List of songs about Jerusalem
Encyclopedia
This is a list of songs about Jerusalem, including major parts of the city such as individual neighborhoods and sections. Religiously significant to all three Abrahamic religions for centuries and politically controversial since the inception of the Zionist movement
, Jerusalem has been artistically associated with widely varied concepts. There are many songs about Jerusalem from various time periods, especially nationalistically
-themed songs from the time of the Six-Day War
, when East Jerusalem
passed from Jordan
ian control to Israel
i.
Additionally many Biblical
Psalms
, styled as songs, were written specifically about Jerusalem. Jewish liturgy and hymns are rife with references to Jerusalem.
Zionism
Zionism is a Jewish political movement that, in its broadest sense, has supported the self-determination of the Jewish people in a sovereign Jewish national homeland. Since the establishment of the State of Israel, the Zionist movement continues primarily to advocate on behalf of the Jewish state...
, Jerusalem has been artistically associated with widely varied concepts. There are many songs about Jerusalem from various time periods, especially nationalistically
Nationalism
Nationalism is a political ideology that involves a strong identification of a group of individuals with a political entity defined in national terms, i.e. a nation. In the 'modernist' image of the nation, it is nationalism that creates national identity. There are various definitions for what...
-themed songs from the time of the Six-Day War
Six-Day War
The Six-Day War , also known as the June War, 1967 Arab-Israeli War, or Third Arab-Israeli War, was fought between June 5 and 10, 1967, by Israel and the neighboring states of Egypt , Jordan, and Syria...
, when East Jerusalem
East Jerusalem
East Jerusalem or Eastern Jerusalem refer to the parts of Jerusalem captured and annexed by Jordan in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War and then captured and annexed by Israel in the 1967 Six-Day War...
passed from Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
ian control to Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i.
Additionally many Biblical
Tanakh
The Tanakh is a name used in Judaism for the canon of the Hebrew Bible. The Tanakh is also known as the Masoretic Text or the Miqra. The name is an acronym formed from the initial Hebrew letters of the Masoretic Text's three traditional subdivisions: The Torah , Nevi'im and Ketuvim —hence...
Psalms
Psalms
The Book of Psalms , commonly referred to simply as Psalms, is a book of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Bible...
, styled as songs, were written specifically about Jerusalem. Jewish liturgy and hymns are rife with references to Jerusalem.
Hebrew language
- "Bisharayich Yerushalayim" , saluting the Israel Defense ForcesIsrael Defense ForcesThe Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
paratroopers of the Six Day War - "Biyerushalayim" ('In Jerusalem') by Miami Boys ChoirMiami Boys Choir-History:Formed in 1977 by Yerachmiel Begun, the Miami Boys Choir was part of a larger surge in popularity of Orthodox Jewish choral music.While the group was formed in Miami Beach, Florida, after releasing the first few albums, Begun moved the choir to New York...
, (1997) - "Giv'at HaTahmoshet" ' onMouseout='HidePop("46678")' href="/topics/Battle_of_the_Ammunition_Hill">Ammunition HillBattle of the Ammunition HillAmmunition Hill was a military post in the northern part of Jordanian controlled East Jerusalem, and the site of one of the fiercest battles of the Six Day War. -Historical background:...
") by Yoram Taharlev - "Himnon Hapoel Yerushalayim" by Dudu Barak
- "Hine Ani Ba" ' onMouseout='HidePop("74505")' href="/topics/Tel_Aviv">Tel AvivTel AvivTel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
) by Hadag NahashHadag NahashHadag Nahash is an Israeli hip hop/funk band, founded in 1996 in Jerusalem. The band is known for its leftist political statements in many of its songs.- Name and symbols :... - "Hinenny Can" by Yehoram GaonYehoram GaonYehoram Gaon is a Jewish Israeli singer, actor, director, producer, TV and radio host, and public figure...
and Harel SkaatHarel SkaatHarel Skaat is an Israeli singer and songwriter. He represented Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 with the song "Milim" .... - "Im Eshkachech Yerushalayim" by Miami Boys ChoirMiami Boys Choir-History:Formed in 1977 by Yerachmiel Begun, the Miami Boys Choir was part of a larger surge in popularity of Orthodox Jewish choral music.While the group was formed in Miami Beach, Florida, after releasing the first few albums, Begun moved the choir to New York...
, (2001) - "Kinor David" , by Avihu MedinaAvihu MedinaAvihu Medina is an Israeli composer, arranger, songwriter, and singer of Mediterranean Israeli music.-Biography:Medina is the third son of Aaron and Leah Medina. His mother's family immigrated in 1906 and she was born in Jerusalem, and his father immigrated to Israel from Yemen in 1939 when it was...
