Carols For Palestine
2019 (scroll down for carols for 2018 including a booklet which has
many of the songs for 2019)
In the Bleak Midwinter
In the bleak midwinter
Refugees made moan
Netanyahu stood like iron
Trump was like a stone
Tanks were rolling, tank on tank,
Tank on tank
Through the camps of Gaza And the West Bank
How can we stop it
Israel’s cruelty?
Silence of the nations
Allows it to be.
Where is there a wise man
Who could do his part?
Tell the world to stop it
With its heart.
Once in Royal David’s City
Once in royal David’s city
Stood a big apartheid wall:
People entering and leaving
Had to pass a checkpoint hall.
Bethlehem is strangulated,
And her children segregated.
Though this City is a symbol
To the world of peace and love,
Concrete walls have closed around her,
Settlements expand above.
And apartheid Israel stands
All around on stolen lands.
David’s people once instructed
All the world in righteousness:
Once they spoke of truth and justice,
Israel’s leaders now oppress.
All who look at Bethlehem,
Must speak out the truth to them.
O Broken town of Bethlehem
O broken town of Bethlehem your people long for peace,
But curfews, raids and barricades have brought them to their knees
Yet still they long for justice, and still they make their stand.
Their hopes and fears still echo down the years
Come heal this holy land.
O holy child of Bethlehem, a royal refugee.
Your place of birth, now hell on earth, through our complicity.
The innocents still suffer, their backs against the wall.
We see the crime, the pain and death
And choose to ignore it all.
O holy streets of Bethlehem, where watch towers block our view.
With armoured cars and tanks and guns so no one can go through.
The market place stands empty. The fruit rots on the tree.
While loving families strive to build
A life of dignity.
O hopeful town of Bethlehem quite soon your day will come
When tanks go back to Israel and prison walls are gone.
Go tell it on the mountain and spread it o’er the plain
The ancient land of Palestine
A nation once again.
O COME ALL YE FAITHFUL
O come all ye faithful
Those who care for justice,
O look ye, o look ye at Bethlehem.
Come and behold it,
Under occupation.
O come let’s not ignore it.
O come let’s not ignore it
O come let’s not ignore it –
Tell the world.
Sing all ye people
Sing in indignation
Be with the citizens of Bethlehem.
Sing out for justice,
Freedom from oppression.
O come let’s not ignore it,
O come let’s not ignore it,
O come let’s not ignore it –
Tell the world.
O come all ye faithful
Those who care for justice,
O look ye, o look ye at Bethlehem.
Come and behold it,
Under occupation.
O come let’s not ignore it,
O come let’s not ignore it,
O come let’s not ignore it –
Tell the world. |
While Shepherds Watched
While shepherds watched their flocks by night,
All seated on the ground,
Some occupying soldiers came
And bulldozed all around.
"Fear not", said one, for mighty dread
Had seized their troubled mind;
"We will not do you any harm,
For we are good and kind.
We're forced to confiscate your land
To build ourselves a fence
To keep our people safe from all
Your people's violence.
Some fields will stay, although cut off,
But access won't be banned;
Yes, permits we will give to you
To visit your own land.
For in the middle of this fence
We will construct a gate,
And open it at certain times,
Though you may have to wait.
However, to your flocks of sheep
This access is denied;
We don't give permits out to sheep,
So they must stay inside.
You say that sheep need pastureland
To feed or they will die;
I'm just obeying orders here;
Not mine to reason why."
The Twelve Days of Christmas.
On the first day of Christmas,
Netanyahu sent to me
An uprooted olive tree.
On the second day of Christmas,
Netanyahu sent to me
Two trampled doves
And an uprooted olive tree.On the third day of Christmas,
Netanyahu sent to me
Three trench guns,
Two trampled doves,
And an uprooted olive tree.
On the fourth day of Christmas,
Netanyahu sent to me
Four falling bombs,
Three trench guns,
Two trampled doves,And an uprooted olive tree.
On the fifth day of Christmas,
Netanyahu sent to me
Five settlement rings.
Four falling bombs,
Three trench guns,
Two trampled doves,
And an uprooted olive tree.
On the sixth day of Christmas,
Netanyahu sent to me
Six tanks a-rolling,
Five settlement rings.
Four falling bombs,
Three trench guns,
Two trampled doves,
And an uprooted olive tree.
On the seventh day of Christmas,
Netanyahu sent to me
Seven checkpoints blocking,
Six tanks a-rolling,
Five settlement rings.
Four falling bombs,
Three trench guns,
Two trampled doves,
And an uprooted olive tree.
On the eighth day of Christmas
Netanyahu sent to me
Eight gunships firing,
Seven checkpoints blocking,
Six tanks a-rolling,
Five settlement rings.
Four falling bombs,
Three trench guns,
Two trampled doves,
And an uprooted olive tree.
On the ninth day of Christmas,
Netanyahu sent to me
Nine sniper towers,
Eight gunships firing,
Seven checkpoints blocking,
Six tanks a-rolling,
Five settlement rings.
