This is a list of songs about

Jerusalem Jerusalem (; he, יְרוּשָׁלַיִם ; ar, القُدس ) (combining the Biblical and common usage Arabic names); grc, Ἱερουσαλήμ/Ἰεροσόλυμα, Hierousalḗm/Hierosóluma; hy, Երուսաղեմ, Erusałēm. i ...

, including major parts of the city such as individual neighborhoods and sections. Religiously significant to all three Abrahamic religions for centuries and politically controversial since the inception of the

Zionist movement Zionism ( he, צִיּוֹנוּת ''Tsiyyonut'' after ''Zion'') is a nationalist movement that espouses the establishment of, and support for a homeland for the Jewish people centered in the area roughly corresponding to what is known in Jew ...

, Jerusalem has been artistically associated with widely varied concepts. There are many songs about Jerusalem from various time periods, especially nationalistically-themed songs from the time of the

Six-Day War The Six-Day War (, ; ar, النكسة, , or ) or June War, also known as the 1967 Arab–Israeli War or Third Arab–Israeli War, was fought between Israel and a coalition of Arab states (primarily Egypt, Syria, and Jordan) from 5 to 10 Ju ...

, when East Jerusalem passed from

Jordan Jordan ( ar, الأردن; tr. ' ), officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan,; tr. ' is a country in Western Asia. It is situated at the crossroads of Asia, Africa, and Europe, within the Levant region, on the East Bank of the Jordan Rive ...

ian control to

Israel Israel (; he, יִשְׂרָאֵל, ; ar, إِسْرَائِيل, ), officially the State of Israel ( he, מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, label=none, translit=Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl; ), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated ...

i. Additionally many Biblical

Psalms The Book of Psalms ( or ; he, תְּהִלִּים, , lit. "praises"), also known as the Psalms, or the Psalter, is the first book of the ("Writings"), the third section of the Tanakh, and a book of the Old Testament. The title is derived ...

, styled as songs, were written specifically about Jerusalem. Jewish liturgy and hymns are rife with references to Jerusalem.

Hebrew language

*"Jerusalem" by Kenneth Lampl (2012) performed by the Zamir Chorale of Boston *"Al Chomotaich" ( he, על חומותיך ירושלים, " On Your Walls, Jerusalem") by Yaakov Shwekey *"Anachnu olim elaich, Yerushalayim" ( he, אנחנו עולים אליך, ירושלים, "We coming for you, Jerusalem"), performed by Nira Rabinovich *"Bisharayich Yerushalayim" ( he, בשערייך ירושלים, "At

Gates"), saluting the Israel Defense Forces paratroopers of the

*"Biyerushalayim" ( he, בירושלים, "In Jerusalem") by

Miami Boys Choir The Miami Boys Choir (MBC) is a boys choir specializing in Orthodox pop. History In the early 1970s while studying in yeshivah in Toronto, Yerachmiel Begun created, directed, and recorded three successful albums with the Toronto (Pirchei) Bo ...

, (1997) *"Giv'at HaTahmoshet" ( he, גבעת התחמושת, " Ammunition Hill") by

Yoram Taharlev Yoram Taharlev ( he, יורם טהרלב; 24 January 1938 – 6 January 2022) was an Israeli poet, lyricist, and author. He wrote lyrics for hundreds of songs recorded by prominent composers and performers. Biography Yoram Taharlev was born on ...

*"Himnon Hapoel Yerushalayim" ( he, המנון הפועל ירושלים, " Hapoel Jerusalem F.C. anthem") by Dudu Barak *"Hineh ani ba" ( he, הנה אני בא, "Here I Come", on the conflict of everyday life in Jerusalem vs.

Tel Aviv Tel Aviv-Yafo ( he, תֵּל־אָבִיב-יָפוֹ, translit=Tēl-ʾĀvīv-Yāfō ; ar, تَلّ أَبِيب – يَافَا, translit=Tall ʾAbīb-Yāfā, links=no), often referred to as just Tel Aviv, is the most populous city in the ...

