ON THIS LAND
02:14
TRACK 1 OF 8

Performed by Marwan Abdelhamid
Written by Marwan Abdelhamid, Khalil Cherradi
Produced by Khalil Cherradi
Additional production by Domenico Lorenzo "Buddy" Caderni
Choir by Katara Studios Choir
Drums by Hisham Dahud
Guitar by Daniel Malet & Nazim Bakour
Oud by Nazim Bakour
Additional vocals by Sol Band Gaza & Zein Sajdi
LYRICS

At the heart of On This Land lies a poignant moment captured in a video that Saint Levant encountered a month after October 7th, featuring journalists in Gaza. Their rendition of ‘Sawfa Nabqa Hawa,’ a Libyan protest ballad composed by Adel el-Mshiti in 2005 following his 5-year imprisonment under Gaddafi’s regime, ignited the creative spark for this project.

This song, having served as a soundtrack to the revolution in Libya during the Arab Spring and then spreading to the rest of the region, is a an anthem of revolutionary struggle and determination. It provides the unaltered intro that Saint Levant preserved across different versions of On This Land, setting the tone for what the song would become.

Central to the thematic and musical composition of On This Land is the profound influence of Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish, whose poem of the same name deeply informs Saint Levant’s creation. Darwish’s work, celebrated for its intricate exploration of identity, belonging, and resistance, provides a critical intertextual reference that significantly enriches the song’s narrative layers. The incorporation of Darwish’s On This Land into the Arabic segment of the song imbues it with rich lyrical themes that navigate questions of belonging, legacy, and the nuances of human connection to land and memory.

Additionally, On This Land engages with the concept of martyrdom, weaving this theme into the fabric of the composition to introduce a reflective and critical dimension. By invoking the legacy and sentiment of Darwish’s poetry alongside the contemplation of martyrdom, SL challenges prevailing perceptions and honors the lives lost in the pursuit of freedom. This dual reference creates a complex interplay between the individual’s search for identity and the collective struggle for liberation, marking On This Land as a poignant tribute to resilience and the enduring human spirit.

Like most of Saint Levant’s songs, the creative process for On This Land was inherently collaborative, bringing together a diverse group of musicians to breathe life into the track. This ensemble included guitarists, violinists, and notably, an oud player alongside Deira’s producer, Khalil Cherradi, who contributed with his drums. Marwan’s long-held verse written years before; reflecting on diasporic guilt, alienation and identity – ‘I hate that I’m more comfortable in English’—found its perfect context within this piece, adding a layer of personal introspection to the broader collective narrative.

Recording sessions spanned continents, from Zeyne’s studio in Amman, Levant Studios, to a Kuwaiti trio’s contribution via Zoom from Katara studio, orchestrated by SL in real-time. This cross-border collaboration culminated in a song that encapsulates a wide array of musical influences—from the rap interlude and Dabke rhythms to the shaami (Levantine) call-and-response style, reminiscent of Fairuz’s work, fostering a sense of collective dialogue and sound.

More specifically, the musical genres and influences that permeate On This Land are vast and varied. The incorporation of rap offers a contemporary mode of storytelling and expression, while the inclusion of Dabke rhythms anchors the song in the cultural practices of the Levant. These elements not only anchor the song in Levantine musical traditions but also celebrate the collective dialogue and sound that characterize Arabic music, reinforcing the track’s communal and revolutionary spirit.

Positioned within Deira, described by Saint Levant as “the people’s album,” On This Land epitomises the spirit of collaboration and shared heritage that defines the project. His aspiration for On This Land is to evoke a visceral response, aiming for listeners to “feel it in their stomach.” This desire for a profound emotional connection reflects the song’s core message—one of enduring strength, communal bonds, and the unyielding resolve to claim one’s place in the world, against all odds.

As On This Land reverberates beyond the confines of the studio, it invites listeners to engage with the complexities of identity, heritage, and resistance. In doing so, Marwan not only cements his place as a pivotal voice in contemporary music but also contributes to a larger dialogue on the power of art to transcend boundaries and unite us in our common humanity.

