When you learn the dance of a culture it is good to understand the language of the songs you'll be dancing to. Most belly dancers aren't fluent, but many have a good working knowlege of what I'd call "belly dancer Arabic" that consists of many common words and phrases in song lyrics as well as rhythms, instruments and basic tourist talk. If you are interested in expanding your Arabic for dance learning, I recommend focusing on Egyptian Colloquial Arabic. Here are some resources for you:
Arabic Lyric Translations - the best Lyric translation site on the web and I have additional links to lyric translation sites here.
Egyptian Arabic Dialect Course - online lessons in Egyptian Arabic.
Pimsleur Egyptian Arabic CDs - I have the level one and I find them very helpful.
I will try to post lyrics here for any songs we focus on in class.
Haifa Wehbe - Metakhda - Taken
off Haifa's Album "Habibi Ana" - you can find the song here and lyrics in Arabic script here.
Chorus:
ana mali metakhda, 3alhal da msh wa akhda, ya 'albi la ahda, mat'olshi la wa la ah
What's up with me being taken, I'm not used to this type of situation, Oh my heart be calm, don't say yes or no
ya 'albi 3ali mehlek, isteni yanehdlek, matshoof haistahlek, 'abl amatgri wa raah
Oh heart take it slow, wait for him to call you, and see if he deserves you, before you go running to him
Verse 1:
b'a ma3'ola bas-hola awy kida, ana artahla wa ashta'la awy kida
Is it possible and so simple like that, that I can just feel comfortable with him and miss him like that
ana mish sahla fi alhob, awy kida, wa mish mara wa ahda
I am not that easy in love, like that, and not all at once
b'a m3a'ola asodef kalama, ana mish bes-hola ah-sa baghrama
Is it possible for me to believe his words like that, it's not easy for me to feel love
ana lo hagri wa ra ana sho'e lea, ana tub wa ahda wa ahda
If I chase after him my passion is for him, ok take it one by one
:|| chorus - first line
Verse 2:
ha3amal nefsi mish wa akhda bali, mish hahkila wa la a'ola mali
I'm going to act like I hadn't noticed, I won't tell him what's wrong with me
mish hayibnala, ana aya garali 'aal y3ani mish far'a
I won't let it show, I'll act as if it doesn't make a difference to me
wa ana hahalfala yet3ab m3ayil, dana bawila tegri wa ra aya
And I will promise him that he will have it hard with me, I have it planned for him to pursue me
wa amal ye'alali dab min hoaya yomaha ha'ol 3aash'a
And when he tells me he's melting from my love, then I will tell him I love him too
:|| chorus
:|| verse1
3adi, ha3amal nifsi 3adi, y3ani magitish 3ala almradi howa 'usaudi asda kida
Cool, I will play it cool, I won't switch up my rules for him if he's standing there I'll walk away
:|| chorus 2x
Shatti Ya Duniya off of Pangia's Vol. 3 CD. Also found on Fairouz's CD "To Assy"
Shatti Ya Duniya
composed by the Rahbani Brothers & recorded by Fairuz
"This is a Lebanese debke and I've had it in my file for fifteen years," writes Linda. "I have no idea where I got it."
Shatta ya duniye ta zeed
Mawzimna yehla
Tedfug my wa zari jdeed
Mhaglinta ya 'ala
Rain in abundance
So that cour crop will get sweet
Let the water rise for more crops
And so that our field will grow,
Khilly 'a inek 'a dar
'a syaj illi killu zirar
Bukra shat wiye but ruh
Wa mniltaga bi anwar
Yahla 'id wa dhawy 'id wa nizra
Wa nlim 'anaquid
Keep watch over our house
And on the roses covered with buds
Tomorrow winter will be gone
And we'll meet in spring
Holidays come and go and we
Plant and pick grapes
Wa nturny wa la tibya tfie
Tisrikny wahdi 'a mtul
Jam'a tilek hurz i zhoor,
Yazmin, u mantur u fill
Zihr byed u galb i byed
Ya khawfi laqeek ab'id
Ruh unzur arth mwa'id
Wait for me and don't leave
Me alone looking for you
I picked you a bouquet of flowers
Jazmine, snapdragons and gardenias
With flowers in one hand
My heart in the other
I fear of finding you far away
<the last arabic paragraph is missing from the translation I found>
Wait for me in the windy plain
Where the grapes are nearly ripe
Hide me in the shade of your eyes
My love for you torments me
Tell me again and again
Where we will meat at our special place
Khalek Faker by Egyptian Artist Baha Sulton on his Kan Zaman album available from Maqam.com. Here is the site I got the translation from Arabic Song Lyrics and Transaltions.
