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 Israel [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 HaDag Nahash 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.