Arabic Song Lyrics and Translation

City Band – I Am Hereسيتي باند - أنا موجودAna Mawgood

2012-01-29T16:39:00.011-05:00

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
Everybody look at 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 سني 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 ان تنسوش

اللي قتلني لسه موجود

وأنا مش موجود

History of Music in Lebanon Podcast

2012-01-27T12:37:00.002-05:00

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

2011-10-27T07:14:00.004-04:00

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

2011-10-26T08:16:00.005-04:00

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

2011-10-26T07:31:00.008-04:00

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

2011-10-24T01:34:00.009-04:00

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

2011-10-08T06:53:00.004-04:00

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

2011-10-02T04:15:00.006-04:00

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

Saria al-Sawas - Get Up and Let's Dance, Girlسارية السواس - قومي لندبك ولدةGoomi lanidbich welda

2011-09-14T16:30:00.011-04:00

This is a folk song popular in Eastern Syria and other parts of the Arab world. The title varies: Gumi lanidbich/tanidbich welda " قومي لندبك \ تندبك ولدة " and it means "get up so we can dance (together) girl." It is a clear representative of the "debke دبكة" genre, which is a popular form of folk dance in the Mashriq. Simply put, it's a line dance where you hold hands and dance in a circle. For a more detailed explanation, see here. To see some debke in action, click here.

There are many versions of this song that can be found on this internet. I will present the Saria al-Sawas (سارية السواس) version with some translation and explanation and then supply some others. Saria is actually a woman, but the lyrics work better if the singer is imagined as male.

قــومي لنــدبــك ولده وندبك الغــوالــي

Get up and let's dance girl and make the others (al-ghawali) dance
Notes: to be more specific, she's using the verb "to debke (nidbich)" and "to make (someone) debke (ndebbich)"

واحط ايدي بيد الشوق وافرحك يا غـــالـــي

I'll put my hand in the hand of love/passion and make you happy, my precious
Notes: since the form of dancing debke involves dancing hand in hand side by side, putting one's hand in the "hand of love" actually refers to putting his hand in hers

شنو السبب زعــلانه سلمت ما رديتي

What's the reason you're upset, I said hi but you didn't respond

عــشرين عله وعــله جــوى القلب حطيتي

You've put twenty and one sicknesses/maladies in my heart

يـا بـنـيـه يـالــوراده راعـيـة الـقـلابيــه

Oh girl, oh flower-girl, oh pigeon-keeper
Notes: according to my web research, القلابية qalabiya is a highly coveted breed of pigeon

مشهوره بكثر عنــاده زينه يالعقيديــه

You're famous for being so stubborn, beauty of the Aqidis (Aqidi refers to a Bedouin group living in Easter Syria)

Adel Mohsen

لاحظت في الموقع ترجمة الأغنيه .. ( وهي بالمناسبه ترجمه رائعه )

لكن في نهاية الأغنية توجد كلمة " يالعقيدية " حيث لم تجدوا معناها ..

وهي نداء لأصل الفتاة التي يراقصها صاحب كلمات الأغنية

والعقيدية أو العقيدي هو أحد الأصول الشهيره التي تنتشر في... بادية سوريا .. حيث بدأت هذه الأغنيه الفلوكلوريه ..

وهي ترمز لقبائل بدو سوريا التي " تعاقدت " على الحرب ضد قبيلة " شمر " من الجزيرة العربية ..

فقط أردت الإضافه إلى ترجمتكم الرائعه .. مع كل الشكر لجهودكم

-------------------------------------

Ali Dyoub (علي ديوب)

This version is a little bit more "raw" for lack of a better term. It's from a live performance and while the main verse is the same, the rest differ entirely from the version above. It gives a sense of a live debke performance, with the singer improvising variations on the lines, making appeals to the crowd to dance and sometimes calling to people by name such as the hosts or musicians, and referencing himself. I also say this version is a little bit more raw because some of the lines are a bit racier and even combative. As two examples, in one line he refers to being chest to chest with a girl and kissing her on the lips "صدري ع صدره وبيمصمصني بشفاته" and in another he curses his mother for "getting pregnant and bringing (him) into the world" يلعن بيك يا امي ليش حبلتي وجبتيني . I'm not sure of the context in this performance but typically singers are hired to perform at social events.

-----------------------------------

Fariha al-Abdullah (فريحة العبدلله)

In this version the song and repetition of verses takes a different form.

-----------------------------------

Sami Clark (سامي كلارك)

This is a completely different song that is a mountain debke from Lebanon, but the words are so similar that I think the two songs must be related somehow. Even if it's not it's a great video worth watching. The main verse says "get up so we can dance girl (different words but same meaning), and put your hand in mine"(Goomi taner'os ya sabiyi, w-eshbiki ideyki bi-iydeyi قومي تنرقص يا صبية واشبكي ايديكي بايديي )

I didn't find a whole lot on these songs, so if anyone has any information on the origins or other versions please share!

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

2011-08-30T01:56:00.005-04:00

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'

2011-07-28T10:00:00.002-04:00

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

2011-07-26T01:22:00.006-04:00

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

2011-07-25T13:01:00.005-04:00

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

2011-07-23T11:37:00.004-04:00

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

2011-07-21T14:50:00.009-04:00

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

2011-06-11T04:42:00.000-04:00

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

Makhoul Kassouf - The Doors of Happinessمخول قاصوف - بواب الفرحBwab al Farah

2011-06-06T11:46:00.000-04:00

This is in my opinion one of the nicest songs recorded in Arabic. The artist, Makhoul Kassouf (مخول قاصوف) often is off the radar of most Arabic music listeners, however, his music has been a major contribution to the modern Lebanese music scene, and he has often collaborated with such artists as Ziad Rahbani.

"The Doors of Happiness (بواب الفرح)" was recorded at the end of the 1980s, and reflects the growing feeling of distress that by that time had become despair after more than a decade of continuous civil wars in Lebanon. It is sung by Sami Hawat (سامي حواط).

Click here to download

Makhoul Qassouf - The Doors of Happiness

I banged on the doors of happiness so much that the planks fell off
The echo hiding behind the threshold escaped
The children scattered
Nothing remains in the shadow of these walls
Not even ruins to say there was a country here

مخول قاصوف - بواب الفرح

من كترما دقيت ع بواب الفرح هرهروا الخشبات
فـل الصدى اللاطي ورا العتبة
فلفلوا الولاد
ما ضل بفي هالحيطان ولو خربة تقول
هون كان في بلاد

Fouad Ghazi - I'll Plant You a Rose Gardenفؤاد غازي - لزرعلك بستان ورودLazraa lik Bustan Wuroud

2011-06-05T01:56:00.000-04:00

Updated lyrics, translation and info

Fouad Ghazi is a Syrian singer from the Hama province. He was very popular during the 1980s and was known for his distinctly "mountain (jabali)" style of singing typical of the Syrian coast. Although he withdrew from the spotlight during the nineties, his music remains popular today. "Rose Garden (بستان ورود)" is arguably his most famous work.

Fouad Ghazi - I'll Plant You a Rose Garden

I'll plant you a rose garden
And a little tree to give you shade
And spin for you from the light of the sun
A bracelet to adorn your hand

And I'll bring you from the farthest sea
The prettiest pearl you can find
And I'll steal for you from around the full moon
The most beautiful star and keep it

And I'll build you a lofty palace
And carry you on my wings
And spin for you from the light of the sun
A bracelet to adorn your hand

If you want pearls and corals
I'll bring you a whole chest-full
And if you want the hat of a fairy
I'm not gonna tell you no, no no

And if you want, oh willow branch
I'll hide you in my eyes (meaning he'll watch over her)
And spin for you from the light of the sun
A bracelet to adorn your hand

My beauty, there's a secret in your eyes
Enchanting me and melting me (i.e. making me fall in love)
Words stronger than pearl
My love for you is always keeping me up

Being near you is bitter and so is being close
And so is the myrrh tree in your eyes (I think referring to the tree in keeping with the theme of nature imagery)
I'll spin for you from the light of the sun
A bracelet to adorn your hand

فؤاد غازي - لأزرعلك بستان ورود

لزرعلك بستان ورود
وشجره صغيرة تفييكي

واغزلك من نور الشمس
اسواره تزين ايديكي

و رح جبلك من ابعد بحر
احلا درة بلائيها
و اسرئلك من حول البدر
اجمل نجمة و خبيها

و عمرلك بالعالي قصر
و عجناحاتي وديكي
واغزلك من نور الشمس
اسواره تزين ايديكي

لو بدك لولو ومرجان
راح اجيبلك خزنه بحالها
ولو بدك طاقية الجان
ماني راح اقولك لا لا لا

ولو بدك ياغصن البان
جوه عيوني بخبيكي
واغزلك من نور الشمس
اسواره تزين بايديكي

يا حلوة بعيونك سر
ساحرني ومدوبني
كلماتك اقوى من الدر
وحبك دوم مسهرني

قربك مر وبعدك مر
ومر المر فى عنيكي
لغزلك من نور الشمس
اسواره تزين بايديكي

Lyrics transcription from here

Mohamed Munir - Raise Your Voiceمحمد منير - علي صوتكAlli Sotak

2011-02-11T23:45:00.003-05:00

Updated translation and media

The translation in the youtube video is good too, but there are some added words that I'm not sure are really in the lyrics, that is, it is a translation designed to convey to the viewer a similar meaning, but with added words to make it sound better.

Muhammed Munir is a musician and actor from Nubia, in Upper Egypt.

Mohamed Munir - Raise Your Voice

Raise your voice in song
We can still sing
And song is still so much part of our lives

Raise your voice in song, song is still possible
Raise your voice in song, song is still possible

And if one day you feel you'll break
You must stand tall
Standing just as a palm tree stretching towards the sky
Don't be defeated, don't break down
Don't be afraid
Be a dream blossoming in the desert

Raise your voice in song
We can still sing

Your song among the chorus shakes my joyous heart
Healing all my wounds
When you dance, I dance, I'm compelled to dance
Our dreams become intertwined
When you dance, I dance, I'm compelled to dance
Don't be defeated, don't break down
Don't be afraid
Be a dream blossoming in the desert

Raise your voice in song
We can still sing

محمد منير - علي صوتك

على صوتك بالغنى لسه الاغانى ممكنة, ممكنة
ولسه يامه ياما ياماه فى عمرنا
على صوتك بالغنى لسه الاغانى ممكنة, ممكنة

ولو فى يوم راح تنكسر لازم تقوم
واقف كما النخل باصص للسما للسما
ولا انهزام ولا انكسار ولا انهزام ولا انكسار
ولا خوف ولا ولا حلم نابت فى الخلا

على صوتك بالغنى لسه الاغانى ممكنة, ممكنة

غنوتك وسط الجموع تهز قلبى اللى انفرح
تداوى جرحى اللى انجرح
غنوتك وسط الجموع تهز قلبى اللى انفرح
تداوى جرحى اللى انجرح

ترقص ارقص غصب عنى ارقص
غصب عنى غصب عنى ارقص
ينشبك حلمك فى حلمى
ترقص ارقص غصب عنى غصب عنى ارقص
ولا انهزام ولا انكسار ولا انهزام ولا انكسار
ولاخوف ولا ولا حلم نابت فى الخلا

علي صوتك بالغنى لسه الاغانى ممكنة, ممكنة, ممكنة

Amr Diab - One of Usعمرو دياب - واحد مناWahed Menena

2011-02-11T15:36:00.012-05:00

This song was made for Hosni Mubarak, FORMER President of Egypt. Congratulations Egypt that you can finally watch this video and laugh.

Amr Diab - One of Us

He who sacrificed for his country in order to bring back the day (this could be "the one who" or "those who," i.e. generic genderless third person but we know it's about him)
And for whom the name of Egypt represented strength and victory

He whose dream is our dream
He whose joy is our joy
The Nile flows in his blood and ours

He is one of us, yes one of us

What is Egypt but trueness and people with good hearts?
Egypt is the hand building for our children the dream of tomorrow and years ahead

And he who holds her (Egypt's) name high
Is worth more to us than our own lives

He is one of us, yes one of us

عمرو دیاب - واحد مننا

اللي ضحي لأجل وطنه لأجل ما يعود النهار و اللي أسم مصر دايما كان له طاقة الإنتصار ..

اللي حلمه حلمنا .. و اللي فرحه فرحنا .. اللي نهر النيل بيجري جوه دمه و دمنا ..
يبقي واحد مننا .. أيوة واحد مننا ..

مصر إيه غير الأصالة و القلوب الطيبين
مصر إيد تبني لولادنا .. حلم بكرة و السنين

و اللي يرفع أسمها .. يبقي أغلي عندنا من حياتنا نفسها ..
يبقي واحد مننا .. أيوة واحد مننا

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

2011-01-30T00:12:00.011-05:00

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.

Amal 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 - New Year's Eveفيروز - عيد الدنيEid al Dunnye

2010-12-29T12:20:00.008-05:00

This song is composed to the tune of "O Christmas Tree"

Fairouz - New Year's Eve

It's New Year's Eve and my house is full of gifts and decorations
There's candles and bells ringing in the distance
And red-colored flowers and wine
New Year's Eve, staying up late with my beloved

It's New Year's Eve
Just you, me and a little tree covered in lights
There's a yellow lantern and snow on my doorstep
And the stars are shining like the snow
And under the rain/winter a new year is coming
Who knows what it has in store?

