Hadag Nachash – A History

Section 1. The Early Years

SHALOM SALAAM PEACE

Shalom salaam peace So don't say a day will come, bring the day Shalom salaam peace and in all the city squares cheer for peace Shalom salaam peace it's possible here Shalom salaam peace too Shalom salaam peace not just in Paris or Nice or Adis Abeba Shalom salaam peace it's possible here disco's full of people too everyone dancing 'cuz everyone's content not just in Paris or Nice or Boston - smiling, dancing, singing, words could not explain to me blessing of peace how much peace is needed - like air because there is peace is needed - like air... Shalom salaam peace peace is needed - like air... Shalom salaam peace peace is needed - like air...

Shalom salaam peace Look my friend, peace is a must Shalom salaam peace I think this is clear for everybody Shalom salaam peace it's possible here I've been and I've seen too In Australia people live in peace not just in Paris or Tunis or in Nice Nice "obviously" (why wouldn’t they) (ironic Nice slang) we'll rout out the enemies, we'll met the I mean just like kangaroo hostility And koala we'll defeat the terror, we'll spread love In the world, each country with peace Nobody wants to die but if one must Is a country sababa then isn't it prefereable in jeans And the one with no peace, is a chaos instead of a uniform And what's the big deal with the help of grass we'll take out the I don’t know sadness All we need to do everyone can dance now Is to act like human beings to live inside the beat And not like animals

Shalom salaam peace Look, gang, we need peace Shalom salaam peace and it's already quite clear to everyone Shalom salaam peace it's possible here I think too I was (there) and I saw not just in Paris or Nice or in Amsterdam - in Australia people look good they look like kangaroos like koalas but here too - free people walk and totally...a land with peace is a fun land do Tai Chi and a land without peace is a land of foul open a box, aren't being afraid mess* of reserve duty call-up because peace is - so what's the big story I don't understand more than a ceasefire or a piece or a zone after all, what's needed to do peace is a feeling but that's not new is to behave like human beings for sure, yes peace is not like animals peace is tranquility to show some more respect peace is fun* so then good luck to us all...

and the whole world is tranquil

Hebrew Lyrics: http://shironet.mako.co.il/artist?type=lyrics&lang=1&prfid=333&wrkid=3069

Section 2. Rise to Fame

MISPARIM NUMBERS

One is the number of countries Between the Jordan River and the sea To the executive director of HaPoalim Bank Two is the number of countries This does not matter. Because he brings home every day That will one day be here. Twenty-nine thousand, eight hundred, sixteen shekel. Three year and four months “Every day?” God damn it! Is the time I gave to the TZAHAL (I.D.F.) Divide this by two or fifteen I didn’t sign on And this is still a monthly salary that is [pretty] good for I was at the Nachal. Five shekels is what it costs to ride the bus today. Well truthfully/actually, four ninety. They agree with me, do the thousands of fired workers But until the CD [lit., disk] comes out from the textile factories You have another few months. In the south. I was a child of six When Saadat came to [lit., the land] The growth in Israel in 2001 A child of seven when they signed the Was negative 0.6% treaties/agreements. People who until yesterday had jobs Eight is the number of Uri Malmillian See a tomato in the garbage and think Who is without a doubt the hero of my “What a waste.” childhood. The state of the economy of Israel is the worst it has been Nine times I was too close to a terrorist In the last forty-eight years. attack “Forty-eight? At least – for now To me that number is familiar! Ten is the answer that is most Israeli Where is it from?” To the question “What’s up?” Four cellular companies compete For the ears I too, like all the Jews, am busy/obsessed Of seventy-five percent of Israelis. with numbers. The executive director of Cellcom Twenty-four, seven, twelve months. Goes to the bank once a month, I too, like all the Jews, am busy/obsessed Deposits a salary of with numbers. Six-hundred, seventy-four thousand shekel. Twenty-four, seven, twelve months. There are a quarter of a million of unemployed Thirty-six thousand of them were added this year. It looks like Eli Luzon was right when he sings… My wife is a woman of twenty-seven [plays a bit of Luzon’s number-one hit in Israel] I am a man of thirty. It is coming very close to the time I too, like all the Jews, am busy/obsessed with numbers. That we want to have [lit. bring (into the Twenty-four, seven twelve months. world)] children. I too, like all the Jews, am busy/obsessed with numbers. But we also want them to have it all: Twenty-four, seven twelve months. Food, clothes, soccer/ball games, games/toys.

Forgers offer for ten shekel The CD that we worked on for four years. The dollar went up in tens of agurot In three weeks Which raised the rent of the apartment for Hundreds of thousands of people.

