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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

History of Music in Lebanon Podcas

From Ottoman History Podcast

Lebanon is a country of just a few million, but its musical output has historically rivaled its much larger neighbors in the Arab world. This episode of the Ottoman History Podcast provides an overview of the the history of music in modern Lebanon as well as an overview of the history of modern Lebanon through music. We discuss topics such as nationalism, war, migration, and gender, all while listening to some of the most memorable and beloved songs and artists that the country has produced.

Download the podcast

Visit us on iTunes

Artists include:

Nasri Shamseddine, Wadih El Safi, Sabah, Fairuz, Mansour and Assi Rahbani, Zaki Nassif, Melhem Barakat, Samira Tawfik, Farid al-Atrache, Sami Clark, The Bandaly Family
Marcel Khalife, Ahmad Kaabour, Ziad Rahbani, Joseph Saqr, Julia Boutros, Makhoul Kassouf, Sami Hawat, Azar Habib, Majida El Roumi
Najwa Karam, Ragheb Alama, Nawal El Zoghbi, Wael Kfoury, Nancy Ajram, Elissa
Soapkills, Mashrou' Leila, Charbel Rouhana, Ziad Sakhab

Select Bibliography:

Stone, Christopher Reed. Popular Culture and Nationalism in Lebanon: The Fairouz and Rahbani Nation. London: Routledge, 2008.
ʻAssāf, Aḥmad. Fayrūz wa-dawlat al-Raḥābinah. Dimashq: Dār al-Rāʼī lil-Dirāsāt wa-al-Tarjamah wa-al-Nashr, 2008.
Reynolds, Dwight Fletcher. Arab Folklore: A Handbook. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Press, 2007.
O'Ballance, Edgar. Civil War in Lebanon, 1975-92. New York, N.Y.: St. Martin's Press, 1998.
Khater, Akram Fouad. Inventing Home Emigration, Gender, and the Middle Class in Lebanon, 1870-1920. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2001.

Myriam Faris - La La Yaba La Laميريام فارس - لا لا يابا لاLa La Yaba La La

This is a song from a musical film starring Myriam Faris and Syrian heartthrob Basel Khayat. I feel sorry for everyone connected this film in any way.

The phrase "la la yaba la la" does not appear to have any meaning in the song, it merely serves to complete the poetic rhyming effect with the name Hala.



Myriam Faris - La La Yaba La La

La la yaba la la
My name is Hala
I've come to the city to sell these masks
And the masks sold themselves

Where is everybody?
Come out and buy a mask from me
Where are the joy, and excitement, and voices singing?

Night after night, and this pretty young girl is still all alone

If I sell a lot today, I'll buy a few gifts
A little dress for my sister and a toy for my brother

ميريام فارس - لا لا يابا لا

لالا يابا لالا
انا اسمي هاله
جايه عالمدينه بيع وجوه الزينه
والزينه باعت حالها

وين انتوا يا هالناس
طلوا اشتروا مني
وين الفرح والحراس والصوت اللي بيغني

بعد الليل ورجع الليل وبعدها الحلوي لحالها

ازا بعت اليوم كتير
باخد كام هديه لاختي فستان صغير وشي لعبه لخيه

Mehrnoosh - Your Eyes are So Beautifulمهرنوش - تو كه چشمات خیلی قشنگهCheshmat Kheili Qashange

Persian song, by request



Mehrnoush - Your Eyes are So Beautiful

Your eyes are so beautiful
Their color is so strange
The way that you look at me is warm and pure

Did you know that your eyes look like a painting that could be drawn in childhood (meaning he's innocent)
Did you know that or not?
Did you know that or not?
Did you know that in your eyes you can see all the colors of the rainbow
Did you know that or not?
Did you know that or not?
You knew that and you didn't stay
And you really broke my heart/made me feel bad (literally burned my heart/make me feel sorry/regretful, different than دلم را شكستی / you broke my heart)
You took your eyes away from me and brought me to tears
Did you know that you're my eyes (my life) and you're all my hope
Did you know that you are always in every moment (of my life, meaning she's always thinking of him)

Did you know that I gave up all my desires to focus on your beautiful eyes
Did you know that or not?
Did you know that or not?
Did you know that I burned my youth for these strange eyes of yours
You knew that and you didn't stay
And you really broke my heart
You took your eyes away from me and brought me to tears
Did you know that you're my eyes (my life) and you're all my hope
Did you know that you are always in every moment (of my life, meaning she's always thinking of him)

