CHOMOT CHEIMAR

CHOMOT CHEMAR

WALLS OF CLAY

Chomot Cheimar sogrot alayich
Achot ktana chaval alayich
Chomot Cheimar onot batzoret
Achot ktana at lo nizheret

Talya dechuya cherpat ha’eder
At lo shfuya at lo beseder
Lo nichna’at at meshuga’at
Ma at yoda’at al Chomot Cheimar

Einei kotzim rodfot acharayich
Chitzim ratzim beikvotayich
Achat kamoch hi esh oyevet
Mekonenot neshot hashevet

Achot ktana nafshech hatzili
Chomot Cheimar at lo tapili
Lo nichna’at at meshuga’at
Ma at yoda’at al Chomot Cheimar

Walls of Clay confine you
Little sister, pity on you
Walls of Clay, drought seasons
Little sister, you are not being careful

Rejected lamb, disgrace of the herd
You are insane, you are wrong
You don’t give up, you are crazy
What do you know about Walls of Clay?

Sharp eyes follow you
Arrows chase you
Someone like you is enemy fire
Lament the tribe women

Little sister, save yourself
You can’t knock down Walls of Clay
You don’t give up, you are crazy
What do you know about Walls of Clay?

Hebrew words

Note:

Thanks to Jim Rust for helpful discussion.

The lyricist, Rachel Shapira, shared her insight about this song (received through Yom-Tov Ochayon)

“Walls of Clay” is a metaphor for the confines of tradition as reflected in some ethnic societies. The woman in the song tries to break free from those “walls”. Her actions undermine the stability of her traditional society. The community resists her attempts and tries to stop her.

LYRICS

Rachel Shapira

MUSIC

Margalit Tzanani

SINGER

Margalit Tzanani

DANCE CHOREOGRAPHER

Yom Tov Ochayon

DANCE FORMAT

Circle

DANCE

Dance demonstration