About a week before his death, I sat down with the late Yitzchak Klefter for an extensive interview about his rich musical career and his recently published book of poems, "Clilil Ma'im'in".
The singer, guitarist and one of the greatest creators in Israeli music, sat on the sofa in his apartment connected to oxygen cylinders.
Every few minutes he had to stop talking to catch his breath.
You didn't have to be a doctor to understand that the end was near.
"I went through quite a few health problems that made me afraid of what was going to happen," said Clifter during the interview, which will be published in full at the end of the week, in Israel Hayom's "Shishab" magazine.
"I was afraid that this was going to be the end. I'm afraid of death. It's not easy to grow up, but we keep going until one day it ends. It will happen to each of us, there's nothing we can do. My lungs are like coals."
Clifter, 72 years old at the time of his death, said that even the doctors are already limiting his treatment.
"They say, 'Live with it. It is what it is.' from the cigarettes".
Clifter with his friends from the Shamir hive, Sanderson and Foggy (archive), photo: Moshe Shay
We met, the sun turned to the sea
I chose that day to go to Clifter's apartment in the center of Tel Aviv by bicycle.
Limor Bio, his friend and who has helped him a lot in recent years, scheduled the meeting for the evening hours, since Isaac all his life was a night type and less of the early morning hours.
Bicycles, because go and move the car in busy and crowded Tel Aviv.
This is no longer the same innocent city that Clifton played in at the beginning of his career.
On the way I passed by Hovavi Zion Street, where his friend Eric Einstein lived.
I walked by Ibn Gvirol past the place where he used to sit in the familiar parliament of the "Eastern Crown" restaurant.
I passed the Herzliya Gymnasium, which is so associated with the great city.
Clifter struggled to speak during the interview, but insisted on continuing.
My lungs are like coals, Clifter (archive), photo: Moshe Shay
"Everything Eric Einstein would have wanted from me, I would have given for him," he said of those distant days.
"I love Eric, he was my best friend, and we did wonderful things together.
"He was the greatest man in the world, and I'm so sorry he left. He was wonderful and people have no idea how much. One and unique in all the surrounding countries. Eric Einstein was the top Israeli of all time. We got along great, he loved me. We communicated perfectly."
In the book of songs he published there are quite a few properties of the Iron Sheep that he created for Israeli music.
"She's so beautiful", Hive performed and he composed the lyrics written by Danny Sanderson.
"Sitting on the fence", where he wrote the music to the words of Eric Einstein, and of course "Bedouin love song" - which Itzik Weingarten wrote and he composed.
The latter, released in 1978, he did perform, but the song became a symbol of an era precisely when David Broza and Yael Levy sang it.
"I'm glad that David Broza sang it, because he made it a hit," Clifter managed to sneak a small smile.
"His success later helped me with the following songs, because they knew me. I remember Shigael Musinzon, the writer of Hasamba, came to me one day, and from the height of his old age said that 'Bedouin love song' is the most beautiful song written in Hebrew.
This is a huge compliment from a person whose books I admired as a child."
Yitzhak Kleftar with Efraim Shamir and Alon Olarchik (archive), photo: Nicole de Castro
To the rhythm, to the sounds
During the hour we sat together, we went through quite a few musical stations in his life.
The Churchill Band, the joint work with Einstein, the time in the beehive.
"I never thought I was good enough," Clifter frankly surprised.
"I don't play well and I don't sing well and I don't write good songs. This self-esteem went with me until recently, and only now do I really feel the success. When I was young I was very critical. I suppressed myself. Today I am balanced."
I asked him to choose one moment that he considers a highlight, after all his life has gone through quite a few ups and downs not only on the professional side, but also on the personal side.
Clifter thought for a bit and chose the "Free Imagination" show, which took place in June 2019 at the Culture Hall in Tel Aviv, where he was also joined by Danny Sanderson, Berry Sakharoff and David Broza.
I really liked it.
It shows their recognition.
This is the victory, 'I came to you'".
broken beyond repair
On the walls of the living room of Clifter's apartment hang pictures from his rich past, alongside awards he won.
In the corner of the room rested the electric guitar that earned him a reputation as one of the greatest guitarists born here.
"I play very little today," he admitted in a quiet voice when we talked.
"My health prevents me. When I get well I will return. They won't let me. They want to hear more of my music. They want me to play and perform, because I bring a lot of audience. I recently received a request from Aviv Gefen to perform with him at Yarakon Park in May. There was also talk of another reunion of the band Beehive, which probably won't come to fruition. If I recover by then, I'll appear with Aviv."
When he was already tired, and right before we parted ways, I was interested in whether he was satisfied with what he had achieved during his career.
Clifter caught his breath and said decisively: "It ended in my favor. You can write it down, it ended in my favor."
The funeral ceremony will take place this morning at the Bhima Theater.
At 12:45, Clifter's coffin will be taken to the civil cemetery in Rishon Lezion, where he will be laid to rest.
The full interview with Yitzhak Klifter will be published on Friday in the "Shishab" supplement.
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