A year has gone and another has arrived
It's white and new
May it draw smiles on the faces of the children
And may it give the people a new life
And as a year falls asleep and another awakens
May you remain my beloved

فيروز - عيد الدنيا

عيد الدني راس السني بيتي هدايا و زيني
في شموع و جراس تدق بعيد و زهور لونا أحمر و نبيد
عيد الدني راس السني سهرا أنا و حبيبي
راس السني أنتا و أنا و سجرة زغيري مضوايي
قنديل أصفر على بابي و تلج و نجوم عم تلمع متل التلج
و تحت الشتي جايي سني ما منعرف شو مخبايي
راحت سني طلت سني لونا أبيض و جديدي
الولاد ترسم عوجوهن عيد و الناس تعطيهن عمر جديد
و تغفى سني و توعى سني و أنتا تبقى حبيبي

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

2010-12-24T19:05:00.002-05:00

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

2010-09-07T17:40:00.004-04:00

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

2010-09-07T09:36:00.006-04:00

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

Abdel Halim Hafez - Wandererعبد الحليم حافظ - سواحSawwah

2010-08-24T15:43:00.000-04:00

I've seen "sawwah" translated as "vagabond," but I'm gonna use wanderer because vagabond has negative connotations that I don't think are intended. The word is inteded to convey the idea of someone who wanders or roams around, which a vagabond does, but vagabonds have a reputation for being beggars or thieves or having other negative attributes. This is one of Abdel Halim's classics. Shame on all of you who found this song for by searching for Ishtar's cover of this song called "Habibi Sawwah"

Abdel Halim Hafez - Wanderer

A wanderer
Walking in the countryside
And the distance (literally step) between my and my beloved is vast
In a faraway land where I am a stranger
The night approaches as the day leaves

And if you find my love say hi to her for me
Reassure me about how she is doing so far away from me (here Abdel Halim's beloved is is "esmer," a word used to express the dark skin tone of people who are between white and black. The image of the attractive dark-skinned man/girl is a common trope in Arab poetry and song. perhaps something along the lines of "mr. tall, dark and handsome" in English)

A wanderer walking in the nights
Not knowing what I'm doing
What has this separation from my love done to me?

For years I've been melting with desire and longing
I just wanna know where is the way to her

My eyes, ah, my eyes (i.e. his beloved)
Where are you, what's happened to you and what are you doing?
My worries, ah my worries
Get away from me, I don't need this
I'm confused about her as it is
And I can't rest
I'm lost, a wanderer

Oh moon, oh you who forgets me
Take me to the one who is absent
Give me light and show me the trail of my darling
I've enjoined you with my last will and you are my witness
Tell her what's going on with me and what I've suffered in the nights

عبد الحليم حافظ - سواح

سواح وماشي في البلاد سواح
والخطوة بيني وبين حبيبي براح
مشوار بعيد وأنا فيه غريب
والليل يقرب والنهار رواح

وان لقاكم حبيبي سلموا لي عليه
طمنوني الأسمراني عامله إيه الغربة فيه

سواح وأنا ماشي ليالي سواح
ولا داري بحالي سواح
من الفرقة يا غالي سواح
إيه اللي جرى لي سواح

وسنين وأنا دايب شوق وحنين
عايز أعرف بس طريقه منين

يا عيوني..آه يا عيوني
إيه جرى لك فين إنت وبتعمل إيه
يا ظنوني..آه يا ظنوني
ما تسيبوني مش ناقص أنا حيرة عليه
لا أنا عارف أرتاح
وأنا تايه سواح

يا قمر يا ناسيني رسيني عاللي غايب
نور لي .. وريني سكة الحبايب
وصيتك وصية يا شاهد عليا
تحكي له عاللي بيه واللي قاسيته في لياليا

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

2010-03-29T14:33:00.005-04:00

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

2010-03-12T16:13:00.006-05:00

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

2010-02-22T23:34:00.003-05:00

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

2010-02-22T18:55:00.003-05:00

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

2010-02-22T18:21:00.005-05:00

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

2010-02-22T15:26:00.003-05:00

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

2010-02-22T14:50:00.003-05:00

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

Nadim Nour - Oh God, I Miss You So Muchنديم نور - يا الله شو مشتاقلكYa Allah Shou Mishta'lak

2010-02-22T13:09:00.000-05:00

Nadim Nour - Oh God, I Miss You So Much!

Oh God, I miss you so much
Oh God, it's unbelievable
I miss you and I want to tell you
But I can't

You're always on my mind, always on my mind
You're all I can think of (literally, "I'm preoccupied by your love")
You're on my mind day and night, day and night, day and night
And in your absence my heart is in hell, in hell, in hell
I loved you from the moment I saw you (literally, "from a glance, my whole life became love and happiness")

Oh God, I miss you so much
Oh how I miss you so
I'm melting with love for you, missing you
I'm waiting to see you after being apart for so long

نديم نور - ياالله شو مشتاق لك

يالله شو مشتقلك ... يالله مش معقول
مشتاق وبدي قلك ... لكن ما في قول
يالله شو مشتقلك ...يالله مش معقول
مشتاق وبدي قلك ... لكن ما في قول

على بالي على طول ... على طول على طول
بهواكي مشغوول ... مشغول مشغول
على بالي ليل نهار ... ليل نهار ..ليل نهار
وفي بعدك قلبي بنار ...قلبي بنار...قلبي بنار
من نظرة عمري صار شوق وهنى

على بالي على طول ... على طول على طول
بهواكي مشغوول ... مشغول مشغول
على بالي على طول ... على طول على طول
بهواكي مشغوول ... مشغول مشغول

يا الله شو مشتاق شو مشتاق شو مشتاق
دايب حبي واشواق ... مشتاق
ناطر من بعد فراق شوفك أنا

على بالي على طول ... على طول على طول
بهواكي مشغوول ... مشغول مشغول
على بالي على طول ... على طول على طول
بهواكي مشغوول ... مشغول مشغول

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

2010-02-20T23:06:00.001-05:00

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

Nawal al-Zoghbi - Don't You Ever Get Tired?نوال الزغبي - ما بتتعب دخلك؟Ma Btataab Dakhlek

2009-11-29T22:56:00.000-05:00

An old but classic Nawal song.

Nawal al-Zoghbi - Don't You Ever Get Tired?

Everytime we meet he starts to speak
And ask me without hearing an answer
Instead of saying to me
"My dear, what's wrong?"
He passes the whole time
Nagging and nagging

Don't you ever get tired jeez?
You nag me until the sun comes up
I'll say some nice word to you
To change this atmosphere a little

Listen to me without nagging me
Let's be lovers
Tell me I love you
I love you the more the moon sets
Owf! Owf!
Let us sing my darling until the sun comes up

That's enough quit nagging me and telling me stuff
And making me mad and then trying to make me feel better
When you get nervous and jealous
Owf! Owf!
Let us sing my darling until the sun comes up

نوال الزغبي - ما بتتعب دخلك؟

كلّ مرّة منلتقي بيبدأ الحكي
و بيصير يسألني و لا بيسمع جواب
و بدال ما يقلّي يا حلوة شو بكي؟
بيمضى الوقت كلّو عتاب بعتاب

ما بتتعب دخلك و لو؟
تعاتبني لطلوع الضو
إحكيلك شي كلمه حلوه
تشويّ نغيّر هالجو

سمّعني غير العتاب و خلّينا أحباب
و قلّي بحبّك أنا بحبّك كل ما القمر غاب
أوف يابا أوف
و خلّينا نغنّي يا حبيبي حتّى طلوع الضو

بيكفّي حاجي تعاتبني و تجبلي أخبار
و تزعّلني و تراضيني و تعصّب وتغار
أوف يابا أوف
خلّينا نغنّي يا حبيبي حتّى طلوع الضو

Lena Chamamyan - Before Dinnerلينا شماميان - قبل العشاQabl El Isha

2009-10-18T15:39:00.004-04:00

Lena Chamamian - Before Dinner

Not before dinner sir
After dinner yes, yes

With who can I send my greetings to you
With my soul (literally "apple of the eye") or my heart?

Oh lighting send them my regards whenever you strike

When you were far away I used to hear your news
Now that you're close I can't stop looking at you

I won't die, no I won't die even if they bring the burial shroud I won't
I'll go down to the Straight Street market and have a coffin made
One nail made of silver and gold and the other nail of ruby
The people will be amazed when they see us both in the coffin

You have a apricot tree in your house and we have a peach tree in ours
The apricot tree has leaned towards the peach tree (it makes a little more sense in Arabic, but to lean towards someone means to like them so it's a play on words)
Quit coming and going
Oh lord give us some rain, the Earth is longing (also a metaphor)

لينا شاماميان - قبل العشا

قبل العشا لا يا سيدي وبعد العشا ايه وايه

مع مين ومع مين ارسلك سلام مع مين
يامهجة العين ويا كبد الحشا مع مين

يا برق سلم عليهم كل ما تلمع
كنتو بعيدين و باخبار إلكم نسمع
صرت قريبين وما تطليع ما نشبع

ما موت وما موت ولو جابو الكفن ما موت
لانزل عسوق الطويل وفصل التابوت
مسمار من فضة ودهب ومسمار من ياقوت
وتتعجب المسكونة و تنين بالتابوت

بداركم مشمشة وبدارنا خوخة
يا شجرة المشمشة مالت على الخوخة
حاجي تروح وتجي من تحت هالطاقة
يا رب رشقة مطر والأرض مشتاقة

Nawal al-Kuwaiti - The Days of Our Loveنوال كويتية - أيام حبكAyam Hobak

2009-10-07T10:33:00.005-04:00

Nawal al-Kuwaiti - The Days of Our Love

Such wonderful days were the days of our love
You were coursing through my veins (literally, "you were spreading in my soul")
And I was loving you madly

Your heart is hard, but my heart was in your heart

Where has the moment that brought us together gone?
Where is that wonderful place?
And where is that smile we shared, and the love and tenderness

You would overturn the entire universe if you were just a moment late
I lost you in an instant
You were worth more than the world to me/It's not worth living without you (I think دنيا ماتسوى means both of these things in English)

نوال الكويتي - أيام حبك

أيام حلوه كانت أيام حبك
كنت في روحي تسري كنت بجنون أحبك

قاسي القـلب لكـن كــان قلــبي بقــلبك

ويــن مـوعــــد جمعـــنا وين ذاك المكان
وضــحكــنا الي ضـــحكناه والوله والحنان

تقـلـــب الكــون كله لو تأخرت خــــــطوه
ضعـت مني بثــواني والله دنـيا ما تسوى

Ronza - Do You Thinkرونزا - قولكAwlak

2009-09-30T11:20:00.005-04:00

Ronza was popular in the 80s, with many songs composed by the Rahbani Brothers after Fairuz and Assi's divorce.

Ronza - Do You Think?

Do you think we'll ever meet again and go out?
And talk like we used to when we were young
And walk together, and sing together
Do you think?

Do you think the old times will ever come back and we'll walk down this road again?
And the wind will blow and take us away together
And you'll tell me I love you and I am jealous about you (there is an idea that if you love someone you will get jealous a lot because you covet them)
Do you think?

If only the days would come back to me each night
And I could see his eyes again and that bright smile
And he would be mine as long as I live
And I could keep him in my heart and eyes

رونزا - قولك

قولك قولك قولك رح نتلاقى بعد بشي مشوار
نحكي متل الماضي وقت كنا صغار
ونتمشى سوى ونغني سوى
قولك

قولك بعد بيرجع الزمن العتيق
نمشي أنا وانت عهاد الطريق
ويهب الهوا وياخدنا سوا
وانت تقول لي بحبك وانا عليك بغار
قولك

يا ريت اليام ترجع لي ليلية
وارجع شوف عيونه والضحكة المضوية
ويبقى لي عطول مهما العمر يطول وخبيه بقلبي وعيني

Lyrics transcription from here

Your Day of Triumph is Comingنصرك جايNasrak Jayy

2009-09-30T08:24:00.010-04:00

Here is a Hezbollah nationalist propaganda video complete with shabab chorus praising their political leader, Hassan Nasrallah.

This blog does not endorse Hezbollah or any other political party in the world.

Nijem - Your Day of Triumph is Coming

Hassan Nasrallah:
This Israel that possesses nuclear weapons and the strongest air force in the region, by God, is more frail than a spider web

Singing:
Your day of triumph is coming with the help of God
And the determination of your army, Nasrallah
(Defiant, thunderous, your promise is dear to God)

Your day of triumph is coming, Your day of triumph is coming
Your day of triumph is coming with the help of God

Nasrallah:
Every prisoner in the Israeli jails shall return to you soon, God-willing

Singing:

No enemy or fear waiting beneath the flames can hurt you
(Defiant, thunderous, your promise is dear to God)

Your day of triumph is coming, Your day of triumph is coming
(Your day of triumph is coming with the help of God)

Your flag flies high above the wind
It will never come down no matter what happens
(Defiant, thunderous, your promise is dear to God)

Your day of triumph is coming, Your day of triumph is coming
(Your day of triumph is coming with the help of God)

Nasrallah:
If Israel invades Lebanon, they will pay dearly

نجم (حزبالله) - نصرك جاي

نصرالله:
إن إسرائيل هذه التي تملك أسلحة نووية وأقوى أسلحة جو في المنطقة
ولله هي أوهن من بيت العنكبوت

إنشاد:
نصرك جاي بعون الله وهمة جيشك نصرالله
صامد... هادر... غالي وعدك على الله
نصرك جاي... نصرك جاي
نصرك جاي بعون الله

نصرالله:
كل أسير في السجون الإسرائيلية سيعود إليكم قريبا إن شاء الله

ما يهمك عادي ولا خوف ناطر تحت هبوب النار
صامد هادر غالي وعدك على الله

نصرك جاي... نصرك جاي
نصرك جاي بعون الله

عالي علمك فوق الريح ما بينزل لو مهما صار
صامد هادر غالي وعدك على الله

نصرك جاي... نصرك جاي
نصرك جاي بعون الله

نصرالله:
إسرائيل إذا اعتدت على لبنان ستدفع أثمانا غاليا

Rachid Taha - Everybody Out!رشيد طه - بره برهBarra Barra

2009-09-29T14:48:00.006-04:00

"Barra (بره)" means "outside" and therefore "barra barra" means "get out" or "everybody out". This song is about all the problems there are in Algeria, and the reality that you have to get out of the country to escape those things, a sentiment also expressed in Cheb Khaled's "El Harba Wine?" However, you could alternatively understand the song as a message to those who are responsible for the problems.

