23
Mar
2008
12 Comments
Anti-War songs in Arabic, Hebrew, Farsi, etc?
Does anyone have any anti-war songs in Arabic, Hebrew, English, Farsi, Turkish, Urdu, or any other language to recommend? I’m putting together a collection of cross-translated songs/anthems that speak about war and violence, imagining peace or ceasefire, commiserating with victims and also criticizing governments. Anything from Fayrouz to DAM, Bob Dylan to Ahmad Fouad Najm, sincere to sarcastic (the songs, not the suggestions); lyrics and translations are particularly appreciated as are links to the songs themselves, on youtube or other sites. If you leave the suggestions as comments, this will be a permanent public collection of such songs.
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What’s “any” language? Really any? Or “any Middle Eastern” language?
Simon, if you can provide a translation and transliteration and it’s a good song, bring it on. Revolutionary songs are also welcome.
There’s probably many Bob Dylan songs that would fit your criteria… one of my favourites is “What Good Am I”:
What good am I if I’m like all the rest
If I just turn away when I see how you’re dressed
If I shut myelf off so I can’t hear you cry
What good am I?
What good am I if I know and don’t do
If I see and don’t say, if I look right through you
If I turn a deaf ear to the thunderin’ sky
What good am I?
What good am I while you softly weep
And I hear in my head what you say in your sleep
And I freeze in the moment like the rest who don’t try
What good am I?
What good am I then to others and me
If I had every chance and yet still fail to see
If my hands are tied must I not wonder within
Who tied them and why and where must I have been.
What good am I if I say foolish things
And I laugh in the face of what sorrow brings
And I just turn my back while you silently die
What good a I?
you can listen to the original version on youtube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5fFewKHYeA&feature=related
What a great idea….I believe that Joan Baez did anti-war songs but I can’t name any and I think Kathem al-Sahir collaborated with some English singer on an anti-war song
Let me see…
Hi dear Miriam,
We need to overflow the region with the songs you are talking about. In my mother tongue there is this song called Tasavvor kon ( Imagine) sung by Siavash Ghomeishi, a singer in exile. The same theme is therew in a beautiful song I have that Cheb Khalid, the famous Algerian singer and Achinoam Nini, the Yemenite- Israeli singer, sing together, in Arabic, Hebreww and English. It is called Imagine.
There is a song In Hebrew and Arabic that i guess is called shir -la – shalom, which is not very recent, it belongs to the previous round of negotiatyions for peace , which unfortunately didn’t go far, the assassinatiuon of peoiple directly advocating peace had a very back effect, but peace is in the eccence of human been , we need it, or life would not bew appealing any more, we strive for peace….. Miriam, I cherrish your effort to at least recall the melodies and calls for peace in all our languyages. I send you a hug like a sister from Middle East..
Hey, nice idea, Try the link below. Song number 4 in this album is a good example of an antiwar song in Persian from a highly respected artist among Iranians.
http://siavashghomayshi.com/albums/album%20covers/Roozhaye%20Bikhatereh/index.htm
Hi
Very Good Idea
As nima Wrote Mr. Ghomeyshi Has this song
you can listen to it online from here
http://music.tirip.com/g.htm?id=16923
again me Reza
This is a very nice clip with song of ghomeyshi
http://www.iranclip.com/player/923
Reza and Nima, Thanks.
One of the many songs I like that is anti-war and music video is amazing was from the Cranberries called Zombies. FYI I got the lyric for anyone that may enjoy it. But this song lyric plus voice makes it one of my favorites.
“Zombie”
Another head hangs lowly,
Child is slowly taken.
And the violence caused such silence,
Who are we mistaken?
But you see, it’s not me, it’s not my family.
In your head, in your head they are fighting,
With their tanks and their bombs,
And their bombs and their guns.
In your head, in your head, they are crying…
In your head, in your head,
Zombie, zombie, zombie,
Hey, hey, hey. What’s in your head,
In your head,
Zombie, zombie, zombie?
Hey, hey, hey, hey, oh, dou, dou, dou, dou, dou…
Another mother’s breakin’,
Heart is taking over.
When the vi’lence causes silence,
We must be mistaken.
It’s the same old theme since nineteen-sixteen.
In your head, in your head they’re still fighting,
With their tanks and their bombs,
And their bombs and their guns.
In your head, in your head, they are dying…
In your head, in your head,
Zombie, zombie, zombie,
Hey, hey, hey. What’s in your head,
In your head,
Zombie, zombie, zombie?
Hey, hey, hey, hey, oh, oh, oh,
Oh, oh, oh, oh, hey, oh, ya, ya-a…
this is “The War Is Over”..it was sung by Sarah Brightman & Kazim Al-Sahir…
My statures are falling
Like feathers of snow
Their voices are calling
In a whispering world
Waiting for the morning glow
Heaven is calling
From rainy shores
Counting wounded lights falling
Into their dreams
Still searching for an open door
In morning dew
A glorious scene came through
Like war is over now
I feel I’m coming home again
Pure moments of thought
In the meaning of love
This war is over now
I feel I’m coming home again
An arrow of freedom
Is piercing my heart
Breaking chains of emotion
Give a moment to pray
Lost innocence to find its way
Fields of sensation
A cry in the dark
Hope is on the horizon
With a reason to stay
And living for a brand new day
In morning dew
A glorious scene came through
Like war is over now
I feel I’m coming home again
Pure moments of thought
In the meaning of love
This war is over now
I feel I’m coming home again
سلام الله على الدنيا على الإنسان
آه آه آه
متى نحيا بحب وأمان
سلام الله
سلام الله
سلام الله على الدنيا على الإنسان
Salam allah ‘ala duniya ‘alal ensaan
Ah ah ah
mata nahaya bihub wa aman
Salam Allah
Salam Allah
Salam Allah ‘ala duniya ‘alal ensaan
translation:
May peace of god be upon humans
Ah, ah, ah
When will we live in love and safety
Peace of god,
Peace of god,
May peace of god be upon humans
In morning dew
A glorious scene came through
Like war is over now
I feel I’m coming home again
Pure moments of thought
In the meaning of love
This war is over now
I feel I’m coming home again
To you
you can watch it from here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfMR9pd8Mi0