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

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 ؟

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

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

DAM - Stranger in My Countryدام - غريب في بلاديGhareeb Fi Blady

The intro is a sample of Tawfiq Ziad's poem "Unadikum (I'm calling you)," which has been performed by Ahmed Qabour here.

DAM - Stranger in My Country Tawfiq Ziad: I'm calling you I shake your hand I kiss the ground beneath your feet and tell you "I will redeem you" And I give you the light of my eyes And the warmth of my heart And the tragedy which I live Is that my fate is just like yours

Mohamed:

All the boats pass us by leaving a sadness to drown our hearts
So we becomes guests of the darkness in our homes
And the verse is flipped again
We've become guests who are unwelcome
Strangers in our own land, separated from our country
Who cares about our worries?
A slow death runs in our blood
A democratic Zionist regime is ruling us
Democratic to those who are Zionist
And Zionist to those who are Arab
In other words, what is forbidden for him is forbidden for me
And what's allowed for him is forbidden for me
And what's allowed for me is undesirable for me
Because it denies my existence
It erased and continues to erase my colors
History has forgotten my ancestors and brainwashes my children
That wake up to a present that doesn't represent them
The blue citizenship (Israeli citizenship) we piss out and drink of its water
You tell us we are part of the people and the people make us feel like foreigners
I am a stranger in my country

Amal Basharat:

Where can I go, strangers have occupied my home?
My soul told me, "the embrace of your family will protect you my dear"
Where can I go?
My brothers and sisters didn't care about my situation
My soul told me, "walk with your head held high!"

Suheil:

We see faces that don't want us around
Glances that fear us, whispers that curse us
Gestures driving us away and oppressing us
They're forgetting that our ancestors built these buildings
And our brothers are still building their foundations
And their foundation is the Arabs of the Mosques and the Churches
In the end people from another country screaming "transfer" at me
We're complaining to laws that digest our rights
Suppress our voices
Inside the green line (ie the division between Israel and the Occupied territories) destroying our homes
Unemployment encircles us
We grow up in poverty and poverty raises our minds
But our hearts live and preserve our roots
Those who call us traitors
No no no no
I have never been worthless in my country
The tragedies of my people are what have written my fate
The world until this point has treated us like Israelis
And Israel is always going to treat us like Palestinians
I'm a stranger in my country

Tamer:

Thirteen martyrs, destiny is near
With rocks in hand, thirteen martyrs
The greatness of our country, the pillar of our country
Black October proved that it's in our blood
If everyone is born under occupation
How can they not throw back at the past? (reference to stone throwing)
Rather, throw himself like a sword
Battling the weapons that consider our blood water
Killing the peaceful voice with live ammunition
As a tear of pain cries "I am running down an Arab cheek"
Muhammad and Jesus Christ, we're a mountain that the wind cannot shake
We keep representing nationalism
Symbols of freedom
The flame of our grandfathers lights the soul of the youth
I am a stranger in my country
But I thank the lord that I hold onto my heritage
They called me a traitor
An Arab inside the 48 boundaries (Arabs who stayed in Israel after most of the Arabs were driven out in 1948 to establish an Arab state are view by other Palestinians and Arabs as traitors sometimes)
While you got your hand on your head
We are the roots of Palestine
Forever and always

دام - غريب في بلادي

: توفيق زياد
اناديكم . اشد على اياديكم
وابوس الرض تحت نعالكم
واقول افديكم. واهديكم ضيا عيني
ودفء القلب اعطيكم . فمأساتي اللتي احياها
نصيبي من ماسيكم

