This is a song that is as close to the national anthem of Jerusalem as one can come. Written right before the Six Day War returned Jerusalem to Israel, this song was prophetic. Shemer updated the lyrics with a new verse a few months later to reflect the return of the Old City to Jewish hands.
In this section:
| Yerushalayim Shel Zahav Lyrics | Translation of Yerushalayim Shel Zahav |
|---|---|
| Avir harim tsalul kayayin Vere'ach oranim Nisa beruach ha'arbayim Im kol pa'amonim Uvtardemat ilan va'even Shvuyah bachaloma Ha'ir asher badad yoshevet Uvliba choma Yerushalayim shel zahav Veshel nechoshet veshel or Halo lechol shirayich ani kinor (2x) Eicha yavshu borot hamayim Kikar hashuk reika Ve'ein poked et Har Habayit Ba'ir ha'atika Uvam'arot asher basela Meyalelot ruchot Ve'ein yored el Yam Hamelach Baderech Yericho Yerushalayim ... Ach bevo'i hayom lashir lach Velach likshor ketarim Katonti mitze'ir banayich Ume'acharon hameshorerim Ki shmech tsorev et hasfatayim K'neshikat saraf Im eshkachech Yerushalayim Asher kula zahav Yerushalayim ... Chazarnu el borot hamayim Lashuk velakikar Shofar korei beHar Habayit Ba'ir ha'atika Uvam'arot asher basela Alfei shmashot zorchot Veshuv nered el Yam Hamelach Baderech Yericho Yerushalayim ... |
The air of the mountains is as clear as wine And the fragrance of the pine trees Is lifted upon the evening breeze With the ringing of the bells And in the deep sleep of the tree and the stone Held captive in a dream The city which sits alone And in her heart, a wall Jerusalem of gold And of copper and of light For all of your songs I am the harp How the water cisterns have dried up The city square is empty Nobody goes up to the Temple Mount In the Old City And in the caves of the rocks Winds howl And no one goes down to the Dead Sea Upon the Jericho Road Jerusalem of gold... Although I come to sing to you today And to tie crowns upon you I am less than the youngest of your sons And the last of the sweet singers For your name singes the lips Like the kiss of the serpent If I forget thee, oh Jerusalem She is completely golden Jerusalem of gold... We have returned to the water cisterns To the marketplace and the square A shofar calls out on the Temple Mount In the Old City And in the caves in the rocks A thousand suns shine forth And again we will go down to the Dead Sea Upon the Jericho Road Jerusalem of gold... |
Yerushalayim Shel Zahav, with Yisrael LutnickYerushalayim Shel Zahav MP3 |
The backing track from the recordingYerushalayim Shel Zahav Karaoke Backing Track |
Shuli Natan: Shuli Natan is the first woman to record the song back in '67. Here she is.
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Andre Rieu: Andre Rieu and the Strauss Orchestra. Simply gorgeous!
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Steven Speilberg: The sountrack from Schindler's List, performed by the Ramat Gan Chamber Choir.
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Giora Feidman: Giora Feidman's magic clarinet in a deeply sensitive performance.
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Jonathan Settel: Jonathan Settel gives an english-hebrew performance from The Road To Jerusalem. A masterful rendition.
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Jon Simon: Jon Simon presents a peaceful piano performance.
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Shulem Lemmer: Shulem gives a rich and heartfelt rendition
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