Abdel Halim Hafez - Why are You Blaming Me?عبد الحليم حافظ - بتلوموني ليه؟

This is one of those songs that is ostensibly about a girl but the object of desire is grammatically masculine. I couldn't translate it as such



Abdel Halim Hafez - Why are You Blaming Me?

Why are you blaming me, why are you blaming me?
If you saw how beautiful her eyes are
You would say my preoccupation and sleeplessness
Are not too much for her, so why are you blaming me?

Captive of the beloveds, ones my heart is melting
I am trapped in the scent of her silky hair
Which lightly touches her cheeks and then returns to floating in the air
Yet people are blaming me, so what can I do my heart?
Why do they want to deprive me of her, my heart?
Why are you blaming me?

Since the day her love touched my heart
She opened the door to desire to play with me

She is my beloved and my destiny
And she is the light of my heart and eyes
And she is my youth and my companion
She is my all my relatives and all my beloved
And people are blaming me so what can I do my heart?
Why do they want to deprive me of her my heart?
Why are you blaming me?

عبد الحليم حافظ - بتلوموني ليه؟

بتلوموني ليــــه .. بتلوموني ليـــــــــــــــه
لو شفتم عنيه حلوين اد ايـــــــــــــــــــــــه
حتقولوا انشغالي وسهد الليالــــــــــــــــــي
مش كتير عليه .. ليه بتلومونـــــــــــــــــي

اسير الحبايب يا قلبي يا ذايـــــــــــــــــــــب
في موجة عبير من الشعر الحريـــــــــــــــر
عالخدود يهفهف ويرجع يطيــــــــــــــــــــر
والناس بيلوموني واعمل ايه يا قلبــــــــــي
عايزين يحرموني منه ليه يا قلبـــــــــــــــي
بتلوموني ليه ..

من يوم حبه ما لمس قلبي ما لمس قلبـــــي
فتح الباب للشوق يلعب بي للشوق يلعب بي

وهوّ حبيبي وهوّ نصيبـــــــــــــــــــــــــــي
وهوّ النور لعنّيه وقلبــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــي
وهوّ شبابي وهوّ صحابــــــــــــــــــــــــــي
وهوّ قرايبي وكل حبايبـــــــــــــــــــــــــــي
والناس بيلوموني واعمل ايه يا قلبــــــــــي
عايزين يحرموني منه ليه يا قلبـــــــــــــــي
بتلوموني ليه ..

Amr Diab - The Perfect Solution

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 الدنيا وحيد
مليت الاحساس بالألم
والقلب اللي كتير اتظلم
وفي كل الايام يا حبيبي
مش عارف الا التنهيد
يا نعيش الحياه انا وانت
يا وقفت في مكاني

في بعادك انا عشت سنين
من عمري وانا قلبي حزين
مليت الاحزان كلها
وحياتى اللى زمان عشتها
وفي كل الايام يا حبيبي
مش عارف الا التنهيد
يا نعيش الحياه انا وانت
يا وقفت في مكاني

من غيرك ياما شفت كتير
وأنا وأنا باجرى وراهم كتير
وأنا راضي بمشيئه القدر
والعمر اللى راح وانهدر
وفي كل الايام يا حبيبي
مش عارف الا التنهيد
يا نعيش الحياه انا وانت
يا وقفت في مكاني

Youssra el-Hawari - The Wallsيسرا الهواري - السورEssour

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 راجل غلبان وعمل پيپي
وقف راجل غلبان وعمل پيپي
عالسور واللي بانيه واللي معليه واللي بيحميه
عالسور واللي بانيه واللي معليه واللي بيحميه
عالسور واللي بانيه واللي معليه واللي بيحميه
عالسور واللي بانيه الراجل عمل پیپی

City Band – I Am Hereسيتي باند - أنا موجودAna Mawgood

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 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 سنه 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 ما تنسوش

اللي قتلني لسه موجود

وأنا مش موجود

Najat al-Saghira - I Love the Seaنجاة الصغيرة - انا بعشق البحرAna Bashak el Bahr

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

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

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

Mohamed Munir - Raise Your Voiceمحمد منير - علي صوتكAlli Sotak

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

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

Abdel Halim Hafez - Wandererعبد الحليم حافظ - سواحSawwah

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

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

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

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

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

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

عمرو دياب - عيني وانا شايفه

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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