Of course Rachid Taha like most of the biggest Rai singers has in fact fled Algeria and currently lives in France.

Rachid Taha - Everybody Out!

Everybody out! There's sadness, rage and treachery
Everybody out! Corruption and jealousy, no longer can anyone be trusted
Everybody out! Thirst, the people are forsaken
Everybody out! There's no honor, just oppression and slavery

Everybody out! Thankfulness is gone and ugliness is everywhere
Everybody out! The stars have gone out and the sun has gone black
Everybody out! There's no more goodness, happiness or prosperity
Everybody out! There's no more trees and the birds have stopped singing
Everybody out! There's no day or night, only darkness
Everybody out! Hell has taken over, there's no beauty left
Everybody out! The time has passed, there is no honor
Everybody out! There's corruption and war and the blood is running
Everybody out! Only the walls are left standing
Everybody out! There's fear and so everyone is silent

رشيد طه - برا برا

بره بره... الحزن والبغض والزوارة
بره بره... الفسد والحسد ما بقى أمانة
بره بره العطش والناس منحوسين
بره بره... لا حرمة ظلم وعبودية
بره بره... الشكر دان والقبح ران
بره بره... النجوم طفت ظلمت الشمس
بره بره... مابقي خير لا سعاده ولا زهار
بره بره... مابقت شجرة سكتوا لطيور
بره بره... مابقي ليل ولنهار لضلمه
بره بره... الجهنم نما ما بقي الزين
بره بره... كتر الزمان مابقت حرمه
بره بره... الفسد والحرب والدم يسيل
بره بره... الحيطان الحيطان واقفين
بره بره... الخوف فالناس ساكتين

Amr Diab - What Can We Say? (I'm Yours)عمرو دياب - نقول ايه | أنا ليكNeoul Eh (Ana Leek)

2009-09-29T12:38:00.005-04:00

Amr Diab - What Can We Say? (I'm Yours)

What can we say?
That's it, there's nothing left for us to say
We've reached a level of love that nobody in this world has every reached

I'm yours, my darling, and I will never be anyone's but yours
My heart (literally, soul) needs you
This moment that you are far from me
How can my heart survive it?

My darling, how can I express how happy I am with you
It's tough
You've given me more than I ever dreamed of

عمرو دياب - أنا ليك

نقول ايه خلاص انا و انت حبيبي مفيش حاجة نقولها
واصلين لدرجة حب محدش في الدنيا وصلها

انا ليك و عمري ما اكون يا حبيبي غير ليك روحي شاغلها
دي الثانية و انت بعيد ازاي قلبي هيستحملها
انا ليك و عمري ما اكون يا حبيبي غير ليك روحي شاغلها
دي الثانية و انت بعيد ازاي قلبي هيستحملها

يا حبيبي أوصف فرحتي بيك ازاي صعب عليا
أكتر يا قلبي ما بحلم بقى ملكي و بقى في إيديا

انا ليك و عمري ما اكون يا حبيبي غير ليك روحي شاغلها
دي الثانية و انت بعيد ازاي قلبي هيستحملها
انا ليك و عمري ما اكون يا حبيبي غير ليك روحي شاغلها
دي الثانية و انت بعيد ازاي قلبي هيستحملها
انا ليك و عمري ما اكون يا حبيبي غير ليك روحي شاغلها
دي الثانية و انت بعيد ازاي قلبي هيستحملها

DAM - I Have No Freedomدام - ما إلي حريةMali Hurriye

2009-09-28T13:43:00.004-04:00

DAM - I Have No Freedom

Chorus:
Everywhere I go I see borders, imprisoning humanity
How come all the children in the world are free, but I have no freedom?

Tamer:
We've been living for more than fifty years behind the bars of the laws that are imprisoning me in a reality that never changes
We don't get to feel any light except a fence from it
We see a blue sky with white clouds
In the middle of a star that reminds me I'm tied up (ie Israeli flag)
But no I'm resilient, living optimistically
You won't keep me from hoping with a dividing wall
And even if this barrier surrounds me I am tied to Palestine like a fetus to an umbilical chord
My legs are the roots of the olive tree in the earth that keeps producing and regrowing branches
Every branch outstretched in peace
Every branch subject to occupation, refusing to give up
So why don’t I have freedom?
Because I refuse to live in slavery

Mahmoud:
We searched for peace among the leaders of war
Generals of war, with them we've all become children of war
Asking for freedom from the prisons that mean to keep us blinded
Our eyes staring at the free children
While we keep rolling to the bitter life
And our leaders are only good at sweet-talking
Meanwhile they're crippling our country
We use power because of our weakness
We put up with death so that life will treat us kindly and not with oppression
We were born into this life
And when we found that we were not in control of it, we tried to take it by force
So we died, when all we ever asked for was a breath
And what we've sacrificed is our souls
So you tell me
How come I have no freedom when all the children in the world are free

Suheil:
I don’t want to live on my knees
And I don't want to die on my feet
I still see the Occupation reaching out its hand
Not for peace
Not for equality
Rather to strangle me
Another massacre
And a wall that’s separating me from myself that doesn't let me see the light of day
While the mother of the 51st state (ie America) raises another state
They who have been raised at the expense of another (ie Israel) are just like their mother
We're like the American Indians
Instead of protecting us they brainwash us
They tell us that we're the problem
But all the armies in the world can't stop freedom!

Little Girl Reading Poem:

We want an angry generation
To plow the horizon
To tear up history by its roots
To rip out thought from its depths
We want a new generation
That does not forgive for past mistakes
Nor bow down nor know any hypocrisy
We want a bold generation of giants

دام - مالي حرية

لازمه-علاء عزام
وين ما اروح باشوف حدود
ساجنه الأنسانيه
ليه أطفال العالم حره
وأنا ما الي حريه ?!

تامر نفار
فوق ال 50 سنه احنا عايشين ورى
سجون البنود اللي ساجنيني انا
بواقع, ما يتغير مش حاسين ولا
نور الاّ سياج منها احنا شايفين سما
لونها أزرق غيمها أبيض
بالنص نجمه تذكرك انت مقيد
بس لا, انا صامد, عايش متفائل
ما تعزل مني الامل بجدار فاصل
ولو, السور يدور انا مربوط
بفلسطين كجنين لحبل الطابور
اجري بالأرض جذور شجر زتون
تضل تولد تجدد وتجدد غصون
كل غصن, ممدود للسلام, كل غصن
معروض لاحتلال, ما يريد استسلام
طب ليه, ليه أنا اللي ما اله حريه ?
لأني أنا رافض أني أعيش بعبوديه
لازمه *2
محمود جريري
احنا بندور عالسلام بين قواد حرب
رواد حرب معاهم صرنا أولاد حرب
نطلب الحريه من السجون المعنيه
انه نكون مع عيون دايما معميه
من التفرج عأطفال العالم الحره
دايما نضل بتدحرج للحياه المره
وقوادنا شاطرين بس بتبهرج الكلام
كلهم ماخدين تخرج بتعرج الأوطان
واحنا بنستعمل القوه عشان الضعف
بنتحمل الموت عشان الحياه تعاملنا بلطف
ومش بعسف, للحياه انولدنا
ولما لقيناها مش بايدنا جربنا نوخدها
فمتنا, وكل اللي طلبنا كان نفس
و اللي ضحينا عشانه برضو كان نفس
انت قل لي, ليش أطفال العالم حره
وانا ما الي انا ما الي حريه?!
لازمه *2
سهيل نفار
انا بديش اعيش عركبي
وانا بديش اموت عاجري
وانا لساتني شايف الاحتلال
مادد ايد, مش للسلام
مش مساواه بل تايهديني
حبل مشنقه, كمان مجزره
وجدار اللي فاصل بيني وبين حالي
اللي ما مخلليني اشوف ضو السماء
وأم ال 51 ولايه
تربي كمان ولايه
اللي تربى على حساب غيرها
متأثره من امها, الهنود الحمر
متأمله تمحينا تغسل دماغنا
تقللنا انه المشكله هي احنا
بس حتى جيوش العالم
كلها ما تقدرعالحريه
لازمه *2
عنات اغباريه:
نريد جيلا غاضبا
نريد جيلا يفلح الأفاق
وينكش التاريخ من جذوره
وينكش الفكر من الأعماق
نريد جيلا قادما مختلف الملامح
لا يغفر الأخطاء لا يسامح
لا ينحني لا يعرف النفاق
نريد جيلا, رائدا عملاق

Lyrics transcription from here

Amr Diab - Light of My Eyeعمرو دياب - نور العينHabibi Ya Nour el AynLumière De Mes Yeux

2009-09-27T13:56:00.002-04:00

Updated media and translation

This is one of the most well known modern Arabic pop songs in the world. I think it was made around 1996. It made this Egyptian singer, Amr Diab the preeminent popstar of the Arabic world to this day.

The video appears to be set in a sort of Andalusian/North African village setting and the flamenco guitars and accordion add to this motif.

Amr Diab - Light of My Eye

My darling, light of my eye, you live in my imagination
I've adored you for years with nobody else on my mind

Darling, darling, darling, light of my eye
Darling, darling, darling, light of my eye
Darling, darling, darling, light of my eye
Darling, darling, darling, light of my eye
You live in my imagination

The most beautiful eyes I've ever seen in the universe
God be with you and their magic
Your eyes are with me, your eyes are enough
Your eyes are with me, your eyes are enough
To light up the nights

Your heart called out to me and said you love me
God be with you, you reassured me

With you is the beginning, with you is the whole story
With you is the beginning, with you is the whole story
I'm with you until the end

عمرو دياب - نور العين

حبيبى يا نور العين يا ساكن خيالى
عاشق بقالى سنين ولا غيرك فى بالى

حبيبى حبيبى حبيبى يا نور العين
آه حبيبى حبيبى حبيبى يا نور العين
حبيبى حبيبى حبيبى يا نور العين
آه حبيبى حبيبى حبيبى يا نور العين
يا ساكن خيالى

اجمل عيون فى الكون انا شفتها
الله عليك الله على سحرها

عيونك معايا عيونك كفايا
عيونك معايا عيونك كفايا
تنور ليالى

قلبك ندانى وقال بتحبنى
الله عليك الله طمنتنى

معاك البدايه وكل الحكايه
معاك البدايه وكل الحكايه
معاك للنهايه

Sofia Marikh - The Word Loveصوفيا مريخ - كلمة حبKilmet Hob

2009-09-24T13:44:00.004-04:00

Sofia Marikh - The Word Love

What difference would the word "love" make?
You could satisfy me with it
My heart asks about it a lot and you're keeping it from me
Tell me what you're feeling and make it sweet
Why are you holding it in?
I wanna hear it

Tell me it again and again and sing it to me
I need to hear it from you a lot

Day after day I'm getting more attached to you and I'm forced to hide it
While I stay up all night thinking of you
Why are you lighting my fire?
This love of yours is showing in your eyes
Why arey ou hiding it?
Then just say it I beg you, and put my mind at ease

صوفيا مريخ - كلمة حب

كلمة حب ح تفرق ايه ترضيني بيها قلبي بيسأل عنها كتير وانت مخبيها
ما اللي تحسه قوللي عليه قولها وحليها انت شايلها فقلبك ليه انا نفسي فيها
قولهالي تاني تاني قولهالي وغنيهالي محتاجة اسمعها منك كتير وكتير
قولهالي تاني تاني قولهالي وغنيهالي محتاجة اسمعها منك كتير وكتير
يوم عن يوم بتعلق بيك وغلبت اداري وعايشة ليلاتي بقكر فيك ليه بتقد ناري
حبك ده باين في عينيك على ايه بتداري طب ما تقولها الله يخليك وريحلي بالي
يوم عن يوم بتعلق بيك وغلبت اداري وعايشة ليلاتي بقكر فيك ليه بتقد ناري
حبك ده باين في عينيك على ايه بتداري طب ما تقولها الله يخليك وريحلي بالي
قولهالي تاني تاني قولهالي وغنيهالي محتاجة اسمعها منك كتير وكتير
قولهالي تاني تاني قولهالي وغنيهالي محتاجة اسمعها منك كتير وكتير

The Rosanna عالروزانا الروزاناAl Rozana

2009-09-23T16:58:00.004-04:00

The song "Al Rozana (ع الروزانا)" is a folk song native to the region of the Levant or بلاد الشام, ie Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine. The story behind it is that at the height of the intense wheat famine that the region experienced at the beginning of the 20th century, and Italian ship called "The Rosanna" was said to have been sent carrying food to the starving population of the Levant. Everybody was waiting in anticipation for the ship's arrival, but when it finally landed as the story goes in the song, it was carrying nothing but apples and grapes, on of the foods that the region was actually overflowing with at that time. The people cursed the ship for this reason.

Here are the lyrics.

