Football Chants from Palestine – ARABLIT & ARABLIT QUARTERLY

In the Fall 2021 issue of ArabLit Quarterly, we focused on FOOTBALL, and especially its many literary manifestations. Among these are the chants sung at matches; the issue brought together diverse chants from Algeria, Bahrain, Morocco, Egypt, and Palestine. In each country, the football chants reflect not just the fans’ relationship with their team, but with the wider society and world. In the two chants author Ameer Hamad selected and translated for this issue — from the Hilal Al-Quds Club in Jerusalem and Hapoel Umm al-Fahm FC in Umm al-Fahm — it’s not just important to win, but to stand strong as Palestinians.

Hapoel Umm al-Fahm FC – al-Hamra’ Rayatna (Red Is Our Flag)

Umm al-Fahm is a Palestinian city that was occupied in 1948. Thus, the residents of this city hold Israeli passports, and their team plays in the Israeli league. The city is like a Palestinian castle in Israel, against the Israeli policies and right-wing politics. (See on YouTube.)

Oh oh oh

Red is our flag

Oh oh oh

And victory is our goal

Since I was in elementary school

I’ve supported al-Fahmawiya

Wearing the team scarf and a Kufiyya

I come to you on Fridays

I pray for you

I sing for you

We are tired of the First Division

Our youth is wasted there

We’ll qualify for Premier League!

No matter how long it takes us

We have raised the flag

The whole world is against us

Oh oh oh

Red is our flag

Oh oh oh

And victory is our goal

Fahmawy and your sons, oh Lajjun

Are worth the world to me

I will return to Lajjun no matter what

In the stands we raised our voices

We’ll cheer until death

I’m Palestinian until death

In 1984

[Meir] Kahane and the right-wing

Went back disappointed

[Baruch] Marzel tried again

They couldn’t enter the city

Umm al-Fahm, the free one

Oh oh oh

Red is our flag

Oh oh oh

And victory is our goal

Hilal Al-Quds Club – Hurriya (Freedom)

This club is in East Jerusalem, which was occupied in 1967. Silwan, Sheikh Jarrah, and the old city of Jerusalem are part of the occupied east side. The Palestinians who live in this place have a different legal situation from the Palestinians who live in the 1948 lands (like Umm-Al-Fahm), or in the West Bank. They are neither Israeli citizens nor Palestinian citizens, but hold temporary Israeli ID cards. My father used to play for this club, which plays in the West Bank Premier League (Gaza has its own league due to the Israeli siege). (Watch on YouTube.)

Olé, olé, olé, olé

Freedom, and Jerusalem will stay Arab

Freedom, al-Aqsa, by God, in my eyes

Freedom, God, Hilal, Jerusalem is Arab

Olé, olé, olé, olé

Freedom, inshallah we will reach the top

Freedom, yalla Hilal, be strong

Freedom, each of us has the strength of a hundred men

Olé, olé, olé, olé

Freedom, Jerusalem, and the West Bank

Freedom, we won the treble

We made all the Jerusalemites happy

Olé, olé, olé, olé

Freedom, I’ll buy you with my spirit and my eyes

Freedom, we came to you with strong determination

Freedom, we are the Hilalian Lions

Olé, olé, olé, olé

Olé, olé, olé, olé

You can find copies of the FOOTBALL issue at GumRoad.