List of songs about Jerusalem

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Jerusalem
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    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, 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 Jordanian control to Israeli.

    Additionally many Biblical Psalms, styled as songs, were written specifically about Jerusalem. Jewish liturgy and hymns are rife with references to Jerusalem.

    Hebrew language

    National and folk songs

    • "Hatikvah", national anthem of Israel, mentions Jerusalem heavily
    • "Yerushalayim shel zahav" (Hebrew: ירושלים של זהב, "Jerusalem of Gold") by Naomi Shemer, performed by Shuli Natan, Ofra Haza and many others
    • "Lakh Yerushalayim" (Hebrew: לך ירושלים, "For You, Jerusalem")
    • "Shabekhi Yerushalayim" (Hebrew: שבחי ירושלים, "Praise the Lord, Jerusalem!"), based on Psalms 147:12–13 (lyrics) and Avihu Medina, performed by Glykeria and many others
    • "Yefe Noff" (Hebrew: יפה נוף, "Beautiful scenery"), written by Judah Halevi 12th cet., based on Psalms 48:3, performed by Etti Ankri

    Jewish liturgy

    • The third paragraph of the Birkat HaMazon, the Grace After Meals is completely about God blessing Jerusalem and rebuilding it.
    • Lekhah dodi (Hebrew: לכה דודי, "Come, my beloved"), written by Rabbi Shlomo Halevi is recited at Kabbalat Shabbat and makes many references to Jerusalem as the royal city and that it shall be rebuilt over its ruins.
    • "Uva-u Ha-Ovdim" Book of Isaiah 27:13, speaks of the return of strayed Jews in the lands of Assyria and exiled Jews in the land of Egypt returning to bow before God on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. A popular melody for these words was composed by Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach.
    • "Yerushalayim" by Abie Rotenberg and Shlomo Simcha, on Aish Volume II (2003) is a melody for Psalm 125, verse 2, saying "Hills encircle Jerusalem, and God encircles His people now and forever".

    Shabbat zemirot

    • "Tzur Mishelo Achalnu" (Hebrew: צור משלו אכלנו, "Rock from whom we have eaten") – the last two stanzas are about having compassion for the city of Zion and for a restoration there.
    • "Ya Ribon Olam" (Hebrew: יה ריבון עולם, "God Master of the World") – is a song in Hebrew and Aramaic whose final stanza is about the restoration of the Temple in "Jerusalem, City of Beauty"
    • "Yom zeh l'Yisrael" (Hebrew: יום זה לישראל, "This is a day for Israel") – the final stanza asks God to remember the ruined city, Jerusalem.

    Arabic language

    • "Al Quds Al Atiqa" (Arabic: القدس العتيقة, "Jerusalem's Ancient Streets") by Fairuz
    • "Zahrat al Meda'in" (Arabic: زهرة المدائن, "Flower of Cities") by Fairuz (1968)
    • "Al Quds" (Arabic: القدس, "Jerusalem") by Latifa and Kazem al-Saher
    • "Al Quds De Ardina" (Arabic: القدس دي أرضنا, "Jerusalem is Our Land") by Amr Diab
    • "Al Quds Lena" (Arabic: القدس لنا, "Jerusalem is Ours") by Hakim
    • "Al Quds Haterga' Lena" (Arabic: القدس هترجع لنا, "Jerusalem Will Return to Us") by Hisham Abbas, Hakim, Anoushka, et al.
    • "Ya Quds" (Arabic: يا قدس, "Oh Jerusalem") by Nawal Elzoghbi
    • "Ala Bab al Quds" (Arabic: على باب القدس, "At the Doors of Jerusalem") by Hani Shaker
    • "Abda´ meneen?" (Arabic: أبدأ منين؟, "Where should I begin?") by Zena
    • "Hamaam al-Quds" (Arabic: حمام القدس, "Doves of Jerusalem") by Julia Boutros, Amal Arafa and Sausan Hamami
    • "Il-Gudes Naadat" (Arabic: القدس نادت, "Jerusalem called") by Al Waad

    English language

    This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (February 2024)
    • "The Holy City" by Frederic Weatherly and Stephen Adams, released in 1892
    • "Jerusalem is Mine" by Kenny Karen, released in 1975
    • "Jerusalem" by Sleep, first released in 1999
    • "Jerusalem" by Matisyahu, released in 2006

    Italian language

    Russian language

    References

    This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (April 2010)