مهرنوش - تو كه چشمات خیلی قشنگه

تو که چشمات خیلی قشنگه
رنگ چشمات خیلی عجیبه
تو که این همه نگاهت واسه چشمام گرم و نجیبه

میدونستی که چشات شکل یه نقاشیه که تو بچگی میشه کشید
میدونستی یا نه
میدونستی یا نه
میدونستی که توی چشمای تو رنگین کمون میشه دید
میدونستی یا نه
میدونستی یا نه
میدونستی که نموندی
دلمو خیلی سوزوندی
چشاتو ازم گرفتی منو تا گریه رسوندی
میدونستی که چشامی همه ی آرزوهامی
میدونستی که همیشه تو تموم لحظه هامی
تو که چشمات خیلی قشنگه
رنگ چشمات خیلی عجیبه
تو که این همه نگاهت واسه چشمام گرمو نجیبه
تو که چشمات خیلی قشنگه
رنگ چشمات خیلی عجیبه
تو که این همه نگاهت واسه چشمام گرمو نجیبه
میدونستی همه ی آرزوهامو واسه ی چشم قشنگ تو پروندم رفتش
میدونستی یا نه
میدونستی یا نه
میدونستی که جوونیمو واسه چشم عجیب تو سوزوندم رفتش
میدونستی یا نه
میدونستی یا نه
میدونستی که نموندی
دلمو خیلی سوزوندی
چشات و ازم گرفتی منو تا گریه رسوندی
میدونستی که چشامی همه ی آرزوهامی
میدونستی که همیشه تو تموم لحظه هامی

Marcel Khalifa - Walking Tallمارسيل خليفة - منتصب القامة أمشيMuntasib al-Qamati Amshi

The words are from a poem by Samih al-Qasim سميح القاسم, an Arab Druze poet residing in Israel.

I have one comment on the phrase على كتفي نعشي / "I carry my corpse on my shoulders". This is a metaphor referring to the fact that one is proudly facing and embracing potential or imminent death or martyrdom for a cause.



Marcel Khalife - Walking Tall

I'm walking tall
I'm walking with my head held high

I carry an olive branch in my hand
And my corpse on my shoulders
As I walk and walk

My heart is a red moon
My heart is a garden
Full of boxthorn and basil (I don't know if the berries that grow on boxthorn in Palestine are considered poisonous, but I think the connotation here is that he has both sweet and bitter feelings in his heart)
My lips are a sky that rains fire sometimes and sometimes love

There's an olive branch in my hand
And my corpse is on my shoulders
As I walk and walk

مارسيل خليفة - منتصب القامة أمشي

منتصبَ القامةِ أمشي
مرفوع الهامة أمشي

في كفي قصفة زيتونٍ
وعلى كتفي نعشي
وأنا أمشي وأنا أمشي....

قلبي قمرٌ أحمر
قلبي بستان
فيه فيه العوسج
فيه الريحان
شفتاي سماءٌ تمطر
نارًا حينًا حبًا أحيان....

في كفي قصفة زيتونٍ
وعلى كتفي نعشي
وأنا أمشي وأنا أمشي

Mayada el-Hennawi - Never Againميادة الحناوي - توبةToba

Mayada el-Hennawi is a Syrian singer born in Aleppo, but in this song she is singing in the Egyptian dialect.

"Toba توبة" is an exclamation that expresses regret and the lack of desire to repeat an action used to swear off an undesirable behavior so as to say "I'll never do it again" or "I swear it's the last time." Of course, Mayada begins the song by saying "never again, never again," only to explain that she doesn't believe in "never again." A song with the same title and similar theme was popularized earlier by Abdel Halim Hafez.



Mayada al-Hennawy - Never Again

Never again, never again, never again, never again
So many people have said "I'll never love again," only to go back and write love poems and songs once more
I want to be in love this once
My life and my destiny are awaiting me

I want to sing for joy for once
I want to be happy tomorrow
At least I'll have lived
No matter how much I regret or feel sorrow

So what am I afraid of?
What am I afraid of?
I can hear my heart calling him
Why am I afraid of falling in love when it's my destiny (literally "written on my forehead")
I'll be with him, fall in love, adore him, and feel for him

Who has ever encountered love without drowning in it?
Who has ever been burned by love, swore it off and never came back to it? (meaning they always come back)
Who? Who?

