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

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 Kon�; 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 Kon� 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 Odienn�, 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; Baoul�, 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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SHOWCASE VIDEO AND SONG LYRICS: ALPHA BLONDY - JERUSALEM live



Marvin Mulenga,Published on Jul 18, 2012

JERUSALEM LYRICS
Barouh atat adonai (barouh atat adonai)
Barouh aba yeroushalaim (barouh aba yeroushalaim)

From the bible to the coran
Revelation in jerusalem
Shalom salamalekoum
You can see christians, jews, and muslins
Living together and praying amen
Let's gives thanks and praises

Barouh atat adonai
Barouh aba yeroushalaim
Barouh atat adonai
Barouh aba yeroushalaim
Jerusalem here i am
Jerusalem je t'aime
Jerusalem here i am
Jerusalem je t'aime

Israela yakirati
Israela yakirati
Ani ohev otarh
Israela yakirati

Israela yakirati
Israela yakirati
Israela yakirati
Ani ohev otarh
Israela yakirati

From the bible to the coran
Revelation time
Shalom salamalekoum
You can see christians, jews, and muslins
Living together and praying amen
Let's gives thanks and praises

Israela yakirati
Israela yakirati
Ani ohev otarh
Israela yakirati

Israela yakirati
Israela yakirati
Israela yakirati
Ani ohev otarh
Israela yakirati

Jerusalem here i am
Jerusalem je t'aime
Jerusalem here i am
Jerusalem je t'aime

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ALPHA BLONDY -JERUSALEM (in English only, except for the place name "Jerusalem" and the Hebrew word "amen"; The words in brackets are unspoken, but what I believe completes 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 Y�ROUSHALAIM.
(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: ???? ??? ?' ??????, ??? ?????...
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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