It was first published in Beshaar, the literary supplement of Al HaMishmar on July 22, 1948. Eli Eshed suggests that the song was inspired by a cartoon by Aryeh Navon published in Davar on May 7, 1948, showing an old couple of Palmachniks telling tales to their grandson. Its first performance by Chizbatron with soloist Naomi Polani was on July 20.[4]
Of early performers, Shoshana Damari was noted for performing and recording this song,[3] as well as Yaffa Yarkoni. Later it was performed by many others.[4][5]
Initially the song was written as looking into the future: "The day will come and you will still sit by the fire, and your back will be bent like a hoe, and you will remember your days in Palmach and tell about it..." But as the time passed, it became a nostalgic song about the past.[4]
In 1979, on the occasion of the Egypt–Israel peace treaty Hefer added two more stanzas.[5]