ميادة الحناوي - توبة

وتوبه ...توبه توبه .... توبه توبه ...
ياما قالوا من الحب توبه
و رجعوا تانى قالوا فيه شعر و أغانى
بس اعيش الحب نوبه يا زماني و قسمتى مستنيانى

نفسى أغنى للفرح مرة
نفسى يجى هنايه بكره
اسمي عشت مهما ندمت ولا حزنت
اسمى عشت اسمي عشت

طيب خايفة ليه ؟
انا خايفة ليه ؟
سامعه قلبى يناديه
خايفه ليه من الهوى و الجبين مكتوب عليه
انى اقابله و ادوب فى حبه و اعشقه و احس بيه

وهو مين صادفه الهوى فى دنيته ما غرقش فيه
و لا مين جرحه الهوى و حلف يتوب ما رجعش ليه
مين ؟ مين ؟

Najat al-Saghira - I Love the Seaنجاة الصغيرة - انا بعشق البحرAna Bashak el Bahr

A love song performed by Egyptian singer Nagat al-Saghira (born 1936), who was very popular in the 1960's.



Najat al-Saghira - I Love the Sea

I love the sea, tender as you are
And at times, like you, crazy
Migrating, traveling.
At times, like you, confused
At times, like you, angry
At times full of silence.
I love the sea.

I love the sky
Because, like you, it's forgiving
Sown with stars and joy
A lover and a stranger.
And because, like you, it's distant
And sometimes, like you, near,
with eyes that sing.
I love the sky.

I love the road
Because on it is our meeting,
Our joy and our sorrow,
Our friends and our youth,
And on it our tears laughed
And our candles wept,
And a friend was lost.
I love the road.

I love the sea,
And I love the sky
And I love the road
Because they are life
And you, my love,
You are life itself.

نجاة الصغيرة - انا بعشق البحر

انا بعشق البحر انا بعشق البحر
زيك يا حبيبتى حنون
وسعات زيك مجنون
ومهاجر ومسافر
وسعات زيك حيران
وسعات زيك زعلان
وسعات مليان بالصمت
انا بعشق البحر

انا بعشق السما
علشان زيك مسامحة
مزروعة نجوم وفرحة
وحبيبة وغريبة
وعشان زيك بعيدة
وسعات زيك قريبة
بعيون متنغمة
انا بعشق السما

انا بعشق الطريق
لانة فية لقانة
وفرحنا وشقانا
واصحابنا وشبابنا
وفية ضحكت دمعنا
وفية بكيت شمعنا
وضاع فية الصديق
انا بعشق الطريق

انا بعشق البحر
وبعشق السما
وبعشق الطريق
لانهم حياة
وانتى يا حبيبتى
انتى كل الحياة

Fairuz - Come Back, Oh 1001 Nightsفيروز - ارجعي يا ألف ليلةIrja`i Ya Alfa Layla

In celebration of our first 1000 facebook likes, here's a song about 'alf layla' by Fairuz. It's from a musical about the 1001 Nights.

Notes: The 1001 Nights are called ألف ليلة وليلة in arabic (alf layla wa layla) or "alf layla" for short.




Fairouz - Come Back, Oh 1001 Nights

Come back, oh 1001 (literally 1000) nights, as a cloud of perfume
And may love water those thirsty for it with the dew of the dawn

My long-lasting desires have shortened my life
And your stories will be forever beautiful throughout the ages

فيروز - إرجعي يا ألف ليلة

إرجعي يا ألف ليلة غيمة العطر
فالهوى يروي غليله من ندى الفجر
إن أشواقي الطويلة أقصرت عمري
و حكاياكي خميلة في مدى الدهر

Om Kalthoum - Oh Night of Eidام كلثوم - يا ليلة العيدYa Leilat el Eid

The song "Ya Laylat al-`Eid" celebrates the end of the month of Ramadan and the beginning of the celebration (Eid means holiday/celebration) that follows. Laylat al-`Eid is the celebration that takes place after sunset on the last day of Ramadan, meaning the last day of fast is finished.



The last verse can be seen as separate from the song since it is a nationalist expression and not related really to the feelings surrounding Eid. It is specific to Egypt in this case, and since this song has spread throughout the Arab world, there are an alternate versions referring for example to the Tigris الدجلة to make the song unique to Iraq. Other verses can also appear in other versions.



The song centers on the concept/feeling of انس (ons), which can translate as "delight" or "togetherness" or "a friendly atmosphere." It is exactly the feeling that one gets when all the family and friends gather to celebrate a holiday or maybe a wedding. We don't have an exact word for this in English though certainly the feeling exists. Thus, the general sentiment of the song is one of togetherness and joy.

