Black is the colour of my true loves....

[AFRICA4AFRICANS]

NO SOUL NO FEELING NO HEART..NO SPIRITUALITY..PLAIN WHITE!!!!

NINA SIMONE.....ALL SOUL ALL FEELING ALL HEART

[Aviva2121]

@AFRICA4AFRICANS: This is a Scottish folk song, so in theory the most authentic version would be by a Scottish singer - Karan Casey does a lovely version, for example. But Esther Ofarim's version is rather nice. She's Israeli. Very beautiful.

[DonegalRaymie201]

@AFRICA4AFRICANS

So as this song was written by very white, very Celtic people, it can't have any soul??

Celtic music has soul a plenty, it's just much more subtle & understated than black music, but the great Nina Simone obviously saw something in this song of ours, that she liked!

P.S. Karen Casey is Irish!

[Aviva2121]

@DonegalRaymie201: Yes sorry, Karan Casey is Irish. She sings a lot of Scottish songs, though. A wonderful singer.

[evielf]

thanks so much for uploading this! You're awesome!!

[TheSnowsbeauty5]

First time hearing Esther Ofarim:(  ...L-O-V-E her,she's beautiful<3

[terryworth7]

Ofarim, What a beautiful, beautiful voice...and song. Thank you so much. It will be one of the next songs I plan to arrange for classical guitar.

Also, is that John Lennon sitting on the couch smoking a cigarette at about 1:50?

[blunderspublik]

@guitarslim56: I guess if you consider a camcorder microphone recording the song from TV speakers with dialogue over it a "recording", then yes, you're right.

[Esiotrat]

What an enchanting voice. I wish a recording was available.

[sysprv]

Just saw this in an episode of "Derrick" (Koldaus letzte Reise).

[pianomags]

WOW! Weird! Lovely! Looks like a cross between "Cabaret" and Bollywood. Gorgeous tone. Is she Egyptian? Kind-of what I always wanted Cleo Lane TO sound like.

[ShemeshandMom]

@pianomags No, she's Israeli.

I guess YouTube doesn't allow posting of links, but she has a web site and you can google her.

[blunderspublik]

This is a beautiful version - I love the arrangement and the variation on the melody. Is a recording available anywhere?

[Ofarim]

@blunderspublik

As I know - a recording is not available. Unfortunatey not.



[guitarslim56]

@blunderspublik The recording is on youtube.

[ThomasMelberStgt]

Joan Baez' version may be better, though.

[clarrisina]

love this song so much!!!

[19loveangel19]

original is so much better !!

[ramron333]

try hamish imlachs version

[evaperegrina]

Judy Collins and Joan Baez versions are better, I think.

[evielf]

Thanx for uploading this...it's pretty cool indeed...i love her voice..

[Squishfie]

I played this song last night on the flute at school. it is pretty

[andrewwarhol]

Edie SEDGWICK intro

[Ofarim]

The blond girl is not Edie Sedgwick but Christiane Krüger, the daughter of the actor Hardy Krüger

[andrewwarhol]

@Ofarim

 Eye make-up and hair style . .

[LEOPARDFRAULEIN]

Beautiful version... :-) ...goose pimples galore! :-)

[stenfisher]

Wonderful Cover! Great Stuff.

S.

[SoftballLover10]

Were singing this is my chamber choir this year...I'm so damn happy. :D

[bookkeeper57]

Never heard of this lady, but this is a great version of this song; which is,

yes, a Scottish folk song.

[Ofarim]

The German people were really in love to this lady with the big eyes and the trementous voice in the 60s. In this time she and her former husband were famous with their songs round the globe.

[Pitfossil]

@Ofarim  - "Round the Globe" indeed. I know of six languages they sang in, and Eyatn might find some more hidden treasures.

[FeitenFan]

Check out her stunning version of Motherless Child, fantastic

[iriswigle]

@bookkeeper57 Scottish? Here I was thinking that the song was influenced by a trip to a cave between the Jordon and Egypt? Thus, the Egyptian influence...right?

[Piagetbaby2005]

...

[aphrobren30]

This is amazing- the film is also beautiful :-)

[kamisbutterflies]

Beautiful cover.

[strombouts]

The video is just ridiculous and this is a very kitsch version of this beautiful song. Not a patch on Joan Baez.

[Shanniquitie]

the kitsch element elevates what is otherwise, honestly, a rather bland 'folk' song.

[starbucksbear]

Wow. Never heard of this woman before. That is just plain gorgeous!

[zeekwolfe]

In what way does layering makeup on with a trowel helpful in the presentation of this song?

[vegantrooper]

it was the 70s. enough said. hehe.

[SiggiNebel]

... and a German movie featuring Mr.Fuchsberger - my God, I'm German and it's so embarrassing.

[BrightTsubasa]

Scottish? This was written by John Jacob Niles...... he lived in kentucky...

[Ofarim]

Thanks for the information. But the song is taken from a original scottish ballad. John Jacob Niles was not only a composer he was also a collector of old songs. See wikepedia: Black is the colour...

[BrightTsubasa]

oh! Thanks for letting me know :D

[Xanproduce]

@BrightTsubasa

This was not written by John Jacob Niles - although he did do a cover of it. My family are Scottish gypsies and it has certainly been a classic in our folk list of songs we have sung through the generations.

[brazilianaffair]

what an amazing voice and presence....she has a very espressive face and piercing eyes too, i love her version...to bad she doesn't seem to have recorded it in a studio, did she?

[starpython]

No, the song is only available as part of the German Krimi 11 Uhr 20. I saw it back in 1970 and remember it especially because of Ester Ofarim singing this beautiful song. I recently - in September 2009 - found out that it was available on DVD! I got a copy and not only is it a joy to listen to the song, but alos to watch Esther with her beautiful big black eyes. Very 70s of course, but what nostalgia!

[bikingmadman]

What a gorgeous song - also try Christy Moore's version on his album At The Point Live

[dm5401]

Her presentation is wonderful.

[ilovegreenthings]

does anyone know where I can get the mp3 for this version? Is not on itunes.

[cri2006cri]

dwonload for free mp3mymp3 software and you can record it from here ,good luck !

[Babejuda]

Beautiful. Everything: the song, the singer, the voice, the whole performance. Thanks for uploading.

[swissdolphin]

five stars for this Irish Evergreen