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Emad Ghavidel feat. Hamed Fard - Battle for Homsعماد قويدل و حامد فرد - نبرد براى حمص

Here is a song by an Iranian rapper Emad Ghavidel featuring Hamed Fard in solidarity with the people in Syria protesting and suffering under the ongoing massacres and violence. Not an Arabic song but I thought it was relevant.



Emad Ghavidel and Hamed Fard - Battle for Homs

Intro:

There’s nothing sweeter than life
But you shouldn’t be afraid to lose it
Why be afraid of going when something better is coming?

Verse 1:

Sometimes it’s better for me to listen a little
Instead of talking about my country’s problems
Sometimes it’s better for me keep my mouth shut
When the world stinks like an armpit of
That tired man you see on his way to battle
He's like one of the lil fish caught by a whale
That whale I’m talkin bout is called war
A war that our generation knows all too well
We understand that there’s a reason behind this all
What like we need another problem? So everything is cheap?
The governments were using force and now they’re gonna keep power by force? (now that people are dissatisfied?)
For Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and now Syria
So long as the UN is drunk and unaware
The bombs will rain down on the children of Homs
Yo Medvedev, I dunno what kinda plan you have
But the reality is your name will live in infamy

Hook:

I swear on the mourning of every mother and her tears
You’re gonna pay the price Bashar Assad
Even if I’m going to drown in my own blood
I won’t shut my mouth
You should know that Iranians can’t sit and remain silent
Your name is Assad (lion) but a lion without a mane
A lion? What am I sayin? You’re not even a hyena
You’re not even worthy of [my] anger

Verse 2:

When Bashar Assad became another Angel of Death (Azrael)
Everybody’s sitting and talkin bout Israel
Nothing will come from these words that I’m sayin
And guys like us can’t do nothin
Can’t you hear that voice cryin for help?
Why do all these people gotta die?
Under the dirt, tanks, guns, rocks, bombs, and shooting
Anyone who says the city of Homs is calm is lying
I have no desire to eat, I can’t swallow (i.e. I can’t stomach what I see)
They’ve done something that kills all religion and morals
In Damascus they’re laughing, the people are happy and content
But the ones who are crying are the people of Homs
The guy who was taking his kid to the gym, now he sees him lying dead in the morgue
Medvedev you’ve made the world into a horror film
You thought you’d won, you’ve lost to history

Verse 3:

Don’t think you can just suppress your people so easily
I can see a day when you’ll have a heart attack from fear
One day those around you will toss you aside
But the ones who you’re killing will live on forever
Even if you kill a couple people with every shelling
A guy like you will end up in a rat hole (like Saddam Hussein)
Those who died saw many sparrows in that city
Those who died are free of a world full of lies
I could read the fear in your face without even seeing you
These were the sentences that I had sung
Even in silence, there is an untold pain
The secret of which lie hidden behind the curtain
You’re another story [Bashar], I’m resentful of my own (i.e. the situation in Iran)
But how could I leave me country and my city?
The one I can’t reach is Medvedev
I wanna spit on him, but it’d be a waste of good spit

عماد قويدل و حامد فرد - نبرد براى حمص

خوش‌تر از جان چه بُوَد
جان برود باک مدار
غم رفتن چه خوری؟
چون به از آن می‌آید

گاهی بهتره، یه حرفایی رو بشنوم یه‌کم
به جای اینکه از مشکلات کشورم بگم
گاهی بهتر که، بکشم زیپ دهن
وقتی دنیا بو می‌ده مثل زیر بغلِ
اون مرد خسته‌ای که تو مسیر نبردِ
ِمثل ماهی‌های کوچیک اسیر نهنگ
اون نهنگی که می‌گم اسمش جنگه
جنگی که نسل ما به خوبی حسش کرده
ما می‌فهمیم که پشت این کارا منظوریه
مگه مشکل کمه، مگه کالا ارزونیه؟
یا حکومت زور بود و حالا هم زوریه؟
که تونس و مصر و لیبی حالا هم سوریه
تا وقتی سازمان ملل خماره بی‌حاله
رو سر بچه‌های حُمص خمپاره می‌باره
هی مدودف نمی‌دونم چی برنامه داری‌
ولی، حقیقت اینه می‌شی بدنامِ تاریخ

به ضجه‌های مادر به اشکاش قسم
تو هم تقاص پس می‌دی بشّار اسد
اگه، قرار باشه غرق خون بمیرم
حاضر نمی‌شم که خفه‌خون بگیرم
بدون که ساکت، نمی‌تونه بشینه ایرانی
تو اسمت اسدِ ولی یه شیر بی‌یالی
شیر چیه؟! چی دارم می‌گم تو کفتارم نیستی
حتی لایق این خشم توی رفتارم نیستی

