I was born a refugee
And I don't know if I'll ever see
The old farmhouse I've heard about
But it's where I belong, there is no doubt
'Cause my whole family is from that farm
And we never did nobody harm
And if you're confused by what you've heard
Let me boil it down to a single word
(Chorus)
I wanna go home...
And I have heard my grandpa say
That on the street most every day
The neighbors' kids would kick a ball
With my dad when he was small
We were Christians, they were Jews
But it was no big deal, religious views
So it was strange when at the point of a gun
Across the river we had to run
(Chorus)
We had dabkeh, we had songs
And we all knew where we belonged
We grew crops, life was good
There in the land where Jesus stood
Now we're scattered everywhere
But there's no peace anywhere
I'm just searching for some kind of sign
For some way back to Palestine
(Chorus)
And I don't know if I'll ever see
The old farmhouse I've heard about
But it's where I belong, there is no doubt
'Cause my whole family is from that farm
And we never did nobody harm
And if you're confused by what you've heard
Let me boil it down to a single word
(Chorus)
I wanna go home...
And I have heard my grandpa say
That on the street most every day
The neighbors' kids would kick a ball
With my dad when he was small
We were Christians, they were Jews
But it was no big deal, religious views
So it was strange when at the point of a gun
Across the river we had to run
(Chorus)
We had dabkeh, we had songs
And we all knew where we belonged
We grew crops, life was good
There in the land where Jesus stood
Now we're scattered everywhere
But there's no peace anywhere
I'm just searching for some kind of sign
For some way back to Palestine
(Chorus)
Contributed by Riccardo Venturi - 2006/1/8 - 22:44
Language: French
Versione Francese di Caroline Harvey
French translation by Caroline Harvey
Version française de Caroline Harvey
http://www.davidrovics.com
French translation by Caroline Harvey
Version française de Caroline Harvey
http://www.davidrovics.com
JE VEUX RENTRER CHEZ MOI
Je suis né réfugié
Et je ne sais pas si je verrai jamais
La vieille ferme dont j’ai entendu parler
Pourtant, c’est là mon foyer, il n’y a pas de doute
Parce que ma famille entière est de cette ferme
Et nous n’avons jamais fait de mal à personne
Et si ce que vous avez entendu vous a rendu confus, confuse
Laissez-moi ramener tout cela à un seul mot
(Chorus)
Je veux rentrer chez-moi
J’ai entendu mon grand-père dire
Que dans les rues pratiquement tous les jours
Les enfants des voisins jouaient à la balle
Avec mon père, quand il était petit
Nous étions Chrétiens, ils étaient Juifs
Mais les croyances religieuses n’avaient pas vraiment d’importance
Alors ça a été très étrange quand, à la pointe du fusil,
Nous avons dû nous mettre à courir vers l’autre côté de la rivière
(Chorus)
Nous avions la dabkeh, nous avions des chansons
Et nous savions tous ce à quoi nous appartenions
Poussaient les récoltes, la vie était bonne
Sur la terre où Jésus a déjà marché
