Zum Gali Gali (Hebrew: זום גלי גלי) is an Israeli folk song associated with the Kibbutz, Israel's collective agricultural communities. The song is sometimes referred to by the title Israeli Work Song and is known for its rhythmic style. The song begins with the repeated refrain ("zum gali gali") before proceeding to the verses.[1] The repeated refrain itself is a nonsensical verse,[2] and has no direct translation into English.
The exact origins and authorship of Zum Gali Gali is unknown. While the song is associated with the Kibbutz Mishmar HaEmek it is possible that it was composed elsewhere. It may have first been performed as part of a play. The first publication of the song was in 1939 by the Hebrew Publishing Company (NY, USA), indicating it was popular among American Jews at the time. Subsequent publications, such as a 1948 recording by Meir Lokitz, recorded as part of The Stonehill Collection: Recording of Holocaust survivors and Jewish immigrants to the United States, contains alternate verses with the standard refrain. The song was first performed in a non-Jewish context by the German instrumentalist Bert Kaempfert.
