Theme of Exodus

"Theme of Exodus", also known as "This land is mine" through its chorus, is a song composed and performed by Ernest Gold. It serves as the main theme song to Otto Preminger's epic film Exodus, based on the 1958 novel of the same name by Leon Uris, which tells the story of founding of the modern State of Israel.

"Theme of Exodus"
Single by Ernest Gold
from the album Exodus
B-side	"Summer In Cyprus"
Released	1960
Genre	Epic, film score
Length	2:45
Label	RCA Victor
Songwriter(s)	Ernest Gold
Producer(s)	Ernest Gold

"Theme of Exodus"
Single by Ferrante & Teicher
from the album Golden Piano Hits
B-side	"Twilight"
Released	October 1960
Genre	Easy listening, film score
Length	2:54
Label	United Artists
Songwriter(s)	Ernest Gold
Producer(s)	Don Costa
Ferrante & Teicher singles chronology
"Theme from The Apartment" (1960) "Theme of Exodus" (1960) "Love Theme from One Eyed Jack" (1961)

The song was released on the soundtrack album for the picture. All music was written by Gold, who won both Best Soundtrack Album and Song of the Year at the 1961 Grammy Awards for the soundtrack and theme to Exodus respectively. It is the only instrumental song to ever receive that award.^[1]

Following its initial film appearance, the theme has been recorded by many artists in both instrumental and vocal versions, and has also appeared in a number of subsequent films and television programs. The best-known cover version of the theme is an instrumental version.^[2] This version was accompanied by the Sinfonia of London orchestra.^[3] Bob Marley incorporated portions of the theme into his song "Exodus".^[4]

An instrumental version of the song by Ferrante & Teicher made No. 3 in Canada in December 1960,^[5][6][7] No. 1 on the Cashbox Top 100 and No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in January 1961,^[8] No. 6 in the UK in April 1961^[9] and No. 2 on the Australian Kent Music Report charts also in April 1961.^[10] It reached No. 1 in New Zealand.^[11]

This Land is Mine (animated music video)

Shot from the music video

In 2012, American animator Nina Paley released a satirical animated music video set to the song (as performed by Andy Williams), which have enmassed millions of views through various forms over the internet.^[12][13] The video is part of an animated feature film by Nina called Seder-Masochism.

The video depicts the conflicts of ownership over the region commonly known today as Palestine, through time; from the Neolithic, to the Ancient Egyptians, Babylonians, Knights Templars and many others, all the way to the modern day Israeli–Palestinian conflict. The various cultures who have ruled over the region through the ages are shown entering the scene and killing the previous owner, which works as an allegory for the regions history.^[14]

References

1. "Here is a List of Every GRAMMYs Song of the Year Winner Ever". CBS.com. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
2. "Theme of Exodus by Ernest Gold - Samples, Covers and Remixes". Whosampled.com. Retrieved 9 February 2019.
3. "Ernest Gold – Theme Of Exodus". Discogs.com. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
4. Friedwald, Will (2017-11-07). The Great Jazz and Pop Vocal Albums. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. ISBN 9781101871751.
5. "CHUM Hit Parade - December 12, 1960".
6. "CHUM Hit Parade - December 19, 1960".
7. "CHUM Hit Parade - January 2, 1961".
8. "Barry's Hits of All Decades Pop rock n roll Music Chart Hits".
9. "Barry's Hits of All Decades Pop rock n roll Music Chart Hits".
10. "Barry's Hits of All Decades Pop rock n roll Music Chart Hits".
11. NZ Lever Hit Parade, 25 May 1961
12. "This Land Is Mine". imdb.com. Retrieved 2024-12-05.
13. Paley, Nina (2017-01-13), This Land Is Mine revised, retrieved 2022-08-10
14. "This Land Is Mine- Nina Paley The Greatest AMV You've Never Heard Of". youtube.com. Retrieved 2024-12-06.