Faced With Sea of Palestinian Flags, Matisyahu Belts Out ‘Jerusalem’ After failing in an attempt to have Jewish-American singer Matisyahu banned from a Spanish music festival, the BDS bigots had yet another trick to unveil as the star ascended to the stage on Saturday night.
by Dovid Efune, Algemeiner.com August 23, 2015
 Matisyahu
After failing in an attempt to have Jewish-American singer Matisyahu banned from a Spanish music festival, the BDS bigots had yet another trick to unveil as the star ascended to the stage on Saturday night.
Not to be cowed however, it was the spirited Matisyahu who had the last laugh.
Far from boycotting the reggae artist’s gig, the “hate Israel” crowd showed up en masse. And they came bearing flags, immense Palestinian flags, which they waved with gusto from every corner of the 20,000-strong crowd.
As Matisyahu took the mike and looked out to the audience, he was presented with an unmistakably hostile message. It was clear that those who sought to have him banished stood before him in protest. Then the catcalls started, with some chanting, “out, out.” It might easily have been unnerving, disorienting.
But then he began to sing about Jerusalem.
“Jerusalem, if I forget you, fire not gonna come from me tongue. Jerusalem, if I forget you, let my right hand forget what it’s supposed to do.”
And then, as he bounced and twirled around the stage, the most defiant lyrics of all: “3, 000 years with no place to be, and they want me to give up my milk and honey.”
“Tonight was difficult but special,” he later posted on Facebook, along with a clip of the performance.
What courage. Not to be intimidated when the concert organizers demanded he pacify the BDSers, and then to return to the festival’s schedule in defiance of the opposition, and chant Jerusalem on stage with such gusto.
What courage.
Now if only life would start to imitate art.
“Jerusalem”
Complete lyrics...
Jerusalem, if I forget you
Fire not gonna come from me tongue
Jerusalem, if I forget you
Let my right hand forget what its supposed to do
In the ancient days, we will return with no delay
Picking up the bounty and the spoils on our way
Weve been traveling from state to state
And them dont understand what they say
Three thousand years with no place to be
And they want me to give up my milk and honey
Dont you see its not about the land or the sea
Not the country but the dwelling of his majesty
Jerusalem, if I forget you
Fire not gonna come from me tongue
Jerusalem, if I forget you
Let my right hand forget what its supposed to do
Jerusalem, if I forget you
Fire not gonna come from me tongue
Jerusalem, if I forget you
Let my right hand forget what its supposed to do
Rebuild the temple and the crown of glory
Years gone by, about sixty
Burn in the oven in this century
And the gas tried to choke but it couldnt choke me
I will not lie down, I will not fall asleep
And they come overseas, yes theyre trying to be free
Erase the demons out of our memory
Change your name and your identity
Afraid of the past and our dark history
Why is everybody always chasing we
Cut off the roots of your family tree
Don’t you see that’s not the way to be
Jerusalem, if I forget you
Fire not gonna come from me tongue
Jerusalem, if I forget you
Let my right hand forget what its supposed to do
Jerusalem, if I forget you
Fire not gonna come from me tongue
Jerusalem, if I forget you
Let my right hand forget what its supposed to do
Caught up in these ways and the worlds gone crazy
Dont you know its just a phase, case of the Simon says
If I forget the truth then my words wont penetrate
Babylon burning in the place, cant see through dark haze
Chop down all of them dirty ways
Thats the price that you pay for selling lies to the youth
No way, not okay, oh no way, not okay, hey
Ain’t no one gonna break my stride, ain’t no one gonna pull me down
Oh no, I got to keep on moving, stay alive
Jerusalem, if I forget you
Fire not gonna come from me tongue
Jerusalem, if I forget you
Let my right hand forget what its supposed to do
Jerusalem, if I forget you
Fire not gonna come from me tongue
Jerusalem, if I forget you
Let my right hand forget what its supposed to do, Jerusalem
Jerusalem, if I forget you
Fire not gonna come from me tongue
Jerusalem, if I forget you
Let my right hand forget what its supposed to do
Jerusalem, if I forget you
Fire not gonna come from me tongue
Jerusalem, if I forget you
Let my right hand forget what its supposed to do
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