Four falling bombs,
Three trench guns,
Two trampled doves,
And an uprooted olive tree.
On the tenth day of Christmas
Netanyahu sent to me
Ten wells obstructed,
Nine sniper towers,
Eight gunships firing,
Seven checkpoints blocking,
Six tanks a-rolling,
Five settlement rings.
Four falling bombs,
Three trench guns,
Two trampled doves,
And an uprooted olive tree.
On the eleventh day of Christmas,
Netanyahu sent to me
Eleven homes demolished,
Ten wells obstructed,
Nine sniper towers,
Eight gunships firing,
Seven checkpoints blocking,
Six tanks a-rolling,
Five settlement rings,
Four falling bombs,
Three trench guns,
Two trampled doves,
And an uprooted olive tree.
On the twelfth day of Christmas,
Netanyahu sent to me
Twelve assassinations,
Eleven homes demolished,
Ten wells obstructed,
Nine sniper towers,
Eight gunships firing,
Seven checkpoints blocking,
Six tanks a-rolling,
Five settlement rings.
Four falling bombs,
Three trench guns,
Two trampled doves,
And an uprooted olive tree. |
While Shepherds Watched
While shepherds watched their flocks by night,
All seated on the ground,
Some occupying soldiers came
And bulldozed all around.
"Fear not", said one, for mighty dread
Had seized their troubled mind;
"We will not do you any harm,
For we are good and kind.
We're forced to confiscate your land
To build ourselves a fence
To keep our people safe from all
Your people's violence.
Some fields will stay, although cut off,
But access won't be banned;
Yes, permits we will give to you
To visit your own land.
For in the middle of this fence
We will construct a gate,
And open it at certain times,
Though you may have to wait.
However, to your flocks of sheep
This access is denied;
We don't give permits out to sheep,
So they must stay inside.
You say that sheep need pastureland
To feed or they will die;
I'm just obeying orders here;
Not mine to reason why."
The Olive and the Army
The olive and the army
When they are both full-grown,
Every olive tree on the West Bank
The IDF cuts down.
O the rampaging of settlers
And the rolling of the tanks;
The grinding of the bulldozers
As the olives fall in ranks.
The olive bears a berry
As green as any grass;
When the owners go to pick the fruit
They're not allowed to pass.
O the rampaging of settlers
And the rolling of the tanks;
The grinding of the bulldozers
As the olives fall in ranks.
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
Hark, the herald angels sing,
"Look what's really happening,
While you sing of peace on earth,
Eat and drink with festive mirth.
Nations, open up your eyes,
Stop the silence and the lies,
And throughout the world proclaim:
There's a Wall round Bethlehem!"
Hark, the herald angels sing:
"Look what's really happening!"
Symbol of our lack of peace,
Symbol that our woes increase,
Symbol of the hate and fear
Filling places far and near.
If peace comes to Bethlehem,
It will radiate to them;
Nations, join with us to call
For the downfall of the Wall!
Hark, the herald angels sing:
"Look what's really happening!"
(repeat first verse)
AWAY IN RAMALLAH
Away in Ramallah, no books on the shelf
The young Palestinian tries to learn by herself
Imprisoned by curfew, they’ve closed all the schools
How can children grow up under Israeli rule
Prevented from harvesting crops from their land
The olives and dates left to rot in the sand
Settlers take to the hilltops, take the water supplies
Farmer can’t feed his livestock so his livelihood dies.
Each mother awakes, wond’ring who will be gone
A friend or a neighbour, maybe daughter or son.
The pressure of curfews, on the mind takes its toll
This cruel occupation eats away at the soul. |
ALTERNATIVE CAROLS AND SONGS
1. “Ode to Boycott”
Israel, end your occupation:
There’s no peace on stolen land.
We’ll sing out for liberation
‘till you hear and understand.
Ethnic cleansing and apartheid
Should belong to history.
Human rights cannot be silenced:
Palestine will soon be free.
2. O COME ALL YE FAITHFUL
O come all ye faithful,
All who care for justice,
O look ye, O look ye at Bethlehem;
Come and behold it
Walled and segregated.
O come, let’s not ignore it,
O come, let’s not ignore it,
O come, let’s not ignore it,
Tell the world.
Sing, all ye faithful,
Sing in indignation,
Be with the citizens of Bethlehem;
Sing out for justice,
Freedom from oppression.
O come, let’s not ignore it,
O come, let’s not ignore it,
O come, let’s not ignore it,
Tell the world.
3. O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM
O little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie!
A wall is laid where tourists stayed,
And people can’t go by.
And in thy dark streets shineth
No cheerful Christmas light;
The grief and fears of these sad years
Are met in thee tonight.
How silently, how silently
The world regards it all,
As now thy heart is torn apart
By Israel’s ghetto wall.
They terrorize a people -
A war crime and a sin;
Their winding “fence” can make no sense;
Revenge can still get in.