Oh the Rosanna, the Rosanna, everything good is inside her
What has the Rosanna done?
God punish her!
Oh the Rosanna the Rosanna, all happiness is inside her
What has the Rosanna done?
God punish her

Hey you who are going to Aleppo, my love went with you
Hey you who are carrying grapes and on top of that apples
Everyone is with their beloved and my beloved has gone
Oh lord, may the breeze bring my lover back to me

عالروزانا عالروزانا كل الحلى فيها
شو عملت الروزانا ألله يجازيها
عالروزانا عالروزانا كل الهنا فيها
شو عملت الروزانا الله يجازيها
يا رايحين ل حلب حبي معاكم راح
يا محملين العنب فوق العنب تفاح
كل من حبيبه معه وأنا حبيبي راح
يا ربي نسمة هوى ترد الولف ليا

In an article in al-Watan, Bandar Khalil explains the cultural significance of this event in the present day like this:

With this genuine Arabic song, many questions arise in the mind of the genuine Arab. For example, how many of our people have had all of their rosy dreams met with dark disappointment, and all their hopes were squandered on an endless range of despair, frustration and helplessness? How many of us have waited and were patient and bore all of the their pain, only to find that when our Rosanna came and dropped anchor in the harbor of their dreams, nothing came out of it... We as an Arab people that has spent its whole life waiting for numerous "Rosannas" which still have never arrived, while carrying further disappointment for our dreams, how many times must we hear this song each day?

Yet, we shouldn't take this song as perceived by every listener as a song that sums up the broken dreams of the Arab people. Nonetheless, the theme of disappointment pervades discussion of the song. One poster in another forum describes the song as perfect for expression the feeling of disappointment by some soccer team. The point is this folk song is very much a song about getting your hopes up only to find that the thing you were waiting for was a mirage.

I've supplied many different versions so everyone can find their favorite.

Sabah Fakhri (صباح فخري)

Tony Hana (طوني حنا) with Gypsy Band

Lena Chamamian (لينا شماميان)

Amal Marcus (أمل مرقص)

Sofia Marikh - I Love You So Muchصوفيا مريخ - نبغيك بزافBizzaf

2009-09-21T14:13:00.006-04:00

Sofia Marikh - I Love You So Much

I love you so much, so much my darling
And I love you to death
Nobody but you has changed my life
Nor is anyone but you ever on my mind
You are so dear to my heart my darling

Your love is growing inside of me and I hope it continues to
Every day I feel something new

Nobody but you has changed my life
Nor is anyone but you ever on my mind
I love you so much, so much my darling
And I love you to death

صوفيا مريخ - بزاف

بزاف بزاف يا حبيبي بزاف بزاف نبغيك ونموت عليك انا بزاف بزاف
بزاف عليك يا حبيبي بزاف بزاف نبغيك ونموت عليك انا بزاف بزاف
ولا غيرك غيرلي ايامي ولا غيرك ابدا على بالي
ولا غيرك غيرلي ايامي ولا غيرك ابدا على بالي
غالي يا حبيبي غالي على قلبي بزاف
بزاف عليك يا حبيبي بزاف بزاف نبغيك ونموت عليك انا بزاف بزاف
حبك يكبر فيي واكتر كي يزيد
انا كنشعر يوميي باحساس جديد
حبك يكبر فيي واكتر كي يزيد
انا كنشعر يوميي باحساس جديد
ولا غيرك غيرلي ايامي ولا غيرك ابدا على بالي
ولا غيرك غيرلي ايامي ولا غيرك ابدا على بالي
غالي يا حبيبي غالي على قلبي بزاف
بزاف بزاف يا حبيبي بزاف بزاف نبغيك ونموت عليك انا بزاف بزاف
بزاف بزاف يا حبيبي بزاف بزاف نبغيك ونموت عليك انا بزاف بزاف
بزاف بزاف يا حبيبي بزاف بزاف نبغيك ونموت عليك انا بزاف بزاف

Lyrics transcription from here

Ahmed Qabour - I'm Calling Youأحمد قعبور - أناديكمOunadikom

2009-09-17T16:11:00.009-04:00

These lyrics are taken from a poem written in 1966 by Tawfiq Ziad (توفيق زيّاد), who was a Palestinian poet and later went on to become mayor of Nazareth and finally a member of the Knesset after his return from the Soviet Union in 1973 as a member of the Israeli communist party Rakah.

Ahmed Kaabour - I'm Calling You

I'm calling you (the you in this song is the plural you or y'all if you prefer)
I shake your hands
I kiss the ground beneath your feet (literally, 'soles')
And say, "I'd die for you/I will redeem you" (the word fada "فدى" is a verb that means to "redeem", but in this context it has the meaning that he would die for them, because this word has the connotation of sacrificing yourself for someone else. Jesus Christ "the Redeemer" is sometimes call فادي in English, for example

I dedicated to you the light of my eyes (also kind of like giving your life to someone)
And I give you the warmth of my heart
And the tragedy that I live is that my fate is the same of yours

I have not become worthless in my country
Nor have I shrunk in fear
I stood in the face of my oppressors
A naked, barefoot orphan

I've carried my blood on my hands and never half-masted my flags
And I've preserved the green grass on the graves of my ancestors

أحمد قعبور - أناديكم

أناديكم
أشد على أياديكم..
أبوس الأرض تحت نعالكم
وأقول: أفديكم

وأهديكم ضيا عيني
ودفء القلب أعطيكم
فمأساتي التي أحيا
نصيبي من مآسيكم

أناديكم
أشد على أياديكم..

أنا ما هنت في وطني ولا صغرت أكتافي
وقفت بوجه ظلامي
يتيما، عاريا، حافي

حملت دمي على كفي
وما نكست أعلامي
وصنت العشب أخضر فوق قبور أسلافي

Majida el-Roumi - Listen to My Heartماجدة الرومي - إسمع قلبيIsmaa AlbiÉcoute Mon Cœur

2009-09-15T08:02:00.000-04:00

Updated media and translation

She's addressing her lover, expressing embarassment from his question "do you love me" or something along those lines. She's saying she doesn't want to respond, and he should know that from her behavior, that is, he should be able to tell. So he should listen to her heart and see "what is written in her eye," meaning what's on her mind, in order to see the truth.

Majida el-Roumy - Listen to My Heart

Listen to my heart and see its beats
You'll know my love from its rhythym

Why are you asking me and confusing me?
Listen to my heart and see its beats
You'll know my love
Listen
Listen to my heart

There is a word you want me to say to you, I know it
No matter how much you try, rest assured, I'm not going to say it

Ask my heart its secrets
It will not hide or conceal them

I can't tell you with my tongue that I love you
I can't tell you with my tongue that I love you
There is meaning in my heartbeat, it will answer you
The secrets of my heart and its tune are words
They are my tongue

The word you are waiting for is in my eye
The word you are waiting for is in my eye
Written, and you can read it
Look what it is
Look what it is
Ask it to tell you what's up with me
Possibly it loves you, possibly and what does it have to do with me

ماجدة الرومي - إسمع قلبي

إسمع قلبي وشوف دقاته
تعرف حبي من نغماته
إسمع قلبي وشوف دقاته
تعرف حبي من نغماته
ليه تسألني وتحيرني
إسمع قلبي وشوف دقاته
تعرف حبي... إسمع
إسمع قلبي

إسمع قلبي وشوف دقاته
تعرف حبي من نغماته
إسمع قلبي وشوف دقاته
تعرف حبي من نغماته
ليه تسألني وتحيرني
إسمع قلبي وشوف دقاته
تعرف حبي... إسمع
إسمع قلبي

في كلمة عاوزني أقولها لك أنا عرفاها
مهما تحاول ريح بالك، مش قايلاها
في كلمة عاوزني أقولها لك أنا عرفاها
مهما تحاول ريح بالك، ، مش قايلاها
إسأل قلبي عن أسراره
مش بيخبي ولا بيداري
إسأل قلبي عن أسراره
مش بيخبي ولا بيداري

ليه تسألني ليه تسألني وتحيرني
إسمع قلبي وشوف دقاته
تعرف حبي... إسمع
إسمع قلبي

إسمع قلبي وشوف دقاته
تعرف حبي من نغماته
إسمع قلبي وشوف دقاته
تعرف حبي من نغماته
ليه تسألني وتحيرني
إسمع قلبي وشوف دقاته
تعرف حبي... إسمع
إسمع قلبي

مش ممكن أقلك بلساني إني بحبك
مش ممكن أقلك بلساني إني بحبك
دقة قلبي فيها معاني هي تجاوبك
أسرار القلب وألحانه هي كلام... هي لساني
ليه تسألني ليه تسألني وتحيرني
إسمع قلبي وشوف دقاته
تعرف حبي... إسمع
إسمع قلبي

الكلمة إللي بتستناها أهي بعيني
الكلمة إللي بتستناها أهي بعيني
مكتوبة وتقدر تقرأها... شوف أيه هي
شوف أيه هي
إسألها تقلك على حالي
يمكن بتحبك... يمكن، وأنا مالي
ليه ليه ليه تسألني ليه تسألني وتحيرني
إسمع قلبي وشوف دقاته
تعرف حبي... إسمع
إسمع قلبي

إسمع قلبي وشوف دقاته
تعرف حبي من نغماته
إسمع قلبي وشوف دقاته
تعرف حبي من نغماته
ليه تسألني وتحيرني
إسمع قلبي وشوف دقاته
تعرف حبي... إسمع
إسمع قلبي

Lyrics transcription from La7oon.com

Ramallah Underground feat. Lethal Skillz - From the Caveمن الكهفMin il Kaheff

2009-09-12T20:40:00.008-04:00

Ramallah Underground feat. Lethal Skillz - From the Cave

Words in the Sample:

They wanna starve the population, cuz when the people are hungry, they no longer think of resisting

Stormtrap:

I'm playing with death
I wanna know what is death toll here
I don't hear anything
Shut off the phone
Ask because nobody's been asking
Be they politician or diplomat
They're sittin on their chairs and discussing
Puttin their heads back relaxin as the homes in Lebanon and Gaza are being destroyed
It's time for us to flip off (ie give them the finger) the whole world cuz they're gonna keep talking and never do anything
So what do we wanna relax and wait, I wish
But it's for nothin
They forgot about us a long time ago
You try to hold yourself back when you see before you those who stood you up and those who carried you (???)
I'm not surprised if diabolical thoughts are goin round in your head
You start to call out to the world but the world's asleep
And even if it woke up it wouldn't hear what you're sayin

Here, it's like you can't win (literally, "one day's yours, a hundred are against you" this refers to the expression in Arabic يوم ليك يوم عليك which roughly translates as "win some, lose some")
There's barriers all around you, your wrists in handcuffs
Tell me what did you do?
I don't wanna hit the wall, I wish
But I am, just like this
My life is a bicycle tire
And now the chain is slipping
The time has come to hit the gas
Start pullin, start spreadin words in every direction
Because my words are my weapon

Boikutt:

One by one, two by two, three by three
They're wiping us out
Let's get down to the shelters before they see us
They bombard us wherever we go, but they could never push us out
We stand strong to the last moment when they're missiles hit us

And the Arab leaders have abandoned us, they left us and ran to our enemy
Cuz they couldn't help us
They promised us with the future, but look where they've brought us?
2007 and the world is marching on and they've blown us up
They starved us, they wanna make us forget
For years we kept building and they suddenly came and destroyed us like that
Threatened us, tried to scare us, poisoned us with democracy
They didn't even let us live a normal life
They put us on a fuse and detonated us
Demolished us and wiped up our blood
All that and they still haven't rid us of our woes

Chorus:

I try to ignore it, but politics keeps pulling at me
I tell it "go away, I don't wanna"
It tells me "I'm a part of your life, you cannot resist me"

Ramallah Underground - من الكهف

بدهم يجوعوا الأهالي لأنو الناس لما يجوعو ما بوعودو يفكروا بالمقاومة

نازل العب بالموت , بدي اعرف ايش عدد الموت هون
مش سامع ولا صوت, اطفي التلفون اسأل لأنو ولا حد سائل
سواءاً سياسي أو دوبلوماسي , قاعدين ع هالكراسي وبتحدثوا
بروحوا بحوطوا روسهم و بتمددو , والبيوت في لبنان و غزة عم يتهدموا
اجا الوقت نرفع بعبوص لكل العالم لأنو راح يضلو يحكي وعمرو ما حيعمل
فئيش بدنا نضلنا نقنع و نستنا بتمنى , بس عالفاضي من زمان نسييو عنا
ساعة بتمسك حالك لما تشوف قدامك , اللي قامك واللي شالك
مش مستغرب اذا افكار جهنمية عم بدور ببالك
نازل بتنادي عالدنيا بس الدنيا نامت , وحتى اذا قامت ما حتسمع كلامك
ها ما حتسمع كلامك!!!!!
هون يوم معاك مية عليك , حواجز حواليك , كلبشات ع ايديك
قولي شو سويت , مابدي فوت بالحيط ياريت
بس انا فايت هيك هيك , حياتي عجل بسكليت
وهلأ فلت الجنزير اجا الوقت ادعس بنزين
ابدا شد ابدا مد حكيي , لكل النواحي , لأنو كلماتي سلاحي.

بدهم يجوعوا الأهالي لأنو الناس لما يجوعو ما بوعودو يفكروا بالمقاومة

11 22 33
عم يمحونا,هات لننزل عال ملاجئ قبل ما يشوفونا
بقصوفونا وين ما روحنا بس بحياتهم ما بطحونا
صامدون لأخر لحظة لصواريخكم ايصابونا
و رؤساء العرب سابونا تركونا و هربوا لعند عدونا
لأنو ما قدروا يعدونا , وعدونا بالمستقبل بس شوف لوين جابونا
2007 عالم بمشي دوغري و احنا فجرونا , جوعونا,بدهم ينسونا
قعدنا سنين نبني و اجو فجأة هيك هدونا , هددونا و خوفونا
بالديمقراطية سممونا,حتى نعيش حياة طبيعية ما خلونا
حطونا عخط النار ونسفونا دمرونا نشفولنا دمنا
كل هاد و لسا ما خلصونا من همنا.

