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.dampalestin... .
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/... 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.democracyno..., 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.

[@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."

[@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

[@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.

[@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!

[@greeny1980]

Cool video!! Respect to Palestines from Hungary!

[@UrbanFreeStylez]

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

[@K00B0]

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

[@gomezesmorticia]

Dam is blood in Arabic too.

[@omerta926]

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

[@Patparazzi]

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

[@MariastellaArgentiTia]

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

[@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.

[@vandrew12]

EXCELENTE. muy buena, vamos palestina todavia

[@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...

[@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),

[@evolv76]

Cool, Viva Palestina! Best wishes from Europe :) I now few Jews, and they are one of the most inteligent and cool friends of mine, ...but Israel is a conservative state of apartheid ..that's no doubt :(

[@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

[@DANxCHORIN]

You make excellent points in your posts.

[@Rhapsodeste]

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

[@StylesP1987]

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

[@ANE32]

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

[@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.

[@justinelhillow]

no guys rapping in Hebrew and girl rapping in Arabic :P. i kno the west always portrays Arabic as a languages with many Kha's but Hebrew has much more then Arabic. lol, they are both related but in my opinon Hebrew is more harsh and Arabic has more of a flow.

[@milesbe7785]

Wow. Great video.

[@Idapidaros]

I totally agree.. it's like you have to watch your every word when u critisize Israel's violation of human rights, cuz your arguments might be seen as anti-semitic even tho they have nothing to do with the jewish ppl. I just pray this war will come to an end some time. It affects sooo many people :/

[@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.

[@humam19900]

the chorus of the song is amazing

[@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

[@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

[@nawaflih]

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

[@CaptainDimassi]

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

[@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.

[@Team974]

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

[@hoozulooz]

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

[@spikeli84]

très belle musique et très belle parole également

[@morleigh13]

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

[@nooly1]

dude i worship u for that! ur awesome!

[@catnawal]

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

[@Arglefrasterenchante]

@kosherrealizations Music without a message is meaningless. Don't choke the voice. These people have something to say you owe it to them to at least consider what they are saying.

[@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

[@teamdeadly]

Amazing video and rap! Toda rebah!

[@moussleouf]

@Sabei0990 EXCUSE ME MY BROTHER !! DAM means "eternity" in Arabic, "blood" in Hebrew and it means "MC's Da Arabian" in English. :))

[@Hawkface]

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

[@Behnoud236]

Don't give up. Don't lose hope. You've got peace, love, and support from Iranians. Free Palestine!

[@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

[@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

[@mites7]

For sure, there have been a lot more Palestinians and Israelis protesting things like the wall and war peacefully, but sadly we dont see much of it publicised cuz the army always gives them a hard time. though in the army defense, they protest in areas they're technically not allowed in. But I agree, we need to make peace the same way mendella gahndi and king did, with heart, not with weapons.

[@mites7]

its called Hebrew/Ivrit and thats the language of the rap. Arabic/3rabi is the language that the girl is singing in. :)

[@uristra]

i think you missed a pun when you translated "habayit haze lo kibel ishur mehahoq" as "this house wasn't legally approved." "bayit" means "house" but also "verse". they're saying that the verse wasn't legally approved, but will not be erased.

[@kingi97]

@moussleouf no, "DAM" means "blood" in both Arabic and Hebrew. Dont forget they are both Semitic Languages!!

[@texassy]

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

[@shtetlcholoycd]

just stop! i'm an american jew and i'm ashamed and embarrassed by how impossibly self-absorbed these comments are (and pathetically argued). this discussion shouldn't even be about land. this is about the marginalization of palestinians with israeli citizenship. i think the fact that this is presented in fluent hebrew speaks volumes.

[@Shelms1]

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

[@omomnokia]

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

[@thelettertsix]

@Laila5105 the group is called " DAM " the song is called " born here"

[@BenvelMusic]

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

[@_jszos7]

very nice song :)

[@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

[@ninaquero]

@opiegonebad "Utopia" was written not by some Vogue editor, but by Thomas More, based in turn on Plato's "Republic", so a slight dose of "utopianism" is maybe something that this world so pragmatically "cynical" just might be needing. This aside, GREAT VIDEO, related with an ethical topic, the crimes of zionism- a colonialist ideology accepted by "world leaders"and its monstrous creation, the unholy racist-fascist state of Israel and its nazi-like treatment of Palestinians.

[@MrEmony253]

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

[@Anhari.1]

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

[@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?

[@ta7reer00]

@angrygopher the chorus is Arabic( when the girl sings) and the verses are Hebrew

[@1slmalool94]

روووووووووووووووووووووووووووووووووووووووووووووعه

[@gehad1988]

ur replay just Awesome !! thanx

[@delaxcc]

realy good video. and awesome song.

[@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.

[@SandraSegé]

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!!!!

[@rightofreturn]

She's also known as Sabreena Da Witch. Look her up. She performs in the US now. (I hope this gets posted. utube doesn't seem to like Palestinians!)

