Ehud Banai

I remember I first heard Ehud Banai’s music in high school (early 80′s) and loved it.

Banai (Banai in Hebrew means a Builder) started his music career as a sound technician in early 80′s. “I wasn’t the best sound technician…. I was more busy looking at the artists than at the equalizer buttons” as Banai says. It was his uncle Yossi that has encouraged him to go on stage. He played in shows and even got to the Arad Music Festival, but eventually he thought of quitting. It was his wife and father that pushed him back to the recording studio in 1984 where he released the single “City of refuge” that became a successful hit.

In 1987 he joined the “Refugees” and released his first album with them, produced by Yossi Elephant, that unfortunately died a few years later (1951-1991). It became one of the most powerful albums in the last couple of decades with songs like “Construction worker”, “Melancholic”, “Keep on driving”, “Dirty work”, “Mix the cement” and more. The album dealt with many issues: social, politics, racism, religion and history, childhood and more. Since then, Banai has released many hits and albums and is counted as maybe the Dylan of Israeli music.

His last hits are: “The boy is 30″, “Just a little bit”, “The Cnafa is sweet” and more…

“The language of the Hebrew man” lyrics by Ehud Banai

Speak up the language of the Hebrew man

Loud and clear, the language of the Hebrew man
It is the language of the prophets
Of the sign up on the wall
It is old and sacred
It will open up your soul

Speak up the language of the Hebrew man
Loud and clear, the language of the Hebrew man
From the deepest mass of downtown Babylon
It will take you to the next train to mount Zion
It will get you up, it will make you fly
The language of the Hebrew man will take you high

You know, Abraham spoke the language of the Hebrew man
And also Jesus from Nazareth, and Maria Magdalene
Einstein, Jeremiah, The Dylan and the Cohen
They know something about the language of the Hebrew man

And when the Lord said “Let there be light”
It was in the language of the Hebrew man
And when Moses said “let my people go”
It was in the language of the Hebrew man

Speak the language of the Hebrew man
And let us all say hallelujah And let us all say amen
And everyone and everybody will Speak
the language of the Hebrew man

Speak the language of the Hebrew man.

“Your time is through” lyrics by Ehud Banai

And in my dream, I’m back in high school
on a Purim party
Vaxman stood shy at the corner
it was before he started to roam
I thought you were in India? (I said to him)
I am in India! (he replied)
and you’re in India too, don’t you feel wierd?

we are just passing by
just look around you
it’s not our party… are you listening!?
I’m listening (I said to him) and the song is indeed unfamiliar
that’s very true (said Vaxman)
your time is through!

And in my dream, I’m back in high school
on the class annual trip
Roseman had vanished with the tape
suddently I heard Abbey Road from the bush
the bus won’t wait (I called him)
let them go! (he said)
Im not leaving until side two, its a great track!

we are here just passing by
look around you
its not our bus, are you listening?!
I’m listening (I said to him) but It’s getting cold…
goodbye said Roseman,
your time is through!

And in my dream I returned to high school
and I did’nt get my homework done
Fixman, sweating, hinted me to follow
listen to some vinyls in his room
but the bell is ringing (I said to him)
let it ring! (he replied)

there’s nothing to fear we are just passing by
look around you,
its not our bell, are you listening?!
I’m listening (I said) and this is a weird dream
wake up! said Fixman
your time is through!
your time is through!
your time is through!