) by

Hadag Nahash Hadag Nahash ( he, הדג נחש ', ) is an Israeli hip hop/funk band, founded in 1996 in Jerusalem. The band is known for its leftist political statements in many of its songs. Some of the band's songs have been used in protests. Name and sy ...

*"Hineni kan" ( he, הנני כאן, "Jerusalem, here I am") by

Yehoram Gaon Yehoram Gaon ( he, יהורם גאון, born December 28, 1939) is an Israeli singer, actor, director, comedian, producer, TV and radio host, and public figure. He has also written and edited books on Israeli culture. The son of Sephardic Jewish ...

and

Harel Skaat Harel Skaat ( he, הראל סקעת, born 8 August 1981) sometimes known by the mononym Harel is an Israeli singer and songwriter. He represented Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 with the song " Milim" ("מילים", "Words"). Skaat ...

*"Im eshkachech Yerushalayim" ( he, אם אשכחך ירושלים, 'If I Forget Thee Jerusalem') by

, (2001) *"Kinor David" ( he, כינור דוד, "The violin of King David"), by

Avihu Medina Avihu Medina ( he, אביהו מדינה, born August 19, 1948 in Tel Aviv) is an Israeli composer, arranger, songwriter, and singer of Mediterranean Israeli music. Medina was born in Tel Aviv. He was the third son of Aaron and Leah Medina. His m ...

*"Lemaan tzion lo eshkakhekh" ( he, למען ציון לא אשכחך, "For Zion I will not forget you") by

*"Lach Yerushalayim" ( he, לך ירושלים, "For you, Jerusalem") by Amos Etinger, performed by Ronit Ofir *"Lekol' echad Yerushalayim" ( he, לכל אחד ירושלים, "Jerusalem is for each one") by Nathan Yehonathan, performed by Dorit Reuveni *"Leshana haba'a biyerushalayim" ( he, לשנה הבאה בירושלים, "

Next Year in Jerusalem ''L'Shana Haba'ah B'Yerushalayim'' ( he, לשנה הבאה בירושלים), lit. "Next year in Jerusalem", is a phrase that is often sung at the end of the Passover Seder_and_at_the_end_of_the_'' isan_in_the__Hebrew_..._and_at_the_end_of_the_' ...

"), by

*"Me'al pisgat Har Hatzofim" ( he, מעל פסגת הר הצופים "From Atop

Mount Scopus Mount Scopus ( he, הַר הַצּוֹפִים ', "Mount of the Watchmen/ Sentinels"; ar, جبل المشارف ', lit. "Mount Lookout", or ' "Mount of the Scene/Burial Site", or ) is a mountain (elevation: above sea level) in northeast Je ...

") by

Avigdor Hameiri Avigdor Hameiri (Hebrew: אביגדור המאירי; September 16, 1890 – April 3, 1970) was a Hungarian-Israeli author. Biography Hameiri was born as Avigdor Menachem Feuerstein in 1890, in the village of Odavidhaza (near Munkatsch), Carpathia ...

, performed by

*"Shomer hahomot" ( he, שומר החומות "Walls guardman"), performed by Military orchestra of Central Command of

IDF IDF or idf may refer to: Defence forces * Irish Defence Forces * Israel Defense Forces *Iceland Defense Force, of the US Armed Forces, 1951-2006 * Indian Defence Force, a part-time force, 1917 Organizations * Israeli Diving Federation * Interac ...

*"Sisu et Yerushalayim" ( he, שישו את ירושלים "Rejoice in Jerusalem"), performed by

Dudu Fisher David "Dudu" Fisher (born 18 November 1951; he, דודו פישר) is an Israeli cantor and performer, best known for his Broadway performance as Jean Valjean in the musical ''Les Misérables''. Biography The son of a Holocaust survivor, Fish ...

*"Veliyerushalayim" ( he, ולירושלים, "And to Jerusalem") by

*"Yerushalayim" by

Avraham Fried Avraham Shabsi Hakohen Friedman ( he, אברהם שבתי הכהן פרידמן, born March 22, 1959) better known by his stage name, Avraham Fried, is a popular musical entertainer in the Orthodox Jewish community. Career Fried was encourag ...