Khalek Faker - Baha Sultan
May You Remember - Baha Sultan - written out so you can follow along
Khaleek faker ina maak ana doo' tee elmor
May you remember that with you I tasted bitterness
Khaleek faker ina alhozn sa3at witmor
May you remember that sadness is hours and they pass
Khaleek faker inta ikhtarti tib'u braahtek, aaaah!
May you remember you chose to be at your convenience, aaaah!
Khaleek faker ina maak ana doo' tee elmor
May you remember that with you I tasted bitterness
Khaleek faker ina alhozn sa3at witmor
May you remember that sadness is hours and they pass
Khaleek faker inta ikhtarti tib'u braahtek, aaaah!
May you remember you chose to be at your convenience, aaaah!
Adeebee n'seet wa reehatek, ba3dee kamaan wa farhatek
I forgot and put you at ease, I moved away as well and made you happy
Adeebee n'seet wa reehatek, ba3dee kamaan wa farhatek
I forgot and put you at ease, I moved away as well and made you happy
Ana 3ashi'tek insaani, Ana a-hob khalaaani
I adored you, my person, I the love made me
Ana 3ashi'tek insaani, Ana a-hob khalaaani
I adored you, my person, I the love made me
A'ool
I say
Khaleek faker ina maak ana doo' tee elmor
May you remember that with you I tasted bitterness
Khaleek faker ina alhozn sa3at witmor
May you remember that sadness is hours and they pass
Khaleek faker inta ikhtarti tib'u braahtek, aaaah!
May you remember you chose to be at your convenience, aaaah!
...musical interlude...
Aaah, min alhobi lamaa tarherool alaaeaam
Aaah, love, when the days change
Aaah, wal3ashra lamaa tduee3 bassor3a aawaam
Aaah, and when the intimacy is lost so fast, immediately
Aaah, min alhobi lamaa tarherool alaaeaam
Aaah, love, when the days change
Aaah, wal3ashra lamaa tdue3 bassor3a aawaam
Aaah, and when the intimacy is lost so fast, immediately
Aaah, min alleeaaly minek ya rhally
Ah the nights and from you my precious
Aah, min habaeebee wa min sohabee
Ah my beloved and my friends
Aaah, min alleeaaly minek ya rhally
Ah the nights and from you my precious
Aah, min habaeebee wa min sohabee
Ah my beloved and my friends
Line missing? la a quool a cana?
Ana 3ashi'tek insaani, Ana a-hob khalaaani
I adored you, my person, I the love made me
Ana 3ashi'tek insaani, Ana a-hob khalaaani
I adored you, my person, I the love made me
A'ool
I say
violin...
flute..
Aaaah!
Adeebee n'seet wa reehatek, ba3dee kamaan wa farhatek
I forgot and put you at ease, I moved away as well and made you happy
Adeebee n'seet wa reehatek, ba3dee kamaan wa farhatek
I forgot and put you at ease, I moved away as well and made you happy
Ana 3ashi'tek insaani, Ana a-hob khalaaani
I adored you, my person, I the love made me
Ana 3ashi'tek insaani, Ana a-hob khalaaani
I adored you, my person, I the love made me
A'ool
I say
Khaleek faker ina maak ana doo' tee elmor
May you remember that with you I tasted bitterness
Khaleek faker ina alhozn sa3at witmor
May you remember that sadness is hours and they pass
Khaleek faker inta ikhtarti tib'u braahtek, aaaah!
