The song was released as a stand-alone single in between the Kaleidoscope and Juju albums and peaked at number forty-one in the UK singles chart. "Israel" did not appear on a Siouxsie & the Banshees album until the release of the Once Upon a Time: The Singles compilation.
Israel
Siouxsie & The Banshees Lyrics
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With nowhere to call their home
Start their singing...singing
Waiting through the summertime
To thaw your hearts in wintertime
That's why they're singing...singing
The sweet taste in your mouth
Turned bitter in it's glass.
Israel, in Is-ra-e-a-e-el!
In Israel, in Is-ra-e-a-e-e1!
Shattered fragments of the past
Meet in veins of real stained glass
Like the lifeline in your palm
Red and Green reflects a scene
Of a long forgotten dream
There were Princes - and there were Kings!
Now hidden in disguise
Cheap wrappings of lies
Keep your hearts alive
With a song from inside!
Even though we're all alone
We are never on our own
When we're singing...singing
Hoooooa! Hoooooa!
There's a man who's looking in
And he smiles a toothless grin
Because he's singing...singing.
Sees some people shine with glee
But their song is jealousy
Their hate his clanging...
Maddening!
In Israel, will they sing Happy Noel?
In Israel, in Is-ra-e-a-e-el
Israel, in Is-ra-e-a-e-el
In Israel, will they sing Happy No-o-o-o-el?
The song "Israel" by Siouxsie and The Banshees features a poignant and powerful interpretation of the political and social climate within the state of Israel. The lyrics begin with the image of "little orphans in the snow" with nowhere to call their home and waiting for a sign to turn blood into wine. This can be interpreted as a desperate plea for hope and unity within the nation, as their situation feels bleak and desperate.
The chorus repeatedly chants "Israel, in Is-ra-e-a-e-el" as a cry for attention, for the world to pay attention to the unrest and turmoil within the nation. The song references shattered fragments of the past and the meeting of red and green, two colors often associated with divides within Islam and Judaism. The long forgotten dream of princes and kings could be a reference to the biblical history of Israel, further highlighting how their current reality is a far cry from their past glory.
The song also touches on jealousy and hate, highlighting how these negative feelings can become a clanging madness that overshadows the hope that music and singing can bring. In Israel, the people may not "sing Happy Noel," a reference to the Christmas holiday, but they can still cling to the hope and unity that music and singing can bring.
Line by Line Meaning
Little orphans in the snow
Children without parents or a place to call home in the cold winter snow
With nowhere to call their home
They have no place to live or feel safe
Start their singing...singing
They sing to express themselves and their situation
Waiting through the summertime
Enduring the hot season with the hope that the future will bring better times
To thaw your hearts in wintertime
Their singing in the summer is meant to make people more receptive to their difficulties in the winter
That's why they're singing...singing
They hope to appeal to people's emotions through their song
Waiting for a sign - to turn blood into wine
Hopeful for a miracle to occur, which would transform something painful into something wonderful
The sweet taste in your mouth
Something that was once pleasurable
Turned bitter in it's glass.
Has become unpleasant after closer inspection
Israel, in Is-ra-e-a-e-el!
Repeatedly singing the name of the song's subject, Israel
Shattered fragments of the past
Memories and events that have been broken into pieces
Meet in veins of real stained glass
History and the present intersect in a tangible way, like in a stained glass window
Like the lifeline in your palm
Similar to the lines on one's hand that are symbolic of their destiny
Red and Green reflects a scene
Colors that remind the singer of a specific moment
Of a long forgotten dream
Something that has been lost in memory
There were Princes - and there were Kings!
Recalling a time when there were rulers and royalty
Now hidden in disguise
Those in power have become unrecognizable
Cheap wrappings of lies
Falsehoods that are unconvincing and poorly disguised
Keep your hearts alive
Stay hopeful and optimistic
With a song from inside!
By singing, one can keep their hopes and dreams alive
Even though we're all alone
Despite being alone in our struggles
We are never on our own
We have support from something greater than ourselves
When we're singing...singing
Our singing brings us comfort and unity
Hoooooa! Hoooooa!
An exclamation to emphasize the importance of what follows
There's a man who's looking in
Someone is watching us
And he smiles a toothless grin
They are happy, but it may not be genuine
Because he's singing...singing.
He is content and singing alongside everyone else
Sees some people shine with glee
Notices others who are happy
But their song is jealousy
Their happiness is replaced with envy
Their hate his clanging...
Their negativity is disruptive
Maddening!
The situation is frustrating
In Israel, will they sing Happy Noel?
Asking if people in Israel are able to enjoy the holiday season
Israel, in Is-ra-e-a-e-e-el
Repeating the song's subject once again
In Israel, in Is-ra-e-a-e-el
Affirming the song's focus
In Israel, will they sing Happy No-o-o-o-el?
Wondering if people in Israel can enjoy the holiday season with the same spirit as others
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY
Written by: JOHN ALEXANDER MCGEOCH, STEVEN SEVERIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@TheAngieRash
Little orphans in the snow
With nowhere to call a home
Start their singing, singing
Waiting through the summertime
To thaw your hearts in wintertime
That's why they're singing, singing
Waiting for a sign to turn blood into wine
The sweet taste in your mouth, turned bitter in its glass
Israel, in Israel
Israel, in Israel
Shattered fragments of the past
Meet in veins on the stained glass
Like the lifeline in your palm
Red and green reflects the scene
Of a long forgotten dream
There were princes and there were kings
Now hidden in disguise, cheap wrappings of lies
Keep your hearts alive with a song from inside
Even though we're all alone
We are never on our own when we're singing, singing
Home, home
There's a man who's looking in
And he smiles a toothless grin
Because he's singing, singing
See some people shine with glee
But their song is jealousy
Their hate is clanging, maddening
In Israel, will they sing Happy Noel
In Israel, in Israel
Israel, in Israel
In Israel, will they sing Happy Noel
@jhazelw
If you are here listing to this, your taste in music is good!
@btm380
My 6yr old daughter is dancing wildly to this!
@_Talise
Im 15 but same
@johnjones6194
addams family- blitzkrieg bop
@loickossovsky7605
We go older older but music stays young .....
@jaceyp.8457
That's deep
@FabulousCthulhu
And then certain people in newer generations find this music and enjoy it and become part of the scene. (I'm 15)
@snoekbaars7757
Well yhea, unless you lived in the USSR or any country within their sphere of influence.
@snoekbaars7757
Of course, but in the 80's the USSR was still there
@invisibleboy3997
Its funny how i can listen to this and drop 40 year in time.