CHANTS & SONGS
CHANTS
The chants below are from the London with the lyrics adapted for arts and culture
WE ARE THE ARTISTS
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We are the artists
We won't be silent
Stop censorship...
NOW! NOW! NOW!
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We are the artists
We won't be silent
Stop censorship...
NOW! NOW! NOW! (repeat)
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NOT A TARGET
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Artists (call)
Not a target! (response)
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Theatres (call)
Not a target! (response)
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Writers (call)
Not a target! (response)
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Poets (call)
Not a target! (response)
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Actors (call)
Not a target! (response)
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Universities (call)
Not a target! (response)
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Mosques (call)
Not a target! (response)
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Churches (call)
Not a target! (response)
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(etc)
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The chants below are from the creative protest in New York organized by individual theatre-makers and FRIENDS OF THE FREEDOM THEATRE USA, NOOR THEATRE, AL LÍMITE COLLECTIVE, NATIONAL QUEER THEATRE, THEATRE OF THE OPPRESSED NYC and QUEERS FOR A LIBERATED PALESTINE.
ARTISTS TAKE A STAND
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1. Artists, take a stand
No excuse for stealing land
2. Artists, take a side
Stop Israeli genocide
3. Artists, draw the line
Stand up for Palestine
4. ART for liberation
NOT for colonization
5. Rise up
Get down
No Israeli Apartheid in this town
6. (beat / beat / beat beat) Gaza!
7. Freeeeee Free Palestine!
Free Free / Free Palestine
8. Freeeee The Freedom Theatre
Free Free / The Freedom Theatre
9. Move your fists from
side to side
Stop supporting genocide
10. Palestinians have
The right to live in freedom
The right to make art
The right to tell their stories
The right to create theatre
And the right to return home
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11. Free Mustafa
Free Bilal
Free them all!
12. Liberation now
for The Freedom Theatre
13. The whole world’s a stage
The whole world is watching
14. Fight the power, turn the tide
Stop this senseless genocide
15. Desde el río, hasta el mar
Palestina libertad
16. No es una guerra
Es un genocidio
17. Protect the Freedom Theatre
Protect the arts
Hold Jenin in your hearts
18. From Rafah Crossing to Jenin
Stop the Israeli war machine
19. Art and culture have to thrive
To help keep Palestine alive
20. With one voice we’re here to say
Free Palestine - today!
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HEY HEY HEY (a call and response)
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Hey hey hey hey (2X)
From New York to Palestine
Colonization is a crime
Hey hey hey hey (2X)
From the belly of the beast
No justice no peace
Hey hey hey hey (2X)
From the river to the sea
All people must be free
Hey hey hey hey (2X)
Desde el río, hasta el mar
Palestina libertad
Hey hey hey hey (2X)
From the bottom to the top
Racism’s got to stop
Hey, hey, hey, hey (2X)
Together we can turn the tide
No more bankrolling Apartheid
Hey hey hey hey (2X)
For liberation take a stand
Ceasefire now is our demand
Hey hey hey hey (2X)
Don’t stand back while people die
“Stop genocide now” is our cry
Hey hey hey hey (2X)
Nakba means catastrophe
“Stop genocide now” is our plea
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Hey hey hey hey (2X)
No more tax dollars, no more dimes
No arms to Israel for their crimes
Hey hey hey hey (2X)
With art and culture take a stand
Don’t let Israel steal the land
Hey hey hey hey (2X)
The Freedom Theatre must survive
They help keep Palestine alive
Hey hey hey hey (2X)
Free Mustafa, free Bilal
Free all the prisoners, that’s our call
Hey hey hey hey (2X)
The Freedom Theatre will persist
Defending the right to resist
Hey hey hey hey (2X)
From Rafah Crossing to Jenin
Stop the Israeli war machine
Hey hey hey hey (2X)
Let’s build a bridge, tear down a wall
‘Til there’s justice fo-or all
Hey hey hey hey (2X)
In New York we’re gonna sing
‘Til we hear that freedom ring
Hey hey hey hey (2X)
With one voice we’re here to say
Free Palestine today!
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SONGS
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1. [From Refaat Alareer’s poem]
If I must die [all repeat]
You must live [all repeat]
To tell my story [all repeat]
Let it bring hope [all repeat]
2. [Inspired by a poem by Marwan Makhoul]
To write a poem without politics [all repeat]
I have to hear the birds [all repeat]
But to hear the birds [all repeat]
The war planes must be silent [all repeat]
3. [From Dareen Tatour’s poem]
Resist, my people, resist them [all repeat]
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4. [A call and response]
Protect the theaters [all repeat]
Protect the poets [all repeat]
Protect the journalists [all repeat]
Protect the artists [all repeat]
Aiwa! [all repeat]
Aiwa! [all repeat]
Aiwa! [all repeat]
Aiwa! [all repeat]
5. Five demands sung to “ceasefire now” melody
Permanent ceasefire now [all repeat]
Lift the siege on Gaza [all repeat]
Free all Palestinian prisoners [all repeat]
End the occupation [all repeat]
No more US weapons [all repeat]
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The song below is from the creative protest in New York organized by individual theatre-makers and FRIENDS OF THE FREEDOM THEATRE USA, NOOR THEATRE, AL LÍMITE COLLECTIVE, NATIONAL QUEER THEATRE, THEATRE OF THE OPPRESSED NYC and QUEERS FOR A LIBERATED PALESTINE.
At the performance protest in France organised by LES AMIS DU THEATRE DE LA LIBERTE IN JENIN the marching band performed "El pueblo unido jamás será vencido" ("The united people will never be defeated"), a Chilean song written by the group Quilapayún and composed by the musician Sergio Ortega in 1973.
The song was written in 1973 in support of Salvador Allende, a few months before the coup d'état in Chile. Over time, this song has become a symbol of unity and popular solidarity for oppressed citizens of all countries fighting for freedom and equality, going beyond its direct connection with Chile.
Masters Of War sung By Ali Dineen and filmed by Ivery Lowe as part of the performance protest in New York organized by individual theatre-makers and FRIENDS OF THE FREEDOM THEATRE USA, NOOR THEATRE, AL LÍMITE COLLECTIVE, NATIONAL QUEER THEATRE, THEATRE OF THE OPPRESSED NYC and QUEERS FOR A LIBERATED PALESTINE.