Matisyahu: Jerusalem (Out Of Darkness Comes Light)

This post presents the official music video for Matisyahu’s Jerusalem, an upbeat yet solemn song expressing the eternal Jewish yearning for the holy city of Jerusalem, despite thousands of years of exile and persecution. The chorus of the song is based on the famous words from Psalms 137:5-6. Matisyahu is a world-famous Jewish musician known for his deeply spiritual lyrics, beat-boxing, and reggae influence.

Jerusalem

In the ancient days, we will return with no delay
Picking up the bounty and the spoils on our way
We’ve been traveling from state to state
And them don’t understand what they say
3, 000 years with no place to be
And they want me to give up my milk and honey
Don’t you see, it’s not about the land or the sea
Not the country but the dwelling of his majesty

Chorus:
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.

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 couldn’t choke me
I will not lie down, I will not fall asleep
They come overseas, yes they’re trying to be free
Erase the demons out of our memory
Change your name and your identity
Afraid of the truth and our dark history
Why is everybody always chasing we
Cut off the roots of your family tree
Don’t you know that’s not the way to be

Chorus

Caught up in these ways, and the worlds gone craze
Don’t you know it’s just a phase
Case of the Simon says
If I forget the truth then my words won’t penetrate
Babylon burning in the place, can’t see through the haze
Chop down all of them dirty ways,
That’s the price that you pay for selling lies to the youth

No way, not OK, oh no way, not ok, 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

Chorus