Write it. Sing it. Make it yours
Adapt Olga Anikina’s Russian lyric into singable English. Keep her images, word meanings, expressions and structure. No Russian needed. Write, sing or collaborate.
Song story · Make a recording · Full working text
Literal English and idiom notes are working materials, not finished lyrics.
The song’s story
A heart turns toward Zion and Jerusalem, carrying a people's hope for freedom across generations.
Olga Anikina's Russian adaptation (2017) follows the Hebrew Hatikvah, whose source verses are credited to Naftali Herz Imber.
Start from Olga’s Russian
Her Russian text is our starting point. Olga reimagines earlier songs while keeping their spirit.
Keep her images, word meanings, expressions and structure. Make the English sing without replacing her story.
Producer-confirmed: exclusive rights to these Russian lyrics. Rights to underlying music and recordings are separate.
Russian → literal English
Meaning to work from, not words to sing.
All 16 written lines from the Russian source text, including retained Hebrew phrases. English explains meaning; it is not a singable adaptation.
| Russian source | Literal English meaning |
|---|---|
| 1 Ярко сияет в небе звезда | A star shines brightly in the sky |
| 2 Сердце хранит свой древний закон | The heart preserves its ancient law |
| 3 Вечно душа моя рвётся сюда | My soul forever longs to come here |
| 4 Где на востоке стоит Сион | Where Zion stands in the east |
| 5 Эта надежда в сердце живёт | This hope lives in the heart |
| 6 Двадцать веков её мы храним | For twenty centuries we have kept it |
| 7 Будет свободным мой народ | My people will be free |
| 8 Там где Сион Иерусалим | There, where Zion and Jerusalem are |
| 9 Что же ты бьёшься рвёшься куда | Why are you beating so, and where are you straining to go? |
| 10 О душа крылатая моя | O my winged soul |
| 11 Взглядом надежды смотрю я вдаль | I look into the distance with a hopeful gaze |
| 12 Аин ле Цион цофия | An eye gazes toward Zion [retained Hebrew phrase] |
| 13 Наша надежда в сердце живёт | Our hope lives in the heart |
| 14 Двадцать веков её мы храним | For twenty centuries we have kept it |
| 15 Будет свободным мой народ | My people will be free |
| 16 Эрец Цион Ерушалаим | The land of Zion and Jerusalem [retained Hebrew phrase] |
Idioms & meaning
Двадцать веков её мы храним
Literal: For twenty centuries we have kept it.
'It' refers to hope. Preserve the duration stated by the Russian lyric; do not silently update its number to the present date.
Аин ле Цион цофия
Literal: An eye gazes toward Zion.
A Hebrew phrase retained in Russian transcription. It connects the preceding image of a hopeful gaze to Zion; the spelling shown is the source's, not a pronunciation standard.
Эрец Цион Ерушалаим
Literal: The land of Zion and Jerusalem.
A retained Hebrew phrase naming the hoped-for homeland, not a generic reference to any destination.
Your writing brief
Preserve the named places, collective voice and long continuity of hope rather than reducing them to generic optimism.
Follow Anikina's Russian wording rather than substituting another translation of Hatikvah.
Review retained Hebrew pronunciation and permissions for a new adaptation or recording.
Your voice. Any lineup
Video or audio only. Solo, duet, band or choir. Write, sing, produce or collaborate; use your voice, Suno or other permitted tools.
Your voice and stage presence can shine even if the lyric needs work. Clear song, backing-track and tool permissions before posting.
Recording links: YouTube, Spotify or YouTube Music only. No files or other platforms.
Let us hear what you can do
Strong, original versions can be featured on JewishHit.com and possibly RIGLI’s music channel, with credit and permission.
Even if we do not accept your lyric, we may invite you to record our songs for a separately agreed fee. This is not an automatic payment for submitting.
Show us your strengths
Creative choices are partly subjective. Our selection is not an objective ranking of your talent.
Show us what you do best. A distinctive voice, an imaginative lyric or a compelling performance can start a conversation about collaboration.
Credits & sources
- Russian text
- Olga Anikina
- Producer
- Walter J. Kin
- Russian recording
- Elechka, voice and guitar.
Working materials, not a blanket recording license. Agree rights separately.