: محمود

كل السفن تفوتنا
تاركة الحزن يغرق
قلوبنا راضية نكون ضيوف الظلم ببيوتنا
والاية انقلبت كمان مرة
صرنا ضيوف اللي غير مرغوب فينا
مكتوب لينا نضلنا غراب على ارضنا
بعاد من وطنا
مين يهمه همنا
موت بطيء يجري بدمنا
حاكمنا حكم صهيوني ديموقراطي
ديموقراطي للنفس الصهيونية
وصهيوني للنفس العربية
يعني الممنوع اله ممنوع الي
المسموح اله ممنوع الي
والمسموح الي مكروه الي
لأنه ينكر حياتي
محى وما زال يمحي الواني
تاريخ ناسي جدادي
يغسل دماغ ولدي
اللي توعى على حاضر ما يمثلها
الجنسية الزرقة نبلها ونشرب ميتها
تقلنا انو احنا من الشعب والشعب يحسسنا انه احنا غربى
انا غريب في بلدي

: امل بشارات

لوين اروح
الغربة احتلت داري
قالتلي الروح
حضن اهلك يحمي الغالي
لوين اروح
اخواتي ما اهتموا بحالي
قالتلي الروح
منتصب القامة امشي

: سهيل

احنا شايفين وجوه مش رايدانا
نظرات قرفانانا
همسات سابانا
اشارات طردانا قاهرانا
ناسية انه اجدادنا اسسو المباني
واخوانا ما زالو يعمرو اساسها
واساسها عرب المسجد والدير
اخرها الناس من بلد غير
تصرخلي ترانسفير
احنا شاكيين لقوانين هاضمة حقوقنا
كاتمة صوتنا
داخل الخط الأخضر هادمة بيوتنا
البطالة تحومنا
نربى بفقر وفقر يربي عقولنا
لكن تحيي قلوبنا اللي تحيي جذورنا
اللي ينادونا خونا
لا لا لا لا
انا ما هنت في وطني
مآسي شعبي كتبتلي قدري
انه العالم لليوم بعاملنا اسرائيليين
واسرائيل لبكرة تعاملنا فلسطينيين
غريب في بلدي

: تامر

ثلاثة عشر شهيد والقدر قريب
لما الحجر باليد 13 شهيد
علء وطنا. عماد وطنا
اكتوبر السود اثبت انه
القياد بدمنا
اذا الكل فيهم وليد تحت الحتلل
كيف مش رامي الماضي
بل رامي حاله كالسيف الماضي
يعارك سلح الحاسب دمنا مي
يقتل الصوت المصلح برصاصه الحي
ودمعة الم تصيح انا اسيل عخد عربي
محمد والمسيح يا جبل ما يهزنا ريح
نضل رامز القومية
وسام الحرية
شعلة اجدادنا منورة الروح الشبابية
انا غريب في بلدي
لكن احمد ربي اني متمسك بتراثي
نادوني خاين
عربي الداخل ال 48
وايدك عراسك احنا جذور فلسطين
لطول العمر

Amel Mathlouthi - My Word is Freeأمال مثلوثي - كلمتي حرةKelmti Horra

The lyrics here are for a more complete version than that found in this performance. This song predates the recent events in Tunisia and Egypt but has gained particular resonance in light of what has transpired.



Emel Mathluthi - My Word is Free

I am those who are free and never fear
I am the secrets that will never die
I am the voice of those who would not give in
I am the meaning amid the chaos

I am the right of the oppressed
That is sold by these dogs (people who are dogs)
Who rob the people of their daily bread
And slam the door in the face of ideas

I am those who are free and never fear
I am the secrets that will never die
I am the voice those who would not give in
I am free and my word is free
I am free and my word is free
Don't forget the price of bread
And don't forget the cause of our misery
And don't forget who betrayed us in our time of need

I am those who are free and never fear
I am the secrets that will never die
I am the voice those who would not give in
I am the secret of the red rose
Whose color the years loved
Whose scent the rivers buried
And who sprouted as fire
Calling those who are free

I am a star shining in the darkness
I am a thorn in the throat of the oppressor
I am a wind touched by fire
I am the soul of those who are not forgotten
I am the voice of those who have not died

Let's make clay out of steel
And build with it a new love
That becomes birds
That becomes a country/home
That becomes wind and rain

I am all the free people of the world put together
I am like a bullet
I am all the free people of the world put together
I am like a bullet

أمال مثلوثي - كلمتي حرة

انا احرار ما يخافوش
انا اسرار ما يموتوش
انا صوت إل ما رضخوش
انا في وسط الفوضى معنى
انا حق المظلومين
يبيعو فيه ال ناس كلاب
الي تنهب في قمح الدار
و تسكر في البيبان
قدام وهج الأفكار

انا احرار ما يخافوش
انا اسرار ما يموتوش
انا صوت إل ما رضخوش
انا حر و كلمتي حرة
انا حر و كلمتي حرة
ما تنساش حق الخبزة
و ما تنساش زارع الغصة
و ما تنساش خاين الويل ......