Maintenant nous sommes dispersés un peu partout
Et il n’y a plus de paix nulle part
Je ne cherche plus qu’un signal
Un moyen de retourner en Palestine
(Chorus)
Je suis né réfugié
Et je ne sais pas si je verrai jamais
La vieille ferme dont j’ai entendu parler
Pourtant, c’est là mon foyer, il n’y a pas de doute
Parce que ma famille entière est de cette ferme
Et nous n’avons jamais fait de mal à personne
Et si ce que vous avez entendu vous a rendu confus, confuse
Laissez-moi ramener tout cela à un seul mot
(Chorus)
Je veux rentrer chez-moi
J’ai entendu mon grand-père dire
Que dans les rues pratiquement tous les jours
Les enfants des voisins jouaient à la balle
Avec mon père, quand il était petit
Nous étions Chrétiens, ils étaient Juifs
Mais les croyances religieuses n’avaient pas vraiment d’importance
Alors ça a été très étrange quand, à la pointe du fusil,
Nous avons dû nous mettre à courir vers l’autre côté de la rivière
(Chorus)
Nous avions la dabkeh, nous avions des chansons
Et nous savions tous ce à quoi nous appartenions
Poussaient les récoltes, la vie était bonne
Sur la terre où Jésus a déjà marché
Maintenant nous sommes dispersés un peu partout
Et il n’y a plus de paix nulle part
Je ne cherche plus qu’un signal
Un moyen de retourner en Palestine
(Chorus)
Contributed by Riccardo Venturi - 2006/1/8 - 22:46
Language: Portuguese
Versione portoghese di Ciro Biggi
Portuguese translation by Ciro Biggi
Versão portuguesa por Ciro Biggi
http://www.davidrovics.com
Portuguese translation by Ciro Biggi
Versão portuguesa por Ciro Biggi
http://www.davidrovics.com
QUERO VOLTAR PARA CASA
Nasci refugiado
E não sei se ainda verei
A velha fazenda de que sempre ouvi falar
É o lugar a que pertenço, não há dúvida
Porque é de lá minha família, daquela fazenda
Nunca fizemos mal a ninguém
Se te sentes confuso a respeito do que te dizem
Permita-me que resuma tudo a uma expressão apenas
(Refrão)
Quero voltar para casa...
Sempre ouvi vovô dizer
Que quase todo dia na rua
Os filhos dos vizinhos batiam uma bola
Com meu pai quando jovem
Éramos cristãos, eles judeus
Crenças religiosas não tinham importância
Agora é estranho que quando na mira de um fuzil
Somos obrigados a fugir para o outro lado do rio
(refrão)
Tínhamos dabkeh, tínhamos canções
Sabíamos todos que àquela terra pertencíamos
Cultivávamos o campo, a vida era boa
Lá no lugar onde Jesus peregrinara
Agora dispersos por toda parte
Não temos paz em espaço algum
E nada faço além de procurar qualquer sinal
Que me mostre o caminho de volta à Palestina
(refrão)
Nasci refugiado
E não sei se ainda verei
A velha fazenda de que sempre ouvi falar
É o lugar a que pertenço, não há dúvida
Porque é de lá minha família, daquela fazenda
Nunca fizemos mal a ninguém
Se te sentes confuso a respeito do que te dizem
Permita-me que resuma tudo a uma expressão apenas
(Refrão)
Quero voltar para casa...
Sempre ouvi vovô dizer
Que quase todo dia na rua
Os filhos dos vizinhos batiam uma bola
Com meu pai quando jovem
Éramos cristãos, eles judeus
Crenças religiosas não tinham importância
