played Moroccan piyyutim (liturgical poems) and sang Andalucian Jewish ballads at their home. She continues to be a constant influence on her daughter.
Karbasi's group performed at their first WOMAD festival at Charlton Park in 2007, and BBC Radio 3 World Routes immediately broadcast three of their songs.
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Shecharhoret
Mor Karbasi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
tzach haya ori
umilahat shemesh kayitz
va'ani shechori
shecharchoret
yafyafit kol kach
be'einayich esh bo'eret
shecharchoret yikre'uni
kol yordei hayam
im od pa'am yikre'uni
shuv elech itam
shecharchoret yikre'eni
ben le'av molech
im od pa'am yikre'uni
acharav elech
The lyrics to Mor Karbasi's song Shecharchoret describe the intense and passionate love that the singer feels for her beloved. In the first verse, she describes the contrast between her darkness (shechori) and her lover's light (tzach haya ori). Despite this contrast, the singer still feels a strong connection to her lover, likening herself to the "dawn" (shecharchoret) that is present in the morning skies.
The second verse continues with this theme of the singer's dark beauty, describing how her eyes burn like fire (be'einayich esh bo'eret) and her heart belongs entirely to her lover (libi kulo shelach). The singer also speaks of her desire to be with her beloved always, urging him to call her back to him if they are ever separated.
The final verse speaks of the singer's unwavering loyalty to her beloved, pledging to follow him wherever he goes (acharav elech). The use of the phrase "ben le'av molech" (son of a king) suggests that the beloved may be someone in a position of power or royalty, adding to the intensity and depth of the love described in the song.
Overall, the lyrics to Shecharchoret are a beautiful expression of the singer's profound love and devotion to her beloved, highlighting the power of passion and connection even in the face of contrasts and differences.
Line by Line Meaning
shecharchoret yikre'uni
Call me the night
tzach haya ori
My light was shining
umilahat shemesh kayitz
And the summer sun was filling
va'ani shechori
But I am black
shecharchoret
Night
yafyafit kol kach
So beautiful that
be'einayich esh bo'eret
In your eyes a fire burns
libi kulo shelach
My whole heart is yours
shecharchoret yikre'uni
Call me the night
kol yordei hayam
All who go down to the sea
im od pa'am yikre'uni
Call me again
shuv elech itam
Come to them again
shecharchoret yikre'eni
Call me the night
ben le'av molech
Under the heart of the king
im od pa'am yikre'uni
Call me again
acharav elech
And come after me
Contributed by Chloe N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Himada sama
@deniz nü
esmer kız,
bana tenimin bembeyaz olduğunu söylediler,
yaz güneşinin ateşinden ben esmerim
------
esmer kız,
olağanüstü güzel,
gözlerinde yanan bir ateş,
yüreğim senin
------
esmer kız,
tüm denizle karşılaşanlar bana seslendi,
şayet tekrar çağırırlarsa yine onlarla gidicem,
------
esmer kız,
egemen krala oğul,
eğer o yeniden seslenirse bana,
onu takip edicem
Hagai Tregerman
MORENICA
Morenica mi me llaman
yo blanca naci
y del sol del en el verano
yo ni hice ansi
Morenica graziozicazos
Y tu morena y yo grazioso y ojos
Pretos tu
Morenica mi me llaman
El hijo del rey
Si otra ves a mi me llaman
Ma vo con el
Morenica Graziozicaizos
Y tu morena y yo grazioiso y ojos
Preytos tu
Morenica mi me llaman
Los marineros
Si otra vez a mi me llaman
Me vo con ellos
Morenica Graziozicazos
Y tu morena y yo grazioso y ojos
Preytos tu
Translation:
They call me the dark one
but I was not born this way
My skin was white.
The sun has darkened me,
Tell me dark one, will you not
come with me.
mano brown
Morena assim me chamam, mas eu branca nasci, mas com o sol do verão morena fiquei.
Moreninha graciosa és, e você morena e seus lindos olhos pretos.
Moreninha assim me chama o filho do rei, se outra vez assim me chamar eu vou com ele.
Moreninha graciosa és e você morena e seus lindos olhos pretos.
Morena assim me chamam os marinheiros, se outra vez assim me chamarem, eu vou com eles.
Shimshon Karbasi
The dark girl, they call me
my skin was pure white
from the fire of the summer sun
I am dark
Chorus:
Dark girl
so very beautiful
in your eyes - a burning fire
my heart is all yours
The dark girl, they call me
all those who go down to the sea
if again they call me
I will go with them again
The dark girl, they call me
son to the ruling king
if he calls me again
I will follow him
Irene Tanzman
Surely, Ofra Haza must be smiling from heaven when Mor Kabasi sings this song.
Belle Epoque
Another one of my favourites is Esther Ofarim's
Eddy Aldana
@ayudame jebus es totalmente diferente tonos de voz diferente una de la otra Clara y dulce la voz de ofra haza !!
Eddy Aldana
In particular Ofra haza version is my favorite , the voice more clear and sweet!! ❤️ nobody compares like her Angel voice !!
Sabrina Moskowitz
@g87200 thanks. I have it saved on my old ipod. Too bad we are not allowed to.play music at work anymore. Still, these two versions are my faves.
Tales From The Caravanserai
Born in 1986, Mor Karbasi's heritage is Persian/Moroccan, she was born in Jerusalem and currently resides in Seville after five years in London and The Beauty and The Sea is one amazing recording.
Thunder
Her heritage is jewish. Does not matter where she or her parents were born.
What does her grandfather say? "The blood remembers!"
ibnalar1
Precioso. Muchas gracias. No obstante, aún me gusta más cuando canta en ladino. (en esta canción lo hace en la seguda parte). Impresionante voz. Es una verdadera pena que no sea más conocida en España. Es un modelo a imitar. También se ha de reconocer la valía de los músicos que la acompañan.
Tia twain
amazing voice.. I am Syrian and adore Sephardic musical heritage.. I would love to attend one of your concerts
sidney si
Tomara que ela chegue perto do que foi Ofra Haza, inesquecível ,linda,voz angelical, única, RIP