PHOTO CREDIT: Above photo by John Rickman Photography, San Jose, California.
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Ammouna fi al-Said
(Ammouna from the Said)
This page contains a translation into English of the lyrics to "Ammouna Fi Al Said", a light-hearted Arabic rap that appears on the album Belly Dance With Amany and Bassem Yazbek. The song is narrated by a young man who thinks the neighbor's daughter named Ammouna is "sweet, sweet, sweet".
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.
Listen to MP3 Clips of this Song
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Sung by Bassem Yazbek |
Lyrics
Arabic Lyrics |
English Translation |
Ooh, Ooh. Ooh, Ooh. |
Ooh, Ooh. Ooh, Ooh. |
Halawah, halawah, halawah, halawah, oh. |
Sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet, oh. |
Aywah w-a'akli a'aar w-akdar aakhouth bil-thaar. |
Yes and my mind is in shame and I can take revenge. |
Ammouna ya bint el-jaar wallaa'ha elkalb bilnaar. |
Ammouna, oh the neighbor's daughter, set my heart
on fire! |
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Yabouy, yabouy, ayuouh ya bouy. |
Oh father, oh father, yes, oh father |
Yabouy, yabouy, ayuouh ya bouy. |
Oh father, oh father, yes, oh father |
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Killouh m-nil waad marzouk, ma ybissilha w-eyzouk,
lahsan ma khalli elsaif yiktaa' githitouh ya haif. |
All of this from the kid Marzouk, he'd better
not look at her and get to know her better or I will get the
sword to cut his body... alas! |
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Halawah, halawah, halawah, halawah, oh. |
Sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet, oh. |
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Maakdarsh, w-ifedh aboya jaa, baasher lilkaaa',
khouzha maa'aah |
I will recall and assume and assume my father
is coming - He will take her with him |
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Aay, yaay, yaay, yaay, aay, yaay, yaay, yaay. |
Aay, yaay, yaay, yaay, aay, yaay, yaay, yaay. |
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Halawah, halawah |
Sweet, sweet |
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Makhatarsh arouh a'ala fain, ahassel ammouna
mnain, koulha yabooy yazain, afdeeha bi-dama' el-a'ain. |
It did not occur to me to go somewhere. From
where to get Ammouna? To tell her oh father, oh excellent and
to save her with the tears of my eyes. |
Yabouy, yabouy, ayouh ya bouy. |
Oh father, Oh father, Yes Oh Father. |
Yabouy, yabouy, ayouh ya bouy. |
Oh father, Oh father, Yes Oh Father. |
Yeeh! |
Yeeh! |
Where to Get Recordings of this Song
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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