Lyrics Translation Toggle
ON THIS LAND

كي يزول الألم

سوف نحيا هنا

سوف يحلو النغم

موطني موطني

موطني ذا الإباء

موطني موطني موطني يا أنا

i hate that I’m more comfortable in English

but everyday I tell myself that it’s a privilege

cuz I can talk about the way my people living and I’ll do it on this

beat ‘cause I know you’ll wanna listen

i seen children with a vision

turn to numbers on your tv screen

i seen dreams and hopes of a college degree

turn to dust and get buried up under all this debris uh

our biggest weapon is our family trees

we didn’t choose to live this life overseas

i hear the sounds of the bombs in my sleep

but i never in my life heard the sound of defeat cuz

we are a nation of displaced dreamers

heritage keepers

overpaid leaders

by definition we are overachievers

underpaid teachers of life can you hear us uh

and if you have a problem with me speaking up

tell my assistant because i don’t give a fuck

imagine thinking you can censor us

ما مننساش شهدانا يا سيدي

و على ارض الوطن تلاقيني

حتى لو سدو الميدان

حتى لو سرقوا العنوان

تراب القدس الغالية، بيت حنينة الطيبة

اه يا بلدي ما بننساك

we will stay here
سوف نبقى هنا
nous resterons ici

so the pain fades away
كي يزول الألم
pour que la douleur s'atténue

we will live here
سوف نحيا هنا
nous vivrons ici

the melody will sweeten
سوف يحلو النغم
la mélodie s'adoucira

my homeland, my homeland
موطني موطني
mon pays, mon pays

home of pride
موطني ذا الإباء
terre de fierté

my homeland, my homeland, my homeland
موطني موطني موطني يا أنا
mon pays, mon pays, mon pays

بكرة اني برتاح أكتر بالإنكليزي
i hate that I’m more comfortable in English
je déteste d'être plus à l'aise en anglais

بس كل يوم بقول لنفسي انها ميزي
but everyday I tell myself that it’s a privilege
mais chaque jour, je me rappelle que c'est un privilège

لأني قادر أحكي عن عيشة شعبي ورح أعملها
cuz I can talk about the way my people living and I’ll do it on this
parce que je peux parler de la vie de mon peuple et je le ferai sur

على هالإيقاع لأني عارف رح تبغى تسمع
beat ‘cause I know you’ll wanna listen
sur ce rythme parce que je sais que vous voudrez écouter

شفت أولاد عندهم رؤية
i seen children with a vision
j'ai vu des enfants avec une vision

تحولو لأرقام عشاشات التلفزيونات
turn to numbers on your tv screen
devenir des chiffres sur votre écran de télévision

شفت احلام وامال بتسوى شهادات جامعات
i seen dreams and hopes of a college degree
j'ai vu des rêves et des espoirs de diplôme universitaire

تتحول لغبار وتتغطى تحت كل هالانقاض - اه
turn to dust and get buried up under all this debris uh
se transformer en poussière, enterrés sous tous ces débris

اكبر سلاح لنا هو اشجار عائلاتنا
our biggest weapon is our family trees
notre plus grande arme est nos racines

ما اخترنا نعيش هالحياة برا
we didn’t choose to live this life overseas
nous n'avons pas choisi de vivre cette vie à l'étranger

بسمع أصوات القنابل أنا ونايم
i hear the sounds of the bombs in my sleep
j'entends les bruits des bombes en dormant

بس بحياتي ما سمعت صوت الهزيمة لأن
but i never in my life heard the sound of defeat cuz
mais je n'ai jamais entendu de ma vie le son de la défaite car

نحنا شعب حلّماني مهجّر
we are a nation of displaced dreamers
nous sommes une nation de rêveurs déplacés

محافظين التراث
heritage keepers
gardiens d'héritage

القادة الفاسدة
overpaid leaders
dirigeants surpayés

بالتعريف نحنا متفوقين
by definition we are overachievers
par définition nous sommes des surperformants

معلمين في الحياة، سمعيننا؟ اه
underpaid teachers of life can you hear us uh
enseignants de la vie sous-payés, pouvez-vous nous entendre

وإذا عندكم مشكلة إنّي بحكي عالعالي
and if you have a problem with me speaking up
et si ça vous dérange que je prend la parole

اشكو همكم لمساعدتي لأن اخر همي
tell my assistant because i don’t give a fuck
dites-le à mon assistante car je m'en fou

imaginez penser que vous pouvez nous censurer
imagine thinking you can censor us

nous n'oublions jamais nos martyrs
ما مننساش شهدانا يا سيدي
we never forget our martyrs

et sur la terre de notre patrie, tu me trouveras
و على ارض الوطن تلاقيني
and on the land of our homeland, you'll find me

même s'ils bloquent la place
حتى لو سدو الميدان
even if they block the square

même s'ils volent notre adresse
حتى لو سرقوا العنوان
even if they steal our address

la terre sacrée de jérusalem, tendre beit hanina
تراب القدس الغالية، بيت حنينة الطيبة
the sacred soil of jerusalem, tender beit hanina

oh mon pays, nous ne t'oublierons jamais
اه يا بلدي ما بننساك
oh my country, we will never forget you