DAM, "Born Here", Hebrew/Arabic with English subtitles

Palestinian rap group DAM (Da Arab MC's, or "forever" in Arabic) created this music video about the life of Palestinians in Israel. They're from Lod, a town between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, so they're Palestinians with Israeli citizenship (often called "Israeli Arabs"). They usually rap in Arabic, but they made a Hebrew version of this song with a music video to get their message out to the majority of Israelis who don't speak Arabic.
You find out more about them at www.dampalestine.com/main.html .
I've always wanted a subtitled version, so I broke down and adapted the lyrics from their website, to create this. I think this is one of the most powerful rap songs out there.
See moomtastic.com/born-here.html to see my extended comments on the video and its chorus.
By the way, a lot of people are confused about what DAM stands for, but it really is "forever" or "eternity". See the interview at www.democracynow.org/2008/5/15..., where you'll find this:
TAMER NAFAR: Ill just correct you. Actually, dam is eternity in Arabic and blood in Hebrew. So its eternal blood, like we will stay here forever.

[@TheP0e]

"I broke the law? No the law broke me" best line ever, right there

[@rightofreturn]

She's also known as Sabreena Sa Witch. She's a friend of mine and is now based in the US. She has been performing all over the US.

[@omerta926]

My family is from al-Lid, and I have never seen it, but wish to very much. I loved the song and DAM is awesome. Keep em coming!

[@almasali1993]

this song explains everything the Palestinans are feeling and going through. Long live Palestine, we are behind you, supporting you, and fighting for you. No matter how much you feel like you are alone, you are NEVER alone. Long live Palestine

[@UrbanFreeStylez]

yo i swear the guy at 1:20 has the craziest flow ever hes my favourite of the group.

[@DANxCHORIN]

You make excellent points in your posts.

[@uristra]

this song is in part a response to the patriotic israeli song "kan noladeti" - "i was born here". the israeli song's chorus starts: "here i was born, here my children were born, here i built my house with my two hands." in response, DAM sings "here i was born, here my ancestors were born, you won't separate me from my roots," and "here i built my house and here you destroyed my house."

[@milesbe7785]

Wow. Great video.

[@morleigh13]

Keep it up, guys. Your efforts bring a better future.

[@MariastellaArgentiTia]

Thx to Vik Arrigoni I knew you and now I thx you fo singing reality ! Always in my heart, stay human !

[@teamdeadly]

Amazing video and rap! Toda rebah!

[@omerta926]

Brothers, keep representin the struggle, and puttin al-Lid on the map!

[@CaptainDimassi]

Although I dont understand Hebrew, I loved the video and I love DAM band too much.... Excellent work

[@wotcanada]

really good song. we watch them on the news, hear about them from their politicians, but to see an actual video of the people saying what they need to say and what they're going through, is an such eye opener.

[@greeny1980]

Cool video!! Respect to Palestines from Hungary!

[@delaxcc]

realy good video. and awesome song.

[@Team974]

Awesome video! Keep it up DAM. Pa le respect!

[@MikeyMcCrashCap]

Awesome video!

[@nathaliliana]

ist so long time ago i see u people with that song in euronews i got message for u people do more i love it

[@nooly1]

dude i worship u for that! ur awesome!

[@Rhapsodeste]

Awesome! I'm writing a paper about the hip hop movement in Palestine and it's heart breaking and heartening..

[@K00B0]

best song ever I´m from Slovakia and i hope that Palestina will be free nation

[@gomezesmorticia]

Dam is blood in Arabic too.

[@gehad1988]

ur replay just Awesome !! thanx

[@spikeli84]

très belle musique et très belle parole également

[@omomnokia]

awesome stuff...reality well described...ya rab ragga3 lena ardena wala te7remna menha tany

[@Shelms1]

Verry good,bill19079,I like your style,keep up the good work.

[@texassy]

BravooOoo..you guys are pros..hope to see you doing well internationaly

[@vandrew12]

EXCELENTE. muy buena, vamos palestina todavia

[@BassamHassaan]

Abeeeeeeer is Dope ;) Much Respect

[@catnawal]

I love this group they are really AWSOME! they showed the sign where im from LID PALESTINE

[@assaf014]

love the song BTW god job

[@ANE32]

Cool! I love it,this is going straight to my favourites!Where can you get this groups cds?

