By Jean Rohe, 2010
Chorus adapted from the Georgian folk song, Lale.
The Georgian words say, “My beautiful homeland, I would give everything for you.”
With gratitude to Ilusha Tsinadze, his family, and his beautiful homeland, which inspired this song.
lyrics
Lale
Jean Rohe, 2010
We drew a map in the flesh of a melon
Rosy juice dripping down upon a plate
Around the world from seed to rind
Another life, another time
A blessing for the family wine.
So what is left when the world starts a-changing?
They paved the road from the village to the capitol
It's only time now till your baby's off to Germany
An interrupted family tree
That's not what it was meant to be.
La Le, La Le
Divli da la la le
Chemo lamazo samshoblo
Shen ki genatsvale
Chemo lamazo samshoblo
Shen ki genatsvale.
We drew a map in the flesh of a melon
And all the walls of the house began to shake
For who will care for the vineyard in the mountain dawn?
Who'll be here when we are gone?
And who will sing our ancient songs?
La Le, La Le
Divli da la la le
He's gone, flown away, to the city where he works all day
And he's gone, flown away, up to the mountain with a mouth of clay
And she's gone, flown away, to the West where the strangers play
And he's gone, flown away, to America where he will stay.
Chemo lamazo samshoblo
Shen ki genatsvale
Chemo lamazo samshoblo
Shen ki genatsvale.
credits
from Lale / Moving Day,
released July 24, 2020
Featuring Carl Linich, vocal
Jean Rohe – mandolin, lead vocals
Ilusha Tsinadze – vocal, acoustic guitar
Christopher Tordini – bass
Liam Robinson – accordion
Skye Steele – violin
Richie Barshay – drums and percussion
James Shipp – vibraphone and percussion
Rogério Boccato – percussion
And everyone sings
Recorded by Chris Bittner at Applehead Studios in Woodstock, NY, April 30-May 3, 2012
Aaron Nevezie at The Bunker Studio, Brooklyn
Mixed by Todd Sickafoose at Earycanal
Mastering by Alan Douches at West West Side Music
Jean Rohe writes one-of-a-kind narrative songs, concerned as much with the interior lives of her narrators as with the wider
world outside them. She is a 2022 Brooklyn Arts Council Community Arts Grant recipient. Her latest full-length record as a bandleader, "Sisterly," won best Adult Contemporary Album at the Independent Music Awards in 2019....more
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