Nancy Ajram - What are You?نانسي عجرم - انت ايه؟Enta Eih?

"Enta eih" means "what are you," but really means like "what are you that you would behave like this" or something along those lines. It conveys the meaning of "what's wrong with you why would you do this to me" or "why are you so cruel/mean," maybe even "who do you think you are (doing this to me)". Many might also be pleased to see that the video is subtitled in English though its not quite the same one I've done.



Nancy Ajram - What are You?

What are you?
Is it not enough that you hurt me?
Shame on you
What are you?
Why, my love, don't my tears mean anything to you?
And why do I accept that you hurt me when my soul is in you
Why am I accepting this torment in your hands?

If this is love, love causes me so much misery
And if I am to blame, I cannot say never again
And if it's my destiny to live in torment
I'll live in torment

Have you no shame?
Have you no shame, deceiving me with the love I have for you
Isn't it a shame?
The passion and the years and longing that I am living for you?
Was it lost completely?
Or has it been a game?
Was the tenderness and my heart and faith in you all wasted?If this is love, then love is so much misery
And if I am to blame, I cannot say "never again"
And if it's my destiny to live in torment
I'll live in torment

نانسي عجرم - انت ايه؟

انت ايه مش كفايه عليك تجرحني حرام عليك
انت ايه انت ليه دموعي حبيبي تهون عليك
طب وليه انا راضيه انك تجرحني وروحي فيك
طب وليه يعني ايه راضية بعذابي بين ايديك

لو كان ده حب ياويلي منه
لوكان ده ذنبي مااتوب عنه
لو كان نصيبي اعيش ف جراح حاعيش في جراح

مش حرام
مش حرام انك تخدعني ف حبي ليك
مش حرام الغرام وسنين حياتي وعشقي ليك
ضاع قوام ولا كان لعبة ف حياتك بتداويك
ضاع قوام الحنان وحضن قلبي واملي فيك

لو كان ده حب ياويلي منه
لوكان ده ذنبي مااتوب عنه
لو كان نصيبي اعيش ف جراح حاعيش في جراح

لو كان ده حب ياويلي منه
لوكان ده ذنبي مااتوب عنه
لو كان نصيبي اعيش ف جراح حاعيش في جراح

لو كان ده حب ياويلي منه
لوكان ده ذنبي مااتوب عنه
لو كان نصيبي اعيش ف جراح حاعيش في جراح

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

We've translated many an Arabic folk song here on the blog performed by various artists, but the discussion on this song is so massive and the versions so numerous that it deserves its own post. "Fog al-Nakhel (فوق النخل)" is one of the most famous Arabic songs. It originated in Iraq and quickly spread throughout the Arabic world with the advent of radio and television. One of the earliest versions was performed by Nazem al-Ghazali, but there are others by Sabah Fakhri, Ilham al-Madfai, Kazem el-Saher and many others. Of course, the verses seem to be infinite.

I've always tried to understand the song, which eventually led me to discussion forums discussing the lyrics and meaning. That's when I discovered the open secret that the lyrics are not actually فوق النخل, or "above the palm trees," but rather فوق إلنا خل, ie "I've got a friend above/up there" however you want to translate it. According to a discussion among posters in this forum here, the original composers had intended the song to be فوق النا خل (Fog ilna khell). The story behind the song is that there is a poor young man in love with a girl that belongs to a rich family, after seeing her on their big house's balcony and exchanging glances. The song became "Foq al-Nakhel (فوق النخل)" because even though it makes the meaning quite strange, the audiences liked it better, according Sabah Fakhri and others. This explains the lyrics:

I've got a friend above
I don't know if that's the shine of your cheek or a shine above (ie the moon)
I swear I don't even want her
It's ruining me/It's causing me a problem

فوق إلنا خل فوق يابا فوق النا خل فوق
مدري لامع خدك يابا مدري لامع فوق
ولله ما ريده باليني بلوة

That is pretty much the standard chorus and after that the versions diverge greatly. I'll try to add as many versions as I can here, hopefully with the help of the readers, since lyrics are surprisingly scarce.

First and foremost is the Nazem al-Ghazali (ناظم الغزالي) version:

ناظم الغزالي - فوق النخل (فوق إلنا خل)

I have no hope for my soul, you're still my beloved
Everyone gets to be with you and my destiny is to be abandoned by you
I swear she's torturing me and she has no interest in me

مالي امل بالروح يبا بعدك حبيبي بعدك حبيبي
وصلك صفى للناس يبا هجرك نصيبي
والله معذبني وماعنده امروه

Here's the version by Sabah Fakhri (صباح فخري), the legendary Syrian singer hailing from Aleppo. I haven't included the lyrics for "albulbul nagha", which he usually performs alongside "foug al nakhel".



It contains this additional verse:

Oh river, go say hi to them for me
The separation is hard for me
I miss them

بالله يا مجرى الماي يابا سلم عليهم
صعبان الفرقه علي يابا اشتقنا إليهم

Here is the Kazem el-Saher version I found on youtube.com. I'd like to point out that Kazem days no say "yaba" rather he uses "3ayni" which means about the same thing: nothing.