In your pocket There isn’t enough To pay for school books and diapers What did the government do in response? Cut 12 percent off from the child support [payment].

When a woman goes to work She makes every hour Seven shekel and 10 agurot On average less From what a man doing the same job would make.

And I am not a prophet But between five hundred and six hundred people Will die this year in the streets. Dear Minister of Transportation: How do these numbers make you feel?

And still, the number that is biggest until today That holds the hope but represents the disaster It makes pause Every person that is sane…

Six Million

I too, like all the Jews, am busy/obsessed with numbers. Twenty-four/seven, twelve months.

Hebrew Lyrics: http://shironet.mako.co.il/artist?type=lyrics&lang=1&prfid=333&wrkid=3404

GABI VEDEBI

Listen to this short story Debbie cleared her throat and said, Maybe even a little funny “You have to understand. About the day I met We’d be happy to oblige, Gabi and Debbie with the magic stick. But we have unfortunately a few limitations. I went over one evening in all innocence First of all, this is educational TV, Looked around here and there So the message has to be positive. When suddenly everyone was talking English You don’t have in mind some place And they all went black and white. more Zionistic?”

Everyone was there: “What is Zionistic?” I said. “What? Miss Ding Dong Like Herzl?” Scooterman, OOPS! And that cowboy, whatsisname? We landed in Basel. There was Dr. Half-Baked Mr. Kashtan is doing Zionist hip hop Jeremy Kaplan HaDag Nahash is doing Zionist hip hop And his dad, too. HaDag Nahash is doing Zionist hip hop HaDag Nahash is doing Zionist hip hop And Gabi and Debbie, But they were standing apart. Herzl is leaning on his balcony Debbie seemed pissed, So mellow. And Gabi troubled. The moment I saw him I was turned off. They said they’d lost Some magic stick Is he not ashamed to chill out like And asked me if I’d mind nothing’s up Helping them find it? When the whole country’s Said, “Cool – there a prize for the finder?” going up in fire. What is he They told me that if I find it Oblivious? They’d fly to any place in the world I wanted. I looked him real well in the eyes From close up. Found the stick in a flash What a hoot/How amazing Because Gabi had put it in his back pocket, The pupis dilated The f***wit [or: jerk] And the white of the eye --what’s this? – “Woohoo!” all red. I shouted like Homer Simpson “Psst,” I whispered On ecstasy. “Looks like he’s stoned.” Let’s fly to Paris Sheraton Hotel There there is a Bru La Fot Gabi said, And an amazing brothel “Shut up, play it cool.” That’s where I’d like to be.

I recognized Trumpeldor But I couldn’t hold back Immediately And I went for the visionary What a weapon Of the State Nu, the one with the arm With no embarrassment. Or actually, without.

With all the details of “How’s it going, Yosef?” I asked The awful and hard state of the nation politely. I told him of the car accidents But Trumpeldor was edgy I told him of the handicapped on strike And angry. I told him of the quarter million unemployed And I told him of the corrupt politicians. Suddenly the wind blew up a dust cloud. Herzl didn’t respond Trumpeldor choked and croaked Just smiled broadly And spat out some green stuff Stuck his had deep in his pocket. Right next to us And afterwards coughed I try to emphasize And said, That there’s no peace, “It’s good to spit on our land…” No security That I’ve had enough of living in terror HaDag Nahash is doing Zionist hip hop HaDag Nahash is doing Zionist hip hop Herzl just put me a Pill on a my tongue Suddenly it all got And said Too much for me. “If you take it, it won’t be a dream!” My legs gave way, I fell to the floor and yelled, HaDag Nahash is doing Zionist rap hip hop “Enough!” HaDag Nahash is doing Zionist hip hop “This trip was supposed to have been I didn’t succeed in understanding A real treat What had happened to me It’s no fun with you guys Suddenly I have a carbine in my hands At all. I found myself in the battle for Tel Hai. You screwed me over, You screwed me over!” Woa I don’t want a weapon Debbie recovered first, I don’t have the desire And turned to me with I’ve got a profile of 21 [a psychological profile that allows release A motherly look. from the army, number 21] “You’re right,” she said, But Gabi told me that “Now we’ll fly The story of Tel Hai Wherever you want, Is very significant And it’s important To learn about it. Wherever you say.” Oh, at last!

“Just not to 2002,”I said.

But apparently they didn’t Hear the “Not.”

Because precisely to here “To where?” Exactly to here “Where?” Precisely to here I returned.

HaDag Nahash is doing Zionist hip hop HaDag Nahash is doing Zionist hip hop

Hebrew Lyrics: http://shironet.mako.co.il/artist?type=lyrics&lang=1&prfid=333&wrkid=4879

Section 3. Now we’re getting REALLY famous!