وقتی بشار اسد شده یه عزرائیل دیگه
دنیا نشسته داره از اسرائیل میگه
از این حرفا که می‌گم هیچی در نمی‌آد
و از دست امثال ما هیچی بر نمی‌آد
نمی‌شنوی صدایی می‌گه به دادم برسید
چرا باید که این همه آدم بره زیر
خاک و تانک و توپ و سنگ و بمب و تیرباران
دروغِ اون‌که می‌گه شهر حمص ُ دید آرام
میل به خوراک ندارم لقمه پایین نمی‌ره
کاری کردن که دیگه دین و آیین بمیره
توی دمشق دارن می‌خندن مردم خرسندُ
اونا که اشک می‌ریزن مردم حُمصندُ
اونی که بچه‌شو با خودش می‌برده زورخونه
حالا می‌بیندش رو تخت مرده‌شورخونه
مدودف تو از دنیا فیلمی تاریک ساختی
فکر نکن که بردی، تو به تاریخ باختی

به ضجه‌های مادر به اشکاش قسم
تو هم تقاص پس می‌دی بشّار اسد
اگه، قرار باشه غرق خون بمیرم
حاضر نمی‌شم که خفه‌خون بگیرم
بدون که ساکت، نمی‌تونه بشینه ایرانی
تو اسمت اسدِ ولی یه شیر بی‌یالی
شیر چیه؟! چی دارم می‌گم تو کفتارم نیستی
حتی لایق این خشم توی رفتارم نیستی

تو فکر نکن که مردمتو سرکوب کردی
می‌بینم روزی رو که از ترس تو سنکوب کردی
روزی که، اطرافیانتم تو رو جا می‌ذارن
ولی اونایی رو که می‌کشی جاویدانن
اگرچه می‌کشی تو عده‌ای با هر سقوط موشک
اما مثل تو، در اومد حتی از تو لونه موشم
اون که مُرد دید کلی پرستو توی اون شهر
اون که، رها شد ازدنیا از دروغه توشم
من ندیده توی چهره‌ی تو ترس ُ خونده بودم
اینا جمله‌هایی بود که من سروده بودم
حتی در سکوتِ اونم یه درد نگفته‌ست
که راز و رمزش لای پرده نهفته‌ست
تو حسابت جدا من از یه خودی دلخورم
ولی شهر و کشورم رو من چطوری ول کنم
ِکسی که دستم بهش می‌رسه مدودف
ِمی‌خوام تف به روش بیارم ولی حیف تف

به ضجه‌های مادر به اشکاش قسم
تو هم تقاص پس می‌دی بشّار اسد
اگه، قرار باشه غرق خون بمیرم
حاضر نمی‌شم که خفه‌خون بگیرم
بدون که ساکت، نمی‌تونه بشینه ایرانی
تو اسمت اسدِ ولی یه شیر بی‌یالی
شیر چیه؟! چی دارم می‌گم تو کفتارم نیستی
حتی لایق این خشم توی رفتارم نیستی

Above the Palm Trees/I've Got a Friend Up Thereفوك النخل\فوق إلنا خلFoug El Nakhel/Foug Ilna Khill

We've translated many an Arabic folk song here on the blog performed by various artists, but the discussion on this song is so massive and the versions so numerous that it deserves its own post. "Fog al-Nakhel (فوق النخل)" is one of the most famous Arabic songs. It originated in Iraq and quickly spread throughout the Arabic world with the advent of radio and television. One of the earliest versions was performed by Nazem al-Ghazali, but there are others by Sabah Fakhri, Ilham al-Madfai, Kazem el-Saher and many others. Of course, the verses seem to be infinite.

I've always tried to understand the song, which eventually led me to discussion forums discussing the lyrics and meaning. That's when I discovered the open secret that the lyrics are not actually فوق النخل, or "above the palm trees," but rather فوق إلنا خل, ie "I've got a friend above/up there" however you want to translate it. According to a discussion among posters in this forum here, the original composers had intended the song to be فوق النا خل (Fog ilna khell). The story behind the song is that there is a poor young man in love with a girl that belongs to a rich family, after seeing her on their big house's balcony and exchanging glances. The song became "Foq al-Nakhel (فوق النخل)" because even though it makes the meaning quite strange, the audiences liked it better, according Sabah Fakhri and others. This explains the lyrics:

I've got a friend above
I don't know if that's the shine of your cheek or a shine above (ie the moon)
I swear I don't even want her
It's ruining me/It's causing me a problem

فوق إلنا خل فوق يابا فوق النا خل فوق
مدري لامع خدك يابا مدري لامع فوق
ولله ما ريده باليني بلوة

That is pretty much the standard chorus and after that the versions diverge greatly. I'll try to add as many versions as I can here, hopefully with the help of the readers, since lyrics are surprisingly scarce.

