Natati La Khayay (translation: "I Gave Her My Life") was the Israeli entry at the Eurovision Song Contest 1974 in Brighton performed by the group Poogy.
Typically of the band, the lyrics are full of unusual imagery. The song deals, at least in part, with the power of love, as in lines such as "If she refused – there's no hope". However, it has been suggested, and since confirmed by band member Danny Sanderson, that the song also contained a veiled political protest against the reign of then-prime minister, Golda Meir, and in favour of the creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel.
It was performed 6th on the night following Greece and preceding Yugoslavia. At the close of voting, it finished in 7th place with 11 points.
Lyrics[]
Od bayamim harishonim shel hahistoria
Ksheha’olam haya kayam rak bate’oria
Velo hivdilu ben machar, shilshom ve’emesh
Hayu ravim eifo kedai lasim tashemesh
Ach davar echad huskam
Im akshan habenadam
En sikui, en pitsui
Ze ma shekara
Natati la chaiai, yaradti al birkai
Ya’aminu li kulam
Lamadti ma ze stam vene’elavti
Me’az avru harbe gsharim me’al hamaim
Uchvar hispiku lehamtsi tatsohoraim
Od lo yad’u hem al haglobus ma tsura lo
Im meruba hu, im agol, o ech sheba lo
Ach davar echad yad’u
Ve’et ze miyad kav’u
Im serva – en tikva
Ze ma shekara
Natati la chaiai, yaradti al birkai
Ya’aminu li kulam
Lamadti ma ze stam vene’elavti
Hayom timtsa shehanose lechol vikuach
Hu ma ba kodem – habeitsa o hatapuach?
Echad omer shenigmarim lo hashamaim
Ksheyesh maspik avir lemedina o shnaim
Ulai bechol zot nistader
Hi tirtse, az nitgaber
Hi man’a kol gisha
Ze ma shekara keshe
Natati la chaiai, yaradti al birkai
Ya’aminu li kulam, lamadti ma ze stam
Ani natati la chaiai, yaradti al birkai
Ya’aminu li kulam, lamadti ma ze stam
Ani natati la chaiai, yaradti al birkai
Ya’aminu li kulam, lamadti ma ze stam
Ani natati la, ani natati la
Ani natati la et chaiai
Back in the first days of history
When the world existed only in theory
Tomorrow, yesterday and the day before were all the same
They used to fight over where the sun should be
But one thing was agreed upon
If one is stubborn
There’s no chance, there’s no compensation
That’s what happened
I gave her my life, I went down on my knees
Believe me, everybody
I learnt what for nothing is and I was offended
Since then many bridges have crossed over the water
And they managed to invent noon
They didn’t know yet about the globe and what’s it shaped like
Whether it’s square, round, or however it feels like
But one thing they knew
And this they immediately established
If she refused – there’s no hope
That’s what happened
I gave her my life, I went down on my knees
Believe me, everybody
I learnt what for nothing is and I was offended
Today you’ll find that the subject of every argument
Is what came first – the egg or the apple?
One says that he’s running out of sky
When there’s enough air for a country or two
Maybe we’ll get along after all
She’ll want it, then we’ll get over it
She denied any access
That’s what happened when
I gave her my life, I went down on my knees
Believe me, everybody, I learned what for nothing is
I gave her my life, I went down on my knees
Believe me, everybody, I learned what for nothing is
I gave her my life, I went down on my knees
Believe me, everybody, I learned what for nothing is
I gave her, I gave her
I gave her my life
Eurovision Song Contest 1974 | |||
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Participants | |||
Carita • Olivia Newton-John • Peret • Anne-Karine Strøm ft. Bendik Singers • Marinella • Poogy • Korni • ABBA • Ireen Sheer • Romuald • Jacques Hustin • Mouth & MacNeal • Tina Reynolds • Cindy & Bert • Piera Martell • Paulo de Carvalho • Gigliola Cinquetti | |||
Songs | |||
Keep Me Warm • Long Live Love • Canta y sé feliz • The First Day Of Love • Krasi, thalassa kai t'agori mou • Natati La Khayay • Moja generacija • Waterloo • Bye Bye I Love You • Celui qui reste et celui qui s'en va • Fleur de liberté • I See A Star • Cross Your Heart • Die Sommermelodie • Mein Ruf nach dir • E depois do adeus • Sì |