Agora é estranho que quando na mira de um fuzil
Somos obrigados a fugir para o outro lado do rio
(refrão)
Tínhamos dabkeh, tínhamos canções
Sabíamos todos que àquela terra pertencíamos
Cultivávamos o campo, a vida era boa
Lá no lugar onde Jesus peregrinara
Agora dispersos por toda parte
Não temos paz em espaço algum
E nada faço além de procurar qualquer sinal
Que me mostre o caminho de volta à Palestina
(refrão)
Contributed by Riccardo Venturi - 2006/1/8 - 22:49
Language: Japanese
Versione Giapponese
Japanese Version
http://www.davidrovics.com
註:政治は複雑だと考えている人たちがいる。だが、私は、通常は、非常に単純なのだと思っている。通常、持つものと持たざるものに要約できるものだ。金持ちと貧乏人、家を持つ者と家を持たない者、征服者と難民。現在のシオニストによるパレスチナの占領だって同じことだ。
Japanese Version
http://www.davidrovics.com
註:政治は複雑だと考えている人たちがいる。だが、私は、通常は、非常に単純なのだと思っている。通常、持つものと持たざるものに要約できるものだ。金持ちと貧乏人、家を持つ者と家を持たない者、征服者と難民。現在のシオニストによるパレスチナの占領だって同じことだ。
家に帰りたい(I Wanna Go Home)
私は難民として生まれた
私が耳にした古い農家を
これからも見ることができるかどうか分からない
でも、そこが私がいるべき場所なのだ、疑いようもない
私の家族は皆その農場からやってきたのだから
私たちが誰かを傷つけたことは一度もない
あなたが耳にしたことで困惑しているなら
一言で言ってあげよう
(コーラス)
私は家に帰りたいんだ
祖父が言っていたのを聞いたことがある
父が小さかったとき
毎日の大部分を外にいて
近所の子供たちと一緒にボールを蹴っていた
私たちはキリスト教で、彼等はユダヤ教
だが、そんなことは関係ない、宗教の意見なんて
だから、銃を突きつけられて、
河を走って渡らねばならないなんて
奇妙なことだった
(コーラス)
私たちにはダブケがあった、歌があった
皆、自分たちがどこにいるべきなのか知っていた
穀物を育てていた
良い生活だった
イエスが立っていた土地にいた
今、私たちは世界中に散らばっている
でも、どこにも平和はない
私は何かの兆候を探しているんだ
何とかしてパレスチナに帰るための
(コーラス)
私は難民として生まれた
私が耳にした古い農家を
これからも見ることができるかどうか分からない
でも、そこが私がいるべき場所なのだ、疑いようもない
私の家族は皆その農場からやってきたのだから
私たちが誰かを傷つけたことは一度もない
あなたが耳にしたことで困惑しているなら
一言で言ってあげよう
(コーラス)
私は家に帰りたいんだ
祖父が言っていたのを聞いたことがある
父が小さかったとき
毎日の大部分を外にいて
近所の子供たちと一緒にボールを蹴っていた
私たちはキリスト教で、彼等はユダヤ教
だが、そんなことは関係ない、宗教の意見なんて
だから、銃を突きつけられて、
河を走って渡らねばならないなんて
奇妙なことだった
(コーラス)
私たちにはダブケがあった、歌があった
皆、自分たちがどこにいるべきなのか知っていた
穀物を育てていた
良い生活だった
イエスが立っていた土地にいた
今、私たちは世界中に散らばっている
でも、どこにも平和はない
私は何かの兆候を探しているんだ
何とかしてパレスチナに帰るための
(コーラス)
Contributed by Riccardo Venturi - 2006/1/8 - 22:51
Language: Italian
Versione italiana di Kiocciolina
VOGLIO ANDARE A CASA
Sono nato come rifugiato
E non so se vedrò mai
La vecchia fattoria di cui ho sentito parlare
Ma è il luogo a cui appartengo, non c'è alcun dubbio
Perché la mia intera famiglia viene da quella fattoria
E non abbiamo mai fatto del male a nessuno
E se siete confusi riguardo a ciò che avete sentito
Lasciatemi condensare tutto in una singola parola
(Chorus)
Voglio andare a casa...
E ho sentito mio nonno dire
Che sulla strada la quasi ogni giorno
I figli dei vicini giocavano a palla
Con mio padre quando lui era piccolo
Eravamo Cristiani, loro erano Ebrei
Ma non era una cosa di gran conto, punti di vista religiosi
Perciò fu strano quando, sotto tiro di pistola,
Attraverso il fiume siamo dovuti fuggire
(Chorus)
Avevamo la dabka*, avevamo canzoni
E tutti sapevamo il luogo a cui appartenevamo
Coltivavamo la terra, la vita era bella
Lì, nella terra dove stette Gesù,
Adesso siamo sparsi ovunque
Ma non c'è pace da nessuna parte
Sto solo cercando un qualche tipo di segno
Che mi riporti in Palestina
(Chorus)
*La dabka è una danza folkloristica popolare maschile diffusa nei paesi del Medio Oriente.