انا احرار ما يخافوش
انا اسرار ما يموتوش
انا صوت إل ما رضخوش
انا سر الوردة الحمراء
الي عشقو حمرتها سنين
الي دفنو ريحتها نهار
و خرجت بلحافها النار
تنادي عالأحرار

انا وسط الظلمة نجمة
انا في حلق الظالم شوكة
انا ريح لسعتها النار
انا روح إل ما نسيوش
انا صوت إل ما ماتوش
نصنع مالحديد صلصال
و نبني بيه عشقة جديدة
تولي أطيار
و تولي ديار
و تولي نسمة و امطار

انا احرار الدنيا واحد
انا واحد من كرتوش
انا احرار الدنيا واحد
انا واحد من كرتوش

Fairuz - Christmas Eve (Jingle Bells)فيروز - ليلة عيدLaylat Eid

This is a Christmas song from Lebanon by Fairuz sung to the tune of jingle bells. A lot of the imagery does not translate well (much like the imagery in the song jingle bells when you think about it) but I've tried to render the meaning here in English as best I can, though I think if you really want to get the sense the song is conveying you could probably just listen to jingle bells in English.



Fairouz - Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve, Christmas Eve, tonight is Christmas Eve
Decorations and people gathered
The sound of bells ringing in the distance

Friends finding presents behind the door
There's a tree in house with the children running around it
The tree is all dressed up for Christmas (literally, it's become like a holiday or part of the holiday) and there is bracelet on (my) hand (because it is a holiday, this line doesn't translate easily, but it is just giving some Christmas imagery)
And I'm hanging songs and bunches of grapes on the tree

Oh you nativities shining like sapphires
How did you bring such snow, ribbons and moons to our home?
Who's that coming from afar, giving out presents
Knocking on the door and leaving, spreading joy to all? (i.e. it's Father Christmas/St. Nick/Santa Claus etc.)

فيروز - ليلة عيد

ليلة عيد ليلة عيد الليلي ليلة عيد
زينة وناس صوت اجراس عم بترن بعيد
ليلة عيد ليلة عيد الليلي ليلة عيد
صوت اولاد تياب جداد وبكره بحُب جديد

عم يتلاقوا الاصحاب لهدية خلف الباب
في شجرة بالدار ويدوروا اولاد صغار
والشجرة صارت عيد والعيد اسوارة بأيد
والإيد تعلق عالشجرة غنية وعناقيد

يامغارة كلها بيوت تلمع مثل الياقوت
كيف جيتي عالدار ثلج شرايط واقمار
مين اللي جاي بعيد عم بيرش مواعيد
يدق بواب الناس ويمشي والخير علينا يزيد

Julia Boutros - Lebanon Is Victoriousجوليا بطرس - انتصر لبنانIntasara Lubnan

This song was performed after Israeli forces withdrew from Lebanon in 2006



Julia Boutros - Lebanon Is Victorious

He who has sullied my land with his blood
Has now gone
He has run away confused and humiliated
Like any coward
And he has understood that so long as he remains, the stars will not shine in the sky
He will never be met with anything but sorrow
He has been defeated now, he has been defeated
Lebanon is victorious

His spiteful face has now been smashed
The oppressor was insulted because I continued to fight back
And forever defend my family/people
From the mountain top to the plains
For the truth is more powerful than ignorance and oppression