Here is an Ilham al-Madfai (إلهام المدفعي) version. Note the excessive palm trees in the video.



Here's some new verses, I'll do my best:

Your cheek shined, my love, and lit up the country
I can't make my soul patient or bear this separation
I swear she's torturing me with her beautiful eyes

All the faces pass, and my eyes are only on yours
May the lord give you my love
I swear she's torturing me and she has no interest

خدك لمع ياهواي وأضوى على البلاد
مقدر أصبر الروح واتحمل البعاد
والله معذبني بعيونه الحلوة

كل البلام تفوت يابه عيني على بلمك
ومن الهوى والروح ربي يسلمك
والله معذبني وما عنده مروة

There's more versions available, but I don't really have lyrics for them.

Here is a stupid version by Dania (دانيا)



Here is George Wassouf (جورج وسوف)



Here is Palestinian band Zaman (زمان) with a flamenco version

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

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

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



Myriam Faris - La La Yaba La La

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

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

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

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

ميريام فارس - لا لا يابا لا

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

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

بعد الليل ورجع الليل وبعدها الحلوي لحالها

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

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

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

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




Fairouz - Come Back, Oh 1001 Nights

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

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

فيروز - إرجعي يا ألف ليلة

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

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

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


Majida el-Roumi - Love and Faithfulness

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

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

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

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

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

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

ماجدة الرومي - الحب و الوفاء

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

Lyrics transcription from La7oon.com

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Mashrou' Leila - Dressesمشروع ليلى - فساتينFasateen

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



Mashrou' Leila - Dresses

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

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

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

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

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

مشروع ليلى - فساتين

تتذكري لما قلتيلي
انك رح تتزوجيني
بلا فلوس وبلا بيت

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

تتذكري لما امك
شافتني نايم بتختك
وقالتلي انسى عنك

واتفقنا نضلنا هيك
بلا ادوار وبلا طنطنات
بلا كرافات وصبحيات

بلا ملايين
بلا فساتين

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

مسكتيلي ايدي ووعديتيني بشي ثورة
كيف نسيتي كيف نسيتيني

تتذكري لما قلتيلي
انك ناوية تتركيني
بلا فلوس وبلا بيت

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

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



Samira Tawfiq - Stop Coming to Our Neighborhood

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

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

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

سميرة توفيق - بسك تيجي حارتنا

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

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

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

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

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).

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

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

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

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

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



Fairouz - Christmas Eve

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

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

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

فيروز - ليلة عيد

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

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

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

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Najwa Karam - Garden Rosesنجوى كرم - ورود الدارWrood al-Dar

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?

I've loved you for ages (literally generations)
I've loved you for ages
My heart does not forget the ones it loves

نجوى كرم - ورود الدار

حرام نار الهوى يا ناس تكويني
عطشان و مر النوى ما عاد يرويني
مجروح قلبي مجروح قلبي
و يا ويلي شو قاسي مصابه
وحده حبيبي الدوا من الاه يشفيني
يبا يبا يبا يبا يييييا يبا
لا تبكي يا ورود الدار ظلي تغني بغيابه
و لما يعود من المشوار كوني الزينة عابوابه
يوميه شموع باضويلك باقعد حدك بصليلك
من قلبي الاه بوديلك عن احلامي تحكيلك
عالواه تشوف عيوني
عالواه تشوف عيوني
عيوني اللي عغيابك دابو
و لما يعود من المشوار كني الزينة عابوابه

يا مين لعندك يحملني وقلك دخلك خبيني
تغمرني هيك و تسالني يا عمري بتحبيني
انا حبيتك من اجيال
انا حبيتك من اجيال
قلبي ما ينسى احبابه
و لما يعود من المشوار كوني الزينة عابوابه

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

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

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

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

راغب علامه - يا ريت فيي خبيها

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

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

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

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

This translation is submitted by Cole

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

نجوى كرم - خليني شوفك بالليل

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


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

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

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

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

Lyrics transcription from here

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

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

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

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

فضل شاكر - بعدها عالبال

بتروح الايام وبتيجى الايام عشان يتفرقوا وبتنتهى الاحلام

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

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

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

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

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Julia Boutros - Perhapsجوليا بطرس - ربماRubbama

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

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

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

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

جوليا بطرس - ربما

ربما تسلبني آخر شبر من ترابي
ربما تطعم للسجن شبابي

ربما تطفيء في ليلي شعلة
ربما احرم من أمي قبلة

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

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

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Fairuz - Your Oud is Resonantفيروز - عودك رنانOudak Rannan

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

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

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

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

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

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

فيروز - عودك رنان

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

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

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

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

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Majida el-Roumy - Sing for Meماجدة الرومي - غنيليGhennili

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

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

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

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

Repeat verses

ماجدة الرومي - غنيلي

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

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

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

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

عم تخلص الكلمات و القلب موجوع
عم تغرق البسمات ببحر لدموع

عم تخلص الكلمات و القلب موجوع
عم تغرق البسمات ببحر لدموع

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

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

Lyrics transcription from here

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

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

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

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

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Ronza - Do You Thinkرونزا - قولكAwlak

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

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