May you remember you chose to be at your convenience, aaaah!
ESHTA YABA – MOSTAFA KAMAL
just a few notes:
-Eshta as a direct translation refers to cream, it is also a way to say "cool", it can be used to refer to woman (referencing either her beauty or purity).
- aba means father and aamy means uncle, however these terms are also used to address men other than your actual father or uncle, (similar to how brother is used here in the US as slang.."hey brother, wassup?")
- ya, is used to call out to people (like yaba, ya ammy and ya gad3an). Here it's been translated to oh, but that isn't actually quite accurate, I think it is closer to yo, but it isn't slang in the Arabic speaking world. It's actually considered respectful. You will hear it when people address some body by name as well, like "ya Mohamed" or "ya Aisha".
- gad3an is plural of gad3a which refers to a tough guy
- the number 3 refers to the letter 3ayn in the Arabic alphabet. It is said similar to an 'A' sound but deeper in the throat.
- wala and eih are used kind of filler words in this song a lot, eih general translate to "what" and wala translates to...well, I let you know when I figure it out exactly.
- I've tried to keep this copy of the translation pretty direct, but if you want my friend Adel's expanded thoughts on his take of this song you can find a discussion about it on tribe here.
Eshta yaba eshta
cream, oh father, cream
Eshta ya aamy eshta
cream, oh uncle, cream
Kolo keda, eshta, ah wa ana keda
They are all like that, cream, and I'm like that.
Ana momken abee3 getety, wala wala
I am able to sell [out} my grandma, wala, wala - this is where we hit our hands to our head and hips
Kol el banat hetety, ana ana
all the girls (in) my area, I, I - this is where we make the woman shape
Ana momken abee3 getety, wala wala
I am able to sell [out} my grandma, boy oh boy
Kol el banat hetety, ana ana
all the girls (in) my area, I, I
Wa elli ye3aly soto, eih
and he who raises his voice, what - this is where we make the shouting gesture
Yeba nawy 3ala moutoh, eih
then he is destined to his death, what - here we slash our knives
Wa elli ye3aly soto, eih
and he who raises his voice, what
Yeba nawy 3ala eih
then he is destined to his death, what
Yeba nawy 3ala moutoh
then he is destined to his death - and more knives with our sharki step
Yeba nawy 3ala moutoh
then he is destined to his death
Yeba nawy 3ala eih
then he is destined to what
Bolae embaba kat kan shobra wa helwan wa el do'ee
I say Embabeh, Katkat, Shoubra and Helwan and El Daghi. - we are pointing about, he's naming towns in Egypt
Law kona habayeb wa akhwat akalni el helw fi bo'ee
if we are to be friends and brothers [then]feed me the sweet [stuff] in my mouth. (the shoulder shimmy, circle, eating move)
Bolae embaba kat kan shobra wa helwan wa el do'ee
I say Embabeh, Katkat, Shoubra and Helwan and El Daghi.
Law kona habayeb wa akhwat akalni el helw fi bo'ee
if we are to be friends and brothers [then]feed me the sweet [stuff] in my mouth.
Eshta yaba, eshta
cream, oh father, cream
Wala, eih, wala, eih
wala, what, wala, what?