جوليا بطرس - انتصر لبنان

من لوّث أرضي بدمائه
قد رحل الآن
و فرّ كذليلٍ تائه
كأيّ جبان

و أيقن أنّ ببقائه .. لن يسطع نجم في سمائه
لن تأتي أبداً للقائه .. إلاّ الأحزان

قد هُزِم الآن .. قد هُزِم
انتصـــر لبنـــان

قد سُحِق الآن
وجه الحاقد و الظالم
و كان مُهان .. لأنّي ما زلت أقاوِم

و أدافع دوماً عن أهلي
من قمّة جبلي إلى سهلي
فالحقّ أقوى من الجهل و من الطغيــان

من لوّث أرضي بدمائه
قد رحل الآن
و فرّ كذليلٍ تائه
كأيّ جبان

و أيقن أنّ ببقائه .. لن يسطع نجم في سمائه
لن تأتي أبداً للقائه .. إلاّ الأحزان
قد هُزِم الآن .. قد هُزِم

Julia Boutros - We are the Uprising and the Outcryجوليا بطرس - نحنا الثورة والغضبNihna al-Sawra wal-Ghadab

One note about the translation: The most common translations for the words ثورة and غضب are "revolution/rebellion" and "anger" respectively. Here, those words have those meanings, but carry more the connotation of public outcry, outrage or fury and popular uprising. Revolution is too political science (anway, in this context, Lebanon's struggles with Israel wouldn't be a revolution) and anger sounds too irrational in English and give the wrong meaning in the wider context of the song.



Julia Boutros - We are the Uprising and the Outcry

We are the uprising and the outcry
We are the hope of the generations
From here and from us is written the history of the victors (heroes)
We are the dawn that is breaking
We are the sword that is cutting
Our place is in the hearts of the people
We are the joy of our children

You will forget those hard days, oh forgotten people
Throughout these years of estrangement we've been exiled in our own country
What does this "freedom" have?
Forgotten tears of joy
This long-awaited victory is dear to you and me

جوليا بطرس - نحنا الثورة والغضب

نحنا الثورة والغضب
نحنا امل الأجيال
من هون من عنا انكتب
تاريخ الأبطال
فجر اللي طالع نحنا
والسيف القاطع نحنا
قلوب الناس مطارحنا
نحنا فرح الأطفال

رح ننسى الأيام الصعبة
ياهالناس المنسيين
كنا طول سنين الغربة
بوطنا منفيين
شوفي يا هالحرية
دموع الفرح المنسية
غالي عليكون وعليي
هالنصر اللي طال

Ragheb Alama - If Only I Could Hold Herراغب علامة - ياريت فيي خبيهاYa Reet Riya Khabiha

Ragheb Alama - If Only I Could Hold Her If only I could hold her (or hide or keep) and not let anyone talk to her I'd water her with my tears and present her my heart in my hands And I'd take years off my lifetime and give them to her

If only she knew how much I love her and how much I'm suffering in my love for her
My heart, go bring me her heart
I'm gonna melt just thinking about her
I'd take years off my lifetime and give them to her

If only she knew how I pray for her to appear before me just once
This problem needs a solution (or lit. this knot needs to be untied, 3aqde is a problem, psychological complex or knot)
I've gotta go talk about it

راغب علامه - يا ريت فيي خبيها

ياريت فيي خبيها وما خلي حدى يحاكيها
بسقيها دموع عيني وقدم لها قلبي بايديه
وباخد من عمري وبعطيها بعطيها بعطيها

ياريت بتعرف شو بحبها وشو عم اتعدب بحبها
ياقلبي روح جبلي قلبها راح دوب وانا فكر فيها
وباخد من عمري وبعطيها بعطيها بعطيها

ياريت بتعرف شو بصلي لطل قبالي شي طلي
ها العقدة صار بدها حلة وصار لازم روح احكي فيها
وباخد من عمري وبعطيها بعطيها بعطيها

Najwa Karam - Lemme See You at Nightنجوى كرم - خليني شوفك بالليلKhalini Shoufak Billeil

This translation is submitted by Cole

Najwa Karam - Lemme See You at Night Let me see you at night The night after sunset It’s no shame to meet up at night The night hides vices.

