His influences included Hebrew poets such as ibn Gabirol,[1] Natan Alterman, S. Y. Agnon and Hayim Nahman Bialik, and American singer-songwriters such as Bob Dylan.

In his youth, Ariel experimented with writing poetry, and his songs were composed by his friend, Shalom Hanoch, as part of "Hamishmaron", the kibbutz's singing group.

The "Yerushalayim Shel Barzel" mini-album cover showed Ariel in his military uniform thus giving him the nickname "the singing paratrooper".

Wanting a break from Kibbutz life, Ariel moved to the United States, working as a Shaliach to the labour Zionist Habonim Youth Movement.

After living in the United States for some time, Ariel returned to Israel and decided to create folk rock-inspired music.

During his extended reserve service following the ceasefire, he wrote the song "A quiet night passed over our forces in Suez", expressing his perspective on the reality and events experienced on the front.

It includes, among others, his famous songs "Laila Shaket Avar Al Kochothaneu BeSuez", written after the Yom Kippur War,[7] "Sdot Goldberg" (according to some interpretations, the song is a response to Leah Goldberg's "At Telchi B'Sadeh"[8]), "Mahleket Musar Heskel", and "Shir Tat Muda Zmani".

[10] The performance ran twice during the festival and included songs and connecting segments written by Ariel, forming the basis for the album "Rishumei Pecham" (Coal Sketches).

Among other tracks, the album included the songs "Shamati She'at Nimtzet", "Bas Babalon", and "Chayat HaBarzel", in which he critically addressed technological progress on one hand and moral decline on the other, inspired by the vision of Daniel about the Iron Animal.

The complete performance, including the segment of the "Zir'ei Kayitz" band, was released on the DVD "Derech Dim'a Shkufa" (Through a Transparent) following Ariel's death.

From the successful album, the songs "Hiknasi Kvar La'oto Ve'nisa" (Get in the Car Already and Let's Go) and "Lo Yachol Lehoriid Mimech Et Ha'einayim" (Cannot Take My Eyes off You) became prominent hits.

Later, he formed a new band that included Giga (David Levy), Amos Friedman, Eran Porat, and Doron Kochli.

Meir Ariel passed away on July 18, 1999, the 5th of the Jewish month Av, at the age of 57, after suffering from a type of Typhus (Mediterranean spotted or "Boutonneuse" fever), caused by the rickettsia parasite and transmitted by a tick bite.

In the year 2000, following his death, another album by Meir Ariel was released, titled "Modeh Ani" - an album with home recordings, including the songs "Modeh Ani", "Tzavat Lezikaron", "Al Eretz Movarim Rak Belev", "Tzo'ek Et SheChaser Lo", and "Tzedek Tzedek Tirdof".

An album of Ariel's own unreleased recordings was released as well, titled "Mode Ani", which can be translated as "I am thankful" (based on the Jewish morning prayer).

[citation needed] Among the many artists for whom Meir Ariel wrote are Shalom Hanoch, Arik Einstein, Rita, Sharon Haziz and David Broza.

Ariel and Hanoch began creating songs together in their youth, and one of their most famous ones, "Agadat Deshe" ("Grass Legend"), gained popularity in various performances, including those by Arik Einstein, Hanan Yovel, and Oshik Levi, in the mid-1970s.

In Arik Einstein's 1968 album "Mazal Gdi", songs written by Ariel and Hanoch, such as "Mekofef Habananot" ("Bananas Bender") and "Sipur Motam Shel Alma ve'Elm" were included.

Additionally, they collaborated on the song "Betzohorei Yom" ("In the Afternoon"), for which Broza composed the music to Ariel's lyrics, and they performed it together.

Most of the songs that Ariel wrote for other artists were not composed by him, but some of them were, including "Lo Yachol Lehoriid Mimek Et Ha'einayim" for David Broza, "Sof Shavua BaKfar" for Dori Ben Zeev, and "Tzionah" for Nissim Garameh.

Other well-known songs that Ariel wrote for different artists include "Derech Gever Be'isha" and "Lama Lo" for Izhar Ashdot, "Ahavini" for Rami Kleinstein, "Erev Kahol Amok" for Rita (based on music by Shlomo Yidov), and "Holchet Mimmha" for Sharon Haziz (with music by Ze'ev Nechama and Tamir Kliski).

Rami Kleinstein composed the song "Ata Bechol Zot" (also known as "Alita Li BaZikaron" and "HaLayla Lo") for Rita's 2003 album "Hamtzan," which was later performed by Dudu Tassa.

In 2016, Dori Ben-Ze'ev performed the song "Ra'ash Bamanoa" written by Meir Ariel and composed by Israel Kasif.

In October 2017, the musician Sagol 59 (Chen Rotem) released the song "Chaloshes Lamotsash", which he composed and recorded for lyrics by Meir Ariel that had not been published before.

Since Meir Ariel's death, his family, especially his wife Tirtza, has been carrying out activities to commemorate him and preserve his musical legacy.

One of the main initiatives in the attempt to commemorate him is the production of tribute concerts featuring his songs to mark the anniversary of his death and its vicinity.

The first event of this kind, called "Facing the Sea", took place in July 2000, marking the first anniversary of his death, at the Caesarea Theater.

The Tel Aviv municipality placed a memorial plaque on the wall of Meir Ariel's house at 70 Hayarkon Street.

[18] A commemoration concert for Ariel will be held at Yarkon Park in September 2024, featuring singers Ninet Tayeb, Shalom Hanoch, Aviv Gefen, Rona Kenan, Shlomi Shaban and others.

Ariel's writing was influenced by figures such as Hayim Nahman Bialik, Nathan Alterman, Yehuda Amichai, Leonard Cohen, Shai Agnon, and Bob Dylan.