Maan I never really realized how beautiful the national anthem of Israel actually is. I'm trying to get the Military Band version, but until then here is a Barbra Streisand version (it is strongly recommended that you don't open the file by clicking directly onto it: Please rightclick and save target as):http://www.yosh.ac.il/inet/music/Hatikva-Streisand.mp3

English lyrics:

As long as deep in the heart,
The soul of a Jew yearns,
And forward to the East
To Zion, an eye looks
Our hope will not be lost,
The hope of two thousand years,
To be a free nation in our land,
The land of Zion and Jerusalem.

Hebrew lyrics:

Kol od balevav p'nimah כל עוד בלבב פנימה
Nefesh Yehudi homiyah נפש יהודי הומיה
Ulfa'atey mizrach kadimah ולפאתי מזרח קדימה
Ayin l'tzion tzofiyah עין לציון צופיה
Od lo avdah tikvatenu עוד לא אבדה תקותנו
Hatikvah bat shnot alpayim התקוה בת שנות אלפים
L'hiyot am chofshi b'artzenu להיות עם חופשי בארצנו
Eretz Tzion v'Yerushalayim ארץ ציון וירושלים


Don't know bout you guys, but I love it.

Update: Here's Israel Military Band version (also here it is strongly recommended that you don't open the file by clicking directly onto it: Please rightclick and save target as): http://www.yosh.ac.il/inet/Hatikva-N...itary-Band.mp3

Pleased to see you guys like it too.

Originally Posted by Italian Guy

Pleased to see you guys like it too.

It's beautiful and sort of haunting. I wish anyone but Babs had sung it. She has a beautiful voice and stinking politics.

There is a hint of sadness in most Hebrew music and for a good reason.

Originally Posted by Missileer

It's beautiful and sort of haunting. I wish anyone but Babs had sung it. She has a beautiful voice and stinking politics.
There is a hint of sadness in most Hebrew music and for a good reason.

I know about her politics, but she sings this greatly, and yes the song gives me a sense of solemnity and sadness. The language I like too, so weird, so old.

If the Israeli anthem was joyful it wouldn't be a very good representation of the Jewish history.

Right.