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1492

from 1939 by David Rovics

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Possibly the most inspiring story of solidarity throughout human history. Following the Ottoman defeat by Spain in Granada and the end of Ottoman governance of southern Spain, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella decreed that the Jews of Spain, the Sephardim, had three months to live or leave the country. Hundreds of thousands of them were not only welcomed with open arms by the Ottoman Sultan and the people of the Ottoman Empire -- but they were also rescued in massive numbers by the Ottoman Navy.

lyrics

In 1492 Colombo crossed the Ocean
Only one of many horrors that would then be set in motion
As his men cut limbs of Arawaks and burned children at the stake
Plundering a continent for God's sake

In 1492 when King Ferdinand won Granada
He passed a law known as the Edict of Alhambra
It was as the landlords wanted, as his gracious God had willed
That any Jew in Spain had three months to leave or else be killed

And 800,000 Europeans became refugees
And headed east across the Mediterranean Sea

In 1492 they were starving and bereft
The King said they'd be safe up until the time they left
But Christian Europeans cut them open with their swords
Searched their stomachs for gold and dumped them overboard

In 1492 the Sultan sent his fleet
To go rescue Sephardim after the Ottoman defeat
Hundreds of thousands of people who knew their deaths were near
Were rescued by Muslims and taken to Izmir

In 1492 the Sultan said that's fine
If they'd impoverish their kingdom just to enrich mine
The Sultan also passed an edict – he said “welcome home
“Now treat your new neighbors as if they were your own”

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from 1939, released January 11, 2016

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David Rovics Portland, Oregon

Singer/songwriter, writer, podcaster (on Spotify, Substack & Patreon), anarchist, dad, lover of life.

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