- "Lemaan Tzion Lo Echesheh" ('For Zion I will not forget you') by Miami Boys ChoirMiami Boys Choir-History:Formed in 1977 by Yerachmiel Begun, the Miami Boys Choir was part of a larger surge in popularity of Orthodox Jewish choral music.While the group was formed in Miami Beach, Florida, after releasing the first few albums, Begun moved the choir to New York...
- "Leshana Haba Biyerushalayim" ('Next Year in Jerusalem'), by Miami Boys ChoirMiami Boys Choir-History:Formed in 1977 by Yerachmiel Begun, the Miami Boys Choir was part of a larger surge in popularity of Orthodox Jewish choral music.While the group was formed in Miami Beach, Florida, after releasing the first few albums, Begun moved the choir to New York...
- "Me'al Pisgat Har Hatzofim" ( "Over the Mount ScopusMount ScopusMount Scopus , جبل المشهد , جبل الصوانة) is a mountain in northeast Jerusalem. In the wake of the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, Mount Scopus became a UN protected Jewish exclave within Jordanian-occupied territory until the Six-Day War in 1967...
") by Avigdor HameiriAvigdor HameiriAvigdor Hameiri was an Israeli author.-Biography:Hameiri was born Avigdor Feuerstein in 1890 in the village of Odavidhaza , Carpathian Ruthenia in Austria Hungary. He emigrated to Mandate Palestine in 1921, where he became one of the original 16,000 1948 freedom fighters...
, performed by Yehoram GaonYehoram GaonYehoram Gaon is a Jewish Israeli singer, actor, director, producer, TV and radio host, and public figure... - "Veliyerushalayim" ('and to Jerusalem') by Miami Boys ChoirMiami Boys Choir-History:Formed in 1977 by Yerachmiel Begun, the Miami Boys Choir was part of a larger surge in popularity of Orthodox Jewish choral music.While the group was formed in Miami Beach, Florida, after releasing the first few albums, Begun moved the choir to New York...
- "Yerushalayim" by Avraham FriedAvraham FriedAvraham Shabshi Hakohen Friedman better known by his stage name, Avraham Fried, is a popular musical entertainer in the Orthodox Jewish community.-Career:...
, (1995) - "Yerushalayim Ha'heret" , performed by Izhar CohenIzhar CohenIzhar Cohen is an Israeli singer and actor.Representing Israel, he won the 1978 Eurovision Song Contest with the group Alphabeta performing "A-Ba-Ni-Bi" with music by Nurit Hirsh and words by Ehud Manor...
- "Yerushalayim- Can You Hear Our Voice" by Miami Boys ChoirMiami Boys Choir-History:Formed in 1977 by Yerachmiel Begun, the Miami Boys Choir was part of a larger surge in popularity of Orthodox Jewish choral music.While the group was formed in Miami Beach, Florida, after releasing the first few albums, Begun moved the choir to New York...
, (2001) - "Yerushalayim Shel Barzel" by Meir ArielMeir ArielMeir Ariel was an Israeli singer-songwriter.He was known as a "man of words" for his poetic use of the Hebrew language in his lyrics. His influences included Hebrew poets such as Natan Alterman, S. Y...
- "Yerushalayim Shel Beitar" , performed by Itzik Kala and many others
- "Yerushalayim Shelly" ' onMouseout='HidePop("43985")' href="/topics/My_jerusalem">My JerusalemMy jerusalemMy Jerusalem is an Indie Rock band that formed in the New Orleans, Louisiana area and now resides in Austin, Texas. The band originally began as a collective featuring Jeff Klein and Dave Rosser of The Twilight Singers, Rick Nelson of Polyphonic Spree, Ashley Dzerigian of Great Northern and Cully...
") by Dan AlmagorDan AlmagorDan Almagor is an Israeli playwright who has adapted and translated over a hundred plays for the Hebrew stage, including Shakespeare's "The Comedy of Errors", "Fiddler on the Roof," "The King and I," "My Fair Lady" and "Guys and Dolls"....
and Nurit HirshNurit HirshNurit Hirsh is an Israeli composer, arranger and conductor who has written over a thousand Hebrew songs. -Biography:Nurit Hirsh studied at the Academy of Music in Tel Aviv, majoring in piano. She also studied composition with Mordecai Seter, orchestration with Noam Sheriff and conducting with ... - "Zot Yerushalayim" by Nahum Heyman
National and folk songs
- "HatikvahHatikvah"Hatikvah" is the national anthem of Israel. The anthem was written by Naphtali Herz Imber, a secular Galician Jew from Zolochiv , who moved to the Land of Israel in the early 1880s....
