Vartér
(Roses)

The song "Vartér" was originally written with Hebrew lyrics and became popular throughout the Middle East and worldwide Jewish community under the name "Erev Shel Shoshanim". (The translation for the original Hebrew lyrics appears elsewhere on this web site.) This song has been immensely popular among belly dancers for many years as accompaniment for American-style veil work.

In the 1950's, Robert Tashjian wrote his own lyrics in Armenian, using the melody line of "Erev Shel Shoshanim". When Harry Saroyan decided to include "Vartér" on his Oriental Bouquet album, he decided to include not only one of the verses by Tashjian, but also one of his own. Here is a translation of the two verses as they appear on Oriental Bouquet, courtesy of Harry Saroyan.

Listen to MP3 Clips of This Song

Sung by Harry Saroyan

Lyrics

First Verse:

Every morning at dawn
Ah ... I say to my love,
Where are you going ?
Your eyebrows
Are arched and
You have beautiful eyes,
You stand tall
And you are my love !

Second Verse:

She's the golden chain
Of my memories,
She's the pathway to
The story of my life.
I love to embrace her soul
And smell her aroma,
which reminds me always of
The roses of the evening.

Where to Get Recordings of this Song

Saroyan Sings an Oriental Bouquet Album Cover

Listen to Clip

Artist: Harry Saroyan
CD Title: Saroyan Sings an Oriental Bouquet

Saroyan Mastercrafts
P.O. Box 2056
Riverside, CA 92516

Phone: (+1) (909) 276-9925
or (+1) (909) 783-2050
Fax (+1) (909) 276-8510

E-Mail: zilsusa@aol.com
Web Site: www.saroyanzils.com

About the Translator

Many thanks to Harry Saroyan for providing this translation to this web site! Harry Saroyan, owner of Saroyan Mastercrafts, Inc., is a master craftsman who makes finger cymbals and costume coins as well as a popular recording artist.

With his popularity and expertise in the belly dance communities, he is continually invited to perform at and be the Master of Ceremonies for events as well as judge belly dance competitions. Harry's love, devotion and contributions to Middle Eastern Arts have made him very popular with belly dancers throughout the Los Angeles area who have the good fortune to work with him locally as well as with dancers worldwide who have enjoyed his finger cymbals, coins, and music.