full song lyrics

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 her...

Updated Amr Diab. This is one of his earlier songs, that features a delicious keyboard solo. Amr Diab - The Perfect Solution The perfect solution Either we live life together Or I stay right where I am O darling so long as you are away I live in the world alone I became tired of the feelings with the pain And my heart which is that which is so wronged And every day my darling I know nothing but sighing I lived years of my life in your abscence While my heart is sad I tired of the sadness all of it And my life that I lived at one time I know nothing but sighing Either we live life together Or I stay right where I am Without you I have seen so much And I run before them so much And I am fine with the course of my destiny And the live that is going to be wasted And every day my darling I know nothing but sighing Either we live life together Or I stay right where I am عمرو دياب - ملهاش حل تاني ملهاش حل تاني يا نعيش الحياه انا وانت يا وقفت في مكاني يا حبيبى طول ما انت بعيد انا عايش في الدن...

Updated media and translation Souad Massi - Storyteller Oh storyteller tell us a story Make it a tale Tell me about the people of old Tell me about 1001 Nights And about Lunja the daughter of the Ghoul And about the son of the Sultan I'm about to tell a story (I'm just told that this phrase--hajeetak majeetak--is what is said before you tell a story, I have no idea what it could mean) Take us far from this world I'm about to tell a story Everyone of us has a story in his heart Narrate and forget we're adults In your mind we're young Tell us about heaven and hell About the bird that never flew in his life Help us understand the meaning of the world Oh storyteller, tell it just as they told you Don't add anything, don't leave anything out We could see into your mind Narrate to make us forget this time Leave us in the world of once upon a time سعاد ماسي - راوي يا راوي حكي حكاية مادابك تكون رواية حكي لي على ناس الزمان ح كي لي على ألف ليلة وليلة وعلى لنجة بنت ال...

In order to prevent protests, SCAF, the military government ruling over Egypt following Mubarak's ousting, erected large walls in the city of Cairo. These walls have become a site of resistance in the form of graffiti and the like, and in this song, an even simpler expression of discontent. Youssra el-Hawari - The Wall In front of the wall In front of the ones who built it In front of the wall In front of the ones who erected it And in front of the one who guards it as well A poor man stopped to pee On the wall and those who built it, erected it, and guard it On the wall and the ones who built it, the man peed يسرا الهواري - السور قدام السور قدام اللي بانيه قدام السور قدام اللي معلّيه قدام السور قدام اللي بانيه قدام السور قدام اللي معلّيه وكمان قدام اللي واقف يحميه وكمان قدام اللي واقف يحميه وقف راجل غلبان وعمل.. پيپي وقف راجل غلبان وعمل.. پيپي عالسور واللي بانيه واللي معليه واللي بيحميه عالسور واللي بانيه الراجل عمل پیپی وكمان قدام اللي واقف يحميه وكمان قدام اللي واقف يحميه وقف را...

This song and video have been produced in solidarity with the Egyptian youth that have died and sacrificed in the continuing revolution. The title phrase of the song "ana mawgood" (أنا موجود) means "I am present," "I am here," or "I exist." I've translated it here in different ways depending on the context, and I've also translated it as "here I am" in some spots to give it a better sound in English. Let me know if you have any comments about the word choice. City Band – I Am Here I exist, but my title keeps changing My name is youth, and I am young I am willing to live a short life And I am not afraid to die Here I am I exist, and I don’t have a card or ID Put all your flaws on me Throw me on the ground and stomp all over me Keep me from making any sound But I am here Say that I’m spreading fitna (discord) and I am always undermining the stability Say that I’m a kafir (infidel) and a traitor and that I’m going to hell You are f...

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...

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 fee...

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 (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 h...

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) Wi...

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 th...

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...

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...

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...

The lyrics here are for a more complete version than that found in this performance. This song predates the recent events in Tunisia and Egypt but has gained particular resonance in light of what has transpired. Emel Mathluthi - My Word is Free I am those who are free and never fear I am the secrets that will never die I am the voice of those who would not give in I am the meaning amid the chaos I am the right of the oppressed That is sold by these dogs (people who are dogs) Who rob the people of their daily bread And slam the door in the face of ideas I am those who are free and never fear I am the secrets that will never die I am the voice those who would not give in I am free and my word is free I am free and my word is free Don't forget the price of bread And don't forget the cause of our misery And don't forget who betrayed us in our time of need I am those who are free and never fear I am the secrets that will never die I am the voice those who would not give in I am ...

The speech in this song is highly colloquial, and some of the versions of these lyrics online seem to have a few mistakes. I've done my best to get the precise pronunciation in Arabic; the meaning in English should be more or less correct. Najwa Karam - Garden Roses The fire of love is burning me I'm thirsty And the bitterness of separation No longer waters me My heart is injured My heart is injured My darling is the lone cure that heals me from my ahhhs (of sorrow) Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh Don't cry my garden roses Continue singing in his absence And when he returns from the journey Be there to decorate his door I light candles for you daily And sit by your side praying for you I convey the ah (of sorrow) from my heart to tell you about my dreams If only you could see my eyes If only you could see my eyes My eyes that have melted in your absence Oh who will carry me to you So I can tell you please hold me And you would hold like this and ask me Oh my life, do you love me?...

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 وا...

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 ن...

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 ر...

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 carryin...