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 http://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 http://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 http://www.democracynow.org/2008/5/15/slingshot_hip_hop_palestinian_rap_group, 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.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• DAM
• born
• here
• rap
• music
• protest
• hebrew
• zionist
• palestine
• palestinian
• hip
• hop
• slingshot
• war
• peace
• terrorism
• opiegonebad

[kosherrealizations]

Stop all the politics talk, please! Youtube is not the place to debate politics, for God's sake. Go on a political forum, write a blog. But the comments in youtube should be about the videos themselves!

[opiegonebad]

@kosherrealizations I see no reason why YouTube comments should be divorced from the political message in the videos.  Indeed, one of my motivations in sticking the subtitles on DAM's video was precisely to help communicate a political message, and generate discussion around the subject.

Besides, IMHO some of the best music is music that has something to say, and often that means politics.

[magemager0]

Bottom line guys, the United States is afraid to criticize Israel; therefore, the atrocities continue to happen to the Palestinian people.

[opiegonebad]

@magemager0 Yes, but to that I'd add that Europe has it within her power to stop the atrocities as well. Europe is Israel's main trading partner; if European foreign policy weren't so flaccid, it could have a great deal of impact. Those committing the atrocities are scared sh*tless of European economic moves that mean somthing. The cold war is over. It's time for Europe to man up, stop making excuses, and stand up for her professed beliefs with a foreign policy that has teeth.

[opiegonebad]

@Permitheous1 The 10:1 ratio has been pretty constant. Taking the figures from B'Tselem, since Operation Cast Lead there have been 192 Palestinians killed by the Israeli army, 6 Palestinians killed by Israeli civilians, and 13 Israeli civilians killed by Palestinians. So more like 15:1.

Being against Israeli atrocities and racism is nothing like "kicking the Jews out of Israel."  Civilized people learn to live in a diverse environment. I hope Israel becomes civilized some day.

[HipHophead1980]

Great Song!! EVERYONE PLEASE SUPPORT ARAB HIP-HOP ARTISTS!!! Lowkey, Khaled M, Mohamed AlFarra, DAM, Khaki Mustafa, Omar Offendum and More!! Search their music and support the artists who are out here speaking the truth!!!

[lpaeu]

@magemager0 I'm American and I 'm not afraid to criticize Israel. Granted, I wish that they would both grow a pair and find a solution to this problem. The answer to end this tyrancy in Palestine is to have the US tell Israel that they are on their own because then Israel won't feel as powerfull and then they would try to solve this issue without being at war with the Palestinians and their allies instead of being protected by the US military strength.

[iXl0V3xdavidxXA]

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 <3

[1slmalool94]

رووووووووووووووووووووووووووووو­ووووووووووووووووعه

[zvbcfrujk]

I know Palestinian Christians who are tormented from every direction....They're really super sweet,too....They can't get a break.

[sebitasabra]

throw a stone is shot, what's going ¡?¡¡¡ by a stone die, for your shot?

[MikeyMcCrashCap]

In two generations, the Palestinians will outnumber the Jews and they will all be Israeli citizens with voting rights. When that happens, things will be very interesting for the modern day fascist state of Israel. The Jews want an Israel without Arabs but that is simply not going to happen. On the contrary, Israel is becoming more and more Palestinian each day and one day, the Palestinain people will have their rights and freedom again.

[fiddymcdiddy46]

Israeli blood will never be more valuable than Palestinian blood. The lost lives in Palestine will spark the greatest revolution to EVER exist

If they kill the innocent people in Palestine that will never kill the eternal revolution that lives among us all. The revolution of justice, freedom and equality that will resurrect itself in the most powerful way and conquer every type of evil and tyranny.

Zionism is most wanted on peoples death wish. G-d will answer us inshAllah

[MycologicalBlasphemy]

@opiegonebad I definitely appreciate your work in putting the subtitles up here. I agree that the best music has something to say, and that debate is good. However, what I see on literally every single video, ever, about Israel/Palestine is just a whole bunch of people slinging their opinions around, and telling everyone who doesn't agree with them that they're wrong, and possibly fascist. In other words, I see a major lack of any real debate. That's what I'm reacting to.

[breizhcatalonia1993]

@magemager0 form part of Israel maybe Israeli citizenship should be given to palestinians there ( which they will become arab israelis) , if israel leves the settlements, as i say, israelis must leave because it will be a silly thing having jews living here being not israelis.