Oum Kalsoum - Oh Night of Eid



Oh (Night of) Eid, you've delighted us and renewed our hope



Oh Eid, your (crescent) moon has appeared before our eyes

It filled us with happiness and we sang

And we said that happiness/fortune will come to us

Upon your arrival, oh Night of Eid



You've brought all the close friends back together

And the cup has passed among the companions (here nudaman should be a plural of nadim "drinking companion" or "close friend")

And the birds are singing in the trees to greet the dawn

Oh Night of Eid



As my beloved's ship sails, my soul travels on the wind

Tell him, my dear (literally, my pretty), it's early

Sleep is forbidden (haram) on the Night of Eid



Oh Nile, your waters are sweet

You spread light throughout the fields

May you live long and prosper, oh Nile

And enjoy many Nights of Eid

ام كلثوم - يا ليلة العيد



يا ليلة العيد أنستينا

و جددت الأمل فينا

يا ليلة العيد

هلالك هل لعينينا

فرحنا له وغنينا

و قلنا السعد حا يجينا

على قدومك يا ليلة العيد



جمعتي الأنس ع الخلان

ودار الكأس ع الندمان

وغنى الطير على الأغصان

يحيي الفجر ليلة العيد



حبيبي مركبه تجرى

وروحي بالنسيم تسرى

قولوا له يا جميل بدري

حرام النوم في ليلة العيد



يا نيلنا ميتك سكر

و زرعك في الغيطان نور

تعيش يا نيل و نتهنا

و نحيي لك ليالي العيد

Majida al-Roumi - Love and Faithfulnessماجدة الرومي - الحب و الوفاءAl-Hob wal-Wafa'

A 2006 release with lyrics by Saudi poet Al Nasser and composition by Dr. Abdel Rab Idriss.


Majida el-Roumi - Love and Faithfulness

Go as you like,
And leave as you wish.
Don’t make any more promises.
Don’t wear yourself out for nothing.

You kept me in a palace,
You dressed me in silk,
You drowned my little wings in perfume
Oh, how I lost myself in the seas
Of your exciting world!
And you circled ‘round me
In your great prison

Oh, how I imagined for myself
Brightness in our nights
A flood of bliss,
For our happy dream.
And you built for me
A castle of misery

The bracelets are useless,
And the rose and the mirrors
And the velvet of the curtains
Dancing with the corners

And your holy silence
Stealing away my youth
And your unspeaking heart
Dwelling there without me.

Take your beautiful palace,
And the glory and the splendor,
And the fine marble,
And the desolation of the evenings.
I’m satisfied with little
Just love and faithfulness.

ماجدة الرومي - الحب و الوفاء

إِذهبْ كما تُريد وامضِ كما تشاء
إِذهبْ كما تُريد وامضِ كما تشاء
لا تُكثِر الوعيدْ لا تُتعِب الجفاء
لا تُتعِب الجفاء
إِذهبْ إِذهبْ إِذهبْ كما تريد
وامضِ امض إِمضِ كما تشاء
إِمضِ كما تشاء
أَسْكَنْتَني القُصورْ أَلبَسْتَني الحَريرْ
أغْرَقْتَ بالعطورْ جَناحِيَ الصَّغيرْ
كَمْ تُهْتُ في بحورْ عالمِكَ المثيرْ
وكُنْتَ بي تَدورْ في سجنكَ الكَبيرْ
كَمْ تُهْتُ في بحورْ عالمِكَ المثيرْ
وكُنْتَ بي تَدورْ في سجنكَ الكَبيرْ
كَمْ خِلْتُني أَزيدْ لِلَيلِنا الضِّياءْ
لحُلمِنا السَّعيدْ فَيضاً من الهناءْ
وَكُنتَ لي تَشيدْ كُنتَ لي تَشيدْ
صَرحاً مِنَ الشَّقاءْ
إِذهبْ إذهب إِذهبْ كما تريد
وامضِ امض إِمضِ كما تشاء
إِمضِ كما تشاء
ما نَفْعُها الأساورْ والوردُ والمرَايا
ومَخملُ السَّتائرْ يُراقصُ الزَّوايا
ما نَفْعُها الأساورْ والوردُ والمرَايا
ومَخملُ السَّتائرْ يُراقصُ الزَّوايا
وصَمتُكَ المُناورْ يَسلُبُني صِبايَ
وصَمتُكَ المُناورْ يَسلُبُني صِبايَ
والقَلْبُ لا يُحاورْ يَسكُنُهُ سِوايَ
ما نَفْعُها الأساورْ والوردُ والمرَايا
ومَخملُ السَّتائرْ يُراقصُ الزَّوايا
وصَمتُكَ المُناورْ يَسلُبُني صِبايَ
والقَلْبُ لا يُحاورْ يَسكُنُهُ سِوايَ
خُذْ قَصْرَكَ الجَميلْ والجاهَ والبهاءْ
آه آه آه
والمرْمَرَ الأصيلْ ووَحْشَةَ المساءْ
خُذْ قَصْرَكَ الجَميلْ والجاهَ والبهاءْ
والمرْمَرَ الأصيلْ ووَحْشَةَ المساءْ
قَنِعْتُ بالقَليل آه قَنِعْتُ بالقَليل
بالحبّ والوفاءْ الوفاء الوفاء
الحبّ والوفاءْ آه آه
الحبّ والوفاءْ