, (1995) *"Yerushalayim" performed by

Esther Ofarim Esther Zaied, better known by her married name Esther Ofarim ( he, אסתר עופרים; born June 13, 1941), is an Israeli singer. She came second in the 1963 Eurovision Song Contest with the song " T'en va pas", representing Switzerland. Aft ...

(1978) *"Yerushalayim" by Shimrit Or, performed by

Ilana Avital Ilana Avital ( he, אילנה אביטל; born February 18, 1960) is an Israeli singer and actress. She also gained fame internationally, known as Lena and Sandy Miller. Biography Avital was born in Paris, France as Brigitte Abitbol in a family ...

*"Yerushalayim" by Mordechai Ben David *"Yerushalayim" by

(2007) *"Yerushalayim Ha'akheret" ( he, ירושלים האחרת, "The Different Jerusalem"), performed by

Izhar Cohen Izhar Cohen ( he, יזהר כהן; born March 13, 1951) is an Israeli singer who won the 1978 Eurovision Song Contest. Biography Izhar Cohen was born in Tel Aviv, Israel, and raised in Givatayim, to a family of singers of Yemenite-Jewish desc ...

and in 2017 at the ceremony for the 50th anniversary of reunification of Jerusalem by

Sarit Hadad Sarit Hadad ( he, שרית חדד, ) (born on September 20, 1978) is an Israeli singer. In October 2009, the Israeli Music TV Channel (Channel 24) named Hadad "best female singer of the 2000s". She represented Israel at the Eurovision Song Contes ...

*"Yerushalayim Can You Hear Our Voice" by

, (2001) *"Yerushalayim shel barzel" ( he, ירושלים של ברזל, "Jerusalem of Iron") by

Meir Ariel Meir Ariel ( he, מאיר אריאל; March 2, 1942 – July 18, 1999) was an Israeli singer-songwriter and guitarist. He was known as a "man of words" for his poetic use of the Hebrew language in his lyrics. His influences included Hebrew lite ...

*"Yerushalayim shel Beitar" ( he, ירושלים של בית"ר, "Jerusalem of

Beitar The Betar Movement ( he, תנועת בית"ר), also spelled Beitar (), is a Revisionist Zionist youth movement founded in 1923 in Riga, Latvia, by Vladimir (Ze'ev) Jabotinsky. Chapters sprang up across Europe, even during World War II. After ...

"), performed by

Itzik Kala Itzhak "Itzik" Kala ( he, איציק קלה) is an Israeli singer of Kurdish-Jewish descent who sings in Aramaic, Kurdish and Hebrew. He has released over 30 studio albums. He is married to Ziona Kala. In late 2012 his wife was severely injur ...

and others *"Yerushalayim sheli" ( he, ירושלים שלי, "My Jerusalem") by

Dan Almagor Dan Almagor ( he, דן אלמגור; born 1935) is an Israeli playwright who has adapted and translated over a hundred plays for the Hebrew stage, including Shakespeare's "The Comedy of Errors", "As You Like It", "Fiddler on the Roof," "The King a ...

and

Nurit Hirsh Nurit Hirsh ( he, נורית הירש, b. Tel Aviv, August 13, 1942) is an Israeli composer, arranger and conductor who has written over a thousand Hebrew songs. Three of her most famous and widely known songs are '' Ba-Shanah ha-Ba'ah'' (''Next ...

*"Zot Yerushalayim" ( he, זאת ירושלים, " This is Jerusalem") by Nahum Heyman *"O Jerusalem" ( he, אם אשכחך ירושלים, " O Jerusalem") by Ben Snof *"Tsion Halo Tish'ali"(Hebrew: ציון הלא תשאלי) by Yehoda HaLevi

National and folk songs

Hatikvah Hatikvah ( he, הַתִּקְוָה, haTīqvā, ; ) is the national anthem of the State of Israel. Part of 19th-century Jewish poetry, the theme of the Romantic composition reflects the 2,000-year-old desire of the Jewish people to return t ...

