Wannes van de Velde (born Willy Cecile Johannes Van de Velde) was a Belgian… Read Full Bio ↴Wannes van de Velde (born Willy Cecile Johannes Van de Velde) was a Belgian singer, musician, poet and artist who sang mainly in Antwerp dialect. Born on the 29th of April in 1937 he was affected by World War 2, although his childhood was filled with music. He grew up to be an accomplished "Kleinkunst" singer, singing about his neighbourhood, his City, Antwerp.
Wannes was a very good flamenco player as well, and did regular performances all over the Flanders together with Spanish colleagues and flamenco dancers.
Wannes Van de Velde passed away on November 10, 2008.

Al Kol Eleh
Wannes Van de Velde Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Al kol eleh (m. Ora Sittner)
Orig.: Naomi Shemer
Al hadevash v'al haoketz
al hamar vehamatok
al bitenu hatinoket
shmor E-li hatov

Al haesh hamevóeret

al hamayim hazakim
al haish hashav habayta
min hamerchakim

Al kol eleh, al kol eleh
shmor na li, E-li hatov
al hadevash v'al haoketz
al hamar vehamatok

Al na taakor natua
al tishkach et hatikva
hashiveni Ve'ashuva
el ha'aretz hatova

Goeie God wörd ier gezoenge
oud ons vaer van angst en pijn
lot de koêre van den oorlog
uitgezoenge zijn

Mor al kan ek et begrijpe
zoe e redelijk gebed
ginne god eed oêt ne wêreldbol
in braend gezet

't Zen de mense, die et zoe wense
nor de zede van den tijd
militaire, ebbe gewere
die ze laje vör de strijd

Merashresh ilan baruach
Merachok noshar kochav
Mishalot libi bachoshech
Nirshamot achshav

Ana shmor li al kole eleh
Ve'al ahuvey nafshi
Al hasheket al a bechi
Ve'al zeh hashir

Al kol eleh, al kol eleh
shmor na li, E-li hatov
al hadevash v'al haoketz
al hamar vehamatok

Al na taakor natua
al tishkach et hatikva
hashiveni Ve'ashuva
el ha'aretz hatova

Al kol eleh, al kol eleh
shmor na li, E-li hatov

al hadevash v'al haoketz
al hamar vehamatok

Overall Meaning

The song Al Kol Eleh is a plea to God to protect and watch over all of the beautiful and difficult things in the world. The opening lines ask for protection over both the sweetness and bitterness of life, exemplified by honey and thorns. The singer then asks for protection over the infant in the cradle, representing the innocence and vulnerability of youth. As the song goes on, the lyrics become more specific, asking for protection over the fire and water, the man returning home from afar, and finally a plea for the return of the people to the good land they were promised. The repeating refrain of "Al kol eleh, shmor na li, E-li hatov" ("over all of these, please keep watch, God, who is good") reinforces the theme of protection and trust in God's goodness.

Overall, the song captures the beauty and suffering of life and the belief in a higher power to protect and guide us through it. The original Hebrew version was written by Naomi Shemer, but Wannes Van De Velde's version featured here is a translation from the Hebrew by Ora Sittner. The lyrics have been translated into many languages and have become a beloved and widely covered folk song.

Line by Line Meaning

Al hadevash v'al haoketz
On the honey and the sting

al hamar vehamatok
On the bitter and the sweet

al bitenu hatinoket
On our daughter's belly

shmor E-li hatov
Guard them, O good God

Al haesh hamevóeret
On the burning fire

al hamayim hazakim
On the strong water

al haish hashav habayta
On the returning soldier

min hamerchakim
From far away lands

Al kol eleh, al kol eleh
On all these things, on all these things

shmor na li, E-li hatov
Guard them for me, O good God

Al na taakor natua
Do not uproot what has been planted