Wars, upheavals, collapses — and a catalogue that has been the country’s way of getting back up each time.
Lebanon is well known as the country of everlasting revolution, resisting oppression and overcoming national hurdles are part of who we are as a nation. Lebanese people have lived through countless wars, political upheavals, and economic collapses, yet we have always risen above it all as one nation.
This reality is deeply rooted in our history and is reflected in pop culture, from traditional dabke dance, which embodies patriotic strength and unity, performed not only during celebrations but also during public demonstrations. Similarly, many songs express love for the country and the enduring spirit of the Lebanese people. In this time of the nation’s revolution, it feels only right to remember them.
Against this patriotic backdrop, each revolution has its own hymn or songs, and the popular uprising that began on October 17, 2019, is no exception. Lebanon is a country that has inspired countless patriotic songs, so it is only natural that this protest movement has not settled on a single anthem, but rather carries an entire playlist of resistance.
Some songs have been played on loop since October 17 across public squares, streets, and gatherings. From Julia Boutrous, the wife of former Defense Minister Elias Bou Saab, to Fairuz’s iconic Li Beirut, these songs have become symbols of patriotism and hope.
Just yesterday, Lebanon saw attacks that have affected civilians across Beirut, southern Lebanon, and the Bekaa Valley, with verified reports documenting casualties and destruction, but the spirit of the Lebanese people continues to endure through art and song.
