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PHOTO CREDIT: Above photo by John Rickman Photography, San Jose, California. |
Efred Masalan
(Assume)
This page contains a translation into English of the lyrics to the popular shaabi song "Efred Massalan", which was sung by Hakim. Sometimes the song title is spelled as "Ifredh Mathalan", and the singer's name as "Hakeem". Also included is a transliteration of the Arabic lyrics into the Roman alphabet so you can sing along if you like. The song was released in 2000.
The dancer Morocco teaches choreography to this song.
Hakim is known worldwide as a superstar of Egypt's musical genre known as shaabi. He used modern instruments such as bass guitar and keyboard to bring an updated sound to the traditional music, and added a beat that proved to be a hit on dance floors in the discos. As a child in the town Maghagha, Hakim formed his own band and played shaabi hits made popular in the past by Ahmed Adawiyya and others. His father, the mayor of the town, pressured him to attend the University of el-Azhar in Cairo, in hopes Hakim would follow a professional career path instead of music. However, once in Cairo, Hakim made contact with the musicians of the Cairo cafes and received organic musical training. Following graduation, he returned to his musical path. He formed a band back in Maghagha, which quickly became popular around the province of Minya. Today, Hakim enjoys superstar status, known for his innovative fusion of traditional music with a modern day pop sound. He has won much acclaim, including the prestigious Kora Award in 2000 for the category Best North African Singer. |
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Lyrics: Amal El Taer
Music: Essam Tawfiq
Listen to MP3 Clips of this Song
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Sung by Hakim |
Lyrics
Arabic Lyrics |
English Translation |
| Ah yani minnak, aah yaaani. Yaaani. | Oh my from you, oh my. My. |
| Be-tishki laih iw-inta el-gaani. Gaaani. | Why do you complain? And you are the aggressor. Aggressor. |
| Ifredh mathalan, mathalan, yaa’ni inni khasimtak youm. Ma inta taa’ibni iw-imghalibni iw-imnasseini elnoum. | Assume for example, for example, in other words, that I had a quarrel with you one day. But you are making me tired, burdening me and making me lose [literally, "forget to"] sleep. |
| Ifredh mathalan, mathalan, yaa’ni inni khasimtak youm. Ma inta taa’ibni iw-imghalibni iw-imnasseini elnoum. | Assume for example, for example, in other words, that I had a quarrel with you one day. But you are making me tired, burdening me and making me lose [literally, "forget to"] sleep. |
| Dah ana bakhti ib-hobbak maal. Layli ib-bia’dak taal. | This is my luck, to love you, and when you are far away, my nights are very long. |
| Dah ana bakhti ib-hobbak maal. Layli ib-bia’dak taal. | This is my luck, to love you, and when you are far away, my nights are very long. |
| Hissi biyya, dah inta liyya kolli haagah. Laih ib-a’ilmak laih ti-dhayyea’ killi haaga. | Have a feeling about me, that you are everything to me. Why, knowing that, do you want to lose everything? |
| Hissi biyya, dah inta liyya kolli haagah. Laih ib-a’ilmak laih ti-dhayyea’ killi haaga. | Have a feeling about me, that you are everything to me. Why, knowing that, do you want to lose everything? |
| Wi-ifredh mathalan, ifredh. | And assume, for example, assume. |
| Ifredh mathalan, mathalan, yaa’ni inni khasimtak youm. Ma inta taa’ibni iw-imghalibni iw-imnasseini elnoum. | Assume for example, for example, in other words, that I had a quarrel with you one day. But you are making me tired, burdening me and making me lose [literally, "forget to"] sleep. |
| Ifredh mathalan, mathalan, yaa’ni inni khasimtak youm. Ma inta taa’ibni iw-imghalibni iw-imnasseini elnoum. | Assume for example, for example, in other words, that I had a quarrel with you one day. But you are making me tired, burdening me and making me lose [literally, "forget to"] sleep. |
| Elnoum, elnoum, elnoum, elnoum. | Sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep. |