Lyrics transcription from La7oon.com

Sana Mousa - Your Eyesسناء موسى - عيونكOyounik

Sana Mousa is a Palestinian singer who sings mainly folk songs.



Sana Musa - Your Eyes

My bird, you'd say (maybe "you'd swear" in English to convey the meaning of extreme impeccability) that her eyes are like cups
Cups full of coffee

Your beautiful, dark eyes
Oh your eyes

My bird, you'd say that her teeth were coral (whitish coral I'm assuming)
Coral mixed with pearl

Your beautiful, dark eyes
Oh your eyes

سناء موسى - عيونك

وعيونها يا طير وتقول فنجان
فنجانة بالقهوه ممتليه
يا عيونك سود وحلوه
يا عيونك

وسنونها يا طير وتقول مرجان
مرجانة على اللولو مختليه
يا عيونك سود وحلوه
يا عيونك

Soapkills - Corn on the Cobالصابون يقتل - عرانيسAranees

Soapkills (Soap Kills) is a band from Lebanon. They are heavily influenced by electronic and trip-hop styles. This song is made up of different sounds one encounters in Beirut. The words don't make so much sense except when explained in that context (the title is عرانيس after all), so I'll explain line by line for this one as best as I can, though I should say there's not total agreement on the correct lyrics for this song.

عرانيس
عرانيس
بويا ؟؟؟؟تيريله

These are examples of "sale calls" one might here along the Corniche in Beirut. "Aranis (عرانيس)" are corn cobs, and they are sold in baked or boiled form. "Boya (بويا)" is shoe polish, and she is imitating the call of a shoeshiner, though I must say I can't figure out what she says immediately after "boyaaaa."

تعا نركب اوتوبيس
دورة, متحف, كرنيش

"Let's get on a bus from Dawra/Dora to Museum-Corniche." Dora is a neighborhood in the suburbs north of Beirut and a huge hub for buses. The Museum is a landmark in the center, the corniche being the long stretch along the water. So she's describing getting on a bus and going downtown.

قرب عالطيب قرب
لمسات شفافة جرب

"Come to this nice smell," maybe the call of somebody selling purfume. If anyone understands what the other line here refers to please tell me. She says something like "try transparent/clear/innocent touches" I don't think I've understood correctly.

عالسكين يا بطيخ
ترمس, ترمس عرانيس

"On the knife, watermelon," the call of a guy selling watermelon. "Termos, termos, aranis." Termos is a kind of bean that you can buy as a snack, called Lupin in English. Aranis again is corn on the cob.

كله نظيف, كله نحيف
كله مهفهف, كله لطيف

"It's all clean, it's all slick, it's all cool, it's all fine." You can translate these words for describing something that's "cool" in a number of ways I guess.

اه يا لطيف, تطلطف بالصبايا, يا لطيف, يا لطيف

"ya latif (يا لطيف)" basically means "daaamn." I guess this might be something like "daaamn, look at all the girls."

هرج ومرج, سوق الفرنج

"harj wa marj (هرج ومرج)" is like "hustle and bustle." "Souq el-frenj" is a market

تاكسيات بتكرج كرج

"taxis parking"

كله نظيف, كله خلنج

"it's all clean, it's all brand new"

والاسواق زي الشطرنج

"and the markets are like chess"

نظيفة ظريفة زي الثلج

"clean and cool as ice"

فيها الشبان بتتمايل

"there's guys leaning/swaying," maybe this refers to walking with swagger. normally I would think "tamayul (تمايل)" describes the way girls walk but from the context it could be referring to the way guys walk to get attention, since the following line is:

والبنات بتغنج غنج

"and the girls are flirting/making eyes." "ghanj (غنج)" refers to the actions associated with being flirtatious.