First and foremost is the Nazem al-Ghazali (ناظم الغزالي) version:

ناظم الغزالي - فوق النخل (فوق إلنا خل)

I have no hope for my soul, you're still my beloved
Everyone gets to be with you and my destiny is to be abandoned by you
I swear she's torturing me and she has no interest in me

مالي امل بالروح يبا بعدك حبيبي بعدك حبيبي
وصلك صفى للناس يبا هجرك نصيبي
والله معذبني وماعنده امروه

Here's the version by Sabah Fakhri (صباح فخري), the legendary Syrian singer hailing from Aleppo. I haven't included the lyrics for "albulbul nagha", which he usually performs alongside "foug al nakhel".



It contains this additional verse:

Oh river, go say hi to them for me
The separation is hard for me
I miss them

بالله يا مجرى الماي يابا سلم عليهم
صعبان الفرقه علي يابا اشتقنا إليهم

Here is the Kazem el-Saher version I found on youtube.com. I'd like to point out that Kazem days no say "yaba" rather he uses "3ayni" which means about the same thing: nothing.



Here is an Ilham al-Madfai (إلهام المدفعي) version. Note the excessive palm trees in the video.



Here's some new verses, I'll do my best:

Your cheek shined, my love, and lit up the country
I can't make my soul patient or bear this separation
I swear she's torturing me with her beautiful eyes

All the faces pass, and my eyes are only on yours
May the lord give you my love
I swear she's torturing me and she has no interest

خدك لمع ياهواي وأضوى على البلاد
مقدر أصبر الروح واتحمل البعاد
والله معذبني بعيونه الحلوة

كل البلام تفوت يابه عيني على بلمك
ومن الهوى والروح ربي يسلمك
والله معذبني وما عنده مروة

There's more versions available, but I don't really have lyrics for them.

Here is a stupid version by Dania (دانيا)



Here is George Wassouf (جورج وسوف)



Here is Palestinian band Zaman (زمان) with a flamenco version

Mohammad Mounir - O, Strange Country

 Mohammad Mounir - O, Strange Country!

O, strange country!
An enemy, and not a lover

Your eyes are open at night

And your stars are distant

I don't know the people,

Or the buildings of this land

And I don't own an inch of their foundations,

Nor a single brick in their walls,

And my path is strange

A world comes and goes.

Who am I, and what is my place?

And what is the end of the story?

And what is it that has cast me away?

O strange path of mine!

Is it a world or a maze?

A circle that we spin around,

Morning and evening,

Ah! Around and around!

O, strange path of mine!

محمد مونير - إيه يا بلاد يا غريبة

إيه يا بلاد يا غريبة

عدوة ولا حبيبة

في الليل تصحى عيونك

ونجومك مش قريبة

بلاد معرفش ناسها

ولا عارفاني ببانها

وماليش شبر في أساسها

ولا طوبة في حيطانها

وخطاويا غريبة

عالم رايحة وجاية

وأنا مين وفين مكاني

وإيه آخر الحكاية

وإيه اللي رماني

يا خطاويا الغريبة

دنيا ولا متاهة

دايرة وبندور وراها

في صبحها ومساها

آهة وراها آهة

يا خطاويا الغريبة

كلمات: سيد حجاب

أداء: محمد منير

Lyrics from:
http://ensana.wordpress.com/2006/11/29/ايه-يا-بلاد-يا-غريبة

Youssra el-Hawari - The Wallsيسرا الهواري - السورEssour

In order to prevent protests, SCAF, the military government ruling over Egypt following Mubarak's ousting, erected large walls in the city of Cairo. These walls have become a site of resistance in the form of graffiti and the like, and in this song, an even simpler expression of discontent.