And if my uncles formed two lines
And my family gathered on both sides
With you, oh light of the eye
I won’t be shy, oh my love

Let me see you at night
The night after sunset
It’s no shame to meet up at night
The night hides vices.

Let me see your eyes
Which are purer than the water of a spring
Let me kiss your cheeks
Oh my love

Let me see you at night
The night after sunset
It’s no shame to meet up at night
The night hides vices.

I want and I wanted to hold you
I am lost in your charm
Let me smell you just once
And afterward faint.

Let me see you at night
The night after sunset
It’s no shame to meet up at night
The night hides vices.

نجوى كرم - خليني شوفك بالليل

خليني شوفك باليل . . . الليلي بعد الغروب
مش عيب الملقى باليل . . . الليل بيستور العيوب
ولو صفو عمامي صفين . . و ربعي التمو عالميلين
عن دربك يا نور العين, ما بحييد يا محبوبي
خليني شوف العينين .. اللي اصفا من المي عا العين
خليني بوس الخديين... دخيلك يا محبوبيييييييييييي
خليني شوفك باليل . . . الليلي بعد الغروب
مش عيب الملقى باليل . . . الليل بيستور العيوب


و بدي و كان بدي ضمك.. انا مغرومة بخفة دمك
خليني مرة شمك... و بعدا روح بغيبوبـــــــــــــي

خليني شوفك باليل . . . الليلي بعد الغروب
مش عيب الملقى باليل . . . الليل بيستور العيوب

خليني شوفك باليل . . . الليلي بعد الغروب
مش عيب الملقى باليل . . . الليل بيستور العيوب

ولو صفو عمامي صفين . . و ربعي التمو عالميلين
عن دربك يا نور العين, ما بحييد يا محبوبي

Lyrics transcription from here

Fadel Shaker - Still On My Mindفضل شاكر - بعدا عالبالBaada Aal Bal

Fadel Shaker - Still On My Mind The days come and go, only to be scattered as my dreams come to an end And you're still in my heart You're still on my mind My love for you is yours and yours alone You mean more to me than myself

They're still on my mind, those days when we were together
My dreams, my dreams are bitter without you

Oh love inside my soul
I'll be wherever you go
I'd see you and get a glimpse of you but my heart is wounded
This heart of mine, how it warmed you
It put you to sleep to its beat
Don't you dare hurt it my darling
Did the separation make you forget?

فضل شاكر - بعدها عالبال

بتروح الايام وبتيجى الايام عشان يتفرقوا وبتنتهى الاحلام

وانت بقلبى بعدك بعدك على بالى
حبك الك الك وحدك يا اغلى من حالى

بعدا عالبال ايامى ايامى انا وياك
احلامى احلامى مرة بلاك
بعدا عالبال ايامى ايامى انا وياك
احلامى احلامى مرة بلاك

يا حب جوه الروح عم كون وين ما تروح
بشوفك حبيبى وبلمحك بس القلب مجروح
هالقلب شو دفاك ع دقته غفاك
اوعى حبيبى تجرحه يكون البعد نساك

بعدا عالبال ايامى ايامى انا وياك
احلامى احلامى مرة بلاك
بعدا عالبال ايامى ايامى انا وياك
احلامى احلامى مرة بلاك

Ahmed al-Harmiأحمد الهرمي - مشتاق لك موتMishtag Lak Mawt

Ahmad al-Harmi - I Miss You to Death I miss you to death And you've been gone for so long My longing is has been killing me in your absence I think of you every day and I die, and you bring me back to life And I say where are you Why haven't you come to ask me how I'm doing?

