Isaac

Lyrics

Im nin'alu
Daltei n'divim
Daltei n'divim
Daltei marom
[Even if the gates of the rich will be closed,
the gates of heaven will not be closed]

Im nin'alu
Im nin'aaalu
Im nin'alu
Im nin'aaalu
Im nin'alu
Im nin'aaalu
Im nin'alu
Im nin'aaalu

Staring up into the heavens
In this hell that binds your hands
Will you sacrifice your comfort
Make your way in a foreign land

Wrestle with your darkness
Angels call your name
Can you hear what they are saying
Will you ever be the same

Mmm mm mm
Im nin'alu
Im nin'aaalu
Mmm mm mm
Im nin'alu
Im nin'aaalu

Remember, remember, never forget
All of your life has all been a test
You will find the gate that's open
Even though your spirit's broken

Open up my heart
And cause my lips to speak
Bring the heaven and the stars
Down to earth for me

Im nin'alu
Daltei n'divim

Mmm mm mm
Im nin'alu
Im nin'aaalu
Mmm mm mm
Im nin'alu
Im nin'aaalu
Mmm mm mm
Im nin'alu
Im nin'aaalu
Mmm mm mm
Im nin'alu
Im nin'aaalu

El hai
El hai maromam 'al karuvim
Kolam baruchu ya'alu
[The creator is living above the angels
And they are all nourished from his spirit]

Wrestle with your darkness
Angels call your name
Can you hear what they are saying
Will you ever be the same

Mmm mm mm
Im nin'alu
Im nin'aaalu
Mmm mm mm
Im nin'alu
Im nin'aaalu
Mmm mm mm
Im nin'alu
Im nin'aaalu
Mmm mm mm
Im nin'alu
Im nin'aaalu

El hai
El hai maromam 'al karuvim

(Yitzhak Sinwani spoken:)
The generous truly know
What will be given
If they don't stop, you know
The gates of heaven are always open
And there's this God in the sky and the angels
How they sit, you know, in front of the light
And that's what it's about

Credits

Written by Madonna and Stuart Price
Produced by Madonna and Stuart Price
Additional vocals by Yitzhak Sinwani

Im Nin'alu is an Hebrew poem of 17th century Rabbi Shalom Shabazi, which has later been put to music, and which was sung by Ofra Haza and others.

Album

Song

Even before the album was released, this song caused controversy. Kabbalah rabbis said it was blasphemous to sing about Isaac Luria, a 16th century scholar, who founded Kabbalah in its modern form. Madonna defended the song, saying it wasn't about Isaac Luria, and that it was just called Isaac because the man who is singing on it is named Isaac (Yitzhak is synonyme to Isaac).

Tour

On the Confessions Tour, Isaac was opened by the man who lent his name to the song, singing the Im nin'alu intro and playing the shofar, a kind of horn. On the main stage a female dancer dressed in burka dances inside a cage. Madonna appears at the end of the catwalk, and sings and dances her way to the main stage. As Isaac sings his part, Madonna kneels down (to the joy of the fans close to the catwalk). She then approaches the cage and frees Sofia from the burka, who then runs happily onto the catwalk, free as the bird on the screen. Four male dancers join Madonna for a final group choreography.