Middle Eastern Music:

Translated Song Lyrics

by Shira

This web site offers you English-language translations for more than 100 songs sung in Arabic, Armenian, Turkish, Greek, and Hebrew.

Please don't send me e-mail asking me to help you find a translation!!! If it doesn't appear on this page, I don't have it. I don't speak Arabic, Greek, Hebrew, Armenian, or Turkish and I can't help you. I suggest that you explore the Lyrics Links and the Books With Song Translations that I've recommended below--maybe one of those resources will have your song.

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Table Of Contents

If you know of additional sources, or if you have an English-language translation to a Middle Eastern song that you're willing to share on this web site, please contact me and I'll gladly add it!

A word about song lyrics: They don't always make sense! If you read a translation and find yourself asking, "Huh?" remember that perhaps the lyrics don't make sense in the original language, either! Consider the American folk song, "Oh Susanna," which has a verse with the following lyrics: "It rained all night the day I left, the weather it was dry, the sun so hot I froze to death, Susanna don't you cry!"

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Sung In Turkish

MusicSongs marked with this icon have sound clips with them so you can hear what the song sounds like.

Audio File Available?

Song Title

Artist

Transliteration Included?

Comments

Music Bir Demet Yasemen (A Bunch Of Jasmine)

Traditional

Yes
 
Music Dere (River)

Traditional

Yes
Uses the karsilama rhythm.
Music Çaderemen Üstüne (Rain Dripped On My Tent), Also Called Rompi Rompi

Traditional

Yes
Almost every time you ask a band in a U.S. nightclub to play a karsilama (song that uses the Turkish 9/8 rhythm) for you, this is the song they'll play. It is also one of the songs recommended by Elizabeth Artemis Mourat for performing Turkish Gypsy (Rom) dance.

Music
Hepsi Senin Mi

Tarkan

Yes
 

Music
Istemem Babacim 

Traditional

Yes
 
 Music Shisheler (Bottles)

Traditional

No
 
Music Simarik (Spoiled Girl)

Tarkan

Yes
This Turkish pop song was released in 1999.

Music
Uskudara Gideriken (On the Road to Uskudar)

Traditional

Yes
 New!Added September 14, 2008.

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Sung In Armenian

MusicSongs marked with this icon have sound clips with them so you can hear what the song sounds like.

Audio File Available?

Song Title

Artist

Transliteration Included?

Comments

Music
Aman Aman

Harry Saroyan

No
 

Music
Jemilleh (Jemilleh)

John Bilezikjian

Yes
 

Music
Vartér (Roses)  

No
 

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Sung In Hebrew

MusicSongs marked with this icon have sound clips with them so you can hear what the song sounds like.

Audio File Available?

Song Title

Artist

Transliteration Included?

Comments

  At The Window  

No
 
  Bata Elay   

No
 
  Ein Gedi  

No
 

Music
Erev Shel Shoshanim (Evening Of Roses)  

Yes
 

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Sung In Greek

MusicSongs marked with this icon have sound clips with them so you can hear what the song sounds like.

Audio File Available?

Song Title

Artist

Transliteration Included?

Comments

Music
Agonia (Agony)

No
 

Music
Nina Nai Nai (Nina Nai Nai)

Yes
 New!!Added May 10, 2008.

Music
Tien Afto (What Is This Thing Called Love?)

No
 

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Sung In Arabic

MusicSongs marked with this icon have sound clips with them so you can hear what the song sounds like. If you don't find the song you're looking for here, please explore the Lyrics Links and the Books With Song Translations recommended below--maybe one of those resources will have it.

Audio File Available?

Song Title

Artist

Transliteration Included?

Comments

Music
A Nadda (Oh Nadda)

Sabah

Yes
Some U.S. folk dance clubs call this debke song Ya Abboud.
  A'Aleem Illaah (God Knows)

Simone Hadsheiti

Yes
 
  A'Arabiyon Ana (I Am an Arab)

Yuri Mrakadi

Yes
 
Music Aba'ad (Far Away)

Mohammed Abdou

Yes
Many people in the United States refer to this popular Saudi song by the title "Layla Layla" because that is repeated many times in the lyrics.
  Abo A'ali (The Father Of A'li)

Gawaher

Yes
 

Music
Ah Wa Noss (Ah and a Half) 