"-national anthem of Israel, mentions Jerusalem heavily - "Yerushalayim Shel Zahav" by Naomi ShemerNaomi ShemerNaomi Shemer was a leading Israeli songwriter hailed as the "first lady of Israeli song and poetry."-Biography:Naomi Sapir was born on Kvutzat Kinneret, a kibbutz her parents had helped found, on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. In the 1950s she served in the Israeli Defense Force's Nahal...
, performed by Shuli NatanShuli NatanShuli Natan is an Israeli singer best known for singing Jerusalem of Gold , written by Naomi Shemer. It was immensely popular right after the Six-Day War, and made her world-famous. It is still very popular in Israel and in Jewish communities worldwide.-Music career:Her recent albums feature...
, Ofra HazaOfra HazaOfra Haza was an Israeli singer of Yemeni origin, an actress and international recording artist....
and many others around the globe - "Lakh Yerushalayim"
- "Shabechi Yerushalayim" , by PsalmsPsalmsThe Book of Psalms , commonly referred to simply as Psalms, is a book of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Bible...
(lyrics) and Avihu Medina, performed by GlykeriaGlykeriaGlykeria is a Greek singer active in Greece and Cyprus, while also gaining fame in Israel, France, Turkey and England. Her career has spanned over 30 years and is marked by several multi-platinum releases...
and many others
Arabic language
- "Al Quds Al Atiqa" by FairuzFairuzNouhad Wadi Haddad , famously known as Fairuz is a Lebanese singer who is widely considered to be the most famous living singer in the Arab world and one of the best known of all time...
- "Zahrat al Meda'in" by FairuzFairuzNouhad Wadi Haddad , famously known as Fairuz is a Lebanese singer who is widely considered to be the most famous living singer in the Arab world and one of the best known of all time...
- "Al Quds" by LatifaLatifaLatifa Bint Alayah Al Arfaoui , better known as Latifa , is an Arab pop music singer, Latifa standing for gentle in Arabic.-Early life:...
and Kazem al-Saher - "Al Quds De Ardina" by Amr DiabAmr DiabAmr Abdol-Basset Abdol-Azeez Diab is an Egyptian singer and composer of geel music; the contemporary face of Egyptian el-geel pop music, according to World Music. Diab is the best-selling Arab recording artist of all time, according to Let's Go Egypt...
- "Al Quds Lena" by HakimHakim (Egyptian singer)Hakim is an Egyptian folk-singer. In addition to the number of albums he has put out, on December 11, 2006 he was the first person from an Arab country to perform at a Nobel Peace Prize event.-Biography:...
- "Al Quds Haterga' Lena" by Hisham AbbasHisham AbbasMohammad Hisham Mahmoud Mohammad Abbas was born on September 13, 1963 in Cairo, Egypt. He is commonly known as just Hisham Abbas . He is an Egyptian popsinger best known for his hit song Habibi Dah and his religious song Asmaa Allah al-husna-Biography:He had his primary education in Dar El Tefl...
, HakimHakim (Egyptian singer)Hakim is an Egyptian folk-singer. In addition to the number of albums he has put out, on December 11, 2006 he was the first person from an Arab country to perform at a Nobel Peace Prize event.-Biography:...
, AnoushkaAnoushkaKartanios Garbis Slim , better known by her stage name Anoushka , is an Egyptian singer and actress.She was born to an Egyptian father and an Armenian mother...
, et al. - "Ya Quds" by Nawal Al Zoghbi
- "Ala Bab al Quds" by Hani ShakerHani ShakerHany Shaker is an Egyptian singer, actor and composer. He has over 461 songs in the hearts of his lovers. His first public appearance was when he sang with Abd El Halim Hafez Choral Group in "Sora", then he showed up in the movie Sayed Darwish as Sayed darwish when he was young.-Biography:Hany...
- "Abda´ meneen?" by Zena
- "Hamaam al-Quds" by Julia BoutrosJulia BoutrosJulia Boutros is a Lebanese singer that rose to stardom in the 1980s with a series of nationalistic songs like "Ghabet Shams El Haq" and "Wen el malaieen". She is also the sister of Lebanese songwriter Ziad Boutros.-Biography:...
