Learn Hebrew with Songs: Avraham Tal — Shoshana (שושנה)
Vocabulary and phrase breakdown of Avraham Tal's tender love song about warmth, light, and devotion.
Songs
Let’s learn Hebrew with the song “שושנה” (Shoshana) by Avraham Tal. This is a tender, intimate love song that expresses deep affection, emotional closeness, and the desire to share life fully with someone special
To get the most out of this lesson, first read the vocabulary list, then follow the translation section to see how the words are used in context. Finally, listen to the song while following along to reinforce your learning. Repeating this will help the words and expressions stick naturally!
What is the song about?
vraham Tal’s song “שושנה” (Shoshana) is a heartfelt ode to love, intimacy, and emotional closeness. Through poetic imagery, Tal invites Shoshana’s light to “wrap all of me,” portraying love as both comforting and healing. The lyrics capture the beauty of shared moments, from dreaming of a loved one at night to cherishing their laughter during the day, emphasizing vulnerability, devotion, and mutual support.
At its core, the song celebrates the joy of being fully present with someone special, finding warmth, light, and connection even in life’s darker moments. It’s a tender reminder of how love can transform, uplift, and bring profound emotional fulfillment.
Hebrew Song Vocabulary Breakdown
Let’s first look at all the vocabulary in this song word per word before breaking down the phrases:
Hebrew Word
Translation
תני
Give (feminine imperative)
ל
To / For
אור
Light
שלך
Yours
לעטוף
To wrap / envelop
את
(definite direct object marker)
כולי
All of me / my whole self
תעשי
Do / make (feminine imperative)
ידענו
We knew
שהיום
That the day / that today
יבוא
Will come
וכתבנו
And we wrote
מכתבים
Letters
לרוב
Mostly / a lot
ורצינו
And we wanted
להרגיש
To feel
קרוב
Close
עד
Until
שהיום
That the day / that today
בא
Came
חולם
Dreaming (masculine)
עלייך
About you / of you
בלילות
At nights
וחי
And live (masculine)
איתך
With you
בימים
In the days
יורד
Descends / goes down
למצולות
To the depths / abysses
ועף
And flies
ברוח
In the wind
את
You (feminine direct object)
לא
Not
תוותרי
Will give up / surrender (feminine)
עלי
On me
ואני
And I
עלייך
On you
בין
Between
כל
All / every
הדברים
The things
שעולים
That rise / that come up
אני
I
נשאר
Remain / stay
בבית
At home
אני
I
הכי
Most
אוהב
Love (masculine)
לראות
To see
צוחקת
Laughing (feminine)
כמו
Like / as
ילדה
Girl / child
קטנה
Small / little
ומעינייך
And from your eyes
יוצא
Comes out / exits
השמרפא
Heals (literally “the healing”)
מבפנים
From inside
כל
All / every
מכאוב
Pain
אני
I
רוצה
Want (masculine)
לתת
To give
לך
To you
רגעים
Moments
למצות
To savor / extract fully
איתך
With you
את
The
החיים
Life / the life
לא
Not
לבזבז
To waste
עוד
Another / more
רגע
Moment
שניה
Second
לא
Not
לבד
Alone
יותר
More
בתוך
Inside / within
החשיכה
The darkness
Phrases breakdown
Here is a breakdown phrase by phrase of the song lyrics:
Chorus
Hebrew: תני לאור שלך לעטוף את כולי, תעשי מה תעשי Literal Translation: Give your light to wrap all of me, do whatever you do Poetic Meaning: Let your presence and love fully embrace me; be yourself and let your light shine.
Verse 1
Hebrew: ידענו שהיום יבוא Literal Translation: We knew that the day would come Poetic Meaning: We anticipated this moment, knowing it was inevitable.
Hebrew: וכתבנו מכתבים לרוב Literal Translation: And we wrote letters a lot / mostly Poetic Meaning: We expressed ourselves through letters, trying to stay connected.
Hebrew: ורצינו להרגיש קרוב Literal Translation: And we wanted to feel close Poetic Meaning: We longed for emotional intimacy despite distance.
Hebrew: עד שהיום בא Literal Translation: Until the day came Poetic Meaning: Until that moment finally arrived.
Verse 2
Hebrew: חולם עלייך בלילות Literal Translation: I dream of you at nights Poetic Meaning: I think of you constantly, even in my dreams.
Hebrew: וחי איתך בימים Literal Translation: And live with you in the days Poetic Meaning: I carry you in my thoughts and heart throughout the day.
Hebrew: יורד איתך למצולות Literal Translation: Descend with you to the depths Poetic Meaning: I’m willing to face hardships or emotional lows with you.
Hebrew: ועף ברוח Literal Translation: And fly in the wind Poetic Meaning: I soar with you in moments of freedom and joy.
Verse 3
Hebrew: את לא תוותרי עלי ואני עלייך Literal Translation: You won’t give up on me, and I won’t on you Poetic Meaning: Our love is mutual and unyielding.
Hebrew: בין כל הדברים שעולים Literal Translation: Between all the things that arise / come up Poetic Meaning: Despite challenges or obstacles, I remain steadfast.
Hebrew: אני נשאר בבית Literal Translation: I remain at home Poetic Meaning: I stay grounded, faithful, and emotionally present.
Verse 4
Hebrew: אני הכי אוהב לראות אותך צוחקת כמו ילדה קטנה Literal Translation: I love most to see you laughing like a little girl Poetic Meaning: I cherish your pure, joyful, and innocent moments.
Hebrew: ומעינייך יוצא האור שמרפא מבפנים כל מכאוב Literal Translation: And from your eyes comes the light that heals every pain from inside Poetic Meaning: Your presence and love are deeply healing and comforting.
Hebrew: אני רוצה לתת לך רגעים למצות איתך את החיים Literal Translation: I want to give you moments to fully savor life with you Poetic Meaning: I want to share meaningful experiences and truly live life together.
Hebrew: לא לבזבז עוד רגע עוד שניה לא לבד יותר בתוך החשיכה Literal Translation: Not waste another moment, another second, not alone anymore in the darkness Poetic Meaning: I want to leave loneliness behind and embrace the light of love fully.
