MISIRLOU
Patrinos - 1927
Roubanis - (rearrangement 1941)
S. Russell, N. Wise, and M. Leeds (English lyrics)

perf: Michael Patrinos ('30 & '31), Nick Roubanis ('41), Dick Dale ('62, '96),
Beach Boys ('63), Miriam Kressyn, Anna Vissi (2004 - also performed same at '04
and '08 Olympics)

English Translation based on Original Greek Version

My Misirlou (Egyptian girl), your sweet glance
Has lit a flame in my heart.
Ah, ya habibi, Ah, ya leh-leli, ah (Arabic: Oh, my love, Oh, my night)
Your two lips are dripping honey, ah.

Ah, Misirlou, magical, exotic beauty.
Madness will overcome me, I can't endure [this] any more.
Ah, I'll steal you away from the Arab land.

My black-eyed, my wild Misirlou,
My life changes with one kiss
Ah, ya habibi, one little kiss, ah
From your sweet little lips, ah.

Yiddish version

Vayt in dem midbar,
Fun heyser zin farbrent,
Hob ikh amol a meydele dort gekent.
Miserlou heyst zi,
Yeder dort veyst zi gut,
Kh'vel di printsesn mer shoyn frgesn nit.

Shtil, ovent kil,
Un ikh fil az ikh vil mayn gefil
Far ir oysgisn un zi zol visn nor,
Az nor zi lib ikh,
Mayn lebn gikh ir, yo.

Her, s'iz mir shver,
Mit a trer zog ikh dir un ikh shver.
Midber printsesn, kh'ken nit fargesn dikh
Kum heyl mayn benkshaft,
nor di kenst heyln mikh.

Miserlou mayne, meydle fun orient,
Di oygn dayne hobn mayn harts farbrent.
Mayn harts vert a kranke,
in khyulem ze ikh dikh,
Tants far mir shlanke
Drey zikh geshvind gikh.

Midber printsesn, kh'ken nit fargesn dikh
Kum heyl mayn benkshaft,
nor di kenst heyln mikh.
Mayn mizrakh blum, Miserlou

English Translation of Yiddish Version:

Far off in the desert,
Bronzed by the hot sun
I once knew a girl.
Her name is Miserlou;
Everyone there knows her well.
I will never forget that beautiful princess.

It's quiet, the evening cools,
And I want to pour out my feelings
So that she knows I love her only.
If only she would love me,
I would give my life to her.

Oh alas, it is hard for me,
Oh, how can I say it, tearfully I swear to you:
Desert princess, I can't forget you,
Come heal my longing,
Only you can heal me.

My Miserlou, girl from the Orient,
The look in your eyes has scorched my heart.
My heart is ailing,
I see you in my dreams,
Dance for me, oh lovely one,
Spin round and round!

Desert princess, I can't forget you,
Come heal my longing,
Only you can heal me.
My eastern bloom, Miserlou.