If I was born the day you came
The memories of my father
His and mine, and the child I left behind
Could surely not be the same
Memories of home and land
Each and every grain of sand
The grass on my field
An olive branch and its yield
If I was there in 1948
I would not welcome you again
Nor watch you come to my state
Like the incoming tide of fate
That was you, then
Escaping hate with all your weight
Coming to me by sea
While I offer you shelter, food and tea
If I was born today
I would look at you and say
There will be a reckoning
For in the end, freedom always finds a way
You cannot deny my existence forever
For the memories of my father
His and mine, and the child I left behind
Live on, like fire on a burner
If I was born after 1948
From my soul I would be torn
But on my back, resistance will be worn
And to it, all my children will be sworn
So don't ask me to wait
Just because you call this fate
In the end history will judge you
For every orphan you create
I was born before 1948
Now I look back and say
This is where my forefathers lay
Trust me, my people know the way
For that child I left behind
The last symbol of my resistance
Has grown on my grass and field
He lives off my olive branch, and it's yield
