Orphaned Land is a doom/death band at its core, but they are highly influenced by the folk music and tradition of the Oriental Jews (Mizraḥim), making their sound much more progressive than typical doom/death bands. Their album Sahara (1994) was the first to include a combination of death metal and traditional oriental music. In their second album El Norra Alila (1996), Orphaned Land elaborated the combination of metal and oriental music, including the addition of song with traditional oriental Jewish piyyut and Arab melodies. This album conveyed a message of co-existence between Jews and Muslims. Their third album, Mabool (the Hebrew name for the Deluge, depicted in the Bible and Noah's story), 2004, was worked for seven years and takes the combination of doom/death metal, oriental music and biblical issues to a new level. The album tells the story of the seventh son of God (who was divided into three, each one symbolizing one monotheistic religion) which try to warn humanity from a coming flood (deluge) as punishment for their sins. Musically, the album contains oriental instruments, two choruses, traditional Yemenite chants sung by Shlomit Levi and quotes of Biblical verses from the story of the Deluge, read by Kobi Farhi, Orphaned Land's vocalist and one of its founders. The level of musical competency displayed in the heavy layering and orchestration combined with the more story-driven, conceptual nature of the album's lyrics as a whole lend a very strong progressive feel to the work.
Band Members:
Kobi Farhi − lead vocals, backing vocals, death growls, chants
Shlomit Levi - female vocals
Matan Shmuely - vocals, session drums
Matti Svatizky − rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar
Uri Zelcha − bass, fretless bass
Yatziv Caspi − drums, percussion
Idan Amsalem – guitars, bouzouki
Former Band Members:
Eran Asias − drums
Sami Bachar − drums
Avi Diamond − session drums
Itzik Levy − keyboards
Eden Rabin − keyboards, backing vocals
Yatziv Caspi - session drums
Avi Agababa - session drums
Yossi Sa'aron (Sassi) - guitars, oud, saz, bouzouki, chumbush, backing vocals
Sapari
Orphaned Land Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sapari nogil batemo
Sapari nogil batemo
Bat melokim hahakomo
On makomeh sapari li
On makomeh sapari li
Sapari tomo temimo
Sapari nogil batemo
Onato yeno sa'adio li bafalterin aliyo
Li bafalterin aliyo
Va'ani toh lev annyo bayofi e'to me'ili
Bayofi e'to me'ili
Sapari, Sapari, Sapari tomo temimo
Sapari nogil batemo
Sapari nogil batemo
It soared from the ark, the dove within me
It sings forever, it flies free
I call to thee, my torch in darkness, thou art born
Ornaments of gold shine so bright
You are the way, you are the light
I dwell in this my shelter and thy birth do I foresee
Sapari tomo temimo
Sapari nogil batemo
Sapari nogil batemo
Bat melokim hahakomo
On makomeh sapari li
On makomeh sapari li
Onato yeno sa'adio li bafalterin aliyo
Li bafalterin aliyo
Va'ani toh lev annyo bayofi e'to me'ili
Bayofi e'to me'ili
Sapari, Sapari, Sapari tomo temimo
Sapari nogil batemo
Sapari nogil batemo
The lyrics of Orphaned Land’s song “Sapari” are complex and multi-layered, drawing upon religious symbolism and poetic metaphor to explore themes of redemption and spirituality. The repetition of the phrase “Sapari tomo temimo” creates a hypnotic and trance-like effect, as if the singer is invoking a divine presence or speaking in tongues. The imagery of the dove, which “soared from the ark” within the singer, is a symbol of hope and reconciliation, suggesting that even in times of darkness and despair, there is always the possibility of renewal and transcendence.
The lines “Onato yeno sa’adio li bafalterin aliyo” and “Va’ani toh lev annyo bayofi e’to me’ili” evoke the mystical tradition of Kabbalah, with its emphasis on divine unity and the interconnectivity of all things. The reference to “ornaments of gold” suggests an otherworldly beauty and richness, beyond the material realm. The final lines of the song, “I dwell in this my shelter and thy birth do I foresee,” suggest a sense of groundedness and rootedness, as if the singer has found a place of safety and belonging within their own being, and is attuned to the unfolding of the universe.
Overall, “Sapari” is a powerful and evocative song that speaks to the longing for spiritual connection and the possibility of redemption, even in the midst of turmoil and chaos.
Line by Line Meaning
Sapari tomo temimo
The melody resonates within my soul
Sapari nogil batemo
The rhythm moves my body
Sapari nogil batemo
The rhythm moves my body
Bat melokim hahakomo
Like a divine message, it illuminates everything
On makomeh sapari li
I find my place in this melody
On makomeh sapari li
I find my place in this melody
Onato yeno sa'adio li bafalterin aliyo
I see a new light, among the fickle butterflies
Li bafalterin aliyo
Among the fickle butterflies
Va'ani toh lev annyo bayofi e'to me'ili
My heart is your temple, your beauty guides me
Bayofi e'to me'ili
Your beauty guides me
Sapari, Sapari, Sapari tomo temimo
The melody resonates within my soul
Sapari nogil batemo
The rhythm moves my body
Sapari nogil batemo
The rhythm moves my body
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing, Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Written by: ALON MIASNIKOV, KOBI FARHI, MATTI SVATIZKI, STEVEN JOHN WILSON, URI ZELHA, YOSSI SASSI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@anas77xd
@Protton no they don't bro
Firstly they are all Israelis and 99% of israelis are jew
Secondly you can know their religions by their name
The lead singer is
Kobi Farhi :jew
Female singer:shlomit levi :Jew
Bassett :Uri Zelcha: Jew
Drummer:Mattan Shmuely :jew
Guitarists:yossi sassi, matti svatizki and both are jew
I come from middle east and i know the Christian, Jewish and muslim names
Btw i don't care about their religion
They don't hate others and have peace for all so i respect them so much
@suhflor34
Sapari tama temima sapari nagil beteima.