, Amal ArafaAmal Arafa- Professional and Personal life :Amal Arafa is the daughter of composed Suhail Arafa. She started her acting career at a very young age. She is married to Syrian Actor Abdel-Moneim Amayri, and has two daughters: Salma and Mariam.- Series:* Aylet 5 Nojoom...
and Sausan Hamami - "Il-Gudes Naadat" by Al Waad
English language
- "Crusader" by Chris de BurghChris de BurghChris de Burgh is a British/Irish singer-songwriter. He is most famous for his 1986 love song "The Lady in Red".-Early life:...
- "Jerusalem" by Alpha BlondyAlpha BlondyAlpha Blondy is a reggae singer and international recording artist. Alpha Blondy was born Seydou Koné in Dimbokro, Côte d'Ivoire. He sings mainly in his native language of Dioula, in French and English, and sometimes in Arabic or Hebrew...
- "Jerusalem" by Antje DuvekotAntje DuvekotAntje Duvekot is a singer-songwriter and guitarist based in Somerville, Massachusetts. holds three top songwriting awards, including the Kerrville New Folk Competition's Best New Folk Award, Boston Music Award for Outstanding Folk Act and Grand Prize in the John Lennon Songwriting...
- "Jerusalem" by Anouk
- "Jerusalem" by Black SabbathBlack SabbathBlack Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
- "Precious Jerusalem" by Blind GuardianBlind GuardianBlind Guardian is a German power metal band formed in the mid-1980s in Krefeld, West Germany. They are often credited as one of the seminal and most influential bands in the power metal and speed metal subgenres...
- "Jerusalem" by Dan BernDan BernDan Bern is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, novelist and painter. His music is often compared to that of Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie, Bruce Springsteen, Phil Ochs and Elvis Costello....
- "Jerusalem" by Emerson, Lake & PalmerEmerson, Lake & PalmerEmerson, Lake & Palmer, also known as ELP, are an English progressive rock supergroup. They found success in the 1970s and sold over forty million albums and headlined large stadium concerts. The band consists of Keith Emerson , Greg Lake and Carl Palmer...
- "Jerusalem" by Joseph IsraelJoseph IsraelJoseph Israel was an officer in the United States Navy during the Quasi-War with France and the First Barbary War....
- "Jerusalem (Out of the Darkness Comes Light)Jerusalem (Out of the Darkness Comes Light)"Jerusalem" is a song by Hasidic Jewish reggae singer Matisyahu, produced by Jimmy Douglass & The Ill Factor, and first released in 2006 on his major label debut, Youth...
" by MatisyahuMatisyahuMatthew Paul Miller , better known by his Hebrew name and stage name Matisyahu, is an American Hasidic Jewish reggae and alternative rock musician.... - "Jerusalem" by MirahMirahMirah Yom Tov Zeitlyn , is an American musician based in San Francisco California. She has released five albums under the K Records label.- Background :...
- "Jerusalem" by Sinéad O'ConnorSinéad O'ConnorSinéad Marie Bernadette O'Connor is an Irish singer-songwriter. She rose to fame in the late 1980s with her debut album The Lion and the Cobra and achieved worldwide success in 1990 with a cover of the song "Nothing Compares 2 U"....
- "Jerusalem" by White HeartWhite HeartWhite Heart, also listed as Whiteheart, was a Contemporary Christian Music pop-rock band which formed in 1982. White Heart's discography includes thirteen albums, the most recent of which was released in 1997. Original members Billy Smiley and Mark Gersmehl worked with a continually-changing cast...
- "Jerusalem is Not for Sale" by Mordechai ben DavidMordechai ben DavidMordechai Werdyger , professionally known as Mordechai Ben David or MBD for short, is an American Hasidic Jewish singer and songwriter popular in the Orthodox Jewish community. He has been referred to as the 'King of Jewish music'. He has produced many popular Jewish albums over the past 40 years...
, (1986) - "Mad about you" by Sting
- "Shabbos Yerushalayim", by Miami Boys ChoirMiami Boys Choir-History:Formed in 1977 by Yerachmiel Begun, the Miami Boys Choir was part of a larger surge in popularity of Orthodox Jewish choral music.While the group was formed in Miami Beach, Florida, after releasing the first few albums, Begun moved the choir to New York...
- "Shalom Israel" by Army Of LoversArmy Of LoversArmy of Lovers are a Swedish dance music group formed in 1987.The name of the band alludes to a documentary Armee der Liebenden oder Revolte der Perversen about the German gay rights activist Rosa von Praunheim, the title of which in turn alludes to the Theban Band.-History:The founding members,...
