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Sapari 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
[Hebrew]
פְּרִי תַמָּה תְמִימָה סַפְּרִי נָגִיל בְּתֵימָא
בַּת 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
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
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
Li bafalterin aliyo
Va'ani toh lev annyo bayofi e'to me'ili
Bayofi e'to me'ili
Sapari nogil batemo
Sapari nogil batemo
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 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
פְּרִי תַמָּה תְמִימָה סַפְּרִי נָגִיל בְּתֵימָא
בַּת 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
Li bafalterin aliyo
Va'ani toh lev annyo bayofi e'to me'ili
Bayofi e'to me'ili
Sapari nogil batemo
Sapari nogil batemo
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
The song is in Yemenite Hebrew (except for the English lines obviously) and is derived from a 400 years old poem written by a Yemenite Jewish writer. The song is supposed to describe the struggle between the poet and his soul, represented by the dove. It is very spiritual and metaphoric in meaning. Like a dialogue between man and soul.
The language is not present day Hebrew, the poem on which the song is based is about 400 years old and in Yemenite Hebrew.
It translates more or less as:
(poet) Tell me, pure and perfect one (talking to the spirit), tell me where do you make your home? Tell me so that we can rejoice here in Taima (which is a spiritually very important city, but also a metaphor for heaven)
(the dove/spirit) Saadiah, there is a chamber high in the palace reserved for me But though I could dress myself in beauty my heart is full of lamentation
Saadiah is the name of the poet.
Turning a 400 years old poem in a defunct language into a multicultural rock song. Orphaned Land alone could do that. This song is epic in so many ways.