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أبعاد
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This page contains a translation into English of the lyrics to "Aba'ad", a very well-known song from the Khaleegy (Persian Gulf) region. The full-length song is 20.5 minutes!
Also included on this page is a transliteration of the Arabic lyrics into the Roman alphabet so you can sing along if you like. Song lyrics are provided for educational purposes. If you like the song, please purchase either the album or a download from an authorized source. About This SongWith the release of "Abaad" in the 1970's, Mohamed Abdo's popularity spread outside of the Arabic-speaking region and into Greece, Turkey, and a number of European countries. Both the composer and the lyricist for this song were Kuwaiti. Many belly dancers and musicians in the United States know this song as "Layla, Layla" because about 14 minutes into the song the lyrics sing "layla" (which means "night") many times over and over again. About Mohamed AbdoMohamed Abdo is a superstar singer from Saudi Arabia. This multi-talented musician is a singer, composer, and oud player. His father was a poor fisherman, and his parents had six children. When a smallpox plague swept through Saudi Arabia, it killed nearly all of the children, including a three-year-old "Mohamed". The couple decided to name their next child in memory of him. The family moved to Jeddah, which is where young Mohamed was born in 1949. His father switched careers to be a bricklayer, but then fell, ill and died in 1953 when Mohamed was still a small child. Abdo was discovered when he sang on a radio program in 1960. His early songs were sacred music and Quran chants. His first song that was his own instead of a cover of other artists was "Khaasamt Eini Min Sanin", which was composed by Syrian Mohamed Mohsen and lyrics by Taher Zamakhshari. His success grew, and many additional songs followed. Abdo became a popular performer in jalsat (live music concerts). Although Abdo worked with talented composers of his day, he also felt drawn to create some compositions of his own. He not only recorded some of his own compositions, but he also composed for other artists such as Ahlam and Asala Nasri. Following a concert in Tunisia in the early 1980's, the Tunisian president called Abdo "The Artist of the Arabs". His career continued to soar throughout the decade. In the 1990's, Abdo stopped performing live concerts for 8 years to mourn his beloved mother who passed away in 1989. During this period, he continued to release recordings. When he moved into secular music, Abdo's songs were based on the older generation's music of deep heritage, and he is credited with preserving the mawrouth (traditional songs), and in the 1990's he released a series of albums featuring the traditional shaabi music. About Fayeq Abdel JalilFayeq Abdel Jalil was a Kuwaiti poet who was known throughout the Arab world for both his poetry and his song lyrics, including the lyrics to Mohamed Abdo's hit "Abaad". Iraqi forces arrested him during the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990, and he became the most famous prisoner of war held by Saddam Hussein's regime. He was one of 600 Kuwaiti prisoners, and no one on the outside had seen him since the day of his arrest. In 2006, a mass grave of Kuwaiti prisoners was discovered in Iraq, which included his remains among them. |
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Listen to MP3 Clips of this Song
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Sung by Mohammed Abdo |
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Performed by Ya Salaam |
Lyrics
Arabic Lyrics |
English Translation |
| Lo-leesh | Zaghareet |
| Iba'aad kintoum willa willa krayibean. Limradikoum. Dayem, dayem salimean. | Far away you were, or near to what your heart desires. Always, always you are in good hands. |