بحاول اطنش بس السياسة بتشدني
بقولها افلتي ما بدي
بتقولي انا جزء من حياتك
مش حتقدر تمشي ضدي.

Lyrics transcription from here

Tamer Hosny - Loveتامر حسني - حبHob

2009-09-11T22:27:00.000-04:00

Tamer Hosny - Love

Where was love before I loved you
Tomorrow, no I don't want tomorrow unless with you

If I will live calling one word may it be your name
If I will live dreaming of tomorrow may it be from you
You are my favorite topic
My life began anew when I first saw you

If you leave me I will not live again after you
I have never experienced affection except when I was beside you
Oh you who is inside my heart I've inscribed your image
All my hope in my life is to remain in your embrace

تامر حسني - حب

حب كان فين الحب قبل ما أهواك
بكرة مش عايز بكرة الا و أنا وياك
حب كان فين الحب قبل ما أهواك
بكرة مش عايز بكرة الا و أنا وياك
لو حعيش أنده بكلمة تبقى أسمك
لو حعيش أحلم ببكرة يبقى منك
يلى أحلى سيرة لما بتيجى سيرتك
يلى عمرى أبتدى من يوم ما شوفتك
لو حعيش أنده بكلمة تبقى أسمك
لو حعيش أحلم ببكرة يبقى منك
يلى أحلى سيرة لما بتيجى سيرتك
يلى عمرى أبتدى من يوم ما شوفتك

حب كان فين الحب قبل ما أهواك
بكرة مش عايز بكرة الا و أنا وياك
حب كان فين الحب قبل ما أهواك
بكرة مش عايز بكرة الا و أنا وياك
لو تسبنى مش حعيش أنا تانى بعدك
عمرى ماشوفت الحنان غير و انا جنبك
يلى جوه جوه قلبى حفرت صورتك
كل أملى فى الحياة أفضل فى حضنك
لو حعيش أنده بكلمة تبقى أسمك
لو حعيش أحلم ببكرة يبقى منك
يلى أحلى سيرة لما بتيجى سيرتك
يلى عمرى أبتدى من يوم ما شوفتك

Lyrics transcription from La7oon.com

Mira Awad - Our Relationshipميرا عوض - علاقتناOlaqatuna

2009-09-07T17:53:00.012-04:00

Mira Awad (Arabic ميرا عوض Hebrew מירה עווד) is an Arab-Israeli. Her father is a Palestinian from the Galilee and her mother is Bulgarian. In recent years, she has become famous and controversial as the first person of Arab descent to represent Israel in Eurovision, singing in Arabic. This, of course, was controversial for both Israelis and Arabs, since some Israelis see non-Jews as non-Israeli, while many Palestinians felt that Mira was being used as a token to falsely portray Israel as a pluralistic society. Still, other Arabs and Palestinians outside of Israel were outraged because Mira is an Arab with Israeli citizenship, pointing to tensions between Arabs and Palestinians descended from families that remained in Israel.

This song, sung in Modern Standard Arabic, is one of the most lyrically strange songs available on the site. Reader SimplyME has provided us with more info. Mira reportedly writes her own songs.

Mira Awad - Our Relationship

Our relationship has bonds of blood
It has bleeding blonds
A philosophical bleeding
A bleeding that has beauty

Our relationship has closeness, and distance
It is full of contradictions
Contradictions that make me find beauty in the bleeding

Our relationship has a connection of birth
It has a connection of miscarriage (or abortion??? the word used here إجهاض is normally the translation for "abortion", which in Arabic is a "forced miscarriage. I guess miscarriage makes sense here in a metaphorical sense, but this is the first time I have ever seen this word used metaphorically. This is extremely provocative language for an Arabic song)
A miscarriage of ideas
A miscarriage with spirituality

Our relationship is full of death, full of life
It's full of madness
Madness that makes me find spirituality in the miscarriage

ميرا عوض (מירה עווד) - علاقتنا

علاقتنا فيها ربط الدم
فيها روابط نزيف
نزيف فلسفي
نزيف ذي جماليات
علاقتنا فيها قرب فيها بعد
فيها تناقضات
تناقضات تجعلني أجد في النزيف جماليات

علاقتنا فيها صلة ولاد
فيها صلة إجهاض
إجهاض فكري
إجهاض ذي روحانيات
علاقتنا فيها موت فيها حياة
فيها جنونيات
جنونيات تجعلني أجد في الإجهاض روحانيات

Amr Diab - With Herعمرو دياب - وياهWayah

2009-09-07T17:06:00.005-04:00

Amr Diab - With Her

This is what I've always wanted
For chance to bring her together with me
Why would I waste the chance of a lifetime?
No way

She's looking into my eyes
This is more than I've ever dreamed of
This is the day that I've been waiting for
So I could say...

With her
Life will be sweeter by her side
This is what I've been hoping for
And when I see her, I feel
That she is the most beautiful and special person
She made my heart tell me, "that's it, calm down, we've found her"

Yeaaah, I'm gonna say it again and again
She's right here beside me, not far away
My heart's so happy it's like a holiday
Waiting for her

C'mon, the time has come
I'm not gonna wait another day
I gotta tell her I've had my eyes on her for so long

عمرو دياب - وياه

ده اللي كان نفسي فيه
لو تيجي صدفة تجمعني به
فرصة عمري أضيعها ليه ؟
مش معقول

عيني قدام عنيه
ده أكتر من اللي حلمت به
ده اليوم اللي أنا مستنيه
علشان أقول

وياه
الحياة هتحلي وأنا معاه
هو ده اللي أنا بتمناه
واللي عيني شايفاه إحساس
أنه أحلي وأغلي الناس
خلي قلبي يقولي خلاص
أهدى بقه لقيناه

أيوه هقول وأعيد
مهو بقه جنبي ومش بعيد
فرحة قلبي كأنه عيد
مستنيه

يا الله أهو جه الأوان
مش هستنى اليوم كمان
لازم أقوله انا من زمان
عيني عليه

Fairuz - Oh Lauraفيروز - يا لور حبكYa Laure Hubbuki

2009-09-06T14:50:00.012-04:00

This song appeared in the play Meis al Rim (ميس الريم) written by the Rahbani Brothers and starring Fairouz. I have supplied here the video from the play, in which Joseph Nassif (جوزيف نصيف) is singing, in addition to the mp3 or a version recorded by Fairouz.

I've translated the name Laur as Laura because it is the same name from the same root, referring to the Laurel tree which in Arabic can also be called شجر الغار.

Here is the Fairuz version:

You can click here to download it

Fairuz - Oh Laura

Oh Laura
Your love has tormented my heart
And I had given you my love and affection
Don't you recall our wonderful nights together
And the pledge we made to be true to each other?

The night, the breeze and the wailing nightingale
And the veil of melodies, as my heart loved you
So many dreams of love and purity blossomed
In them, days seemed like slumber

The night, the dreams and the wet shore
Longing, song, and the calm countryside
Those were such fine days, so wonderful and pure
When the melodies sang of loyalty and devotion

فيروز - يا لور حبك

يا لور حبك قد لوّع الفؤاد
وقد وهبتك الحب والوداد
ألا تذكري ليالي الصفا
وعهداً عهدناه على الوفا

الليل والأنسام والبلبل الشاكي
وسترة الأنغام والقلب يهواكِ
كم أزهرت أحلام بالحب والصفا
ظهرت بها الأيام مثل الغفا

الليل والأحلام والشاطئ النادي
والشوق والأنغام والموطن الهادي
يا طيبها أيام أحلى من الصفا
وتنشد الأنغام على الوفا

Makhoul Qassouf - If Only the Moon...مخول قاصوف - ريتو القمرReito al Amar

2009-09-04T16:20:00.005-04:00

Recorded in 1982, sung by Sami Hawat (سامي حواط)

Makhoul Qassouf - If Only the Moon...

If only the moon would come down as bread
Upon our houses and our fields
On wrecked homes
On tired hearts
Weariness has returned
All of the poems are sleeping
And the months bleed months

There's nothing left on the roads except sand and discarded plastic bags
On the mouth of the plains is a pile of bombs
A pile of stone and rain
Columns, like the people, bent over leaning

We've become images dried on the walls
And we fear the distance
We've become like this sound, echoing off water
They said it was done and the storm had passed
The morning has grown old
The darkness is still like swords on our necks
And the morning still has not come

It's early, my friend
Look at the black sky and the night crawling along its borders

If only the moon would descend upon the abandoned barricades
And lay mines of light in our hands so that we can blow up the graves
And meet the night head on in the squares
And the stones of the buried streets would awaken to our cries and rise up

مخول قاصوف - ريتو القمر

ريته القمر
ينزل خبز تنور
ع بيوتنا
ع حقولنا و يدور
ع بيوت خرباني
و قلوب تعباني

رجع الضجر
كل القصايد غافيه
و شهرْ ينزُف شهرْ

ما ضَّلْ عا الطرقاتْ
غير الرمل و كياسْ مشلُوحة
ع تمّ السهل
كومة قنابل
كومة حجارْ و شتي
عواميدْ مثل الناسْ
. . . عمْ تتكي تكي

صرنا صورْ
يبست على الحيطان
و نخاف المدى
صرنا متل هالصوت لميّ يرجّع صدى
قالوا خلص و العاصفة راحت
صار الصبح ختيار
بعدها العتمة سيوف
فوق رقابنا
بعده الصبح ما صار

بكير يا رفيقي
ليك السما سودا
و الليل عم يزحف على حدودها

ريته القمر
ينزل على متاريس مهجوره
يلغم ايدينا نور
نفجر فيها القبور
نهجم ع وجه الليلْ بالساحات
نخلّي حجارْ الشارع المقهور
تُوعى على صرخاتنا و تثور

Lyrics transcription from here

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

2009-09-03T14:25:00.010-04:00

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

Mohamed Abdel Wahhab - Don't Kiss Me on the Eyeمحمد عبد الوهاب - بلاش تبوسني في عنياBalash Tebousni fi Anaya

2009-09-03T11:36:00.007-04:00

This song requires a piece of cultural knowledge. When kissing someone goodbye, if it is going to be a long separation or even permanent farewell you might kiss them on their eye. Thus, Mohamed Abdel Wahhab says "don't kiss me on the eye" because he does not want it to be a final farewell.

There is a common misunderstanding of this lyric to be بلاش تبصني في عنيا by some because this phrase, which means "don't look me in the eye", sounds a lot like بلاش تبوسني في عنيا and is a much more common phrase.

I could not find the full lyrics online and don't dare try to decipher them since they are very long and the recording is old. If anyone can find the full lyrics it would be appreciated.

Mohamed Abdel Wahab - Don't Kiss Me on the Eye

Don't kiss me on the eye
Kissing the eye means splitting up
But maybe one day you'll come back to me
And my heart's dream will come true

Let's say goodbye without kissing
So that I can have some hope
Don't kiss me on the eye

محمد عبد الوهاب - بلاش تبوسني في عنيا

بلاش تبوسني في عينيا
دي البوسه في العين تفرق
يمكن في يوم ترجع اليا
والقلب حلمه يتحقق
خلي الوداع من غير قبل
علشان يكون عندي أمل
وبلاش تبوسني في عينيا

Abdel Rizzaq al-Jabbouri - Truck Driverعبد الرزاق الجبوري - المرهدنEl Murahdan (Ya Shofeer al Qamara)

2009-09-01T21:57:00.005-04:00

This song and video clip are particularly interesting because they really go to the heart of what independent or at least non-corporate music in the Arab World means, and reflects cultural and musical reality of what really is the majority of the world's Arab population.

This is a song and video produced by a local production company, likely recorded in the absence of much digital technology aside from the synthesizer known as the Org in Syria. The song, is based on a debke or folk song that exists in myriad forms and has many variable verses and lines that change from person to person and indeed village to village.

The setting is the general area of Deir Ezzor in Eastern Syria on the banks of the Euphrates River, which has a population comprised mainly of a Bedouins and Kurds some more urbanized than others, and this cultural context gives the music of this region its particular sound.

The video was in all likelihood produced and distributed as an MPEG on video CDs and comes to us posted by a youtube user seeking to ridicule the singer and his sensibilities, which he deems "shawi", a derogatory term somewhat analogous to the term "redneck" in English. The poster has inserted these little text comments into the video and I highly doubt they are part of the original since they are mocking. You'll find it posted here, but I have reposted it since the disabled embedding. There's also an alternative version, posted by the same guy here. It has essentially the same scenes but different shots, and also features a shot of Abdel Rizzaq singing on the bridge over the Euphrates.

For many Syrians, especially ones that own computers and post on youtube, this brand of music is seen as backward, silly, and almost embarrassing because it uses a rural dialect featuring rural themes and lacks all the refinement of more professionally produced music that seeks to emulate Western techniques and aesthetics.

However, for the open-minded listener this clip may very well be better than the commercial pop marketed by record labels precisely because it lacks that superficial, processed, bubble gum flavor. The video, if lacking production quality, is also a breath of fresh air because it shows the real, undoctored setting of the song, the bleak dusty roads of these small East Syrian towns. Of course, the video features a clip from a performance, likely at a wedding, with men and women dancing, at times together while other times men dancing with men and women dancing with women. Finally, the director has also put to use these local limited resources by parading a huge flock of sheep through the background of the final scene. Imagine how much it would cost to put a flock of sheep in a modern American music video (provided that you wanted to) and you can see how this song utilizes local characteristics and assets before judging its value.

