Rachamim

All the men in the neighborhood
Raise their eyes to me
They say “You’re pretty, like a picture,
Like the sun at twilight.”
They all cast their net for me
And they all long for me
But I only want Rachamim!

Rachamim, oh Rachamim
Look at me
And maybe you’ll also notice
How in the vineyard** will blossom –
A rose among the thorns
For you, Rachamim,
For you, Rachamim!

Everyone whistles to me at the window
But me, I don’t hear
My heart is like a telephone
Ringing in the Welfare office
Busy for two months already,
No connection, no lines
And everyone’s on their knees
Rachamim!

Rachamim, oh Rachamim
Look at me
And maybe you’ll also notice
How in the vineyard** will blossom –
A rose among the thorns
For you, Rachamim,
For you, Rachamim!

Rachamim, Rachamim

A rose among the thorns
For you, Rachamim,
For you, Rachamim!

But when I go out, inescapably,
My feet walk towards you.
Oh, Rachamim, when will you
spread your mercy over me?
Then we’ll go out to the street together
Hugging like a pair of doves
And I would be radiant with joy
Rachamim!

Rachamim, oh Rachamim
Look at me
And maybe you’ll also notice
How in the vineyard** will blossom –
A rose among the thorns
For you, Rachamim,
For you, Rachamim!

A rose among the thorns
For you, Rachamim,
For you, Rachamim!

* Rachamim is a man’s name and also means Mercy.

** Kerem means vineyard – but here it might mean
a Tel Aviv neighborhood, Kerem HaTeimanim (the Yemenite vineyard)