| Iba'aad kintoum willa willa krayibean. Limradikoum. Dayem, dayem salimean. | Far away you were, or near to what your heart desires. Always, always you are in good hands. |
| Ma koul gheir allah. Allah ykouni b-a'oun killi el-a'ashikean. Ya-iba'aad. | I do not say except oh God! God help all in love, oh you far away. |
| Iba'aad kintoum willa willa krayibean. Limradikoum. Dayem, dayem salimean. | Far away you were, or near to what your heart desires. Always, always you are in good hands. |
| Iba'aad kintoum willa willa krayibean. Limradikoum. Dayem, dayem salimean. | Far away you were, or near to what your heart desires. Always, always you are in good hands. |
| Iba'aad kintoum willa willa krayibean. Limradikoum. Dayem, dayem salimean. | Far away you were, or near to what your heart desires. Always, always you are in good hands. |
| Iba'aad kintoum willa willa krayibean. Limradikoum. Dayem, dayem salimean. | Far away you were, or near to what your heart desires. Always, always you are in good hands. |
| Ma koul gheir allah. Allah ykouni b-a'oun killi el-a'ashikean. Ya-iba'aad. | I do not say except, oh God! God help all in love, oh you far away. |
| Iba'aad kintoum walla walla krayibean. Limradikoum. Dayem, dayem salimean. | Far away you were, or near to what your heart desires, always, always you are in peace. |
| Iba'aad kintoum walla walla krayibean. Limradikoum. Dayem, dayem salimean. | Far away you were, or near to what your heart desires, always, always you are in peace. |
| Ma koul gheir allah. Allah ykouni bi-a'oun killi el-a'ashikean. | I do not say except God! God help all in love, oh you far away. |
| Lo-leesh | Zaghareet |
| Lo-leesh | Zaghareet |
| Ashtaak, ashtaak, ashtaak, w-asaal a'ankoum el-ashwaaa. | I miss you, I miss you, I miss you and I ask my love about you. |
| Li-fraak, li-fraak, li-fraak, maa ghayyer a'alayya lifraak | Separation, Separation, Separation, did not change me, Separation. |
| Li-fraak, li-fraak, li-fraak, maa ghayyer a'alayya lifraak | Separation, Separation, Separation, did not change me, Separation. |
| Li-fraak, li-fraak, li-fraak, maa ghayyer a'alayya lifraak | Separation, Separation, Separation, did not change me, Separation. |
| A'asakoum ma nisitouni a'asaakoum, w- a'asaa ma marr hawa baa'di w-khadakoum | I hope you did not forget me, I hope. And I hope that another love did not come along and take you. |
| A'asakoum ma nisitouni a'asaakoum, w- a'asaa ma marr hawa baa'di w-khadakoum | I hope you did not forget me, I hope. And I hope that another love did not come along and take you. |
| Naater hawakoum naater. Kaader w-laani kaader. | I am waiting for your love, I am waiting, but I can not. |
| Naater hawakoum naater. Kaader w-laani kaader. | I am waiting for your love, I am waiting, but I can not. |
| Ashtaak, ashtaak, ashtaak, w-asaal a'ankoum el-ashwaaa. | I miss you, I miss you, I miss you and I ask my love about you. |
| Li-fraak, li-fraak, li-fraak, maa ghayyer a'alayy lifraak | Separation, separation, separation, did not change me, separation. |
| Ashtaak, ashtaak, ashtaak, w-asaal a'ankoum el-ashwaaa. | I miss you, I miss you, I miss you and I ask my love about you. |
| Li-fraak, li-fraak, li-fraak, maa ghayyer a'alayy lifraak | Separation, separation, separation, did not change me, separation. |
| A'asakoum ma nisitouni a'asaakoum, w- a'asaa ma marr hawa baa'di w-khadakoum. | I hope you did not forget me, and I hope that another love did not come along and take you. |
| A'asakoum ma nisitouni a'asaakoum, w- a'asaa ma marr hawa baa'di w-khadakoum. | I hope you did not forget me, and I hope that another love did not come along and take you. |
| Naater hawakoum naater. Kaader w-laani kaader. | I am waiting for your love. I can, I can not. |
| Naater hawakoum naater. Kaader w-laani kaader. | I am waiting for your love. I can, I can not. |
| Ma koul ghaiyr allah ... Allah ykouni bi-a'oun kouli el-a'ashikeen | I can not say except oh God! God help all those in love. |
| Ya aba'ad! | Oh you far away. |
