Korin Allal, Musician, Dies at 69

I Have No Other Land: The Times of Israel and the Jerusalem Post reported last week that Israeli singer-songwriter Korin (Corinne) Allal died on December 12th, at 69, after a battle with cancer.

The Jerusalem Post wrote in an editorial:

Corinne Allal leaves a lasting legacy for future generations

Perhaps the most famous song she composed and sang, to the lyrics of Ehud Manor, was “Ein Li Eretz Acheret” (“I Have No Other Land”).

Corinne Allal, the singer, composer, and guitarist who died after a battle with cancer at the age of 69, was an Israeli icon whose repertoire of songs not only still resonates but also left a lasting legacy for future generations. 

Perhaps the most famous song she composed and sang, to the lyrics of legendary songwriter Ehud Manor, was “Ein Li Eretz Acheret” (“I Have No Other Land”). 

Written in 1982 in the midst of the First Lebanon War, its haunting melody and defiant lyrics are particularly relevant today. 

Its primary message is reminiscent of the famous quotation by Golda Meir: 

“We Jews have a secret weapon in our struggle with the Arabs; we have no place to go.” 

But it goes on to pledge, “I will not stay silent because my country changed her face/I will not give up reminding her/And sing in her ears until she will open her eyes.

The Israel Forever Foundation provides the lyrics, and says -

This song reminds us of why we fight when forced into battle time and time again by neighboring countries who seek only to destroy our Jewish State.

אין לי ארץ אחרת

Ein li eretz acheret
I have no other country

גם אם אדמתי בוערת

gam im admati bo'eret
even if my land is burning.

רק מילה בעברית חודרת

Rak milah b'ivrit choderet
Just a word in Hebrew penetrates

אל עורקיי, אל נשמתי

el orakai, el nishmati
to my veins, to my soul.

בגוף כואב, בלב רעב

B'guf ko'ev, b'lev ra'ev
With a weak body, with a hungry heart.

כאן הוא ביתי

kan hu beiti
Here is my home.

*
לא אשתוק

Lo eshtok
I will not stay silent

כי ארצי שינתה את פניה

ki artzi shinta et paneha
because my country changed her face.

לא אוותר לה

Lo evater la
I will not give up on her

אזכיר לה

Azkir la
I will remind her.

ואשיר כאן באוזניה

V'ashir kan b'ozneha
And I will sing right into her ears

עד שתפקח את עיניה

Ad sheh-tiftach et eineha
until she will open her eyes.

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The Jerusalem Post editorial concludes:

Allal’s last public appearance was singing “Ein Li Eretz Acheret” with Gali Atari on October 7 at the Bereaved Families Memorial Ceremony at Tel Aviv’s Yarkon Park, where the thousands attending – including family members of the fallen and relatives of the hostages – sang along.

Her death reminds us that none of us lives forever, and we have to do what we can while we can. But her music will always be with us, raising us up when we’re down. May her memory be blessed.