O ye who now rule Bethlehem,
Cast down the iron cage,
The walls of hate that separate
And harden and enrage;
The land grab and apartheid -
This violence must cease;
If there’s to be a land that’s free,
A Bethlehem at peace. |
4. ONCE IN ROYAL DAVID’S CITY
Once in royal David’s city
Stood a big apartheid wall;
People entering or leaving
Had to pass a checkpoint hall..
Bethlehem was strangulated,
And her children segregated.
Though this city is a symbol
To the world of peace and love,
Concrete walls are closing round her,
Settlements expand above.
And Apartheid Israel stands
All around on stolen lands.
David’s people once instructed
All the world in righteousness;
Once they spoke of truth and justice,
Now they ravage and oppress.
Nations, look at Bethlehem,
And speak out the truth to them.
5. WHILE SHEPHERDS WATCHED
While shepherds watched their flocks by night,
All seated on the ground,
Some occupying soldiers came
And bulldozed all around.
“Fear not”, said one, for mighty dread
Had seized their troubled mind;
“We will not do you any harm,
For we are good and kind.
We’re forced to confiscate your land
To build ourselves a fence
To keep our people safe from all
Your people’s violence.
Some fields will stay, although cut off,
But access won’t be banned;
Yes, permits we will give to you
To visit your own land.
For in the middle of this fence
We will construct a gate,
And open it at certain times,
Though you may have to wait.
However, to your flocks of sheep
This access is denied;
We don’t make permits out to sheep,
So they must stay inside.
You say that sheep need pastureland
To feed or they will die;
I’m just obeying orders here;
Not mine to reason why.”
|
6. THE OLIVE AND THE IDF (Tune: The holly
and the ivy)
The olive and the IDF
When they are both full-grown,
Every olive tree on the West Bank
The IDF cuts down.
O the rampaging of settlers
And the rolling of the tanks;
The grinding of the bulldozers
As the olives fall in ranks.
The olive bears a berry
As green as any grass;
When the owners go to pick the fruit
They’re not allowed to pass.
O the rampaging of settlers
And the rolling of the tanks;
The grinding of the bulldozers
As the olives fall in ranks.
This oppression bears a berry
As red as any blood,
As the owners see their livelihoods
All trampled into mud.
O the rampaging of settlers,
And the rolling of the tanks;
The grinding of the bulldozers
As the olives fall in ranks.
If you want to buy the olives,
You”ll find it very hard;
To those that make it to checkpoints
The way outside is barred.
O the rampaging of settlers,
And the rolling of the tanks;
The grinding of the bulldozers
As the olives fall in ranks.
The olive and the IDF,
When they are both full-grown,
Every olive tree on the West Bank
The IDF cuts down.
|
|
7. Which Side Are You On?
I was sittin’ home watching CNN
Runnin’ that government line
They say that Israel must be safe
Well what about Palestine?
CHORUS:
Which side are you on?
Which side are you on?
Justice or oppression?
Which side are you on?
All we really want is peace
Palestinians want it too
But segregation walls and bombs
Can’t lead to anything new
In Egypt and in Palestine
Folks struggle for their rights
Until each child can say, “I’m free!”
We all must join the fight
Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions
BDS to be concise
You too can help Apartheid end
Make Israel do what’s just
illage…
|
8. We Shall Not be Moved
Chorus:
We shall not we shall not be moved
We shall not we shall not be moved
Just like a tree that’s planted by the water
We shall not be moved
Palestine, we shall not be moved
Palestine, we shall not be moved
Until Israel stops its occupation
We shall not be moved
Palestine, we shall not be moved
Palestine, we shall not be moved
Just like those Freedom Fighters in South Africa
We shall not be moved
Palestine, we shall not be moved
Palestine, we shall not be moved
We’ll boycott Israel ‘til there’s justice
We shall not be moved
Chorus
Tear gas will not stop us…
We’re fighting for our farmland…
We’re fighting for our children…
We’ll end this occupation…
No walls through our v |
9. TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS
On the 1st day of Christmas,
Israel sent to Gaza
An uprooted olive tree.
On the 2nd day of Christmas, Israel sent to Gaza
Two trampled doves
And an uprooted olive tree.
On the twelfth day of Christmas, Israel sent to Gaza
12 day Twelve assassinations,
11th day Eleven homes demolished,
10th day Ten wells obstructed,
9th day Nine sniper towers,
8th day Eight gunships firing,
7th day: Seven checkpoints blocking,
6th day Golani killings
5th day Five illegal settlements.
4th day: Four phosphorus bombs,
3rd day Three cluster bombs,
Two trampled doves,
And an uprooted olive tree.
On the twelfth day of Christmas, Israel sent to Gaza
Twelve assassinations,
Eleven homes demolished,
Ten wells obstructed,
Nine sniper towers,
Eight gunships firing,
Seven checkpoints blocking,
Golani killings
Five illegal settlements.
Four phosphorus bombs,
Three cluster bombs,
Two trampled doves,
And an uprooted olive tree. |