[@kais10]

Muito bom, mesmo!!! Parabéns

[@olivaeninde]

amazing band.... I think they are from lood, I study planning in Israel and this song is a perfect abstract of what happen It is my teacher who had pass this song as a conclusion of our semester

[@hal94]

they were soooo good at womad. best event i saw

[@foodconsult]

FANTASTIC!!!!! PEACE

[@Inkahustler]

Great Lyrics !

[@dmuldoon512]

Awesome!

[@geva90]

thanks man

[@toxicboy1221]

love it!

[@_jszos7]

very nice song :)

[@bobmoshe]

It's funny - I'm an American Jew who was in Ramallah 2 years ago and I wasn't harrassed at all. Of course, I didn't come in wearing an IDF uniform, and I tried to treat people with respect, so I was greeted only with hospitality.

[@Di5TuRBeD]

Thank you.

[@Patparazzi]

This song is a real alternative to using bombs and guns. This is true Hiphop! In this world telling the truth is revolutionnary!

[@StylesP1987]

I don't know one word they say (without the subs) but this sounds good even without understanding.

[@humam19900]

the chorus of the song is amazing

[@wotcanada]

good video

[@alinxxy]

nice clip...the song is hot 2...a good job DAM...shoe the world thw truth! Peace from Romania!

[@lydacane]

hey yo to all palestine--israel--middle east--jordan---eygpta all those all over the world who reads this post first iam from the deep south and have been underground rappin ever since i was 7 years old hip hop & rap are different dam born here iam feeling you guys i liked the dvd to i give u all props keep grinding i want you to no that iam a christian and i still give yall mad props its not what color,or religion,or where u are born its about uniting in peace THROUGH HIPHOP

[@HusbandnWifeDuo]

dam means blood in both arabic and hebrew. the word has been adopted in urdu and hindi where it means life or breath. came here after reading Mark LeVine's book Heavy Metal islam. he mentions dam and Abeer Zinati with great enthusiasm.

[@cheayman]

the best.... keep it real

[@moussaemad]

good song indeed!!!

[@Hawkface]

I like this Palestinian rap music - the world needs to hear this.

[@DatLoEnigma]

oh shit this is really good

[@bintyyy]

you open your eyes!

[@FranciscalaFranca]

I saw them on air and they are very very good....i would like to know them some day....I'm from Canary Island and they have been here last saturday (1st august) FREE PALESTINE AND FREE SAHARA!!!!

[@MrEmony253]

I'm actually diggin this, if you want to more about DAM look for Dave McDonald.

[@Bakuninite]

Yeah, I really like what project hope is doing. I was considering going over and teaching english there as well someday...how was it?

[@hbarghouthi]

@Revolutionary1794 The "embarrassed" & "Silk" terms refer to poverty in the "neighborhood". A bride without a veil refers to the long time 'she's' been waiting for the change.

[@XyphonX]

Thanks for doing this in Hebrew, so that us Israelis can understand. I am an Israeli, an atheist, and not an Arab Israeli, and I still agree with this video. The Arabs in Israel are somewhat discriminated, though it's still better for them than in the Gaza Strip or West Bank, and I think the Israeli goverment needs to change that, and, in collaboration with the Palestinian Authority. (IF the hostile Hamas, Fatah, Islamic Jihad etc. stop being hostile),

[@Leodopetunes]

Anybody know where I can get the Hebrew lyrics to this song, I looked EVERYWHERE with no success; Thanks so much y'all

[@hoozulooz]

@JesterPoetryArtVlogs When they speak Arabic, they have both English and Hebrew lyrics. The part without the Hebrew lyrics is Hebrew.

[@TheGeraldemerald]

@DrCHPD Politically I'm neutral but as an ex-Christian (now proud hater of ALL religions) who studied Hebrew I know that DAM raps in Hebrew with lots of the underground leftie rappers in Tel Aviv - his battles with Sagol 59 are great! It ain't all black and white y'know... Damn (!) if the politics weren't about he would be free to be more artistic than atavistic, which would be great coz he has a great turn of phrase and flow...