I miss you to death, I swear
Come back to my, my life, come on
My life is yours
I beg you my precious love, come back
You don't have anyone but me, and I don't have anyone but you

I remember the days of your love, while you've forgotten me
My longing grows and tears fall from my eyes
The night takes me to you, and I wake up calling you
I need you my darling, don't leave me

People ask me how I'm doing
I say "fine" but I'm not fine, my precious

I'm tired my love, I won't rest til I'm close to you
And I will see nothing good until I see you before me

أحمد الهرمي - مشتاق لك موت

مشتاق لك موت يالي طول غيابك ذبحني الشوق وانت عني موداري
اذكرك كل يوم واموت واحيابك واقول وينك تجي تسأل عن أخباري

مشتاق لك موت والله عود ياعمري يالله كل عمري فداللك
أرجوك ياحب غالي عود مالك بدالي وانا مالي بداللك

أذكر أيام حبك ياللي ناسيني يزيدالشوق يهل الدمع من عيني
ياخذني الليل لك واصحى اناديلك
محتاج لك ياحبيبي لاتخليني

تسالني الناس عني كيفها احوالي
اقول بخير وماني بخير ياالغالي

تعب ن انا ياحبيبي راحتي قربك
والخير ماشوفه إلا بشوفك قبالي

مشتاق لك موت والله عود ياعمري يالله كل عمري فداللك
ارجوك ياحب غالي عود مالك بدالي وانا مالي بداللك

Lyrics transcription from here

Julia Boutros - Perhapsجوليا بطرس - ربماRubbama

This song is based on the poem Rubbama ربما by Samih al-Qasim سميح القاسم. "Rubbama" means "perhaps" "maybe" or "might." I have translated the title as "perhaps" but in order to make the sentence more natural in english I have translate it as "you might be able to."

Julia Boutros - Perhaps You might be able to rob me of my last bit of land You might be able to feed my youth to the jail You might be able to put out my torch in the night You might be able to keep me from kissing my mother

You might be able to steal my dreams
You might be able to deprive my children of a suit on a holiday
Oh enemy of the sun!
But I will not compromise

And until my heart's last beat, I will resist

جوليا بطرس - ربما

ربما تسلبني آخر شبر من ترابي
ربما تطعم للسجن شبابي

ربما تطفيء في ليلي شعلة
ربما احرم من أمي قبلة

ربما تغنم من ناطوري احلامي غفلة
ربما تحرم اطفالي يوم العيد بدلة
ربما ترفع من حولي جدارا وجدارا وجدارا ..
يا عدو الشمس
لكن لن اساوم

والى اخر نبض من عروقي ساقاوم
والى اخر نبض من عروقي ساقاوم
والى اخر نبض من عروقي ساقاوم

Fairuz - Your Oud is Resonantفيروز - عودك رنانOudak Rannan

The al-oud is the instrument commonly known as a lute (same name) in the West, a string instrument which has been replaced by the modern guitar but remains important in Arabic music.

The title "3oudak rannaan" means something like "your oud is resonant," which sounds awkward in English, but what she is saying is that it sounds so good when he plays.

Fairuz - Your Oud is Resonant Your oud is resonant Lemme here the sound of your oud Play it again, keep playing it Lemme here the oud Play it loud again and again

Strum and keep strumming
Tell me this tune is for you
A true song and more beautiful than words
Play a tune that enters my heart

All these people have gathered around the sound of your strings
That string is sensitive, quit playing on the same string (what she is saying here is that he's really hit her soft spot with what he's playing, and the underlying meaning is that she's in love with him and she's really affected by what he's playing)
You've really moved me
Play it again and again

Strum and strum hard til you wake up everyone
Night is not for sleeping here it's for staying up late
You play so well, play for us

فيروز - عودك رنان

عودك رنان رنة عودك الي
عيدا كمان ضلك عيد يا علي
سمعني العود
عالعالي عيدا كمان..عيدا كمان

دق ضلك دق قلي النغمه لكي
نغمه عالحق واحلى من الحكي
نغمه بتفوت .. ع قلبي

جامع هالناس على صوت الوتر
وترك حساس حاجه تزن عالوتر
تأثرت كتير.
عليهن .. عيدا كمان وعيدا كمان

دق قوي الدق وعي كل البشر
الليل مش للنوم هون الليل للسهر
انت دقيق انت الزويق سمعنا

Majida el-Roumy - Sing for Meماجدة الرومي - غنيليGhennili

Majida el Roumi - Sing for Me Sing for the people, for love Sing for me, sing Sing for a heartbeat Sing for me, sing Sing for a companion on the road of life Sing for me, sing Sing for me, sing sing sing!