The artist, Abdel Rizzaq al-Jabbouri has since recorded a more hi-fi version with a cleaned up, in my opinion bland, accompaniment for Gulf television. You can see it here on youtube, however, I prefer the original recording.

I haven't been able to provide the lyrics to all the available verses of this song, which may be infinite, but here we have all but one of the verses to the song in the video. Of course, the information for the translations is not all my own. I have consulted an Arabic discussion forum in which members explain and debate the meanings of obscure, extremely local words and phrases found in Arabic folk music. You can find the original postings here.

Abdel Rizzaq al-Jabbouri - Truck Driver

عبد الرزق الجبوري - المرهدن, يا شوفير الغمارة

We're going to do this song line by line because it needs a lot of explanation:

Did you find the pretty girl for me Mr. Truck Driver? (see note)

ما شفت لي المرهدن (المزيون) يا شوفير الغمارة

She's going east of al-Mouhassan taking al-Ashara road (see note)

يمشي شرق الموحسن وقاضب درب العشارى

In the song he uses the word مرهدن (muhrahdan)or other words indicating that a girl is beautiful. For those interested, مرهدن is a very particular word. According to a poster on youtube.com it refers to a girl wearing a certain kind of dress native to East Syria and Iraq. I couldn't find a picture online, but it would be typical village dress of such places as Deir Ezzor. Anyway, المرهدن walks with رهدنة, which is a slow, feminine walk that is very attractive somehow refers to the movement of her dress from what I can infer. This song, which exists in many forms is often called المرهدنة

However, I am calling this song by it's other title when translating to English because it makes more sense, which is يا شوفير الغمارة (ya shofir al-qamara), a term that means truck driver or perhaps a better translation is trucker. The kind of truck in question الغمارة (sometimes pronounced القمارة) is like a pick-up truck or the front half of the tractor trailer. See the video for pictures of trucks.

In the second line there الموحسن (al-Mouhassan) and العشارى (al-Ashara) are locales found in the region of East Syria roughly between Deir Ezzor and al-Aboukmal. Much of the video seems to be filmed at the locale mentioned in the song, as you can see at the beginning the sign marking al-Mouhassan and the arches over the highway where they come to a T.

God damn money and this luck of mine

يلعن أبو المصاري لبو الحظ اللي رماني

All of them blamed me when they knew I wasn't from here (see note)

كلهم عالوا عليا من عرفوني اجنيباني

The first line is pretty straight forward. The second line contains this word اجنيباني (jnebani) which is similar to the idea of a foreigner but on a much smaller scale. If someone is اجنيباني it really means there are just from a different village or city, which on the village scale might seem like the guy is foreign, foreign enough to refuse marriage anyway.

They want a high dowry so I'll find me a loan (see note)

يريدون سياقه غالي تا شوف لي دبارة

Half from the Abraz boys and the rest from the Baqara (see note)

نص من عيال الأبرز والباقي من البقارة

Apparently سياق(siyaq, or could be siyagh) refers to the "bride-price" or المهر here. This is the amount to be paid to the bride and her family to secure an engagement. So when he says he needs to get a دبارة (dabbara) it means he needs to arrange the necessary funds to uphold his end of the marriage contract.

In the next line, I suppose he is saying where he could get the funds from. The term عيال الأبرز (ayyal al-abraz) is the nickname of the tribe al-3aqidat (العقيدات) and البقارة (al-baqqara) is the name of another tribe in the area.

There is another verse, but I can't make it out and could not find it recorded anywhere online.

Fairuz - The Shalabi Girlفيروز - البنت الشلبيةAl Bint Al Shalabiya

2009-09-01T08:22:00.001-04:00

I'm confused as to whether شلبي is a word with any meaning or it is just a place name. Can someone help me out?

Fairouz - The Shalabi Girl

The Shalabi girl
She has almond eyes
I love you from the bottom of my heart
Oh sweetheart, you are everything to me (literally, you are my eyes)

Under the arches
My love is waiting
It wasn't easy for me to let you down, my love

You appear in the distance and my heart is wounded
And I reminisce about days past

Under the pomegranate tree
My love spoke to me
Sang me songs and flirted with me

فيروز - البنت الشلبية

البنت الشلبية
عيونها لوزية
بحبك من قلبي
ياقلبي انت عنيا
حد القناطر
محبوبي ناطر
كسر الخواطر
ياولفي ماهان عليا

بتطل بتلوح و القلب مجروح
و أيام عالبال بتعن و تروح

تحت الرمانة
حبي حكاني
وسمعني غناني
ياعيوني
وتغزل فيا

Lyrics transcription from La7oon.com

Carol Samaha - Like a Dreamكارول سماحة - مثل الحلمMitl el HilmComme un rêve

2009-08-31T12:38:00.001-04:00

Updated media and translation

Carol Samaha - Like a Dream

Like a dream
We were two unlike anyone
The dream was lost
And we split in two
Waiting for a word

We are not thinking the same
We never agree with each other
Despite that from my heart I love you and you likewise

But your heart alone will not suffice for the whole journey
There's many things we don't agree on
Let's make a decision

كارول سماحة - مثل الحلم

مثل الحلم كنا اتنين ما بنشبه حدا
ضاع الحلم صرنا اتنين كلمة ناطرين

فكرك مش على فكري
دايما مختلفين
مع اني من قلبي بحبك وانت كمان

قلبك وحده ما بيكفي لكل المشوار
باشيا كتيرة ما اتفقنا خلتنا نختار

Haifa Wehbe - I am Haifaهيفاء وهبي - أنا هيفاءAna Haifa

2009-08-31T00:08:00.002-04:00

The lyrics to this song might not seem to make sense, and believe me, they don't make much sense in Arabic, and they are not really intended to. It is just filler for Haifa to say her name and dance in my opinion. For some reason, there was a trend a few years ago in which all the different Arabic pop singing girls made songs where they inserted the word "ana (أنا)", ie the pronoun for "I" or "me", into all the songs like a hundred times. I honestly don't know if they were all written by the same guy or what the deal is. I suppose it is supposed to be sexy when they women say "ana" non-stop, because you don't hear this type of thing in songs performed by males. If you want to go deeper, I think that it is considered sexy because it makes the girls look completely dumb and shallow, and draw attention to themselves, which is definitely the marketing used with some of these female Arab pop artists.

Haifa Wehbe - I am Haifa

I am Haifa
Who but me?
My heart is afflicted with beautiful eyes
Dance me
Spoil me
Your darling is me, but who is she?

Don't play around go tell her, my darling
Me and everyone else know
I'll tell her, my darling
My nights are bliss
My darling is with me, but who are you?

هيفاء وهبي - أنا هيفاء

أنا هيفاء أنا
من غيري أنا
قلبي اللي ابتلى بعيون حلوين
رقصني أنا دلعني أنا
حبيبتك انا بس هي مين

ما تلعب جلا روح
قول لا إلها حبيبي
أنا والناس عارفين
يا بقلها أنا
أنا ليلي هناء
حبيبي معي بس انتي مين
من بيبي أنا
أنا هيفاء أنا
يابيبي أنا والناس عارفين
أنا هيفاء أنا
من غيري أنا
حبيبك أنا مين غيري مين

Selma with Ziad Rahbani - Suit Against Anonymousسلمى وزياد رحباني - دعوة ضد مجهولDaawa Didd Mejhoul

2009-08-28T12:12:00.000-04:00

Updated translation

This is off an album sung by Selma and composed by Ziad Rahbani. It's one of the few examples of Arabic jazz that i've seen.

The lyrics of this song are difficult to translate, especially the insults, which I have tried to translate literally to convey the meaning in Arabic even if they sound awkward in English. دعوى is a lawsuit.

Selma - Suit Against Anonymous

This is a suit against anonymous
You fool you drunk

The fool is racing, racing with what
Racing with some unknown

Cmon catch up my dear
Cmon catch up my dear

This is a suit with no limits
You clumsy fool you limited person

This means you mean you're accused
Everything is here/present

What will you accomplish my dear?
What will you accomplish my dear?

This is a suit against...against...against

سلمى - دعوة ضد مجهول

هاي دعوى ضد مجهول
يا بهلة يا مسطول

البهلة ملاحق، شو ملاحق؟
ملاحق مجهول

تعا حصّل يا حبيبي
وتعا حصّل يا حبيبي

هاي دعوة مالها حدود
يا أخرق يا محدود

هاي يعني بتعني عم تتهم
كل شي موجود

شو حَ تنجح يا حبيبي!
وشو حّ تنجح يا حبيبي

هاى دعوى ضد.. ضد.. ضد.. ضد!

Lyrics transcription from Jablah.com

Kazem el-Saher - Love Schoolكاظم الساهر - مدرسة الحبMadrasat el-Hob

2009-08-20T17:18:00.002-04:00

Updated media and translation

The lyrics are from a Nizar Qabbani poen. The original translation was very hastily done, but I've updated it now.

Kazem el-Saher - Love School

Loving you taught me how to be sad
I've been in need for ages for a woman to make me sad
For a women for me to cry in her arms like a sparrow

For a woman to gather my pieces like shards of broken crystal
Loving you, milady, taught me my worst habits
It taught me to open my cup at night a thousand times
And try herbal medicine and knock on the doors of fortune-tellers
It taught me to leave my house to comb the sidewalks
And follow your face with the rains in the headlights of cars
The light of your eyes is millions of stars
Oh woman, you made the world spin
Oh my pain!

Loving you, milady, made me enter the cities of sadness
Cities of sadness that I had not entered before you
I didn't ever know that tears make you human
That someone without sadness is a vestige of a human

Loving you taught me to act like a child
To draw your face with chalk on the walls
Oh woman, you overturned my history
I've been cut up as sacrifice to you
From artery to artery
Loving you taught me how love can change the map of time
It taught me how when you love the world stops turning
Loving you taught me things that were never expected

I've read childrens stories and entered the castles of the kings of the Jinn
And I dreamed that the sultan's daughter (ie, her) would marry me
Her eyes were clearer than the water of the gulfs
Her lips were more crimson than pomegranate blossoms
And I dreamed that I took her like a knight
And I dreamed that I gave her bracelets of pearl and coral
Loving you, milady, taught me about delirium
It taught me how the years can pass without the sultan's daughter coming

كاظم الساهر - مدرسة الحب

علمني حبكِ ان احزن
وانا محتاج منذ عصور لامرأه تجعلني احزن
لامرأه ابكي فوق ذراعيها مثل العصفور

لامرأه تجمع اجزائي كشظايا البلور المكسور
علمني حبكِ سيدتي اسوأ عاداتي
علمني افتح فنجاني في الليله الاف المرات
واجرب طب العطارين واطرق باب العرافات
علمني اخرج من بيتي لامشط ارصفه الطرقات
واطارد وجهك بالامطار وفي اضواء السيارات
والملم من عينيكِ ملايين النجمات
ياامرأه دوخت الدنيا ياوجعي ياوجع النايات

ادخلني حبك سيدتي مدن الاحزان
وانا من قبلك لم ادخل مدن الاحزان
لم اعرف ابدا ان الدمع هو الانسان
ان الانسان بلا حزن ذكرى انسان
علمني حبك ان اتصرف كالصبيان
ان ارسم وجهك بالطبشور على الحيطان

ياامرأه قلبت تاريخي اني مذبوح فيكِ
من الشريان الى الشريان
علمني حبكِ كيف الحب يغير خارطه الازمان
علمني اني حين احب تكف الارض عن الدوران
علمني حبك اشياء ماكانت ابدا في الحسبان

وقرأت اقاصيص الاطفال دخلت قصور ملوك الجان
وحلمت بان تتزوجني بنت السلطان
تلك العيناها اصفى من ماء الخلجان
تلك الشفتاها اشهى من زهر الرمان
وحلمت باني اخطفها مثل الفرسان
وحلمت باني اهديها اطواق اللؤلؤ والمرجان
علمني حبك ياسيدتي ماالهذيان
علمني كيف يمر العمر ولا تأتي بنت السلطان

ادخلني حبك سيدتي مدن الاحزان
وانا من قبلك لم ادخل مدن الاحزان
لم اعرف ابدا ان الدمع هو الانسان
ان الانسان بلا حزن ذكرى انسان

Sara Al Hani - If I Had to Chooseسارة الهاني - لو خيرونيLaw Khayarouni

2009-08-12T17:39:00.005-04:00

المتصفح الذي لديك لايدعم مشغل الأغاني. دبر حالك و روح نزل البرنامج أو .&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;A HREF="http://server5.sm3na.com/452/Sm3na_com_Law_Khayarouni.rm"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;اضغط هنا&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/A&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; لسماع الأغنية.

لو خیّرونی
If I had to choose

لو خیّرونی ما بین عیونی وبین هواک أسیب عیونی
If I had to choose between my eyes and your love.. I'd give up my eyes
اختار حبیبی أروح معاک الاحبیبی
I would choose my love and go with you
کل الانا عایزة من الدنیا لؤاک
All I want in this life is to be with you

لو قالولک تبعد عنّی خلیها النهارده
If they told you to leave me.. Well you can do it today
عیّشنی اللیلادی حبیبی وانا بالیلة هارضة
Make my live for tonight.. and I will be satisfied with it
انا من امتی بحبک وانت ولا بحال
I've been in love with you for a long time, but you don't know how I feel
نفسی احکیلک عاللی ف قلبی واللی شاغللی بای
I wanna talk to you about my feelings and what I am thinking of

Mustafa Amar - Protect Meمصطفى قمر - خبينيKhabini

2009-08-08T18:20:00.000-04:00

The verb خبى means "to hide" "to hold" or "to protect" or perhaps "to shield." Here I've used protect me, but know that it simultaneously means "hold me" in these sentences.