| Elkalaam beygeeb kalaam, wil a’azoul yaa’mail hikaayah. Laa haraam, dah elgharaam taah maa’aak wi-ihtaar maa’aaya. | Words beget words. Friends make stories. No, it is forbidden. This love became lost with you and became confused with me. |
| Elkalaam beygeeb kalaam, wil a’azoul yaa’mail hikaayah. Laa haraam, dah elgharaam taah maa’aak wi-ihtaar maa’aaya. | Words beget words. Friends make stories. No, it is forbidden. This love became lost with you and became confused with me. |
| Bassi ayyi kilmah morrah oultahaali, winta bardhou ayyi kilmah a’adihaali. | But any bitter word you said to me; and you, any word you repeated to me. |
| Bassi ayyi kilmah morrah oultahaali, winta bardhou ayyi kilmah a’adihaali. | But any bitter word you said to me; and you, any word you repeated to me. |
| Wi-ifredh mathalan, ifredh. | Assume, for example, assume. |
| Ifredh mathalan, mathalan yaa’ni inni khasimtak youm. Ma inta taa’ibni iw-imghalibni, iw-imnasseini elnoum. | Assume for an example, for an example, meaning I had a quarrel with you one day. You are making me tired, burdening me and making me lose sleep. |
| Ifredh mathalan, mathalan yaa’ni inni khasimtak youm. Ma inta taa’ibni iw-imghalibni, iw-imnasseini elnoum. | Assume for an example, for an example, meaning I had a quarrel with you one day. You are making me tired, burdening me and making me lose sleep. |
| Elnoum, elnoum, elnoum, elnoum. | Sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep. |
| Intah yaa. Ma it-oulli yaa. Oulli eih akhrit a’azaabi. A’akli taah, aalbi daab, wi-inta mish a’amail hisaabi. | You, there! Why don’t you tell me? Tell me what is the end of my suffering. My mind is lost, my heart melted and you are ignoring me. |
| Intah yaa. Ma it-oulli yaa. Oulli eih akhrit a’azaabi. A’akli taah, aalbi daab, wi-inta mish a’amail hisaabi. | You, there! Why don’t you tell me? Tell me what is the end of my suffering. My mind is lost, my heart melted and you are ignoring me. |
| Bilmahabba, habah, habah ishtireeni. Dah inta bardhou laou toa’ozni hatlaaeini. | With love, step by step, buy me. And you, of course, if you ever need me, you will find me. |
| Bilmahabba, habah, habah ishtireeni. Dah inta bardhou laou toa’ozni hatlaaeini. | With love, step by step, buy me. And you, of course, if you ever need me, you will find me. |
| Wi-ifredh mathalan, ifredh. | And assume, for example, assume. |
| Ifredh mathalan, mathalan yaa’ni inni khasimtak youm. Ma inta taa’ibni iw-imghalibni, iw-imnasseini elnoum. | Assume for an example, for an example meaning I had a quarrel with you one day. You are making me tired, burdening me and making me lose sleep. |
| Ifredh mathalan, mathalan yaa’ni inni khasimtak youm. Ma inta taa’ibni iw-imghalibni, iw-imnasseini elnoum. | Assume for an example, for an example meaning I had a quarrel with you one day. You are making me tired, burdening me and making me lose sleep. |
| Dah ana bakhti ib-hobbak maal. Layli ib-bia’dak taal. | This is my luck, to love you, and when you are far away, my nights are very long. |
| Dah ana bakhti ib-hobbak maal. Layli ib-bia’dak taal. | This is my luck, to love you, and when you are far away, my nights are very long. |
| Hissi biyya, da-inta liyya kolli hagah. Laih ib-a’ilmak laih ti-dhayyea’ kolli haga. | Have a feeling about me. You are everything to me. Why, knowing that, do you want to lose everything? |
| Hissi biyya, da-inta liyya kolli hagah. Laih ib-a’ilmak laih ti-dhayyea’ kolli haga. | Have a feeling about me. You are everything to me. Why, knowing that, do you want to lose everything? |
| Wi-ifredh mathalan, ifredh. | And assume, for example, assume. |
Where to Get Recordings of this Song
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Artist: Hakim Amazon Store: |
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Artist: Hakim Amazon Store: |
Translations Of
Hakim's Songs on This Site
About the Translator
More than 80 song translations that appear on this web site, including this one, were created by Tahseen Alkoudsi. Together with his wife Kathe, Tahseen owned an import business in Lawrence, Kansas known as Cartouche.
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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