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about

“Bataween” draws from a conversation with an Iraqi Muslim friend, exemplifying the healing imperative of Arab Muslims recognizing and caring about the history of indigenous Middle Eastern Jews – including the experience of Arab Muslim oppression.

lyrics

You can’t erase
4,000 years of history
Even if you try
You just can’t do it

אי אפשר למחוק 4,000 שנות היסטוריה
גם אם מנסים
פשוט בלתי אפשרי

Bataween

Signs of
The Jewish identity
Of this city
Are everywhere
Flirting with you repeatedly
If you’re paying attention

סימנים של
הזהות היהודית מהעיר הזאת
בכל מקום
מפלרטט איתך שוב ושוב
אם אתה שם לב

Bataween


These decaying buildings
Home to an eclectic mix
Of prostitutes alcoholics and
Indian Sikhs praying

הבניינים הנרקבים האלה
בית לתערובת אקלקטית
של אלכוהוליסטים זונות ו
סיקים הודים מתפללים

Were once the beautiful homes
Of my grandparents
And the vibrant Jewish community
What’s become of it all
Has left me vomiting

פעם היו הבתים היפים
של סבא וסבתא שלי
והקהילה היהודית התוססת
מה עלה בגורל הכל
השאיר אותי מקיאה

Bataween

Sba’ata’ash wahdi wahdi
There’s no street name apparently
So my uncle just keeps saying repeatedly

סבאעתאש והדי והדי
אין שם רחוב כנראה
אז דודי פשוט ממשיך לומר שוב ושוב

Bataween

It’s not the Arab world
There are many ethnicities
It’s racist to call it that
And parenthetically
We were here
1300 years before you

זה לא העולם הערבי
יש הרבה אתניות
זה גזעני לקרוא לזה ככה
ובסוגריים
אנחנו היינו פה
1300 שנה לפניך

Bataween

credits

from 'Til You Can Dance Again, released March 23, 2024
Loolwa Khazzoom - Lyrics, vocals, bass, and melody composition and performance, song production

Mike Deeth - Guitar composition and performance, recording engineering, song production

Chris Belin - Drums composition and performance

Charis Nwaozuzu - Album cover art

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Iraqis in Pajamas Seattle, Washington

Iraqis in Pajamas (see IraqisInPajamas.com) fuses Iraqi Jewish prayers with original indie rock and personal storytelling, singing in Judeo-Arabic, Hebrew, and English. In turn vulnerable and angry, haunting and inspiring, the band disarms audiences, opening them to deep contemplation about trauma, healing, and transformation. The band operates as a nonprofit, and donations are tax deductible. ... more

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