المتصفح الذي لديك لايدعم مشغل الأغاني. دبر حالك و روح نزل البرنامج أو .&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;A HREF="http://music.6arab.com/amar..5abbeeni.ram"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;اضغط هنا&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/A&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; لسماع الأغنية.

Mostafa Amar - Protect Me

Protect me from the cold of night
Hold me in your embrace and keep me warm
Protect me from everyone, it doesn't matter where you take me

Let's escape from the fear of the nights
Let's forget the universe around us
Protect me, protect me

I see in your eyes dreams calling me
And when your eyes take me
I dream with you and get lost in your love
When I'm just standing in place

مصطفى قمر - خبيني

خبينى من برد الليل واحمينى فى حضنك دافينى
خبينى من برد الليل واحمينى فى حضنك دافينى
خبينى من كل الناس ولا حسبا لفين هتودينى
خلينا نهرب من خوف ليالينا
خلينا ننسى الكون من حوالينا
خبينى خبيني
خلينا نهرب من خوف ليالينا
خلينا ننسى الكون من حولينا
شايف فى عينك احلام تناديك وعينيك
وخدانى احلم وياك واتوه فى هواك
وانا واقف فى مكانى
خلينا نهرب من خوف ليالينا
خلينا ننسى الكون من حولينا
خبيني خبينى

Lyrics transcription from La7oon.com

Ragheb Alama - When I'm With Youراغب علامة - وأنا وياكWana Wayak

2009-08-08T08:22:00.000-04:00

Ragheb Alama - When I'm With You

When I'm with you, my darling, it's like I'm in heaven
I found more than I could have wished for in you
I'm in another world when I'm with you
I love you and I couldn't live out my days without you
I'd never forget you

My darling, I have nothing in this world but you
I want the years of life to pass with you
I love you so much that nothing I could say to you could describe
My darling, you made this world worth living
And you've given me more than I ever dreamed of
It's like the life I lived before you never happened

Since I've been with you, I've found all my dreams came true (literally: in my hands)
You've cared for me more than anyone else in this world
Life is worth nothing in my eyes without you
Believe me, you're closer to me than anyone
I'll say it as loud as I can
I love you

راغب علامة - وأنا وياك

و أنا وياك حبيبي كأني في الجنة
لقيت يا حبيبي فيك أكثر ما بتمنى
بعيش دنيا غير الدنيا و أنا وياك
متطمن انا بهواك و مش ممكن أعيش أيامي من غيرك ولا انساك

حبيبي ماليش من كل الدنيا إلا انت
و نفسي تفوت سنين عمري معاك انت
بحبك مهما اقولهالك ده ما يكفيش
حبيبي انت اللي بيك الدنيا صالحتني
و اكتر من اللي بحلم بيك انا اديتني
انا عمري اللي كان قبلك كأنو ماكان

و أنا وياك لقيت أحلامي في ايديا
يا اكتر قلب خاف في الدنيا دي عليه
ما تسواش حاجة في عينيا الحياة بعديك
صدقني يا أقرب لي انا مني
بقولها بأعلى صوت ليا انا بهواك

Lyrics transcription from here

Tamer Ashour - It Looks Like It's Goneتامر عشور - باينه ضاعBaynu Daa

2009-08-07T19:01:00.000-04:00

Tamer Ashour - It Looks Like It's Gone

I'm afraid to get close
Someone listening is coming from afar
Coming to shatter our beautiful hopes
And I'll live alone afterwards
Today is the day that we had never considered
Whenever our eyes meet I go back in time
And I remember the word that made us fall in love and tenderness
I feel sorry for myself, my heart's torment is increasing

Oh, we dreamed of everything, except we never dreamed of this
We never once said that our love might someday be lost
The dream that's beginning was I love you's end turns out to be goodbye
We said that throughout our days all the other loves would be jealous of us
My dream was that I would die beside after many years
But that dream in a moment changed, or it looks like it's gone

Do you hear my heart begging to you stay here with me?
My hunger for you would never die
What should we do?
Our farewell is knocking at the door, my darling, it's calling us
Try to get used to it and I'll adjust
Don't you dare forget me
Please remember that I'll remember you every day
Take care
Our fate is to be separated
It's our destiny

تامر عشور - باينه ضاع

خايف قرب جاي علينا سامع من بعيد
جاي يكسر احلي امالينا واعيش بعده وحيد
هو اليوم اللي احنا حبيبي ما عملناش حسابه
كلما عيني تيجي في عينك برجع بالزمان
وافتكر الكلمة اللي مالتنا بالشوق والحنان
ترجع تصعب نفسي عليا قلبي يزيد عذابه

أة حلمنا بكل حاجة الا ده ما حلمنا بيه
عمرنا في مرة ما قلنا ان شوقنا تروح عليه
والحلم اللي بدايته بحبك تبقي نهايته وداع
قلنا هنفضل طول ايامنا حاسدنا العاشقين
كان حلمي اني اموت وانا جنبك بعد سنين جايين
بس الحلم في لحظة اتغير ولا باينه ضاع

سامع قلبي بيطلب منك تبقي قصاد عنيه
انا عمري ما بشبع منك بس هنعمل ايه
والله وداع بيدق علي بابنا حبيبي ينادينا
عود نفسك وانا هتعود واياك تنسي يوم
خليك فاكر ان انا فاكرك دايما كل يــــــــــوم
خد بالك منك ده نصيبنا فراق مكتوب علينا

Somaya - Beating Around the Bushسمية - لف ودورانLiff wa Dawaran

2009-08-06T17:59:00.004-04:00

Leff wa Dawaran لف ودوران is an Arabic expression that means the equivalent of "beating around the bush" or not directly saying what you want to say.

المتصفح الذي لديك لايدعم مشغل الأغاني. دبر حالك و روح نزل البرنامج أو .&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;A HREF="http://dc150.4shared.com/download/123416402/dace5439/somaya-lf-wdwran.rm?tsid=20090806-183414-a86ec668"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;اضغط هنا&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/A&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; لسماع الأغنية.

Somaya - Beating Around the Bush

What's with you man
Let me go
No matter what you say I won't come back to you
You're causing a problem for me
Do you remember me saying that I would come back?

I don't wanna beat around the bush
I know that your eyes wander (meaning, he's looking at other girls)
So you think that when you try to trick me I'll be happy with you

Frankly, you're fooling yourself
If you're gonna lie, lie well
Go act and try to fool somebody else
I feel sorry for you

As far as I'm concerned, I've removed you from my mind
Actually, what happened to me with you was too hard for me to forget
Oh my God, you're coming back again
Saying insincere sweet nothings and I don't understand them

This is how I feel
Stop talking nonsense
Wake up my darling and listen to me
Why are you making this into an ordeal?
Stop doing this with me and go, it's enough
Oh, spare me

Are you seriously coming to try to make me feel sorry for you?
I'm standing here before you stunned
How can you think that so easily I'll cave and soften towards you
You're lying to yourself
And I'm more than capable of repelling you and keeping up with you
I know all your words in full
So let's go, you poor boy

سمية - لف ودوران

مالك خيالتني ياعم حلني ده مهما قولتلي
مش هسمع
عامل لي مشكلة متهدى مش كده فاكرني قال كده
قال انا هرجع
لف ودوران انا مش عايزة انا عارفة ان انت عنيك زايغة
ومفكر لما هتخدعني انا هفرح بيك
بتضحك على شكلك بصراحة
اكدب بس اكدب بنصاحة
روح مثل واضحك على غيرى
انا صعبة عليك

انا بالنسبالي شيلتك من بالي
اصل اللى جرالي معاك اصعب من اني انساه
اه منك ياني راجع من تاني بتقول لي كلام حلو مزوق وانا مش فهماه
مالك خيالتني ياعم حلني ده مهما قولتلي
مش هسمع

انا قلبي هيدادي بلاش كلام فاضي اصحالي ياحبيبي
واسمعني
عاملها ليه حكاية بلاش كده معايا وروح كده كفاية
اه وارحمني
جاي بتتمسكن معقولة
انا واقفة قصادك مذهولة
ومفكر قال ايه بسهولة هضعف وهلين
تبقي انت بتكدب على نفسك
وانا قادرة اصدك وانافسك
ده انا حافظة كلامك بالملي يلا يا مسكين

Wael Jassar - All the Words in the Worldوائل جسار - كلام الدنيا كلهKalam El Donya Killo

2009-08-06T13:07:00.000-04:00

Wael Jassar - All the Words in the World

All the words in the world could not express my love for you
If I lived my whole life for you, it would still be less than you deserve
My heart, my soul, and my eyes
They don't get week for anyone, but they get weak for you

My darling I love you so much it's killin me
And I don't want it to end
This moment with you alone, so long as I'm seeing you here with me
Made me care about living, so that you can stay with me, my darling

The most beautiful moment in my life
While I'm beside you, in your arms
I don't know what my life would be if one day I didn't live for you
Your heart is good and caring, as if my soul was in it
Before I ever knew you

وائل جسار - كلام الدنيا كله

كلام الدنيا كله مايكفيش حبي ليك
لو اعيش لك عمري كله برضه قليل عليك
قلبي وروحي وعنيا
ما بيضعفوش لحد .. ومعاك بيضعفو
يا حبيبي بحبك حب قاتلني منيش بعرفله نهاية
اللحظة معاك بالدنيا بحالها .. مادام شايفك ويايا
خلتني أخاف على عمري عشان تفضل يا حبيبي معايا

أجمل لحظة في حياتي .. وانا جمبك بين اديك
معرفش انا ايه حياتي .. لو يوم مابقتش ليك
قلبك طيب حنين .. كأن نفسي فيه أنا
من قبل ما اعرفه

يا حبيبي بحبك حب قاتلني منيش بعرفلو نهاية
اللحظة معاك بالدنيا بحالها .. مادام شايفك ويايا
خلتني أخاف على عمري عشان تفضل يا حبيبي معايا

Lyrics transcription from here

Wael Jassar - Kalam El Donya

Kalam El Donya Kolo
Maykfeesh Hoby Leek
Lao 23shlak 3omry Kolo
Bardo 2olyl 3aleek
Alby We roo7y We 3nya
Mabyd3foosh L7d
We M3ak Byd3fo

Ya Habeeby Ba7bak
Hob Atelny Maleesh 23rflo Nehya
Del La7za M3ak Bl Donya Ba7lha
Madam Shayfak Wayaya
5altny A5af 3ala 3omry 3ashan
Tefdal ya Habibi Ma3aya

Agmal La7za Fe Hayaty
Wana Ganbak Be2edeek
Ma3rfshy Ana Eih Hayaty
Lao Youm Mab2tshy Leek
Albak Tayb Henyn
Kan Nefsy Feeh Ana
Mn Abl Ma3rfo

Ya Habeeby Ba7bak
Hob Atelny Maleesh 23rflo Nehya
Del La7za M3ak Bl Donya Ba7lha
Madam Shayfak Wayaya
5altny A5af 3ala 3omry 3ashan
Tefdal ya habibi Ma3aya

Wahida Khalil - Who Are You Blaming, My Heart?وحيدة خليل - عليمن يا قلب تعتبAlayman Ya Galob Taeteb

2009-08-02T17:52:00.005-04:00

You'll notice an exceedingly high percentage of the accompanying musicians wearing dark sunglasses. This is because in Baghdad there was a music school for the blind in the large Baghdad Jewish community, which produced scores of talented musicians and composers.

Wahida Khalil - Who Are You Blaming?

Who are you blaming, oh heart, who are you blaming
Who was it that you loved and tried and believed in
Love is not faithfulness, only abandonment and betrayal
Who are you blaming, oh heart, who are you blaming

Stop blaming and quit criticizing
Did you think you were in love with an angel (???)
Remember this shock and consider
You loved him and he loved you
And you were faithful to him and he was not faithful to you
Who are you blaming, oh heart, who are you blaming

Stop blaming he who is gone
He gave me sorrow while I gave him pureness
I started to reach him but he rejected me and cut me off
He cut the chord of love, that guy that I had loved
Who are you blaming, oh heart, who are you blaming

وحيدة خليل - عليمن يا قلب تعتب

عليمن يا قلب تعتب عليمن
هويت وجربت وامنت بيمن
ماللحب امانه .. بس هجر وخيانه
عليمن يا قلب تعتب عليمن

لا تعتب بعد واترك عتابك
اظن ملوّك هل كانوا احبابك
اذكر صدمتك واحسب حسابك
هويته وكان يهواك .. وفيت وما وفى وياك
عليمن ياقلب تعتب عليمن

لا تعتب بعد منهو اللي يوافي
سقاني الكدر وانا اسقيته صافي
بديت وصله وهو يصد ويجافي
قطع حبل المودة .. ذاك اللي كنت اوده
عليمن يا قلب تعتب عليمن

Lyrics transcription from here

Lamea Tawfiq - This Boyلميعة توفيق - هذا الحلوHatha al Halew

2009-08-02T16:58:00.004-04:00

So here I have translated "helw (حلو)" "pretty" or "pretty person" as "boy" because it is a woman singing. However if a man were to sing this song, and it seems to be written from the persona of a man, it should be translated as "girl" I think.

