The phrase "Si El Sayed" which I have translated as "my master" here is a cultural reference that goes back to the main character of Naguib Mahfouz's "Cairo Trilogy" and the first installment of this trilogy "Palace Walk (بين القصرين)". The main character of this novel is nicknamed "Si El Sayed," which means something like Mr. Master, which stressed his dominant and male chauvinist nature that Mahfouz displays as a typical old Egyptian, and by extension, Arabic backward male behavior. Si El Sayed is cruel to his wife and family in the home where he acts as a king while maintaining a different public image. Blogger member c_sayed sums it up succinctly in explaining the name of his blog saying that Si El Sayed is an Arab man that act's like a lion towards his family and a lamb towards his friends. If you know anything about how male lions act, then you understand the idea of Si El Sayed.
As a result, Si El Sayed has become synonymous with something that might be described as "Oriental misogyny." This model of the Arab man as a domineering, selfish creature that does not respect women has been an obsession of many Arab novelists and thinkers who, in criticizing both individuals and the patriarchal framework within which they live, accuse their own culture of supporting this form of backward male chauvinism. Thus, when Nancy says "Oh Si El Sayed," she is saying that her man is a cruel and controlling tyrant.
However, it seems to me that Nancy is reinforcing her lover's Si El Sayed mentality in her infatuation and proving that playing hard to get really does work, or that girls like assholes, or however you want to phrase it.
| Nancy Ajram - Yes Master Yes master Why are you controlling me, my master? And why are you resisting me, my master? |  |
Why is your heart so stubborn?
And why are you tiring me with you love?
This love is the master and we are the property of its hands
You must wanna drive me crazy
Or you think love is like this
You're tiring me out
When is my heart gonna settle for this?
Day and night, I'm all confused about your love
Hey Mr. Stubborn-heart, you're putting me through hell
You have nothing but my love
You are the one who will come to me one day saying
"My heart melted and in your absence I've lived a year in a day"
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