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.