[@ayboday]

"Add to it white pepper,it will sneeze from a loaded gun"

[@J87513]

I don't think there is because believe it or not, there are many people who benefit from the conflict on both sides who are in power.

[@hal94]

they were soooo good at womad. best event i saw

[@MikeyMcCrashCap]

Awesome video!

[@Crazylalalalala]

Irgun and the Stern Gang were discontinued in 48. (Never heard of these numbers please point me to a different source I dont have the book) It was 77% and about half of which was Uninabitaded desert that Israelis formed small tower and fence settlments on over night to get that land. Many of the Palastinians left to avoid the fighting between the arab nations and the newly found Israel.

[@KerrieOKeefe]

..this is an authentic voice, its got life and truth and no israeli propaganda can silence this. Just look at history.

[@RedRoseNofar]

I liked it very much.. the massege and everything. it's really terrible what the arabs have to go through here.. no one dosen't deserve to live the way they live here. I don't believe that they arabs should get Israel, but i defeinetly believe that thouse who does live here sould not be treaten the way the goverment treat them. lets hope for peace, וכל הכבוד על העמדה.

[@The3mber]

تحيا فلسطين

[@alinxxy]

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

[@kais10]

Muito bom, mesmo!!! Parabéns

[@XyphonX]

I agree that they should talk. Completely. However the last part is somewhat true,still you must remember: Israel agreed to the first 2-state solutions, the Arab States didn't.

[@arad7613]

Again, I strongly recommend 'Dedication'. I defy you to find another band in today's music that deals so courageously with such heavy issues. Personal picks: 'Mali Huriye' (I Don't Have Freedom), Al Huriye Unt'a (Freedom For My Sisters) and 'Da DAM' (It's DAM). But it's all good. Pity there aren't any videos for these songs (all better than this one). It's also a shame they don't sing in Hebrew anymore. After all, their problems are with Israeli society. We are the ones who need to hear it.

[@ufotofu9]

Dam means "blood" in Hebrew" too.

[@jabberwock11]

I see this stuff has attracted the usual protagonists on both sides. Of course in rap anything that stirs up controversy is seems to be considered good. So I guess this is good even though I'm really into metal. Let me know when the first Palestinian metal band comes out.

[@qxl]

You just got owned acasurf! I agree with opiegonebad that these people are noble! Free palestine! greetings from Norway.

[@hxocxjo]

@irenaash It doesn't mather whether palestinians originaly existed as a distinct nation( I think they didn't) but the point is that (most of them) were the people whose ancestors lived there for generations, before the State of Israel existed or was even planed.

[@katsaur]

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

[@BassamHassaan]

Abeeeeeeer is Dope ;) Much Respect

[@macdresfan1]

@opiegonebad I totally respect what they are doing rap isnt american culture it is its own culture of people who are opressed and have a voice that cant be heard i am so proud of this group for stamding up and showing us americans that all arabs are NOT TERROIST but indeed human beings with problems and struggles i love u abeer i want a cd lol go on DAM KEEP SHOWING THE WORLD THEY ARE WRONG WE BLACK AMERICANS TOTALLY FEEL FOR U BECAUSE WE HAD TO OVERCOME THE SAME THINGS BUT U GUYS FIGHT BACK

[@Marenqo]

fact of the matter is that violence hardly solves anything... In the US ML King was the prime reason for equal rights and whether or not Gandhi promoted violence (which can not be be considered on the basis of one single quote) India has received independence primarily through pacifistic resistance. Naturally, there is not a one size fit-all-solution. But I would agree more with a Gramscian approach of an intellectual counter hegemony.

[@Inkahustler]

Great Lyrics !

[@lilhaya]

The solution to this conflict is one state for all Israelis and Palestinians. The holy land is indivisible. From Hebron to Jaffa, from Jerusalem to Safad, from Bethlehem to Nazarath. The land belongs to all Palestinians and Israelis. Here to Israel-Palestine, a state for all Palestinians and Israelis. Peace from Sudan.

[@cheayman]

the best.... keep it real

[@geva90]

thanks man

[@501sabu501]

Okay, well. My dad tried to explain some of the conflict to me, but i think i might've misunderstood, so no calling my dad dumb. But he said that after WWII since Hitler had done everything to the Jews, the UN attempted to get back land for the Jews or something like that. And when it had come time for the Israelites to get their land, they took the original land assigned plus some, if not most, of the Palestinians' land. Since then they've been fighting. I'm not sure if this is right. explain?

[@theperfectionist]

The song is in Hebrew, but the Chorus (sung by the lady) is in Arabic.

[@assaf014]

love the song BTW god job

[@XyphonX]

I agree. PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST!

[@NeuteredMoron]

brillant positive stuff - love and solidarity from ireland. great to see a woman rapper breaking down bullsh*t stereotypes - free palestine free gaza. DAM (defining arabic music).