", national anthem of Israel, mentions Jerusalem heavily *"Yerushalayim shel zahav" ( he, ירושלים של זהב, " Jerusalem of Gold") by

Naomi Shemer Naomi Shemer ( he, נעמי שמר; July 13, 1930 – June 26, 2004) was a leading Israeli musician and songwriter, hailed as the "first lady of Israeli song and poetry." Her song " Yerushalayim Shel Zahav" ("Jerusalem of Gold"), written in 1967, ...

, performed by Shuli Natan,

Ofra Haza Bat-Sheva Ofra Haza ( he, בת-שבע עפרה חזה; 19 November 1957 – 23 February 2000), known as Ofra Haza (), was an Israeli singer, songwriter, actress, and Grammy Award-nominated recording artist commonly known in the Western world as ...

and many others around the globe *"Lakh Yerushalayim" ( he, לך ירושלים, "For You, Jerusalem") *"Shabekhi Yerushalayim" ( he, שבחי ירושלים, "Praise the Lord, Jerusalem!"), based on Psalms 147:12–13 (lyrics) and Avihu Medina, performed by

Glykeria Glykeria (born Glykeria Kotsoula, el, Γλυκερία; born 16 November 1953 in Agio Pnevma, Serres) is a Greek singer active in Greece and Cyprus, while also gaining fame in Israel, France, Turkey, Spain, and England. Her career has spanned o ...

and many others *"Yefe Noff" ( he, יפה נוף, "Beautiful scenery"), written by

Judah Halevi Judah Halevi (also Yehuda Halevi or ha-Levi; he, יהודה הלוי and Judah ben Shmuel Halevi ; ar, يهوذا اللاوي ''Yahuḏa al-Lāwī''; 1075 – 1141) was a Spanish Jewish physician, poet and philosopher. He was born in Spain, ...

12th cet., based on Psalms 48:3, performed by

Etti Ankri Esther "Etti" Ankri ( he, אתי אנקרי, also spelled "Eti" or "Etty," and "Ankari"; born 1963) is an Israeli singer-songwriter. She is a former ''Female Singer of the Year'' in Israel, and has also performed in the United States, England, an ...

Jewish liturgy

*The third paragraph of the

Birkat HaMazon Birkat Hamazon ( he, בִּרְכַּת הַמָּזוׂן, The Blessing of the Food), known in English as the Grace After Meals ( yi, ; translit. ''bentschen'' or "to bless", Yinglish: Bentsching), is a set of Hebrew blessings that Jewish ...

, the Grace After Meals is completely about God blessing Jerusalem and rebuilding it. *

Lekhah dodi Lekha Dodi ( he, לכה דודי) is a Hebrew-language Jewish liturgical song recited Friday at dusk, usually at sundown, in synagogue to welcome the Sabbath prior to the evening services. It is part of Kabbalat Shabbat. The refrain of ''Lekh ...

(

Hebrew Hebrew (; ; ) is a Northwest Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Historically, it is one of the spoken languages of the Israelites and their longest-surviving descendants, the Jews and Samaritans. It was largely preserved ...

: לכה דודי, "Come, my beloved"), written by Rabbi Shlomo Halevi is recited at

Kabbalat Shabbat Jewish prayer ( he, תְּפִלָּה, ; plural ; yi, תּפֿלה, tfile , plural ; Yinglish: davening from Yiddish 'pray') is the prayer recitation that forms part of the observance of Rabbinic Judaism. These prayers, often with i ...

and makes many references to Jerusalem as the royal city and that it shall be rebuilt over its ruins.

Shabbat
zemirot Zemirot or Z'miros ( he, זמירות ''zǝmîrôt'', singular: zimrah but often called by the masculine zemer) are Jewish hymns, usually sung in the Hebrew or Aramaic languages, but sometimes also in Yiddish or Ladino. The best known are tho ...

*"Tzur Mishelo Achalnu" ( he, צור משלו אכלנו, "Rock from whom we have eaten") – the last two stanzas are about having compassion for the city of Zion and for a restoration there. *"Ya Ribon Olam" ( he, יה ריבון עולם, "God Master of the World") – is a song in Hebrew and Aramaic whose final stanza is about the restoration of the Temple in "Jerusalem, City of Beauty" *"Yom zeh l'Yisrael" ( he, יום זה לישראל, "This is a day for Israel") – the final stanza asks God to remember the ruined city, Jerusalem.