Mashrou' Leila - Dressesمشروع ليلى - فساتينFasateen

Mashrou' Leila is a Lebanese band. This song is about a guy and a girl who agree to be together just for love's sake, without any of the traditional trappings of marriage and domesticity, but in the end she changes her mind and leaves him.



Mashrou' Leila - Dresses

Do you remember when you told me that you'd love me (the way I am) without money or a house?
Do you remember that you used to love me even though I'm not from your religion?
Do you remember how it used to be like that?
Do you remember when your mom caught me sleeping in your bed, and she told me to forget you
And we agreed to continue this way without playing any roles or showing off, without any neckties or morning visits (from the ladies) (here we have some cultural things طنطنات is like putting on airs and صبحيات is when the ladies come over to visit and gossip in the morning over coffee. in short, they agree not to do any of the traditional stuff typical of marriage in middle class Lebanese society)

Without any millions
Without any dresses (I think wedding dresses here, i.e. not traditional)

You took my hand and promised me some revolution
How could you forget me?
You brushed my hair and sent me off to work
However you brushed, you brushed me the same

You took my hand and promised me some revolution
How could you forget me?

Do you remember when you told me that you intended to leave me with no money and no house

مشروع ليلى - فساتين

تتذكري لما قلتيلي
انك رح تتزوجيني
بلا فلوس وبلا بيت

تتذكري كنتي تحبيني
مع اني مش داخل دينك
تتذكري كيف كنا هيك

تتذكري لما امك
شافتني نايم بتختك
وقالتلي انسى عنك

واتفقنا نضلنا هيك
بلا ادوار وبلا طنطنات
بلا كرافات وصبحيات

بلا ملايين
بلا فساتين

مسكتيلي ايدي ووعديتيني بشي ثورة
كيف نسيتي كيف نسيتيني
ومشطتينيلي شعري وبعتيني عالدوام
كيف بتمشطي مشطيني

مسكتيلي ايدي ووعديتيني بشي ثورة
كيف نسيتي كيف نسيتيني

تتذكري لما قلتيلي
انك ناوية تتركيني
بلا فلوس وبلا بيت

Samira Tawfiq - Stop Coming to Our Neighborhoodسميرة توفيق - بسك تيجي حارتناBassek Tiji Haretna

Samira Tawfiq (also Tawfik, Toufic, Toufiq etc) is a Lebanese singer who became very popular in 70s and 80s (and was a minor obsession, for example, in Mohamed al-Maghout's "I Will Betray My Country سأخون وطني"). Her style is heavily influenced by the folk music and dialects of rural Lebanese society much like Najwa Karam in the following generation.



Samira Tawfiq - Stop Coming to Our Neighborhood

Stop coming to our neighborhood (my dear)
And looking all around us (oh God) (here titlaffat تتلفت describes the action of wandering around the neighborhood looking at everybody kind of turning the head when something interesting, like girls for example, pass by)
Are your eyes on our neighbor? (my dear)
Or are your eyes on us/me? (oh God)

What brought you to our neighborhood anyway (my dear)
You're hiding in the alleys (my God)
You won't find any brides here (my dear)
Waya 3awayd al-khizrani (my God) (عويد الخيزراني is apparently a beating stick, so she's saying that he won't find any girls that like you here, just a stick to beat you back)

Between Beirut and Damascus/Sayda/Hamra etc (the folk song allows for variations to mention different locations that the listeners might be familiar with or be from, this implies that the audience/speaker in the song is in a village somewhere along the road between two points)
A red car passed by (in other verses she says a white car or a green car for variation)
That was your car my dear
I knew it from the license plate

سميرة توفيق - بسك تيجي حارتنا

بسك تجي حارتنا (يا عيوني)
وتتلفت حوالينا (الله الله)
عينك على جارتنا (يا عيوني)
ولا عينك علينا (الله الله)

وايش جابك على حارتنا
وتتخبى بالقراني
وعرايس ماكو عندنا
ويا عويد الخيزراني

بين بيروت وبين الشام
مرقت سيارة حمرا
وهاي سيارتك حبيبي
وانا عرفتها من النمرة