Shirat Hasticker

Hebrew Lyrics: http://shironet.mako.co.il/artist?type=lyrics&lang=1&prfid=3698&wrkid=11712

Chalifot: http://shironet.mako.co.il/artist?type=lyrics&lang=1&prfid=3633&wrkid=11442

Rak Po: http://shironet.mako.co.il/artist?type=lyrics&lang=1&prfid=333&wrkid=12681

HINEH ANI BA HERE I COME

Jerusalem, a city worth an whoa, how many boobs, my eyes got burnt explosion after two years of Sodom and Gamora walking in the street feels like I don't recognize myself in the mirror ingathering of the exils I know, I mix, I fuse, I embrace with a thousand cultures, all the owners of the clubs everyone has a brother and 9 Now that I'm in, I know that it doesn't sparkle sisters how much noise, how much soot, give me grass give arabs in order, ultraorthodox me a tree in the study-room the whole day is wasted on "shalom" - "shalom" and all are receving God here the rent wealth dampness and craziness - at a frequency and then the token fell, after Jerusalem's Teddy I had paradise in my hands stadium burnt out fast thoughts about leaving from day to day three years it took me to get the decision sparkled more I pack my belongings into the suitcase Friends left or got closer to from the city to the village in the direction the creator of the heavens gray, boring, there's no sea Here I come... thoughts about leaving Three years it took me to get Jerusalem - here I come the decision I'm returning to you - here I come I pack my belongings into the to your walls - here I come suitcase because you're the only one I swear from the village to the city in (x2) the direction of descending I returned to Jerusalem, here the hummus is the best Tel Aviv - here I come give me calm, quiet, so no yawn will do damage, I'm arriving - here I come when was the last time I put a note in The Wall, I came to sweat - here I come invested in some food, because you're the only one I made new friends, swear this city gives me back the control over life (x2) we'll mix with myself instead of mixing water we'll breathe some mountain air clear as wine I went in the direction of the let's go Betar! let's go life in the village! shore's plain the main thing is to be happy what a shock I'm bound to steal Here I come... and now that I'm in Tel Aviv finally Tel Aviv - here I come I mix in with the scenery all is I'm arriving - here I come fresh and it's good I came to sweat - here I come because you're the only one I swear

Hebrew Lyrics: http://shironet.mako.co.il/artist?type=lyrics&lang=1&prfid=333&wrkid=16516

Section 4: OK, We’re Famous, What Do We Do Now?

OD ACH ECHAD ONE MORE BROTHER

[CHORUS]

Another brother has gone to Boy what's going on, how you've become crazy the grave To what state, look bro, you got in And mother is crying in a You don't care, everything is allowed broke voice A cold and dark look in your eyes One more brother has gone Think about the future and tomorrow, to the grave To try and change, it's never too late You can hear father calling All of israel, enough with the violence out from everywhere I don't want to see another man dies

Man, why is your heart cold We'll show mercy, we'll show compassion as ice? Instead of warming up, we'll show some warmth Are you enjoying being a Every drop of blood (that is being spilled) murderer? Leaves a trail of emptiness Ears that hear threats from And for our country is good to live, you, Not to die.... Why would you talk like that, Another brother has gone to the grave… I am your brother Maybe the time to ask question is now Each side claims they hold Like for how long can we continue the truth To live like this And everyday that passes And is the war at the borders Another innocent dies Is not connected Killing people, you don't To the violence which paralyzes our lives even care It seems that the tension here How can you shoot human Never stops beings? Fishi hagadol was the one who said Mother hurts and another That we are all equal in the end, child is an orphan So why is it that we return And the sidewalk is once One another into dust? again red Life are important And valuable Murder and killing is not the way. Note: “Ube’ad artzenu tov lichyot lo lamut” – “and for our Another brother... country it is good to live and not to die

Originally “tov lamut be’ad artzenu” – “it is good to die for our country,” the final words of Joseph Trumpeldor

Hebrew Lyrics: http://shironet.mako.co.il/artist?type=lyrics&lang=1&prfid=333&wrkid=26133

Basalon Shel Solomon: http://shironet.mako.co.il/artist?type=lyrics&lang=1&prfid=333&wrkid=26762

Koblana Al Miflagot Yisrael

Hebrew Lyrics: http://shironet.mako.co.il/artist?type=lyrics&lang=1&prfid=333&wrkid=34762

Interview with Sha’anan Street: http://www.gojerusalem.com/discover/article_500/Snakes--fishes-- rhymes-and-Hollywood-interest-for-Jerusalem-nightlife