| Iba'aad kintoum willa willa krayibean. Limradikoum. Dayem, dayem salimean. | Far away you were, or near to what your heart desires. Always, always you are in good hands. |
| Iba'aad kintoum willa willa krayibean. Limradikoum. Dayem, dayem salimean. | Far away you were, or near to what your heart desire. Always, always you are in good hands. |
| Ma koul gheir allah. Allah ykouni b-a'oun killi el-a'ashikean. Ya-iba'aad. | I do not say except oh God! God help all in love. Oh you far away. |
| Lo leeesh. | Zaghareet! |
| Layla, layla, layla, Allah, layla, layla, Layla | Night, night, night, oh God, night, night, night |
| Layla, layla, layla, layla | Night, night, night, night |
| Layla, layla, layla w-addi ahla layla, layla, layla | Night, night, night, and this is the sweetest night, night, night. |
| Layla, layla, layla, layla, layla, layla | Night, night, night, night, night, night |
| Layla, layla, layla, Allah, Allah, layla | Night, night, night, oh God, God, night |
| Layla, layla, layla, layla, layla, ya layla | Night, night, night, night, night, oh night |
| Layla, layla, layla, layla, layla, ya layla | Night, night, night, night, night, oh night |
| Layla, layla, layla, layla, layla, ya layla | Night, night, night, night, night, oh night |
| Layla, layla, layla, layla, layla, ya layla | Night, night, night, night, night, oh night |
| Layla, layla, layla, layla, layla, ya layla | Night, night, night, night, night, oh night |
| Layla, layla, layla, layla, layla, ya layla | Night, night, night, night, night, oh night |
| Layla, layla, layla, layla, layla, ya layla | Night, night, night, night, night, oh night |
| Layla, layla, layla, layla, layla, ya layla | Night, night, night, night, night, oh night |
| Mounyiti ashar maa'akoum layla, layla, wa- ishtiri b-omri ridhakoum layla, layla | My wish is to spend one night with you, one night, and with my life your acceptance, one night. |
| Mounyiti ashar maa'akoum layla, layla, wa- ishtiri b-omri ridhakoum layla, layla | My wish is to spend one night with you, one night, and with my life your acceptance, one night. |
| Yi-ra-widni el-amal fi layla alkaakoum, w-attirrid efarah ahzaani w-arjaak. | A hope accompanies me that I will meet you in one night and with this joy I will kick all my sorrow. |
| Yi-ra-widni el-amal fi layla alkaakoum, w-attirrid efarah ahzaani w-arjaak. | A hope accompanies me that I will meet you in one night and with this joy I will kick all my sorrow. |
| Layla, layla, layla, layla, layla ya layla | Night, night, night, night, night, oh night. |
| Layla, layla, layla, layla, layla ya layla | Night, night, night, night, night, oh night. |
| Layla, layla, layla, layla, layla ya layla | Night, night, night, night, night, oh night. |
| Layla, layla, layla, layla, layla ya layla | Night, night, night, night, night, oh night. |
| Layla, layla, layla, layla, layla ya layla | Night, night, night, night, night, oh night. |
| Layla, layla, layla, layla, layla ya layla | Night, night, night, night, night, oh night. |
| Layla, layla, layla, layla, layla ya layla | Night, night, night, night, night, oh night. |
| Layla, layla, layla, layla, layla ya layla | Night, night, night, night, night, oh night. |
| Mounyiti ashar maa'akoum layla, layla, wa- ishtiri b-omri ridhakoum layla, layla. | My wish is to spend one night with you, one night and with my life your acceptance, one night. |
| Mounyiti ashar maa'akoum layla, layla, wa- ishtiri b-omri ridhakoum layla, layla. | My wish is to spend one night with you, one night and with my life your acceptance, one night. |
| Eh-yrawidni amal fi layla alkaakoum, watrid bilfarah ahzaani w-arjaakoum. | A hope accompanies me that I will meet with you in one night and with this joy I will kick all my sorrow. |
| Yrawidni amal fi illayla alkaakoum, Ya habibi! | A hope accompanies me that I will meet with you in one night ... Oh my Love! |
| Saha fiil a'ashikeen, saaha fil a'ashikeen ya-aala kinanah. | He shouted at the lovers, shouted at the lovers... Oh you from Kinana's tribe. |