Lamea Tawfiq - This Boy

This boy is killing me auntie
I love him so much and I want to tell him
So how can you not understand me, auntie?
My whole soul is with him
Oh auntie, auntie

This boy is killing me and I want him
My heart has suffered while my soul is his hands
I can't bear being far from him
So how can I give my heart patience (to bear it)
When the fire of passion is burying it
My whole soul is with him
Oh auntie, auntie

He's inflicted me with sadness
His light is much more beautiful than the moon
I'm lost in my love, auntie
So how can I give my heart patience
When the fire of passion is burying it
My whole soul is with him
Oh auntie, auntie

Oh woe is me, oh the pain of my love
I've been so sleepless over him
The color has fled from my face, I've run out of strength
So how can I give my heart patience
When the fire of passion is burying it
My whole soul is with him
Oh auntie, auntie

لميعة توفيق - هذا الحلو

هذا الحلو قاتلني يا عمة
فدوه شقد احبه واريد اكلمه
وانتي شلون عمتي
بيه ما افتهمتي
وروحي كلها يمه
يا عمة يا عمة

هذا الحلو قاتلني واريده
عذب مهجتي والروح بايده
ومااصبر بعد عنه بعيدة
وقلبي شلون اصبره
ونار العشق قبره
وروحي كلها يمه
يا عمة ياعمة

هو بالحزن باليني بلوة
احلى من القمر وشويه اضوه
توه بالعشق يا عمة توه
قلبي شلون اصبره
ونار العشق قبره
وروحي كلها يمه
يا عمة ياعمة

اه من العشق منه يا ويلي
يما عالولف سهران ليلي
عمة انخطف لوني انهدم حيلي
وقلبي شلون اصبره
نار العشق قبره
وروحي كلها يمه
يا عمة يا عمة

Lyrics transcription from here

Afifa Iskender - It Burned my Soulعفيفة إسكندر - حرقت الروحHaragat al Rouh

2009-08-02T16:33:00.005-04:00

Afifa Iskender - It Burned my Soul

It burned my soul when we parted
I cried and drowned them in my tears
What did my heart say when we parted
It burned my soul when we parted

As I bid them farewell I say how can I forget them
My heart, for God's sake go with them
I would rather die than us be apart

I want those who left me to come back from the journey
I want to give them part of my soul as a keepsake
I've experienced every kind of affliction

عفيفة إسكندر - حرقت الروح

حرقت الروح لمن فارقتهم
بكيت ومن دموعي غرقتهم
إيش قال القلب لمن ودعتهم
حرقت الروح لمن فارقتهم
اْودعهم واْقول إشلون اْنساهم
ياقلبي لخاطر الله روح وياهم
اْريد الموت اْنا وماريد فرقاهم
اْريد اللي فارقوني بعد مشوار
اْريد اْنطيهم الدلال تذكار
واْنا بكل المصايب جربتهم

Lyrics transcription from here

Salima Murad - You Branch of Basilسليمة مراد - يا نبعة الريحانYa Nebaet al Rihan

2009-08-02T14:57:00.008-04:00

This is a hard song to decipher for me for a lot of reasons, but I've done my best here to convey the meaning. The phrase "branch of basil (نبعة الريحان)" refers to the beloved of the poet, and this is intended to mean that she is pretty and sweet-swelling, basil being a sign of perfume in Iraq. In addition, basil is known to be a cure-all of sorts, and I think in calling the lover a branch of basil, the poet is demanding a cure for his love, describing himself as "walhaan (ولهان)" a word meaning in love with the connotation of being mad or sick in love. Of course, the cure for this sickness is to be with his love, the branch of basil.

Interestingly, the song, written by Abdel Karim al Alaf (عبد الكريم العلاف), is being sung from the persona of a man, even though the original performer, Selima Murad, is a woman.

Selima Murad or "Selima Pasha" herself is a unique figure in Arabic music history, as she was one of the early great figures of Iraqi music and also Jewish. However, unlike most of Iraq's formerly large Jewish population, she did not leave Iraq in 1948 after the founding of Israel and remained in Iraq until her death in 1975. The composer of this song, Shalekh (Saleh) al Kuwaiti (صالح الكويتي) was also an Iraqi Jew. Selima Murad was married to the great Iraqi singer, Nazem al-Ghazali.

Selima Murad - You Branch of Basile

You branch of basile, take pity on the one who's infatuated with you
My body has become emaciated, my soul has melted, and my bones are showing

I no longer know what to do about this sickness inside of me
My condition is difficult and there's not a person who knows the cure

The day I loved I went crazy
I've been confused, I don't know what my crime was

I haven't committed any crimes except loving the loved
It's not a crime for me to repent from and ask for forgiveness

سليمة مراد - يا نبعة الريحان

يا نبعة الريحان حني على الولهان
جسمي نحل والروح ذابت وعظمي بان

من علتي اللي باحشاي ما ظل عندي راي
دائي صعب ودواي ما يعرفها انسان

يوم الذي حبيت يا منيتي جنيت
حاير انا تميت ما ادري ذنبي أيش كان

ما عندي كل ذنوب إلا هوى المحبوب
لاهو ذنب لاتوب واتجبر الرحمن

Nazem al-Ghazali - Coming Out of Her Father's Houseناظم الغزالي - طالعة من بيت أبوهاTalia Min Bayt Abua

2009-08-02T13:50:00.008-04:00

This is a song about a guy flirting with a very pretty girl who is flirting back by rejecting him arrogantly

Nazem al-Ghazali - Coming Out of Her Father's House

Coming out of her father's house on her way to the neighbor's house
She passed by and didn't say hi to me
Perhaps this pretty girl is upset

I told her, "my dear, give me some water I'm thirsty"
She said, "go away you poor boy, our water does not quench the thirsty"

I told her "my dear, then show me your height" (meaning her pretty stature)
She told me "go away my poor boy, my height is a branch of basile" (I know this makes sense, I can't figure out how to translate it a way that makes sense. Basile was once warn by women as a perfume, although less so today, in Arabia. This line means she is tall, pretty and sweet, and not for him)

I told her "my dear, then show me your eyes"
She told me "go away my poor boy, my eyes are as pretty as the gazelle's"

ناظم الغزالي - طالعة من بيت أبوها

طالعة من بيت ابوها رايحة لبيت الجيران
فات ما سلم عليا يمكن الحلو زعلان

قلت لها يا حلوة ارويني عطشان مي اسقيني
قالت لي روح يا مسكيني مينا مايروي العطشان

قلت لها ياحلوة ارويني على طولك فرجيني
قالت لي روح يامسكيني طولي نبعة ريحان

قلت لها يا حلوة ارويني على عيونك فرجيني
قالت لي روح يا مسكيني عيوني عيون الغزلان

Abdel Halim Hafez - I Love Youعبد الحليم حافظ - اهواكAhwak

2009-08-02T13:13:00.007-04:00

Abdel Halim Hafez - I Love You

I love you
And if I forget you I hope I forget my soul
And if I lose it you can keep it
If you forget me

So I forget you and forget your cruelness
Only to miss my torment with you and find my tears remember you
And then I go back to you again

When you come to me the whole world comes with you
And it's wish is your wish
And at that time my deprivation from your love might end

And I'll find you thinking of me and I of you
And our eyes meeting once again
And their words will be all over you even though you try to hide it (meaning she won't be able to hide her feelings)

And I'd take care of you
And awake in the night calling out to you
And send you my soul to wake you up
Get up, oh you who's preoccupied me, and experience the hell I've been through

عبد الحليم حافظ - أهواك

أهواك واتمنى لو انساك
وانسى روحي وياك
وان ضاعت يبقى فداك لو تنساني

وانساك وتريني بانسى جفاك
واشتاق لعذابي معاك
والقى دموعي فاكراك ارجع تاني
في لقاك الدنيا تجيني معاك
ورضاها يبقى رضاك
وساعتها يهون في هواك طول حرماني

والاقيك مشغول وشاغلني بيك
وعيني تيجي في عينيك
وكلامهم يبقى عليك وانت تداري

واراعيك واصحى من الليل اناديك
وابعت روحي تصحيك
قوم ياللي شاغلني بيك جرب ناري

Lyrics transcription from here

Saria al-Sawas - Oh Sheikhسارية السواس - يا شيخYa Shaykh

2009-07-31T16:49:00.006-04:00

Saria al-Sawas - Oh Sheikh

Oh Sheikh, cure me
I can't sleep
It's been more than two years that I've been in this state

My love is driving me crazy, leaving me and being cruel to me
He doesn't fear God and I am in this state

He went away and left me by myself everyone
He doesn't know what's happened to me while I've been in this state

Oh Sheikh, I've come to you
If only you would cure me
My love did not fear God
Please help me with my condition

I miss his voice, I miss him
Shame on him for leaving me in this state

سارية السواس - يا شيخ

يا شيخ عالجني النوم ما يجيني
لفوق عاميني وانا بهالحالة

خلي مجنني يهجر ويظلمني
ولا يخاف الله وانا بهالحاله

سافر وخلاني يا ناس وحداني
ما يدري ايش جاني وانا بهالحالة

يا شيخ انا جيتك ليتك تعالجني
خلي ما خاف الله يرضيك هالحالة

مشتاقة لصوته مشتاقة يا انا
حرام يتركني وانا بهالحالة

Fairuz - Take Me, My Darlingفيروز - خدني حبيبيKhedni Habibi

2009-07-30T18:06:00.005-04:00

This song is from the Rahbani Brothers play entitled "Petra (بتراء)"

Fairouz - Take Me, My Darling

Take me, my darling, to a house with no doors
Take me, my darling, to a hidden moon
Help me for get as I sleep, in pure days
So that the nights return and our loved ones come back
My darling, my darling

Take me, joy is on the way
My love for you consumes me and you don't have a companion

Oh prince of the sword, where did you take the summer?
I can kind of see you, lost in the fog

There's a little princess who was betrothed early
They cast jealousy upon her, and she can't fly
The put her in a castle beyond seven seas
And the princess is little, and the gates are big

فيروز - خدني حبيبي

خدني ياحبيبي ع بيت مالو بواب
خدني ياحبيبي ع قمر الغياب
نساني بالغفا بأيام الصفا
تترجع الليالي ويرجعوا الأحباب
ياحبيبي .. ياحبيبي

خدني ولا تخدني الفرح عالطريق
حبك بيحصدني وماعندك رفيق

يا أمير السيف وين أخدت الصيف
بشوفك ومابشوفك ضايع بالضباب

في اميرة صغيرة نخطبت بكير
رميو عليها الغيرة ومابتعرف تطير

سكنوها قصور خلف سبع بحور
وصغيرة الأميرة وكبيرة البواب

Hakim - Nobody Blame Meحكيم - ما حدش يلومنيMa Hadesh Yiloumni

2009-07-30T17:50:00.004-04:00

Sounds like a nice song, but it's about taking revenge on people who have hurt you.

المتصفح الذي لديك لايدعم مشغل الأغاني. دبر حالك و روح نزل البرنامج أو .&amp;amp;lt;A HREF="http://www.6rob.com/songer/x/egypt/7akeem/7akeem-ma7addesh_yeloomni.rm"&amp;amp;gt;اضغط هنا&amp;amp;lt;/A&amp;amp;gt; لسماع الأغنية.

Hakeem - Nobody Blame Me

Nobody blame me or criticize me
These guys inflicted a large wound in my heart (literally, "not small)
I gotta humiliate them and make them stay up all night in tears
And injure their hearts in return 100 times

Nobody tell me "nevermind, forgive them"
And nobody remind me of the past
I've been wronged so much and experienced so much cruelty

Oh night, tell them
They hurt me and left me in pain and misery
I've been hurt so much and experience so much cruelty

I gotta humiliate them and make them stay up all night in tears
And injure their hearts in return 100 times

Nobody blame me or criticize me
These guys inflicted a large wound in my heart

حكيم - ماحدش يلومني

محدش يلومني ولا يعتب عليا
دول جرحوني فى قلبي جرح مش شويه
لا زم اذلهم واسهر دمعهم

واجرح قلبهم بدال الجرح ميه
محدش يقولي معلش وسماح
ولا حد يفكرني بالماضي اللى راح
انا اتظلمت كتير وشوفت قسوة كتير

يا مسهر عيوني احكيلهم ياليل
جرحوني وسابوني بين عذاب وويل
انا اتجرحت كتير وشوفت قسوة كتير
لا زم اذلهم واسهر دمعهم
واجرح قلبهم بدال الجرح ميه

محدش يلومني ولا يعتب عليا
دول جرحوني فى قلبي جرح مش شويه

Lyrics transcription from here

Zeki Nasif - Butterfly and Flowerزكي ناصيف - فراشة وزهرةFarashe wa Zehra

2009-07-30T11:39:00.008-04:00

The language is a bit abstract I hope it makes enough sense rendered in English

Zeki Nasif - Butterfly and Flower

Pick me out the prettiest flower, oh butterfly
A flower that would look good arranged in the blonde girl's hair

Pick one more wonderful than a child's laugh
And let the lily shout to her a mawwal (song) from its heart
While the sparrow sings it and translates what it said
And the break of the dawn strums to her on its strings

Pick one the color of marble and stories of fire (hell?)
And the dark, barren soil and the aged snow
And from the dream of the green valley and the bloom of the laurel
And if I could describe more to you, I wouldn't tell you to pick it for me

زكي ناصيف - فراشة وزهرة

نقي لي أحلى زهرة يا فراشة نقي لي
زهرة تلبق للشقرة على شعرها تشكيلي

نقيها حلوة أحلى من ضحكة أطفال
وخلي الزنبق يصرخ لها من قلبه موال
والعصفور يترغلها ويترجم شو قال
وشق الفجر ينغم لها عوتاره تهدي لي

نقيها بلون المرمر وحكايات النار
وتراب الجرد الأسمر والتلج الختيار
ومن حلم الوادي الأخضر وعنفوان الغار
ولو بعرف أوصف أكتر ما بقلك نقي لي