Sono nato come rifugiato
E non so se vedrò mai
La vecchia fattoria di cui ho sentito parlare
Ma è il luogo a cui appartengo, non c'è alcun dubbio
Perché la mia intera famiglia viene da quella fattoria
E non abbiamo mai fatto del male a nessuno
E se siete confusi riguardo a ciò che avete sentito
Lasciatemi condensare tutto in una singola parola
(Chorus)
Voglio andare a casa...
E ho sentito mio nonno dire
Che sulla strada la quasi ogni giorno
I figli dei vicini giocavano a palla
Con mio padre quando lui era piccolo
Eravamo Cristiani, loro erano Ebrei
Ma non era una cosa di gran conto, punti di vista religiosi
Perciò fu strano quando, sotto tiro di pistola,
Attraverso il fiume siamo dovuti fuggire
(Chorus)
Avevamo la dabka*, avevamo canzoni
E tutti sapevamo il luogo a cui appartenevamo
Coltivavamo la terra, la vita era bella
Lì, nella terra dove stette Gesù,
Adesso siamo sparsi ovunque
Ma non c'è pace da nessuna parte
Sto solo cercando un qualche tipo di segno
Che mi riporti in Palestina
(Chorus)
*La dabka è una danza folkloristica popolare maschile diffusa nei paesi del Medio Oriente.
Contributed by Kiocciolina - 2007/8/17 - 09:06
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Note for non-Italian users: Sorry, though the interface of this website is translated into English, most commentaries and biographies are in Italian and/or in other languages like French, German, Spanish, Russian etc.
Lyrics and music by David Rovics
From the album, or song collection, "For the moment"
David Rovics' Official Website
"A very succinct summary of the problem and the solution for Palestine, as expressed by many refugees. Originally recorded on Songs for Mahmud." - David Rovics.
I had a great show a while back in Olympia, Washington and met Pat Maley there. I was recording a few new songs at his studio to put on the web, and at some point he suggested that I put out my next CD on his label, Yoyo Records. Thinking that to be a great idea, I went about figuring out what I wanted to do about that, and this is the end result.
Four cities were involved in this decisively non-Luddite production. I recorded vocal and guitar tracks in Houston, and Kristine Pettersen (Thistle) did harmony vocals later in the same place, Sugar Hill Studios with John Griffin engineering. I sent the sound files up to Boston and in Tenitus Studios my friend Sean Staples laid down bass, mandolin, bouzouki, electric guitar, dobro and nylon string guitar tracks and Dave Westner engineered and also played bass, electric guitar and percussion on various tracks.
Professor D and I recorded "Falluja" with Spinister engineering at the studios of the Dope Poet Society in Toronto and we sent those tracks on to Pat in Olympia, and folks in Boston and Houston sent in their tracks, and then Pat mixed and mastered the whole thing to put out on his label.
Since I had it in mind to do a CD with a somewhat new musical treatment than previous recordings (maybe somewhere in between Return and Songs for Mahmud), I thought it would be cool to do new versions of a few songs from previous releases as well as 12 previously unrecorded (mostly new) songs.
It seemed too bulky to include all the lyrics in the liner notes, but you can read lyrics, download lots of free audio, video, and sheet music, buy CD's and songbooks, look at my calendar and links to other artists, sign up on my email list, etc., by going to www.davidrovics.com.
There are far too many people to thank, and I've never been very good at remembering the myriad of people out there I feel thankful for. (I sure do feel thankful for them, though, and I hope they all know who they are.) But I'll pick just one. The older I get, the more I think my songwriting seems to resemble Jim Page's stuff.
Maybe I'm the only one who hears that, I don't know. In any case, though I hardly ever see him out there on the west coast or wherever he is at the time, since I discovered Jim's music 15 years ago I have never been the same, and his brilliant musical lens is still the main one through which I view the craft of songwriting, and a fair number of other subjects as well.
Hope to see you on the road and in the streets!
--David