Nancy Ajram

Yes
 
  Ah Ya Helu (O Beautiful)  

Yes
 

Music
Ahl Ilmaghna (The Family of Singers)

Filleh

Yes
 
  Ahmad Ya Habibi (Ahmad, My Beloved)  

Yes
 
  Akhasmak, Aah (I Will Upset You, Yes)

Nancy Ajram

Yes
 
 Music Al Bab Al A'ali (Enter The High Gate)

Katia Harb

Yes
 
  Alf Leyla wa Leyla (1001 Nights)

Oum Kalthoum

Yes
 
  Am Fettesha El Gharous (I'm Searching For A Bride)

Emad Sayyah

Yes
 

Audio File Available?

Song Title

Artist

Transliteration Included?

Comments

Music
Amarain (Two Moons)

Amr Diab

Yes
 
  Amarain (Two Moons)

Hasan el-Asmar

Yes
An Arabic wedding song.

Music
Ammouna Fi Al Said (Ammouna Of The Said)  

Yes
This Arabic rap is great fun to dance to, and lends itself well to cane because of its Saidi flavor.

Music
Ana A'arfah (I Know)

Warda

Yes
 

Music
Ana A'Ayesh (I Am Alive)

Amr Diab

Yes
This song reached the top of the Arabic song charts for several weeks starting in June, 2003.
  Ana Baddi 3eish (I Want to Live) 

Nawal al-Zoughbi

Yes
 
  Ana Fi Intizarak (I'm Waiting For You)

Oum Kalthoum

Yes
 

Music
Ana Laka (I'm For You)

Gawaher

Yes
 
  Ana Lamma Ib-Hibbak (When I Love You)

Majda El-Roumi

Yes
 

Music
Ana 3indi Ahwai Morra (I Have Sour Arabian Coffee) 

Dareen Hadchiti

Yes
 
  Arraib Layyi (Get Close to Me) 

Wael Kfouri

Yes
 
  Ayeela Tayeha (Lost Daughter)

Ahmed Adaweya

No
 

Audio File Available?

Song Title

Artist

Transliteration Included?

Comments

  Baini Iw-Bainak (Between You And Me)

 Hakeem

 Yes
 

Music
Batwanes Beek (You're Always With Me)

Warda

Yes
 
  Bayinnina (It Is Clear to Us)

Bahaa Sultan

Yes
 
  Billadhi Askara (The Intoxicating Beloved)  

Yes
 

Music
Boussi Ba'a (Look Over Here)

Sherin

Yes
The dancer Morocco teaches choreography to this song.

Music
Cleopatra (Cleopatra)

Mohammed Abdel Wahab

Yes
This beautiful song is considered a classic of Egyptian music.

Music
Doubti Doub (Barely Melted)

Ehab Tawfeek

Yes
This song became a hot hit in the Middle East and Europe in early 1998.

Audio File Available?

Song Title

Artist

Transliteration Included?

Comments

Music
Ed Hak (Laugh)

Hanan
  This fun song is typical of the al jeel music style.
  El Bulbul (The Nightingale)

Sabeh Fakhri

Yes
 

Music
El Layali (The Nights)

Nawal Zoughbi

Yes
 
  Etmakhtari Ya Helwa Ya Zena (Walk With A Graceful Swinging Gait, O Beautiful, O Pretty One)  

Yes
This song is a zeffa, which is a song used for a wedding procession.

Music
Gana el Hawa (Love Has Come Our Way)

Abdel Halim Hafez

No
New!Placed online October 4, 2007. Includes photos of Hafez and a brief video clip of him singing this song.

Music
Gawezohalo (Get Her Married to Him)

Gawaher

Yes
 
  Habeeb El-Rouh (Soul Lover)

Claudia Shmaali

Yes
 

Music
Habena (Love Us)

Farid Al-Atrache

Yes
 

Audio File Available?

Song Title

Artist

Transliteration Included?

Comments

  Habibi, Hayaati (My Darling, My Life)

Bahaa Hosni

Yes
 

Music
Habibi Ya Nour El Ain (My Darling, You Are The Glow In My Eyes)

Amr Diab

Yes
This immensely popular song won an award for Arabic song of the year in 1996.

Music
Harramt Ahebak (I Give Up Loving You)

Warda

Yes
 
  Huwwa Sahih el-Hawa Ghallab (Is It True That Love Is Irresistable?)

