Exodus

Album: Exodus Soundtrack (1960)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This orchestral composition was the theme song to the 1960 movie Exodus, which is about the formation of Israel. Like the rest of the soundtrack, it was written and conducted by Ernest Gold and performed by The Sinfonia Of London, a session orchestra.
  • The movie studio considered adding lyrics to this piece, but Ernest Gold was against it, as was the film's director, Otto Preminger. After the film was released, Pat Boone wrote a set of lyrics that he put the music, releasing it as "The Exodus Song (This Land Is Mine)." It only made #64, but became a seminal song for Boone, who made a number of trips to Israel over the years.
  • In addition to Pat Boone's version, four other renditions of this song charted in 1961, most notably the piano duo Ferrante & Teicher, who reached #2. Edith Piaf added a set of French lyrics when she recorded the song, taking it to #116. The other two to chart are by Mantovani (#31) and Eddie Harris (#36).

Comments: 2

  • Mark from CaliforniaThe week of 28 January 1961 which Ferrante & Teicher's version of "Exodus" was at #2 on the Top 100, the #1 record for that week was "Wonderland by Night" by Bert Kaempfert.
  • Janet S Kammerer from Sewell/washington TownshipWho is "me" and "I" in the exodus song?
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Al Kooper

Al KooperSongwriter Interviews

Kooper produced Lynyrd Skynyrd, played with Dylan and the Stones, and formed BS&T.

Oliver Leiber

Oliver LeiberSongwriter Interviews

Oliver Leiber talks about writing and producing hits for Paula Abdul, and explains his complicated relationship with his father, the songwriter Jerry Leiber.

Harry Shearer

Harry ShearerSongwriter Interviews

Harry is Derek Smalls in Spinal Tap, Mark Shubb in The Folksmen, and Mr. Burns on The Simpsons.

Don Dokken

Don DokkenSongwriter Interviews

Dokken frontman Don Dokken explains what broke up the band at the height of their success in the late '80s, and talks about the botched surgery that paralyzed his right arm.

Gene Simmons of Kiss

Gene Simmons of KissSongwriter Interviews

The Kiss rocker covers a lot of ground in this interview, including why there are no Kiss collaborations, and why the Rock Hall has "become a sham."

Meshell Ndegeocello

Meshell NdegeocelloSongwriter Interviews

Meshell Ndegeocello talks about recording "Wild Night" with John Mellencamp, and explains why she shied away from the spotlight.