[@Pathrissia]

I like this

[@ASmileIsACharity]

וכל הכבוד על העמדה.

[@Anhari.1]

that song .. with it video .. shows exactly how arabs inside israel live .. especially in the cities where arabs and jews lives togather ..

[@tinayu9]

does anyone know thw name of the female artist?

[@sakhn]

Thank you for all of South America and all of the free on the world .. Atnoi for we are Arabs and Palestinians do not forget the beautiful

[@mites7]

Even though its illegal, they still do. I didnt think they did until i read this article "dunam for dunam" which by the way was written by an israeli

[@katsaur]

I like this better than a lot of American rap. I'm so not a rap person. But this is actually really good :)

[@thesistersincomedy]

why fight with each other? can't you be neighbors and love one another? we are all people and we want the same things. We teach our children that "sharing is caring", but we can't seem to manage it ourselves. Hate and retaliation will get us nowhere; we are chasing each other in a circle of vengeance - eventually someone is going to have to stop and say, "Enough. You are my brother and I am ready to love you." Israel should be a place for anyone to come to find acceptance and peace.

[@MrNiceHk]

Tune ! Message !

[@ahmadatiah1]

nice song

[@vyashin]

Can anyone help me find the text of this song's lyrics (Hebrew/Arabic)? They are not on Dam's website and I couldn't find them elsewhere myself.

[@brklyn82]

I am an American with palestinian heritage am truely pleased by the artistic form used in the video. Finally a way to display the palestinian plight through the common mans tounge and not a politicians.. May the Palestinians and the Non-Zionist Israelis enjoy eachothers company peacefully God willing

[@K00B0]

i hope so

[@Anhari.1]

damn mannnnn .. DAM's Rock :D

[@Leodopetunes]

@breslevim YO WHERE CAN I FIND THE LYRICS IN HEBREW TO THIS SONG?

[@adamwertheimer]

Do you guys know a hebrew song that has the words Zeh Amiti in it?

[@HanlinTheWizard]

that shits ballin

[@wala1990Bridget]

AMEN !!

[@Leodopetunes]

@opiegonebad YO WHERE CAN I FIND THE LYRICS IN HEBREW TO THIS SONG?

[@1slmalool94]

روووووووووووووووووووووووووووووووووووووووووووووعه

[@Peynal]

I like that they're using rap what it was originally created for, social protest. Also, I think the Arabic language lends itself well to the format.

[@gehad1988]

We had gathered at the center of the village, in the house of Hajj Mahmud al-Yahya. When the village fell and the soldiers entered, they herded us to the beach. On the way, near the house of Badran on the street leading to the mosque, I saw the bodies of seven young people from the village. A woman, 'lzzat Ibrahim al-Hindi

[@mzubaroglu]

Hi everybody Please let me know Who is the woman singer in this song? Do you know her name? Thanks

[@nawaflih]

We're all against the idea of zionism Peace! from Jordan

[@SurfGoggles]

Keep your head up. Just saw "Slingshot Hip Hop." When you make it to California let's go surfing.

[@Leyuann]

can one download that anywhere ?

[@BenvelMusic]

peace man! Our middle eastern culture has a lot of common things like Humus and Shavarma and Middle eastern music.. our nations in general both have a lot of respect to religion and traditions so this gives us a strong basis to respect eachother... If you forget for a moment about politics , borders and so on... we lose hate to eachother! PS. Respect to HUMUS SAID in Akko! LOL

[@The3mber]

تحيا فلسطين

[@gudeg55781]

good song. May God bless the politicians by opening their heart. so all people will live in peacefully everyday.

[@anaheedyoutuba]

Might does not hold down a people forever, history teach us this much.

[@Sammycakes216]

Awesome vid! May Peace come in the Middle East

[@Leyuann]

where can their albums be found ? or is it on the web ? does anyone know ?

[@Leyuann]

do you know if DAM's album can be bought in israel ? toda

[@BenvelMusic]

Don't miss next time... the best Hummus I know =) people wait hours to get inside! BTW you are a teacher?

[@yafa1989]

the best team DAM

[@thelettertsix]

@paulsviplist i'm purty sure the girl in this vid. is " Abeer "