Misirlou
Arthur Lyman
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Desert shadows creep across purple sands. Natives kneel in prayer by their caravans. There, silhouetted under and eastern star, I see my long lost blossom of shalimar You, Misirlou, Are the moon and the sun, fairest one. Old temple bells are calling across the sand. We'll find our Kismet, answering love's command. You, Misirlou, are a dream of delight in the night. To an oasis, sprinkled by stars above, Heaven will guide us, Allah will bless our love.
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Written by: MILTON LEEDS, N ROUBANIS, BOB RUSSELL, FRED WISE
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
8 facts about this song
Misirlou" Origin and CompositionThe song "Misirlou" is not originally composed by any of these artists, it's an Eastern Mediterranean folk song with origin in the early 20th century.
- The term "Misirlou" refers to an Egyptian woman/Muslim woman from Egypt in the Turkish language. The word itself comes from "Misir," which means Egypt in Turkish.
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Relation to Arthur LymanArthur Lyman, a well-known American jazz vibraphone and marimba player, covered Misirlou in 1959. His version was called "Fire Down Below".
- Lyman's rendition of Misirlou was in the style of the then-popular exotic music genre, which incorporates island and South Seas themes with the sounds of nature.
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Dick Dale's VersionDick Dale, the "King of the Surf Guitar," was the first to popularize "Misirlou" in the West with his distinct rock version in 1962.
- This version, with its fast-paced, high-energy guitar playing, is perhaps the most recognized interpretation of the song to date.
- Dale's version was a key inspiration for surf rock, influencing bands like The Beach Boys and The Ventures.
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Martin Denny's VersionMartin Denny, known as the "father of exotica music," also recorded a version of "Misirlou" and included it on his 1959 album, "Quiet Village".
- He was known for integrating non-traditional instruments and natural sounds like bird calls and exotic rhythms into his music, giving his version of Misirlou a distinctive texture.
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The Beach Boys and MisirlouThe Beach Boys, the definitive American surf rock band, made a recording of "Misirlou" for their 1963 album "Surfin' U.S.A".
- Their version maintained the surf rock sound mainstreamed by Dick Dale, while incorporating their signature harmonies.
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The Trashmen and MisirlouThe Trashmen, a garage-rock band from Minneapolis, Minnesota, included Misirlou in their 1964 album "Surfin' Bird".
- Their version used similar guitar-driven sound, staying faithful to the surf rock idiom.
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The Ventures’ VersionThe Ventures, an American instrumental rock band, whose music often blended rock and roll with elements of surf music, covered "Misirlou" in their 1963 album, "The Ventures Play Telstar and Lonely Bull".
- The band was notable for their precise guitar work, which is particularly apparent in their version of "Misirlou".
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Pop Culture Presence and Resurgence"Misirlou" experienced a huge resurgence in popularity after being featured in the opening credits of the 1994 Quentin Tarantino film, "Pulp Fiction," which used Dick Dale's version.
- It has been featured in several other media since, from commercials to video games, helping maintain its status as a classic piece of pop culture history.
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"Misirlou Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 23 Apr. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/29326376/Arthur+Lyman/Misirlou>.
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