Sapari nagil beteima...
Bat melokhim hakhahoma on mekomekh sapari li
On Mekomekh Sapari li...
Sapari tama temima sapari nagil beteima.
Sapari nagil beteima...
Anta...
Anta yona se-adya li befaletrin aliyah
Li befaletrin aliyah
Anta..
Va'ani tokh lev aniyah beyofi ota me'ili
Aniyah beyofi ota me'ili
Sapari, Sapari
Sapari tama temima sapari nagil beteima
Sapari nagil beteima
It soared from the ark the dove within me
It sings forever, it flies free
I call to thee my torch in darkness, thou art born
Ornaments of gold shine so bright
You are the way, you are the light
I dwell in this my shelter and thy birth do I foresee
Sapari tama temima sapari nagil beteima
Sapari nagil beteima
Bat melokhim hakhahoma on mekomekh sapari li
On mekomekh sapari li
Anta yona se-adya li befaletrin aliyah
Li befaletrin aliyah
Anta...
Anta va'ani tokh lev aniyah beyofi ota me'ili
Aniyah beyofi ota me'ili
Anta...
Anta yona se-adya li befaletrin aliyah
Li befaletrin aliyah...
Anta..
Va'ani tokh lev aniyah beyofi ota me'ili
Sapari, Sapari,
Sapari tama temima sapari nagil beteima
Sapari nagil beteima
@LionMetalMusic-videochannel
lyrics:
[Hebrew]
סַפְּרִי תַמָּה תְמִימָה סַפְּרִי נָגִיל בְּתֵימָא
בּת מְלָכִים הַחֲכָמָה אָן מְקוֹמֵךְ סַפְּרִי לִי
עָנְתָה יוֹנָה סְעַדְיָה לִי בְּפַלְטֵרִין עֲלִיָּה
וַאֲנִי תּוֹךְ לֵב אֳנִיָּה בַּיְּפִי עוֹטָה מְעִילִי
[Romanization:]
Sapari tomo temimo
Sapari nogil batemo
Sapari nogil batemo
Bat melokim hahakomo
On makomeh sapari li
On makomeh sapari li
Sapari tomo temimo
Sapari nogil batemo
Sapari nogil batemo
Onato yeno sa'adio li bafalterin aliyo
Li bafalterin aliyo
Va'ani toh lev annyo bayofi e'to me'ili
Bayofi e'to me'ili
Sapari - Sapari - Sapari tomo temimo
Sapari nogil batemo
Sapari nogil batemo
[English:]
Tell me, pure and perfect one
Tell me so that we may rejoice here in Taima
O wise princess, tell me where do you make your home?
(The Dove) Saadiah, there is a high chamber reserved for me in the palace
But though I could robe myself in beauty, my heart is full of lamentation
It soared from the ark, the dove within me
It sings forever, it flies free
I call to thee, my torch in darkness, thou art born
Ornaments of gold shine so bright
You are the way, you are the light
I dwell in this my shelter and thy birth do I foresee
@yonit45
אני נהנת ומתרגשת כל פעם מחדש כשאני שומעת את שירתכם מזכיר לי את הבית..עיבוד נפלא..יישר כוח
@rottingchrist2292
I am from Cuba 🇨🇺. and we have heard Orphaned Land for more than 20 years...I love their music
@stingq8kw501
I am muslim and i love orphan land....the music unit us
@BBMetalKing
Let the music always unite us all! \m/
@Asrim
There're Christians, Jews and Muslims in the band.
@anas77xd
Nacho Alonso they are all Jews
@CZProtton
@Anas Al-abseh What? No they aint... the lead singer wears a cross and is Christian I believe, not sure who is muslim and who is jew but I know that they have all 3 religions in there.
@anas77xd
@Protton no they don't bro
Firstly they are all Israelis and 99% of israelis are jew
Secondly you can know their religions by their name
The lead singer is
Kobi Farhi :jew
Female singer:shlomit levi :Jew
Bassett :Uri Zelcha: Jew
Drummer:Mattan Shmuely :jew
Guitarists:yossi sassi, matti svatizki and both are jew
I come from middle east and i know the Christian, Jewish and muslim names
Btw i don't care about their religion
They don't hate others and have peace for all so i respect them so much
@israelabrao1313
I am Brazilian, my ancestors are Jews / Arabs from Syria. My love for metal and my curiosity about my origins brought me here. That was about 4 years ago. Here is my total respect for the band. And my wish that we can all be together, Muslims and Jews ... after all, we are one.
@Mo-Assaf
Greeting from Latakia/Syria bro💝