קול זיכרון ישן [Kol Zikaron Yashan] [English translation]

At the corner of Eliyahu Salman1 that was Kishon Street

I remember messy children running in the streets

with everything that was once in me, that remains burning in me

today it's still easier for me to feel, but harder for me to describe

it's already a different world

At the corner of Eliyahu Salman1 from the side of Chacham Shalom1

pictures of Begin2 in yellow and black decorate the fences

From the southern synagogue there are scents of coffee and tea

Somewhere time stopped moving, somewhere it stopped coming apart, from speeding up

and she says to me you'll understand, simply, that's how people are, life is what it once was

she told me you'll understand, simply, that's how people are, painting the time in warm color

what was forgotten and disappeared, every emotion fell asleep

every old memory, old memory of a voice

from the corner of Eliyahu Salman1 , parallel to Yarkon Street

in three minutes you're in the shuk3, mingling with the crowd

a row of falafel stands that will give you their hearts

there luck controls the alleys

what was is what will be or won't be

and she says to me you'll understand, simply, that's how people are, life is what it once was

she told me you'll understand, simply, that's how people are, painting the time in warm color

what was forgotten and disappeared, every emotion fell asleep

every old memory, old memory of a voice

1. a. b. c. d. Street in Jerusalem2. Menachem Begin, former Prime Minister of Israel3. market