Music of the Week: January 24, 2025: Suhail Khoury – From Bethlehem to Gaza

This is what students of the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music in Palestine sang to their kin and human brothers and sisters in Gaza this Christmas. What a profound witness to human decency, national pride, personal courage, and the extended hand for possible peace and reconciliation.

The song was presented as A Christmas Salute from Bethlehem to Gaza based on music by the renowned musician and cultural ambassador Suhail Khoury. Khoury is also the founder of the Music Conservatory, which was established in 1990 in an effort to support musical talent and education for Palestinian children. It now has over 1,000 students enrolled in its five branches in different cities.

The lyrics by Majdi Shomali are a masterpiece—the balanced expression of the sentiments of a people’s sovereignty together with the recognition of the need for rapprochement and forgiveness.

This generation of young people in the Holy Land gives us hope for the karmic release from decades of hostility and suffering. With them, we pray for peace.

Lyrics:

May peace be upon you, peace throughout the land
All wars to be ended, massacres and executions stopped
May joy, love, and compassion prevail
Great jubilation to spread among the people
May peace be upon you, peace throughout the land

Come forth and obey the Sultan’s decree
Rise up, all of you, as the people depart
Come forth and obey the Sultan’s decree
Rise up, all of you, as the people depart
From all corners of the earth, from every place
To timeless hometown
Rise together from the ruins
Rise above the ashes and destruction
Ascend together from the volcano’s mouth
Unshackle all the bonds, burn the coffins
Of those who mourned and were displaced
Of those who lost or were themselves lost
And of those who were erased, or wearied
Of those whose hearts were left broken and shattered

Let all of us be registered
Do not write an address
Fifty thousand souls taken
They are now the address itself
Let all of us be registered
Do not write an address
Fifty thousand souls taken
They are now the address itself
Let’s register and scream
We are the identity
We are here, ours is the cause
Let all of us be registered
In proud Gaza, in proud Gaza

Behold, a new child was born
Behold, the King of Peace has come
Behold, a glorious dream unfold
Here comes for people’s cheer
These are the lights of the King of all
It’s the star of nativity
On the night of nativity
It’s the star of nativity
On the night of nativity
It’s the star of nativity
On the night of nativity
It’s the star of nativity

Related:

Suhail Khoury

The Edward Said National Conservatory of Music (Homepage)

Edward Said National Conservatory of Music (Wikipedia)