Misirlou Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description
Misirlou is a popular song with a cult-like popularity in three very diverse styles of music: Greek rembetiko, Middle-Eastern belly dancing and American surf rock.The song probably originated in Athens among the Greek refugees from Smyrna (now Ismir, Turkey) during the 1920s. The first known recording is by Michalis Patrinos in Greece, circa 1930; a second recording was made by Patrinos in New York, in 1931. As was often the case with rembetiko recordings at the time, Patrinos made no attribution as to the origin of the song.
In 1941, Nick Roubanis, a Greek-American music instructor released a jazz instrumental arrangement of the song, crediting himself as composer. Since his claim was never challenged in court, he is still officially credited as the composer today. S. Russell, N. Wise and M. Leeds later wrote an English version of the lyrics.
The song was rearranged as a solo guitar piece by Dick Dale in the 1950s, and it was this version that would introduce Misirlou to a wider audience in the United States. Dale was of partially Lebanese background, and often credited Armenian music as the inspiration for his guitar style, and perhaps for this reason the tune has often been mistakenly described as a Lebanese or Armenian folk song.
The Beach Boys re-recorded a Dale-inspired Misirlou for the 1963 album "Surfin' USA", forever making Misirlou part of American pop culture. Hundreds of recordings have been made, by performers as diverse as Agent Orange and Connie Francis. There's also a ladino version of Misirlou by the Turkish-Jewish band Los Pasaros Sefaradis.
In 1994, Dale's version of Misirlou was heard on the dynamic soundtrack of Quentin Tarrantino's Pulp Fiction. More recently, the song was selected by the Athens 2004 Organizing Committee as one of the most influential Greek songs of all time, and was heard on venues and the closing ceremony.
Lyrics:
| Greek | Translation | |
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Μισιρλού μου, η γλυκιά σου η ματιά Φλόγα μου 'χει ανάψει μες στην καρδιά Αχ, γιχαμπίμπι, αχ, γιαχαλέλι, αχ Τα δυο σου χείλη στάζουνε μέλι, αχ
Αχ, Μισιρλού, μαγική, ξωτική ομορφιά
Μαυρομάτα Μισιρλού μου τρελή |
My Misirlou (Egyptian girl), your sweet stare Has lit a fire in my heart Ah, yahabibi, Ah, yahaleli, ah (Arabic: Oh, my love, Oh, my night) Your two lips dripping honey, ah
Ah, Misirlou, magical, exotic beauty
My black-eyed, wild Misirlou | |
English Lyrics by Russell, Wise and Leeds:
Desert shadows creep across purple sands
Natives kneel in prayer by their caravans
There, silhouetted under an eastern star
I see my long lost blossom of Shalimar
You, Misirlou, are the
moon and the sun, fairest one
Old temple bells are calling across the sand
We'll find our Kismet, answering love's command
You, Misirlou, are a
dream of delight in the night
To an oasis, sprinkled by stars above
heaven will guide us, Allah will bless our love
Ah, Ah, Misirlou