Arabic language

*"Al Quds Al Atiqa" ( ar, القدس العتيقة, "Jerusalem's Ancient Streets") by

Fairuz Nouhad Wadie' Haddad ( ar, نهاد وديع حداد, ; born November 21, 1934), known as Fairuz ( ar, فيروز, ; also spelled Fairouz, Feyrouz or Fayrouz), is a Lebanese singer. She is considered by many as one of the leading vocalists a ...

*"Zahrat al Meda'in" ( ar, زهرة المدائن, "Flower of Cities") by

(1968) *"Al Quds" ( ar, القدس, "Jerusalem") by Latifa and

Kazem al-Saher Kadim Jabbar Al Samarai (born September 12, 1957), better known by his stage name Kadim Al Sahir ( ar, كاظم الساهر}), is an Iraqi singer and composer. He typically performs with an orchestra of twenty to thirty musicians on Arabic ...

*"Al Quds De Ardina" ( ar, القدس دي أرضنا, "Jerusalem is Our Land") by

Amr Diab Amr Diab ( ar, عمرو دياب, link=no, ; born on 11 October 1961) is an Egyptian singer, composer and actor. He has established himself as a globally acclaimed recording artist and author. He is a Guinness World Record holder, the best sel ...

*"Al Quds Lena" ( ar, القدس لنا, "Jerusalem is Ours") by Hakim *"Al Quds Haterga' Lena" ( ar, القدس هترجع لنا, "Jerusalem Will Return to Us") by Hisham Abbas, Hakim, Anoushka, et al. *"Ya Quds" ( ar, يا قدس, "Oh Jerusalem") by Nawal Elzoghbi *"Ala Bab al Quds" ( ar, على باب القدس, "At the Doors of Jerusalem") by

Hani Shaker Hany Shaker ( ar, هانى شاكر, ; born December 21, 1952) is an Egyptian singer, actor and composer. His first public appearance was when he sang with Abd El Halim Hafez Choral Group in "Sora", then he played in the movie Sayed Darwish as ...

*"Abda´ meneen?" ( ar, أبدأ منين؟, "Where should I begin?") by Zena *"Hamaam al-Quds" ( ar, حمام القدس, "Doves of Jerusalem") by

Julia Boutros Julia Boutros ( ar, جوليا بطرس; born April 1, 1968) is a Lebanese singer rose to prominence in the 1980s with a series of songs like "Ghabet Shams El Haq" and "Wein el Malayeen". She is also the sister of Ziad Boutros and the wife of t ...

, Amal Arafa and Sausan Hamami *"Il-Gudes Naadat" ( ar, القدس نادت, "Jerusalem called") by Al Waad

English language

* " The Holy City" by Frederic Weatherly and Stephen Adams, released in 1892 * "

" by

Sleep Sleep is a sedentary state of mind and body. It is characterized by altered consciousness, relatively inhibited sensory activity, reduced muscle activity and reduced interactions with surroundings. It is distinguished from wakefulness by a de ...

, first released in 1999

Italian language

*"Gerusalemme" by

Amedeo Minghi Amedeo Minghi (born 12 August 1947) is an Italian singer-songwriter, composer and producer. Life and career Born in Rome, Minghi started his career in the mid-1960s participating in a large number of musical contests, and then making his profes ...

, (1999)

Russian language

*"''Dnyom i Nochyu''" (russian: Днём и ночью) also known as "Ierusalim" (

Russian Russian(s) refers to anything related to Russia, including: *Russians (, ''russkiye''), an ethnic group of the East Slavic peoples, primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries *Rossiyane (), Russian language term for all citizens and peo ...

: Иерусалим, "Jerusalem") by

Alexander Rosenbaum Alexander Yakovlevich Rosenbaum PAR (russian: link=no, Александр Яковлевич Розенбаум, ''Aleksandr Jakovlevič Rozenbaum'') (born September 13, 1951) is a Russian bard from Saint Petersburg. Graduated from the First ...

References

{{Expand list, date=April 2010 Songs about Jerusalem

Culture of Jerusalem