Hayu Zmanim

For another song, see Zohar Argov.

"Hayu Zmanim" (Hebrew: היו זמנים, literally 'There Were Times', sometimes translated as 'In Those Days'^[2]) is a song with lyrics by Haim Hefer and music by Moshe Wilensky written in 1948. It was first performed by the Chizbatron band of Palmach.^[3]

Hayu Zmanim performed by Noa Kirel in a music video honoring the 80th anniversary of Palmach^[1]

History

It was first published in Beshaar, the literary supplement of Al HaMishmar on July 22, 1948, and its first performance by Chizbatron with soloist Naomi Polani was on July 20.^[4]

Of early performers, Shoshana Damari was noted for performing and recording this song,^[3] as well as Yaffa Yarkoni. Later it was performed by many others.^[4][5]

Initially the song was written as looking into the future: "The day will come and you will still sit by the fire, and your back will be bent like a hoe, and you will remember your days in Palmach and tell about it..." But as the time passed, it became a nostalgic song about the past.^[4]

In 1979, on the occasion of the Egypt–Israel peace treaty Hefer added two more stanzas.^[5]

See also

• "We Left Slowly"