Hayu Zmanim
"Hayu Zmanim" (Hebrew: היו זמנים, literally 'There Were Times', sometimes translated as 'In Those Days'[2]) is a song with lyrics by Haim Hefer and music by Moshe Wilensky written in 1948. It was first performed by the Chizbatron band of Palmach.[3]
History
[edit]It was first published in Beshaar, the literary supplement of Al HaMishmar on July 22, 1948, and its first performance by Chizbatron with soloist Naomi Polani was on July 20.[4]
Of early performers, Shoshana Damari was noted for performing and recording this song,[3] as well as Yaffa Yarkoni. Later it was performed by many others.[4][5]
Initially the song was written as looking into the future: "The day will come and you will still sit by the fire, and your back will be bent like a hoe, and you will remember your days in Palmach and tell about it..." But as the time passed, it became a nostalgic song about the past.[4]
In 1979, on the occasion of the Egypt–Israel peace treaty Hefer added two more stanzas.[5]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ מה קרה כשהחזרנו את נועה קירל לפלמ"ח? צפו, March 25, 20121
- ^ Israeli Cultural Icon Haim Hefer Dies at 86, Haaretz, September 18, 2012
- ^ a b היו זמנים אז במשלט ישבנו
- ^ a b c Eli Eshed, 'היו זמנים' – שירו של חיים חפר בגרסה המקורית, בתרגום לרוסית ובפרודיה, Yekum magazine, August 24, 2018
- ^ a b היו זמנים, recordings by various performers, Zemershet archive of Hebrew songs