Oum Kalthoum

No
 
  Ilhobb Ilha-Ee-Ee (True Love)

Mohamed Fouad

Yes
 
  Inta Habeeb A'youni (You Are My Eyes Lover)

Maya Nasri & Hadi Khalil

Yes
 

Music
Inte Omri (You Are My Life)

Oum Kalthoum

Yes
 

Audio File Available?

Song Title

Artist

Transliteration Included?

Comments

Music
Kalamangi (Talkative)

Gawaher

Yes
 

Music
Khalas (Liberated)

Ehab Tawfeek

Yes
 
  Khayyalah (Fantasy)

Pascaal Misha'alaani

Yes
 
  Koul El-Kalaam (All The Talk)

Mayez El-Bayaaa'

Yes
 
  Koulli Sana We-Inta Tayyeb Ya Habibi (Happy Birthday, Oh, My Darling)

Gawaher

Yes
 
  La Itkarraib Haddi! (Do Not Get Close To Me!)

Lara Dabbagh

Yes
 
  La Titnahad (Do Not Sigh)

Kazem El-Saher

Yes
 
  Lamma B-Shoufak Qalbi Byouqaa' (When I See You, My Heart Falls Down)  

Yes
 

Music
Lisah Faker (Do You Still Remember?)

Oum Kalthoum

Yes
 
  Lowlaaki (Without You)

A'Ali Hamida

Yes
 
  Ma Byilbaklak (It Does Not Fit You)

Bascal Misha'alaani

Yes
 
  Maani, Maani (It Is Mine, It Is Mine) 

Diana Haddad

Yes
 
  Mateegy 

Hakim

Yes
 

Audio File Available?

Song Title

Artist

Transliteration Included?

Comments

Music
Me Alli We Oltelu (He Did Not Tell Me And I Did Not Tell Him)

Farid Al-Atrache

Yes
 

Music
Mihtagalak (I Need You)

Warda

Yes
This song made the top of the charts in Lebanon in 1998.

Music
Nahna Wil Kamar Jeeraan (We And The Moon Are Neighbors)

Fairuz

Yes
This Lebanese song was popular in the late 1950's.

Music
Nasseeni el Donya (Let Me Forget the World)

Ragheb A'alamaih

Yes
 
  Nawi Ta'Ateb (You Are Determined To Blame)  

Yes
 
  Noura, Noura (Noura, Noura)

Hameed Al-Shaaria'i

Yes
 
  Ool Tany Kida (Say This Again)

Nancy Ajram

Yes
 
  Oolo (I Tell Him) Ahmed Abd el Mounim

Yes
 

Music
Ooloolo (Tell Him)

Abdel Halim Hafez

Yes
 

Music
Ouyoun Aalbi (Oh, My Heart's Eyes)

Najwa Karam

Yes
 

Music
Rouh Rouhi (The Soul Of My Soul)

Najwa Karam

Yes
This song topped the charts in the Middle East for several weeks in the summer of 1999.

Audio File Available?

Song Title

Artist

Transliteration Included?

Comments

Music
Sabri Aleel (I Have No Patience)

Sherin

Yes
 

Music
Sallam Alay (She Greeted Me)  

Yes
 
  Samahtak (I Forgave You)

Bascal Misha'alaani

Yes
 
  Samara (Samara)

Gawaher

Yes
 

Music
Sawah (Vagabond)

Abdel Halim Hafez

Yes
 
  Sayyidi Elra-Ees (My Master, Mr. President)

Majda El-Roumi

Yes
 
  Shi Ghareeb (Something Strange)

Julia

Yes
 
  Shoo Imkhabbair Ahlak A'anni (What Are You Telling Your Family About Me?)

Katia Harb

Yes
 

Music
Shoo Sarlake (What Has Happened To You?)

Hadi Younes

Yes
 
  Tahtill Shibbaak (Under The Window)  

Yes
 
  Talab Eiydi Min Ahli (We Got Engaged!)

Bascaal Misha'alani

Yes
This song became a top hit in Lebanon in 1999.

Music
Talakik (Talakik)

Hakim

Yes
 

Music
Tamra Henna (Henna Flower)

Fayza Ahmed

No
This is not the song usually used for dancing. It's another song from the movie Tamra Henna.