- "Oh Jerusalem" by Robin MarkRobin MarkRobin Mark is a Northern Irish Christian singer, songwriter, worship leader, and recording artist based in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Mark has written several songs sung throughout the world. He is best known for his songs "Days of Elijah", "Revival", "All for Jesus", "The Wonder of The Cross",...
- "Silent Eyes" by Paul SimonPaul SimonPaul Frederic Simon is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist.Simon is best known for his success, beginning in 1965, as part of the duo Simon & Garfunkel, with musical partner Art Garfunkel. Simon wrote most of the pair's songs, including three that reached number one on the US singles...
- the title track to the album Jerusalem by Steve EarleSteve EarleStephen Fain "Steve" Earle is an American singer-songwriter known for his rock and Texas Country as well as his political views. He is also a producer, author, a political activist, and an actor, and has written and directed a play....
- "New Jerusalem" by TheocracyTheocracyTheocracy is a form of organization in which the official policy is to be governed by immediate divine guidance or by officials who are regarded as divinely guided, or simply pursuant to the doctrine of a particular religious sect or religion....
- "Jerusalem" by Don McLeanDon McLeanDonald "Don" McLean is an American singer-songwriter. He is most famous for the 1971 album American Pie, containing the renowned songs "American Pie" and "Vincent".-Musical roots:...
- "Jerusalem" by Alphaville (band)Alphaville (band)Alphaville is a German synthpop group which gained popularity in the 1980s. The founding members were Marian Gold , Bernhard Lloyd , and Frank Mertens Alphaville is a German synthpop group which gained popularity in the 1980s. The founding members were Marian Gold (real name Hartwig Schierbaum,...
- "Oh Jerusalem" by Lauryn HillLauryn HillLauryn Noelle Hill is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress.Early in her career, she established her reputation as a member of the Fugees. In 1998, she launched her solo career with the release of the commercially successful and critically acclaimed album, The Miseducation of...
- "With a Shout (Jerusalem)" by U2U2U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
- "The Trip to Jerusalem" by Joe Dolan'Galway Joe' DolanJoseph "Galway Joe" Dolan was an Irish musician, song-writer and artist. Known as "Galway Joe" to distinguish him from Joe Dolan of Mullingar, he was born in Galway, County Galway, Ireland....
, performed by Christy MooreChristy MooreChristopher Andrew "Christy" Moore is a popular Irish folk singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He is well known as one of the founding members of Planxty and Moving Hearts... - "This New Jerusalem" by Alan MenkenAlan MenkenAlan Menken is an American musical theatre and film composer and pianist.Menken is best known for his numerous scores for films produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios. His scores for The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and Pocahontas have each won him two Academy Awards...
and Tim RiceTim RiceSir Timothy Miles Bindon "Tim" Rice is an British lyricist and author.An Academy Award, Golden Globe Award, Tony Award and Grammy Award-winning lyricist, Rice is best known for his collaborations with Andrew Lloyd Webber, with whom he wrote Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus...
for King DavidKing David (musical)King David is a musical, sometimes described as a modern oratorio, with a book and lyrics by Tim Rice and music by Alan Menken. The musical is based on Biblical tales from the Books of Samuel and 1 Chronicles, as well as text from David's Psalms.... - "Jerusalem" by EdguyEdguy-Demos, AFM years :Edguy was founded in 1992 by 14-year-old students Tobias Sammet, Jens Ludwig, Dominik Storch and Dirk Sauer. The name "Edguy" was an affectionate epithet for Mr. Edgar Siedschlag, their math teacher at the time. In 1994, the band released two demos, Evil Minded and Children of...
- "City of Gold" by Blue FringeBlue FringeBlue Fringe is an American Jewish rock band. The band's songs cover a range of genres including pop, rock, punk and R'n'B, based around Jewish themes. Blue Fringe was formed in 2003 and has released 3 albums...
- "Rivers of BabylonRivers of Babylon"Rivers of Babylon" is a rastafarian song written and recorded by Brent Dowe and Trevor McNaughton of the Jamaican reggae group The Melodians in 1970. The Melodians' original versions of the song appeared in the sound track to the 1972 movie The Harder They Come and the 1999 Nicolas Cage movie...
" by Boney M.
Russian language
- "Ierusalim" (RussianRussian languageRussian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
: Иерусалим, "Jerusalem") by Alexander RosenbaumAlexander RosenbaumAlexander Yakovlevich Rosenbaum is a Soviet and Russian bard from Saint Petersburg. He is best known as an interpreter of the blatnaya pesnya genre...
Spanish language
- "En tus tierras bailaré" by Wendy, Delfín Quishpe & La Tigresa del Oriente