| A'ashikoun fi eljifooni minhou kinanah. | Love in the eyelids, from Kinanah. |
| Badawiyoun badat tallaaaia'ou lahzatan fakanat fattakatan fattaaaanah. | Bedouin, he appeared and he was beautiful. |
| A'adda minna el-koloub - a'adda minna el-koloub mounkasiraat a'indama raaha kasiran ajfaana. | He passed by the hearts, passed by the hearts (Broken, especially when he went to break my eyelids). |
| Badawiyoun aaah, aaah, aaah badawiyoun, kataratou elnaseem tajrahou khaddayh, wa- lamsou el hareer toudmi anaimaloho. | Bedouin, Oh, Oh, Oh Bedouin, the drops of the breeze wounded his cheeks, and silk touch makes his fingers bleed. |
| Y-rawidni el-amal fi layla alkaakoum, wattarred bilfarah ahzanoukm. | A hope accompanies me that I will meet with you in one night and with this joy I will kick all my sorrow. |
| Y-rawidni el-amal fi layla alkaakoum, wattarred bilfarah ahzanoukm. | A hope accompanies me that I will meet with you in one night and with this joy I will kick all my sorrow. |
| A'asaakoum ma nisaytouni a'asaakoum, w-a'asa ma marr hawa baa'di w-khadakoum | I hope you did not forget me and hope that there was not another love that took you from me. |
| A'asaakoum ma nisaytouni a'asaakoum, w-a'asa ma marr hawa baa'di w-khadakoum | I hope you did not forget me and hope that there was not another love that took you from me. |
| Naater hawakoum naater, kaader w-laani kaader. | I am waiting for your love. I can, I can not. |
| Naater hawakoum naater, kaader w-laani kaader. | I am waiting for your love. I can, I can not. |
| Eish akoul ghair ellah. | What can I say, except God! |
| Allah ykouni b-a'oun killi el-a'ashikeen! | God help all those in love! |
| Allah ykouni b-a'oun killi el-a'ashikeen! | God help all those in love! |
| Allah ykouni b-a'oun killi el-a'ashikeen! | God help all those in love! |
| Allah ykouni b-a'oun killi el-a'ashikeen! | God help all those in love! |
| Allah ykouni b-a'oun killi el-a'ashikeen! | God help all those in love! |
Where to Get Recordings of this Song
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Artist: Mohammed Abdu |
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Artist: Salatin Tarab Orchestra |
About the Translator
More than 100 song translations that appear on this web site, including this one, were created by Dr. Tahseen Alkoudsi. Together with his wife Kathe, Tahseen owned an import business in Lawrence, Kansas known as Cartouche.
Dr. Alkoudsi's imports business was his second career. His first career was in the service of the United Nations. Born in Damascus, Syria, he came to the U.S. for his M.A. and Ph.D. in economics, and worked in San Francisco. He joined the United Nations in Yemen, and worked in Saudi Arabia. He then joined the UNESCO Regonal Office for Arab States. He visited most of the Arab States in the course of his work, responsible for introducing computer sciences into educational facilities. For a time, he was stationed in Cairo, Egypt. He retired from that work in 1995.
Sadly, Tahseen died on Sunday, October 15, 2006. See this link for his obituary.
To me, Tahseen was so much more than a contributor to my web site. Even though we lived far apart, I saw Tahseen and Kathe several times over the years. I always appreciated their warmth and generosity. I first "met" Tahseen online back in 1997 on the med-dance list on the Internet, where he periodically posted messages. I knew he was in Lawrence, Kansas, so when a business trip arose requiring me to travel to the Kansas City area, I emailed him to say I'd be in the neighborhood. He and Kathe came to Kansas City for an evening get-together at Tasso's restaurant, and they invited several local dancers to join us. I saw them on follow-up visits to Kansas City. They vended at Rakkasah for several years, and it was always a pleasure to greet them there in the anteroom off to the left of the main stage. I also enjoyed encountering them in Egypt at the Ahlan wa Sahlan festival. Tahseen will be missed by many. |
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