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Monday, May 22, 2017

English Translations For Non-English Words In Alpha Blondy's Reggae Song "Jerusalem"




Alpha Blondy, June 19, 2020 [first recorded in 1986]
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Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post showcases the Reggae song "Jerusalem" by Alpha Blondy.

Information about Alpha Blondy is also included in this post along with video, song lyrics, and English translations of the non-English words in his 1986 song "Jerusalem".

The content of this post is presented for religious, cultural, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Alpha Blondy for his musical legacy. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of these examples on YouTube examples.

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INFORMATION ABOUT ALPHA BLONDY
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpha_Blondy
Alpha Blondy (born Seydou Koné; 1 January 1953 in Dimbokro,[1] Ivory Coast) is a reggae singer and international recording artist. Many of his songs are politically and socially motivated, and are mainly sung in his native language of Dioula, French and in English, though he occasionally uses other languages, for example, Arabic or Hebrew.

Childhood
First son of a family of eight children, Seydou Koné was raised by his grandmother, growing up in what he described as "among elders", which later was to have a big impact on his career. In 1962, Alpha Blondy went to join his father in Odienné, where he spent ten years, attended Sainte Elisabeth High School, and was involved in the Ivory Coast students movement. He formed a band in high school, but this hobby affected his schooling and he was expelled due to poor attendance. His parents sent him to study English in Monrovia, the capital city of neighboring country Liberia in 1973. He spent thirteen months there and moved to the United States to improve his English.[2]

College in the USA
In 1974, Seydou moved to New York where he majored in English at Hunter College, and later in the Columbia University American Language Program because he wanted to be a teacher. In New York he met Rastafarians for the first time, and was also able to see concerts by Jamaican artists such as Burning Spear. Seydou was involved in multiple altercations in New York and returned to the Ivory Coast, where he got into even more trouble until he met up with one of his childhood friends, Fulgence Kassi, who had become a noted television producer. This was the beginning of his real career as a musician, and he began to use the name "Alpha Blondy".[3]

Musical career
After various TV shows for Kassi, Blondy recorded his first solo album in 1982, entitled Jah Glory. This album was to have enormous success and would become later a symbol of resistance because of the song "Brigadier Sabari," which documents his experience of being arrested in Abidjan in the 1980s and his subsequent mistreatment by the police.[4] Alpha Blondy became a big star in Abidjan with his African twist of Reggae music, becoming in the eyes of his fans "the Bob Marley of Africa".[5] Alpha Blondy is spiritual, political and positive just like Marley himself, and recorded a cover of Bob Marley's song "War". In order to reach more people with his message, he chose to sing in many languages: English; French; Baoulé, and his native language – Dioula.[5] Later, he also brought new instrumentation to his brand of reggae such as the violin and cello."...

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SONG LYRICS: ALPHA BLONDY - JERUSALEM 
Israela yakirati
Israela yakirati

Ani ohev otach
Israela yakirati

Israela yakirati
Israela yakirati
Israela yakirati

Ani ohev otach

Israela yakirati


[Pont]
From the Bible to the Coran
Revelation time
Shalom salamalekoum
You can see christians, Jews, and muslims
Living together and praying Amen
Let's gives thanks and praises

[Refrain]
Baroukh ata Adonaï

Barouh haba Yeroushalaim

Barouh ata Adonaï

Barouh haba Yeroushalaim

Jerusalem here I am
Jérusalem je t'aime
Jerusalem here I am
Jérusalem je t'aime
Israela yakirati
Israela yakirati

Ani ohev otach

Israela yakirati

[Couplet 2]
Israela yakirati
Israela yakirati
Israela yakirati

Ani ohev otach

Israela yakirati


Jerusalem here I am
Jérusalem je t'aime
Jerusalem here I am
Jérusalem je t'aime

https://genius.com/Alpha-blondy-jerusalem-lyrics


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ALPHA BLONDY -JERUSALEM (in English translation, except for the place name "Jerusalem" and the Hebrew word "amen"; The words in brackets are unspoken, but  I believe those words complete those particular lyrics)

Blessed are You, Lord.
Blessed is the one who comes [to] Jerusalem.
Blessing are You, Lord.
Blessed is the one who comes [to] Jerusalem.

From the Bible to the Koran, [it is said that]
Revelation [occurs] in Jerusalem
Peace, Peace be unto you.
You can see Christians, Jews, and Muslims [in Jerusalem]
Living together and praying amen.
Let's gives thanks and praises.

Blessed are You, Lord.
Blessed is the one who comes [to] Jerusalem.
Blessing are You Lord.
Blessed is the one who comes [to] Jerusalem.

