Alright finally I've found the perfect song to explain the concept of "al-Ghorba (الغربة)" The beginner's Arabic textbook translate it as "longing for homeland" but this is really only one facet of the meaning that has come to be prevalent in the context of the Arab diaspora. It's not just homeland, which one may long for, indeed the idea of the homeland is to an extent a very recent development. I call it "homesickness" here, but also translate it sometimes as "estrangement," meaning a feeling of being distance from that which is intimate or familiar to oneself and missing the comfort of that place or person; like how you can be estranged from a lover who is either not with you or not speaking to you. Moreover it has the connotations of "exile," which means it is against your will to some extent. Anyway, that's what this song is all about. He feels alone in a land far away from home and it's burning him. But at the same time, what is significant is that he is longing for something he loves whether that be a place, a person or people, or both.
For those interested in Arabic language "al-ghorba" has a fascinating etymology. Its root is includes two basic verbs: "gharaba," which means to leave or depart and "gharuba," which means to be strange from which the adjective "ghariib," which means strange or a stranger comes from. At the same time, "gharb" means west, which of course is foreign to Arabs who live in the east. The name of Morocco, "al-maghrib" is from the same root, although it most likely derives from "ghuruub," which means sunset. Thus "al-maghrib" means the place where the sun sets. At any rate, the multiple meanings of this root should resonate with Arabs currently living in the West (al-gharb) for whatever reason, who feeling a longing to be back home.
من الغربة عانيت ليالي وأحزاني في بر بعيد خايف لو نحكي ما جرالي يا ميمة الاحزان تزيد
يا ميمة طال بي غيابي وعدي و مسطر في كتابي نشتاق و في الشوق عذابي صابر و زعمة الصبر يفيد
يالايام حرام كفاية من عمري الي راح خليني من بعد عناي نتمنى نرتاح
نخاف نعدي العمر نعاني بعيد على بيتي و عنواني لا دمعي طفى نيراني و لا داوى جرحي التنهيد
كي يجي الليل نخاف من وحدتي يا ربي كي يجي الليل نخاف محتاج حد بجنبي خايف و من كثرة جروحي صعبت عليا روحي
The day that we separated Love made us cry With a tear it burned us And our hearts were cauterized
My love for you still resides within me I see you everywhere The desire is calling me but... The desire is calling me but... The desire is calling me but...
My self-pride... Is not letting me forget my injury and run after you Although you're my heart my heart hurt me It's causing me pain because of you
They saw me by myself The people asked me I said I lost the moon from the night
What am I doing? I can't hide it Your name is still my heartbeat I'm dying to see you but it's hard I'm dying to see you but it's hard I'm dying to see you but it's hard
صابر رباعي - عزة نفسي
يوم الي افترقنا بكانا الهوى بالدمعة احترقنا والقلب انكوى
يوم الي افترقنا بكانا الهوى بالدمعة احترقنا والقلب انكوى بعدو حبك فية ساكن بشوفك بكل الأماكن والشوق بيندهلي لكن الشوق بيندهلي لكن الشوق بيندهلي لكن
شافوني لحالي سألوني البشر قلت من الليالي ضيعت القمر
شافوني لحالي سألوني البشر قلت من الليالي ضيعت القمر شو بعمل مش قادر خبي بعدك اسمك دقة قلبـــــــــــي دايب شوفك لكن صعبة دايب شوفك لكن صعبة دايب شوفك لكن صعبة
Here is a nationalistic song for Tunisia performed by Sabery Robei for I dunno what occassion.
Saber Robaey - My Precious Country
No matter what I or anyone says You are more beautiful than my words My love for you is my strongest passion
My precious country you flag is strung high Flapping in your name Oh Tunis oh Tunis My beloved Tunis Oh most precious of names
In the name of God I promise on right hand
For the country, the greatest longing, my country In the name of peace, the symbol of security oh peace For the country, the greatest longing, my country In the name of peace, the symbol of security your soldiers We will remain your soldiers til the end of time
We will preserve our noble country Tunis, most precious of names
صابر رباعي - وطني الغالي
مهما كلام مهما كلا قلتو إنتي أحلى من كلامي حبي ليك أقوى غرامي
وطني الغالي علمك عالي رفرف بإسمك عالي يا تونس يا تونس يا حبيبتي يا تونس يا أغلى الأسامي
بإسم الإله عهدي عهدي يمين عهدي
للوطن للوطن أكبر حنين يااا وطني بإسم السلام رمز الأمان ياه سلام
للوطن للوطن أكبر حنين يااا وطني بإسم السلام رمز الأمان ياه جنودك نبقى جنودك مدى الزمان
In a previous post I mention that Saber Robaey was blocked by Israel from performing in Palestine. This might have contributed to that.
Saber Robaey - Lebanon Does Not Tremble
He who hurt Lebanon Steals the rays of the sun when they appear He who hurt Lebanon Is an enemy of the Earth and mankind Who disseminates bombs and plants mines While we continue to build the nest of the nightingale
I swear to god, oh cedar tree Lebanon does not shiver And I swear on our life oh south You won't be hurt
The land of redemption has become more fertile God, oh Lebanon of pan-Arabism
We have a country that demands a price And our souls are the cheapest price we can give
In the early morning the country of perseverence returns More beautiful than what we swore by
In the early morning Lebanon returns Stronger than it was
صابر رباعي - لبنان ما يهتز
الي جرح لبنان سارق شعاع الشمس لما تبان الي جرح لبنان هو عدو الارض و الانسان يبعث قنابل نزرع سنابل و نعيد بناء عش البلابل
و الله يا شجر الارز لبنان ما يهتز وحياتنا يا جنوب ما تنعز
When I was in your hands I melted in my place And I forgot my lifetime with you And the time that passed with me was seconds Draw me close And let me live my feelings with you
I defy the whole world when I'm with you And I say to the world itself that I love you That you are my darling and my heart And my soul is with you Draw me close And let me live my feelings with you
My adoration for you is an adoration of the moon from a star And sleepless nights And my desire for you is beyond the imagination And beyond the possibilities of man From the day I met you live has been sweet
With you I am challenging all that is present Either I'll be with you or I won't be I will not live without your love My heart adores you madly From the day I met you live has been sweet
صابر الرباعي - أتحدى العالم
وانا بين ايدك ..دوبت في مكاني وانسيت معاك ...عمري و زماني و الوقت الي فات وياك ثواني قربني ليك سبني اعيش احساسي بيك
بتحدي العالم كلو وانا وياك .. وبقول للدنيا بحالها ان انا بهواك ان انتا حبيبي و البي و روحي معاك قربني ليك سبني اعيش احساس بهواك
انا عشقي ليك عشق القمر .. من نجمه و ليل و السهر والشوق ليك فوق الخيال فوق احتمال كل البشر من يوم لقاك..حلوه الحياة
اتحدي بيك كل الوجود وياك اكون او لا اكون انا مش حعيش من غير هواك انا البي عاشق للجنون من يوم لقاك ...حلوه الحياة