After graduating from high school, Shemer postponed her mandatory military service, despite the opposition of some fellow kibbutz members, to study music.

She studied under notable teachers, including Paul Ben-Haim, Frank Pelleg, Abel Ehrlich, Ilona Vincze-Kraus, and Josef Tal.

Her first song for the group, Mishirei Zener Noded (better known as Haderech Aruka Hi Varba), written in 1957, achieved great success and is considered her first hit.

Shemer wrote several successful songs for Israeli military ensembles including Chamsinim Ba-Mashlat [he], and Hakol Biglal Masmer (based on For Want of a Nail).

[6] In 1960, she wrote Bessadeh Tiltan for the Northern Command Band, Leil Emesh performed by Shaike Levi, and Shir Hashuk for the play Aseret Hatzadikim which was recorded by HaTarnegolim in 1961.

Later, she collaborated with the Nahal Band on songs like "Machar" (Tomorrow), Mitriyah Beshnayim (Umbrella for Two), and Mahbo'im [he] (Hide and Seek).

[7] The same year, she composed the music for the song Kinneret (also known as Sham Harei Golan) written by Rachel Bluwstein, for the Central Command Band.

In 1964, Shemer wrote songs for the Yarkon Bridge Trio's debut album First Love, including Ahavat Poalei Habinyan, Serenade Lah, Ayelet Ahavim, and Layla Bachof Achziv, which was also featured in the movie Dalia and the Sailors.

[9][10] In May 2005, Haaretz reported that Shemer admitted in a letter to Gil Aldema that she plagiarized Paco Ibáñez's cover of the Navarerrese folk song Pello Joxepe while composing the melody for "Jerusalem of Gold".

[11][12] During her lifetime, Shemer denied allegations of plagiarism related to the melody of Yerushalayim Shel Zahav, referring to its similarity with Paco Ibáñez as an "unfortunate accident."

In 1969, the Central Command Band recorded Shemer's song Anachnu Shneynu Me'otu HaKfar (We Are Both from the Same Village), which she had written three years earlier.

In 1972, the album Chavurat Bimot was released, featuring songs by Shemer such as Mar Narkis (Mr. Narcissus), Shir Eres LeMikreim Meyuchadim (A Bedtime Song for Special Cases, a lullaby for the children of divorced parents), Anashim Yafim (Beautiful People, a track about high society), and HaMakshefot (The Witches, about sensationalist journalism), Lashir Zeh Kmo Lihiyot Yarden (To Sing This is Like Being in the Jordan, performed by Miri Aloni), Be'eretz Lahad'am (In the Land of Thing-That-Never-Happened, also performed by Aloni), Arba'im, and Ani Megadelat Ba'al.

[10] Shemer initially wrote new lyrics to accompany the original Lennon-McCartney music, but was encouraged by her husband Mordechai Horowitz, who had fought in the war, to rewrite it with a "Jewish" melody.

Shemer rewrote the melody and it became widely recorded, including by HaGashash HaHiver and Chava Alberstein, who featured it as the title track on one of her albums.

Thought the 1970s, Shemer continued to compose songs for a variety of artists including Nathan Alterman (Pgisha Le'ein Ketz, Sapanei Shalom HaMelech, Al Em HaDerech, HaEm HaShlishit), Shaul Tchernichovsky (Ba'aliyati Sham Yafati, Omrim Yeshna Eretz), Hayim Nahman Bialik (Kumi Tzei) and Avraham Shlonsky ("Betchul HaShamayim").

For Yehoram Gaon's 1973 album Ahava Yam Tikhonit (Mediterranean Love), Shemer composed the song Kumi Tzei, originally written by Hayim Nahman Bialik.

Also in 1974, Yossi Banai recorded Shemer's song Sfirat Mlai (Cargo Counting) for his solo show Partzuf Shel Tzo'ani (Face of a Gypsy).

In 1976, Yehoram Gaon recorded Shemer's song Od Lo Ahavti Dai (I Haven't Loved Enough Yet) which became a major hit.

The song was initially written for a television program featuring Shemer's music and was released as the title track of Gaon's album.

The album also included the songs Anashim Tovim (Good People) and the Shaul Tchernichovsky track Omrim Yeshna Eretz, which she composed for the television program Yemei Kislev that same year.

While these themes appeared in earlier works such as Shiro Shel Aba and Lo Amut Ki Ehyeh, they became more prominent in songs like Shirat Ha’asavim and El Borot HaMayim.

The evening featured performances by numerous artists, including Chava Alberstein, Nurit Galron, Yehudit Ravitz, and Moti Kirschenbaum.

One of the standout moments was the performance of Serenada Lach by Gidi Gov, Moni Moshonov, and Shlomo Baraba, arranged by Yoni Rechter.

In 1993, Shemer appeared alongside Mickey Kam, Moshe Beker, Chaim Tzinoivitz, and Rina Givon in the children's video cassette Etzelnu BaPsanter, which was based on her songs.

A tribute evening in Shemer's honor was held at the 1998 Israel Festival, directed by Adi Renart and featuring the participation of numerous artists.

From 2000 until her death, Shemer performed in a show of her songs titled Elef Shirim veShir, with arrangements, accompaniment, and musical direction by Rami Harel.

At Shemer's request, Dudu Elharar sang four songs written by her at her funeral: Kinneret (Sham Harei Golan by Rachel Bluwstein), Hurshat HaEcalyptus, Lashir Zeh Kmo Lihiyot Yarden, and Noa.

recorded Naomi, Ela Mi, a song dedicated to Shemer, written and composed by Kobi Luria, in commemoration of the 18th anniversary of her passing.

[28][29] In July 1976, Shemer published a response to her critics[30] claiming she was not affiliated with any political party or movement advocating for a Greater Israel.

Her song Al Kol Eleh, which includes the line 'Al na ta'akor netu'a' (Please do not uproot the planted), became a symbol of the opposition to the withdrawal, although Shemer claimed it was originally written as a personal message of comfort for her sister, Ruth Novasbaum, after the death of her husband.