Jerusalem, here I am.
Jerusalem, I love you.
Jerusalem, here I am.
Jerusalem, I love you.

Dear Israel,
Dear Israel,
Dear Israel,
I love you
Dear Israel.

Dear Israel,
Dear Israel,
Dear Israel,
I love you
Dear Israel.

From the Bible to the Koran [it is said that it is]
Revelation time.
Peace, Peace be unto you.
You can see Christians, Jews, and Muslims
Living together and praying "Amen".
Let's gives thanks and praises.

Dear Israel,
Dear Israel,
Dear Israel,
I love you,
Dear Israel.

Dear Israel,
Dear Israel,
Dear Israel,
I love you,
Dear Israel.

Jerusalem, here I am.
Jerusalem, I love you.
Jerusalem, here I am.
Jerusalem, I love you.

-snip-
I think that the line "Blessed is the one who comes [to] Jerusalem" means "Anyone who comes to Jerusalem is blessed." (i.e. any visitor, and person who moves to Jerusalem). But, at the same time, "the one who comes to Jerusalem" may also be a referent for Jesus.

These translations to English are from the source material given in the next section. Additions, corrections, and comments are welcome.

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ENGLISH MEANINGS FOR NON- ENGLISH WORDS IN ALPHA BLONDY'S SONG "JERUSALEM"
From http://sci.lang.narkive.com/myPdGOOJ/song-lyrics-in-hebrew
[discussion] song lyrics in Hebrew, posted by Raymond Roy, 2004
"Hello all semiticists,

The Ivorian reggae singer Alpha Blondy sings a song called 'Jerusalem',
with lyrics in French, Arabic and Hebrew.

Could someone translate the Hebrew parts for me? ...

Response posted by Peter Daniels, 2004
..."Baruch ata Adonai (blessed are you, Lord)

...
BAROUH ABA YÉROUSHALAIM.
(maybe) Baruch ha-ba' Yerushalaim (blessed is the one who comes,
Jerusalem)

...
SHALOM SALAMALEKOUM.
Heb [Hebrew] (peace) Ar [Arabic] (peace be unto you)"...

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"Barouh atat adonai" (Barukh ata Adonai)
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Jewish_prayers_and_blessings
".... Most [Hebrew] prayers and blessings can be found in the Siddur, or prayer book. This article addresses Jewish liturgical blessings, which generally begin with the formula: ברוך אתה ה' אלהינו, מלך העולם...
Transliteration: Barukh ata Adonai Eloheinu, melekh ha`olam...
Translation: "Blessed are You, LORD our God, King of the universe..."

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"Israela yakirati"
From https://mymemory.translated.net/en/Hebrew/English/israela-yakirati
"yakirati = Querida"
-snip-
Google translate Spanish to English = "Dear"]

ani ohev otach Israel yakirati = Te Amo Querida Israel
-snip-
Google translate Spanish to English = "I love you dear Israel"

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"Ani ohev otarh"
from http://www.wikihow.com/Say-Love-in-Hebrew
Learn the words for love in Hebrew:
"The noun "love" in Hebrew is ahavah, pronounced ah-hah-vah.
The verb "to love" is something different. It changes depending on your gender, and if you are saying "I love you" it changes depending on the gender of the person you are speaking to.
For a female to say "I love" it would be Ani Ohev et (ah-nee oh-hev-et)
For a male to say "I love" it would be Ani Ohev (ah-nee oh-hev)"

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"Jerusalem je t'aime" - [French] Jerusalem I love you

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Visitor comments are welcome

24 comments:

  1. Thank you very much, your informations
    about Alpha Blondy's Jerusalem were very helpful

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're welcome, Michael Janssen.

      I love Alpha Blondy's song "Jerusalem" and wanted to share this information with others who may have already known this song and those who didn't previously know this song.

      Delete
    2. Where can we find a full English translation of all of his songs? Please!!

      Delete
    3. Hello, LadyM843.

      Here's one link that I found for Alpha Blondy's songs in English: https://lyrics.az/alpha-blondy/dieu/abortion-is-a-crime.html.

      Here's another link from that az lyrics site:
      https://lyrics.az/alpha-blondy/best-of-alpha-blondy/cocody-rock.html.

      Hopefully, there are more English language translations on that site.

      Best wishes!

      Delete
  2. Thanx for the translation now i get the whole taste..#

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi, thank you for the translations. Can I use it in my translating in russian and turkish and mentioned you by putting a link

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for asking, unknown. Yes, I'd appreciate the link to this blog post with your translations.

      Best wishes!