Sing for a yearning heart waiting in torment
Sing for a dream that has yet to be written on paper
Sing for September and the separation
Sing for me, sing, sing for me!

Sing for my unrequited love (Literally, "sing for the mind preoccupied with love that is not on the mind of the one he or she loves" and she's referring to herself not being loved back by the addressee of the song)
Sing for the eyes that speak words that have never been said
Sing the answer to the question that always remains
Sing for me, sing, sing for me!

The words are running out and my heart is hurting
The smiles are drowning in a sea of tears

Repeat verses

ماجدة الرومي - غنيلي

غني للناس للحب غنيلي غني
غني لدقة قلب غنيلي غني
غني لرفيق الدرب غنيلي غني
غنيلي غني غني غني غني

غني لقلب مشتاق ناطر عنار
غني لحلم عوراق بعدو ما صار
غني لأيلول و فراق ياخد قرار
غنيلي غني غنيلي

غني لبال مشغول منو عبال
غني لعيون بتقول حكي ماتقال
غني الجواب عطول باقي سؤال
غنيلي غني غنيلي

غني للناس للحب غنيلي غني
غني لدقة قلب غنيلي غني
غني لرفيق ع درب غنيلي غني
غنيلي غني غني غني غني

عم تخلص الكلمات و القلب موجوع
عم تغرق البسمات ببحر لدموع

عم تخلص الكلمات و القلب موجوع
عم تغرق البسمات ببحر لدموع

غني لقلب مشتاق ناطر عنار
غني لحلم عوراق بعدو ما صار
غني لأيلول وفراق ياخد قرار
غنيلي غني غنيلي

غني لبال مشغول منو عبال
غني لعيون بتقول حكي ماتقال
غني الجواب عطول باقي سؤال
غنيلي غني غنيلي

Lyrics transcription from here

Amr Diab - When I Look at Himعمرو دياب - عيني وانا شايفهAyni Wana Shayfo

Amr Diab - When I Look at Him When I look at him, what more could my eye want? When I met him, my heart told me "my soul is his"

He's the one I love
He's calm and I'm suffering
And who but me
Could love him the way I do?

He's the one I love, why would I hide it?
He's the one I love, why would I leave him?

He's the one my heart chose
He's the one on my mind
God, he's so beautiful
What have they seen?

عمرو دياب - عيني وانا شايفه

عيني وانا شايفه عايزة تاني ايه
قلبي وانا عارفه قاللى روحي فيه
عيني وانا شايفه عايزة تاني ايه
قلبي وانا عارفه قاللي روحي فيه

ده حبيب قلبي انا
يرتاح واتعب انا
وانا مين غيري انا
يهواه زيي انا

عيني وانا شايفه عايزة تاني ايه
قلبي وانا عارفه قاللى روحي فيه
عيني وانا شايفه عايزة تاني ايه
قلبي وانا عارفه قاللي روحي فيه

قاللى ده حبيبي يبقى اداري ليه
هو ده حبيبي يبقى اسيبه ليه

ده حبيب قلبي انا
يرتاح واتعب انا
وانا مين غيري انا
يهواه زيي انا

عيني وانا شايفه عايزة تاني ايه
قلبي وانا عارفه قاللى روحي فيه
عيني وانا شايفه عايزة تاني ايه
قلبي وانا عارفه قاللي روحي فيه

ده حبيب قلبي انا
يرتاح واتعب انا
حبيب قلبي انا
فداه عمري انا

عيني وانا شايفه عايزة تاني ايه
قلبي وانا عارفه قاللى روحي فيه
هو ده اللى قاله
ده اللى على باله
الله يا جماله
هما شافوا ايه
عيني وانا شايفه عايزة تاني ايه
قلبي وانا عارفه قاللي روحي فيه
عيني وانا شايفه
قلبي وانا عارفه
قلبي وانا عارفه
قالى روحي فيه