Audio File Available?

Song Title

Artist

Transliteration Included?

Comments

Music
Tfarrak Al Halawa (Watch The Beauty)

Metkal Kanawi

Yes
 
  Tool Omri (All My Life)

Nawal Alzoughbi

Yes
 

Music
Wah Wah Adanou Adanou  

Yes
 
  Wahashtiini  

No
 

Music
Wala A'Ala Baloa (Not Even On His Mind)

Amr Diab

Yes
 
  Walhainaih (Fascinated)

Najwa Karam

Yes
 
  Wehyat Eneyya (By The Life Of My Eyes)  

Yes
 
  Ya Ameer El-Mohibbean! (Oh, Lovers' Prince!)

Ahlam

Yes
Popular in the Khaleegy (Persian Gulf) region.
  Ya Baheyya (Oh Baheyya)  

Yes
 
  Ya Jmaira (Oh Jmaira)

Nihad Najjar

Yes
 
  Ya Majnoon (Oh Madman)

Asalah Nasri

Yes
 

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Lyrics Links

If you couldn't find the translations you wanted above, you might want to explore other corners of the Internet. There are also other web sites that have translations of Middle Eastern songs.

Sites About Middle Eastern Music: Lyrics Links. Visit the section of my Links page that leads to other web sites with translations for the lyrics to Middle Eastern songs.

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Books With Song Translations

There are some books available in the market that include lyrics with translations to Middle Eastern songs.

Books By the Late Mimi Spencer

For ordering information, contact Mary Ellen Books, P.O. Box 411562, San Francisco, CA 94141-1562, U.S.A. or phone (+1) (510) 654-DRUM, or (+1) (510) 654-3786. Her web site is www.maryellendonald.com.

  • The Gems Songbook. Sheet music and lyrics for 11 songs. Click on the book title for a full-length review of the book, including titles of songs included.
Gems Songbook

  • Sadika's Tunes. This book is primarily a collection of sheet music for instrumentalists interested in playing Middle Eastern music, but it does have English-language translations of the lyrics for one song: Nassam 'Alayna al Hawa. Songs for which it has sheet music (and occasionally lyrics in the source language, but not translations) include Al 'Ataba Ghazzaz (Arabic), Aziza (Arabic), Erev Shel Shoshanim (Hebrew), Garoon Garoon (Armenian), La Rosa Enflorece (Ladino), Baladi Ya Baladi (Arabic), El Henna (Arabic), Hani, Hijaz Finale (Arabic), Mavi Mavi (Turkish), Saba Samir (Arabic), and Ya Bahiyya (Arabic). For ordering information, contact her at Mimi Spencer, 60 Pastori Avenue, Suite 37, Fairfax, CA 94930, U.S.A., (+1) (415) 456-9097, or fax (+1) (415) 457-2795.
  • A Near Eastern Music Primer. This book includes sheet music, transliteration of lyrics in the appropriate language for the song, and translations into English of the lyrics. The songs chosen are all ones that contain no quarter tones and therefore can be played on Western instruments. Songs included are: Ayazein (Arabic), Zeina (Arabic), Bir Demet Yasemen (Turkish), Yeshilim (Turkish), Rampi Rampi (Turkish), Norits Karoon Yegav (Armenian), and Chapkin Chapkin (Turkish).

The Golden Translator

This is a series of three book-and-cassette-tape sets by George Moawad of Happy Times Entertainment which contain the lyrics to 8-10 popular Arabic music. Click here for a full-length review, including a list of song titles included in each volume. Volume 1 Volume 2 Volume 3

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Recent Changes To This Page

  • On October 4, 2007, added the translation for the song Gana el Hawa by Abdel Halim Hafez.
  • On March 17, 2007, added Zurina Ali's translation of Ool Tany Kida by Nancy Ajram.
  • On March 17, 2007, added Zurina Ali's translation of Mateegy by Hakim.
  • On March 17, 2007, added Zurina Ali's translation of Oolo by by Ahmed Abd el Mounim.

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Do you know of additional books or web sites offering the English-language translation of lyrics to Middle Eastern songs? Send me email with the address (if it's a web site) or contact information (if it's a book available through mail-order), and I'll add information about it to this page. (Please don't ask me to get the translation for your favorite song--if it doesn't appear on this page, I don't have it!)

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