      Delete
  4. This is an amazing blog, thank you so much for doing the work of figuring out the words and the short biography of Alpha Blondy. Did you know that he is very popular in Costa Rica? I will use this information in my middle school class, with your permission.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Unknown.

      I appreciate your compliment. I didn't know that Alpha Blondy was popular in Costa Rica. In contrast, I don't think he is well known in the USA.

      I'm glad that you will use this material in your class. You don't need my permission, but thanks for asking.

      Best wishes!

      Delete
  5. the way i like reggae, this is one of my favorite song.i help to get to know how to learn to speak different language. i love you to Jerusalem

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for your comment, Unknown.

      Please accept my apology for my delay in responding to you. I'm just reading your comment today.

      I agree with you that listening to songs can help people learn another language.

      Best wishes.

      Delete
  6. What a beautiful song for us all .
    Unity for the World AMEN��
    THANK YOU for sharing this to us������

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're welcome, Anonymous.

      My guess is that your question marks were meant to be exclamation marks [!].

      Delete
  7. Please can anyone help me with Alpha Blondy's 'miwa' meaning

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Unknown, here's a translation of this song that I found in French (from the discussion thread for that song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-46-S1QICk&ab_channel=AlphaBlondy53

      Lévi Bohoussou, 2019
      "traduction
      ce chant est en Baoulé, une langue du centre de la Côte d'Ivoire
      (je suppose que c'est une mère qui démontre son amour pour son enfant, dans les paroles qui suivent)
      Mon enfant x 3
      c'est mon c'est mon enfant
      Mon enfant x 3
      est une bonne personne
      s'il fait quelque chose de mal,
      c'est mon enfant
      s'il fait quelque chose de bien
      c'est mon enfant
      s'il devient quelqu'un de mauvais, il est mien
      s'il devient quelqu'un de bien, il est mon sang
      ne le bat pas, ne le touche, n'effraie pas mon enfant
      ne le bat pas, ne le touche, ne gâte pas mon enfant
      ne le bat pas, ne le touche, n'effraie pas mon enfant
      ne le bat pas, ne le touche, ne gâte pas mon enfant
      ne gâte pas mon enfant
      ne gâte pas mon enfant
      ne gâte pas mon enfant
      ne gâte pas mon enfant
      ne gâte pas mon enfant
      ne gâte pas mon enfant

      Delete
    2. Here's the French to English Google translate results for those lyrics.

      Lévi Bohoussou, 2019
      "translation
      this song is in Baoulé, a language from central Ivory Coast
      (I guess it's a mother showing her love for her child, in the lyrics that follow)
      My child x 3
      it's my it's my child
      My child x 3
      is a good person
      if he does something wrong,
      it's my child
      if he does something good
      it's my child
      if he becomes someone bad, he is mine
      if he becomes a good person, he is my blood
      don't beat it, don't touch it, don't scare my child
      don't beat him, don't touch him, don't spoil my child
      don't beat it, don't touch it, don't scare my child
      don't beat him, don't touch him, don't spoil my child
      don't spoil my child
      don't spoil my child
      don't spoil my child
      don't spoil my child
      don't spoil my child
      don't spoil my child"

      Delete
  8. Dear Azizi, thank you so much for this translation. It’s wonderful to learn more about our favourite songs. I wonder if you can help me with a translation of my favourite Alpha Blondy song- Brigadier Sabari? I think it refers to a time when Seydou Koné suffered abuse by the police during an arrest in Abidjan, I would love to know what his lyrics mean in the song, it has such a powerful sound. Thanks for all you do to help people over the world unite with music and meaning! - Z

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello, Anonymous. Thanks for your comment and thanks for your compliment. I appreciate it.

      Here's some information that I found about that Alpha Bondy song:

      Alpha Blondy - Brigadier Sabari-Live -Lyris& English translation

      Osama Mana, July 9, 2018

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfXK53WzLnQ

      English lyrics=

      It's not good to walk at night

      If your papers are not complete

      It's not good to be a bandit

      Honesty is better

      Punch operation
      Operation punch yeh!
      Punch operation
      Operation punch yeh!

      I said wohouho woyo yohi

      Pardon Brigadier

      I said Ouch Ouch Ouch Ouch

      Pardon Brigadier

      I said o my god!

      Pardon Brigadier

      I said Sanganan Pati!

      It will not happen to me anymore

      It's not good to be a brigand my friend

      Honesty is better

      It's not good to walk at night

      If your papers are not complete"
      end of quote

      Best wishes!

      Delete
    2. Thank you so much! It’s so good to finally understand the lyrics! Such a brilliant song. Please continue doing what you do Azizi :D

      Delete