Eshta yaba, eshta
cream, oh father, cream
Eshta ya aamy, eshta
cream, oh uncle, cream
Kolo keda, eshta, ah wa ana keda
They are all like that, cream, and I'm like that
Ahmed rabena 3alal 3easha
Praise our Lord for this life - the kisses step
Matdayea shed el fesha
If you're upset, pull the plug (suicide). - pulling back the fist
Ahmed rabena 3alal 3easha
Praise our Lord for this life
Matdayea shed el fesha
If you're upset, pull the plug
Law enta ked fel el oda
if you [are] like this in the room - our cute waggle
Teb'a leiltak soda
then your night [is] black (dark) - hands on head move
Law enta ked fel el oda
if you [are] like this in the room
Tebae leiltak eeih
then your night [is] what
Tebae leiltak soda
then your night [is] black - heel drop in a circle with the cute hands thing
Tebae leiltak soda
then your night [is] black
Tebae leiltak eeih
then your night [is] what
Amrika ba3atitlina dollarat bet oklak 3aly el taza
America sent us dollars, she tells you to raise the frying pan (get high). - point at America, take the money, act intoxicated
3ayzena tedeha khadarrat wa nerakez fel ra'assa
they want us to give her greens (drugs) and to concentrate on the dancer - snort the drugs and point at the belly dancer
Amrika ba3atitlina dollarat bet oklak 3aly el taza
America sent us dollars, she tells you to raise the frying pan (get high).
3ayzena tedeha khadarrat wa nerakez fel ra'assa
they want us to give her greens (buy drugs) and to concentrate on the dancer
Eshta yaba, eshta
cream, oh father, cream
Wala, eih, wala, eih
wala, what, wala, what?
Eshta yaba eshta
cream, oh father, cream
Eshta ya aamy eshta
cream, oh uncle, cream
Kolo keda, eshta, ah wa ana keda
They are all like that, cream, and I'm like that.
Ana nefsy nelem el teta
I desire to collect the money - the moves from here on out aren't as gesturally connected, but you can see the attitude
Bala shela bala barateta
"the heck with" a group of friends "and the heck with" another group of friends"
Ana nefsy nelem el teta
I desire to collect the money
Bala shela bala barateta
"the heck with" a group of friends "and the heck with" another group of friends"
Elly 3amaly saya3
he who is making for me vagabond (stupid)
Wa elly 3amaly dayeh
and he who is making for me lost
Elly 3amaly saya3
he who is making for me vagabond (stupid)
Wa elly 3amaly eih
he who is making for me what
Elly 3amaly saya3
he who is making for me vagabond (stupid)
Wa elly 3amaly dayeh
and he who is making for me lost
Wa elly 3amaly eih
he who is making for me what
El ragel el helw bel lesan mesh bas be eido wa dera3oo
the man who is good with the tounge not only with his hand and with his arm
El ragel el helw, ya gad3an, mayakhodsh elly mesh beta3oo
the man who is good, oh you tough guys, does not take that which is not his
El ragel el helw bel lesan mesh bas be eido wa dera3oo
the man who is good with the tounge not only with his hand and with his arm
El ragel el helw, ya gad3an, mayakhodsh elly mesh beta3oo
the man who is good, oh you tough guys, does not take that which is not his
Eshta yaba eshta
cream, oh father, cream
Ya Helw Sabah - Heya di Yasmina
CD available from Dahlal and Farida. (I'll see if I can get the Arabic written out too.)
Oh sweet you’re the morning sweet
Oh sweet say good morning
Now our day is full and great
How long have I waited for you
My eye on the door and window (I watching the door all the time)
So, I can talk to you and plead with you
How long have I waited for you
My eye on the door and window (I watching the door all the time)
So, I can talk to you and plead with you
So, I can talk to you and plead with you
Oh sweet oh sweet oh sweet say good morning
Oh sweet you’re the morning sweet
Oh sweet say good morning
Now our day is full and great
Oh my eye, why the beautiful is occupied and perplexed?
Tell him it is still too soon for him to be perplexed, oh young one.
Oh my eye, why the beautiful is occupied and perplexed?
Tell him it is still too soon for him to be perplexed, oh young one.
Something something something
One look from him it makes the mind go crazy
Oh sweet you’re the morning sweet
Oh sweet say good morning
Now our day is full and great
It has been written that I have to look up and keep my heart occupied with love
It has been written that I have to look up and keep my heart occupied with love
This beautiful one is lightness and class
Oh this Jasmine is lightness and class
Oh sweet oh sweet oh sweet say good morning