Released by Ehud Banai and The Refugees during the First Intifada, this song is written from the perspective of a Palestinian day laborer who travels from Gaza to work in construction in Tel Aviv. Banai himself worked on a building site with Palestinian workers, and recalls the mounting frustration against the Israeli occupation. As the First Intifada began as civil disobedience, including the striking of Palestinian labourers, this song became popular during the Intifada.
Stir the Cement
5 AM in Gaza
It’s still cold, I’m tired
I get into Nabil’s car
And fall asleep on his shoulder
On the way again, the checkpoints
They say: Stop! Identification papers!
In another hour is Tel Aviv
And this is one more day, just to work.
Stir the cement, Ahmad,
Stir the cement.
At lunch break
From the scaffolding it is possible to see
Who will build, will build a house
Who will build if we won’t work
Plaster on the wall,
Dust on the city,
I know the song
Always the same song
Stir the cement, Ahmad,
Stir the cement.