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Meir Ariel: Jerusalem of Iron (From Hebrew)

Some Israeli song lyrics for a change of pace.

Inspired by the Six Day War and Ariel's experience in the Battle of Jerusalem, these are alternative lyrics to the tune of Naomi Shemer's "Jerusalem of Gold."

Jerusalem of Iron
By Meir Ariel
Translated by A.Z. Foreman

Jerusalem there in your darkness 
We found a loving heart,
When we invaded your invaders
To make your borders ours. 
We'd had enough of blasted mortars,
When suddenly dawn bled.
The sun came up, no time to whiten.
It was already red.

O my Jerusalem of iron 
Of dark and lead, can you not see? 
No wailing at your wall now!
We set you free!

Our shelled battalion charged on forward  
All blood and smoke and guns
As mothers ran out grieving, leaving
The corpses of their sons. 
Lips bitten bloody, our battalion
Kept fighting, pushing through,
Till proud above that holy graveyard
The flag of David flew.

O my Jerusalem of iron 
Of dark and lead, can you not see? 
No wailing at your wall now!
We set you free!

The sniper nests have all been silenced
All the king's men laid low,
So we can go to the Dead Sea now 
By way of Jericho.
We can go see the Temple Mount now, 
Visit the Western Wall. 
Yes here you are almost all golden
In twilit evening-fall.

O my Jerusalem of Gold
Of lead and iron and of dreams
Within your walls forever
Let there be peace

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