Hi (also titled Chai or Khay) was the Israeli entry at the Eurovision Song Contest 1983 in Munich performed by Ofra Haza. It was composed by Avi Toledano, who represented Israel the previous year in Harrogate with lyrics by Ehud Manor, who wrote the 1978 winner A-Ba-Ni-Bi.
A moderately up-tempo number, the singer states that despite the many thorns in her way, she is still alive ("Hi" means "Alive" in Hebrew). It is revealed later in the song as a metaphor for the nation of Israel itself.
It was performed 16th on the night following Germany and preceding Portugal. At the close of voting, it finished in 2nd place with 136 points. Ofra's appearance in the contest was a launching point to a successful career, which was sadly cut short with her death in 2000.
Lyrics[]
Shim'u, echai, ani od chai
Ushtei enai od nisa'ot la'or
Rabim chochai, ach gam prachai
Ulefanai shanim rabot misfor
Ani sho'el umitpalel
Tov shelo avda od hatikva
Over mizmor midor ledor
Kema'ayan me'az ve'ad olam
Ani sho'el umitpalel
Tov shelo avda od hatikva
Chai, chai, chai
Ken, ani od chai
Ze hashir sheSaba shar etmol le'Aba
Vehayom ani
Ani od chai, chai, chai
Am Yisra'el chai
Ze hashir sheSaba shar etmol le'Aba
Vehayom ani
Homim yamai (Chai, chai)
Velelotai (Chai, chai)
Uveshamai, amud ha'esh od kam
Ashir bli dai (Chai, chai)
Efros yadai (Chai, chai)
Leyedidai asher me'ever yam
Ani sho'el umitpalel
Tov shelo avda od hatikva
Chai, chai, chai
Ken, ani od chai
Ze hashir sheSaba shar etmol le'Aba
Vehayom ani
Ani od chai, chai, chai
Am Yisra'el chai
Ze hashir sheSaba shar etmol le'Aba
Vehayom ani
Shim'u, echai, ani od chai
Ushtei enai od nisa'ot la'or
Rabim chochai, ach gam prachai
Ulefanai shanim rabot misfor
Ani sho'el (Ani sho'el)
Umitpalel (Mitpalel)
Tov shelo avda od hatikva
Chai, chai, chai
Ken, ani od chai
Ze hashir sheSaba shar etmol le'Aba
Vehayom ani
Ani od chai, chai, chai
Am Yisra'el chai
Ze hashir sheSaba shar etmol le'Aba
Vehayom ani
Chai, chai, chai
Ani od chai, chai, chai
Listen, my brothers, I'm still alive
And both my eyes still look into the light
Many are my thorns, but also my flowers
And I have countless years ahead of me
I ask and I pray
Good thing hope is not yet lost
A song is passed from generation to generation
Like an eternal spring
I ask and I pray
Good thing hope is not yet lost
Alive, alive, alive
Yes, I'm still alive
This is the song that Grandpa sang yesterday to Dad
And today it's me
I'm still alive, alive, alive
The Nation of Israel is alive
This is the song that Grandpa sang yesterday to Dad
And today it's me
My days rumble (Alive, alive)
As do my nights (Alive, alive)
And in my skies, the pillar of fire still stands
I'll sing forever (Alive, alive)
I'll reach out my hands (Alive, alive)
To my friends from across the seas
I ask and I pray
Good thing hope is not yet lost
Alive, alive, alive
Yes, I'm still alive
This is the song that Grandpa sang yesterday to Dad
And today it's me
I'm still alive, alive, alive
The Nation of Israel is alive
This is the song that Grandpa sang yesterday to Dad
And today it's me
Listen, my brothers, I'm still alive
And both my eyes still look into the light
Many are my thorns, but also my flowers
And I have countless years ahead of me
I ask (I ask)
And I pray (I pray)
Good thing hope is not yet lost
Alive, alive, alive
Yes, I'm still alive
This is the song that Grandpa sang yesterday to Dad
And today it's me
I'm still alive, alive, alive
The Nation of Israel is alive
This is the song that Grandpa sang yesterday to Dad
And today it's me
Alive, alive, alive
I'm still alive, alive, alive
| Eurovision Song Contest 1983 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Participants | |||
 Guy Bonnet •  Jahn Teigen •  Sweet Dreams •  Carola •  Riccardo Fogli •  Çetin Alp & The Short Waves •  Remedios Amaya •  Mariella Farré •  Ami Aspelund •  Christie Stasinopoulou •  Bernadette •  Danijel •  Stavros & Constantina •  Hoffmann & Hoffmann •  Gry Johansen •  Ofra Haza •  Armando Gama •  Westend •  Pas de Deux •  Corinne Hermès
| |||
| Songs | |||
| Vivre • Do Re Mi • I'm Never Giving Up • Främling • Per Lucia • Opera • ¿Quién maneja mi barca? • Io così non ci sto • Fantasiaa • Mou les • Sing Me a Song • Džuli • I agapi akoma zi • Rücksicht • Kloden drejer • Hi • Esta balada que te dou • Hurricane • Rendez-vous • Si la vie est cadeau
| |||