Youssra el-Hawari - The Wall

In front of the wall
In front of the ones who built it
In front of the wall
In front of the ones who erected it
And in front of the one who guards it as well
A poor man stopped to pee
On the wall and those who built it, erected it, and guard it
On the wall and the ones who built it, the man peed

يسرا الهواري - السور

قدام السور قدام اللي بانيه
قدام السور قدام اللي معلّيه
قدام السور قدام اللي بانيه
قدام السور قدام اللي معلّيه
وكمان قدام اللي واقف يحميه
وكمان قدام اللي واقف يحميه
وقف راجل غلبان وعمل.. پيپي
وقف راجل غلبان وعمل.. پيپي
عالسور واللي بانيه واللي معليه واللي بيحميه
عالسور واللي بانيه الراجل عمل پیپی

وكمان قدام اللي واقف يحميه
وكمان قدام اللي واقف يحميه
وقف راجل غلبان وعمل پيپي
وقف راجل غلبان وعمل پيپي
عالسور واللي بانيه واللي معليه واللي بيحميه
عالسور واللي بانيه واللي معليه واللي بيحميه
عالسور واللي بانيه واللي معليه واللي بيحميه
عالسور واللي بانيه الراجل عمل پیپی

Souad Massi - Storytellerسعاد ماسي - راويRaoui

Updated media and translation

Souad Massi - Storyteller Oh storyteller tell us a story Make it a tale Tell me about the people of old Tell me about 1001 Nights And about Lunja the daughter of the Ghoul And about the son of the Sultan

I'm about to tell a story (I'm just told that this phrase--hajeetak majeetak--is what is said before you tell a story, I have no idea what it could mean)
Take us far from this world
I'm about to tell a story
Everyone of us has a story in his heart

Narrate and forget we're adults
In your mind we're young
Tell us about heaven and hell
About the bird that never flew in his life
Help us understand the meaning of the world

Oh storyteller, tell it just as they told you
Don't add anything, don't leave anything out
We could see into your mind
Narrate to make us forget this time
Leave us in the world of once upon a time

سعاد ماسي - راوي

يا راوي حكي حكاية

مادابك تكون رواية
حكي لي على ناس الزمان
حكي لي على ألف ليلة وليلة
وعلى لنجة بنت الغولة
وعلى ولد السلطان
حانجيتك مانجيتك
دنا بعيد من هادي دنيا
حاجيتك ماجيتك
كل واحد منا في قلبه حكاية

حكي وانسى بلي احنا كبار
في بالك رانا صغار
حكي لنا على الجنة حكي لنا على النار
على طير عمره ما طار
فهمنا معانى الدنيا

يا راوي حكي كما حكوا لك
ما تزيد ما نقص من عندك
كاين نشفوا على بالك
حكي لنسينا في هاد زمان
خلينا في كان يا ما كان

City Band – I Am Hereسيتي باند - أنا موجودAna Mawgood

This song and video have been produced in solidarity with the Egyptian youth that have died and sacrificed in the continuing revolution.

The title phrase of the song "ana mawgood" (أنا موجود) means "I am present," "I am here," or "I exist." I've translated it here in different ways depending on the context, and I've also translated it as "here I am" in some spots to give it a better sound in English. Let me know if you have any comments about the word choice.



City Band – I Am Here

I exist, but my title keeps changing
My name is youth, and I am young
I am willing to live a short life
And I am not afraid to die
Here I am

I exist, and I don’t have a card or ID
Put all your flaws on me
Throw me on the ground and stomp all over me
Keep me from making any sound
But I am here

Say that I’m spreading fitna (discord) and I am always undermining the stability
Say that I’m a kafir (infidel) and a traitor and that I’m going to hell
You are free to say what you will
I won’t object to any kind of dialogue
Yes, I’m a killer and my weapon is some stones
I am here

Here I am
Do what you want to me
And when I die, nobody ask why they killed me
And I beg you do not cry
Whoever wants to laugh can laugh, it’s not important
Nobody call out “we will not forget you”
No forget me, but don’t forget
The one who killed me is still out there

And I am gone

سيتي باند - أنا موجود

أنا موجود لكن عنوان بيتغير

أنا اسمي شباب سنه صغير

ومش رافض أعيش عمر قصير

ومش خايف أموت

أنا موجود

انا موجود لا معايا بطاقه ولا هويه

داروا عيوبكم كلها فيا

شيلوا وحطوا ودوسوا عليا

امنعوا يطلع منى الصوت

أنا موجود

وقولوا عليا بعمل فتنة وبهدم دائماً الاستقرار

وقولوا عليا كافر خاين ومكاني هيكون النار

وقولوا كلامكم بحرية أنا مش هامنع أي حوار

ايوه انا قاتل وسلاحي شوية طوب

أنا موجود

أنا موجود اعملوا فيا اللي تحبوه

ولما هاموت ما حدش يسأل ليه قتلوه

وأرجوكم ما تبكوش

اللي عايز يضحك يضحك ما يهموش

وما حدش يهتف لا ننساك لا انسوني بس ما تنسوش

اللي قتلني لسه موجود

وأنا مش موجود