Filler
Photo of Shira

 

 

PHOTO CREDIT: Above photo by John Rickman Photography, San Jose, California.

El Tannoura
(The Skirt)

 

This page contains a translation into English of the lyrics to the hit song "El Tannoura", which was sung by the popular al jeel Lebanese vocalist Fares Karam. Also included is a transliteration of the Arabic lyrics into the Roman alphabet so you can sing along if you like. Other ways of spelling the song title are "Al Tanorah"

According to Lebanese dancer Suha Deeb, this cheeky song isn't so much about the girl dressing inappropriately as it is about her driving men crazy by flaunting her beauty for them to admire. The beat is a debke beat, and the song would probably be a popular choice for a Lebanese audience.

Music By: Salim Salamah

 

---------------

Lyrics

Arabic Lyrics

English Translation

Chorus:

Chorus:

Eh Le b’2asir tanoura? Why does she shorten her skirt?
Le b’2asir tanoura? Why does she shorten her skirt?
B’ilha2 3ayoun il shabab The boys follow her
Heye bi hala maghroura. She is conceited.
Heye bi hala maghroura. She is conceited.
   

Verse 1:

Verse 1:

Labi2la Ka3b il 3ali The high-heeled shoes suit her.
Howa gharbi wi shamli The northern and western breezes
Tanouret’ha jibra wa nus Her skirt is very short, a handspan and a half.
Wa blouset’ha miltlal lel. And her blouse is see-through.
   
La lel la lel la lel. La lel la lel la lel.
   
Kul mat’khefet bi mashet’ha All fear her when she walks.
3am ta3ala tanouret’ha She is shortening her skirt.
Gharet minha waj il bahar The ocean waves are jealous of her
Wa janet la ma shafet’ha And they go crazy when they see her.
   
Hali hali hali Myself, myself, myself
   
Shofet riye shayekh shub I see old men becoming young again
Wal khityara farfoura And old women looking young again [literally, looking like dames]
Wal khityara farfoura And old women looking young again
   

Chorus

Chorus

   
La lel la lel la lel La lel la lel la lel
Hali hali hali Myself, myself, myself
   

Verse 2:

Verse 2:

Asir ma bi hemma The shortness doesn't worry her
La baya wa la 2ima Nor her father nor her mother
Bet’hur is alb I shabab She breaks the boys' hearts
Low dabou, akher hemma And if they melt, that's the last of her concerns.
   
La lel la lel la lel La lel la lel la lel
   
Kul ma watou, bit 3ali The lower they go, the higher she gets
Kulon b’yisrokh “ya d2illi” They all scream, "My goodness!"
Allah bi’waefilou God waits for her
Rai2a yislam hal tali He wishes to praise this beauty.
   
Hali hali hali Myself, myself, myself
   
Imshi 3al il moda hay Walking in this style
Heyi helwi wa ma3zoura She is pretty, but forgiven for her looks
Heyi helwi wa ma3zoura She is pretty, but forgiven for her looks
   

Chorus

Chorus

   

Verse 3:

Verse 3:

Dinyi narou sha3lani The weather is very hot
Heyi mana se2lani She is not concerned
Tanoura, 3al maylain The skirt on both sides
Mayil bi haki tani One end speaks to the other end
   
La lel la lel la lel La lel la lel la lel
   
Imshe wa b’hes b’khasra She walks, and you feel in her hips
Ka2na malaket 3asra She is the modern queen
Wa blouset’ha mala zow Her blouse has no buttons
Wa klet irba3 mekhtasra And three quarters of it is off
   
Hali hali hali Myself, myself, myself
   
Id’huki Ana bi leh’ha I laugh and blame the August heat.
Mish ha2i 3al tanoura It's not the skirt's fault.
Mish ha2i 3al tanoura It's not the skirt's fault.
   

Chorus

Chorus

 

---------------

About the Translator

 

This translation was created by Jamil, a male belly dancer based in Australia. Jamil has had a deep-seated passion for Arabic music his entire life. Being of Middle Eastern descent, Jamil has grown up with belly dancing pumping rapidly throughout his veins and considers it a way of life rather than purely an art.

Jamil is known to many on the Internet as the moderator of the Raqs El Sharqi tribe on tribe.net. He has given permission for his translations to be included here on Shira.net. You can find his web site at www.jamilbellydancer.com.au.

Jamil

 

 

 

---------------

Copyright Notice

This entire web site is copyrighted. All rights reserved.

All articles, images, forms, scripts, directories, and product reviews on this web site are the property of Shira unless a different author/artist is identified. Material from this web site may not be posted on any other web site unless permission is first obtained from Shira.

Academic papers for school purposes may use information from this site only if the paper properly identifies the original article on Shira.net using appropriate citations (footnotes, end notes, etc.) and bibliography. Consult your instructor for instructions on how to do this.

If you wish to translate articles from Shira.net into a language other than English, Shira will be happy to post your translation here on Shira.net along with a note identifying you as the translator. This could include your photo and biography if you want it to. Contact Shira for more information. You may not post translations of Shira's articles on anybody else's web site, not even your own.

If you are a teacher, performer, or student of Middle Eastern dance, you may link directly to any page on this web site from either your blog or your own web site without first obtaining Shira's permission. Click here for link buttons and other information on how to link.

 

 

Explore more belly dance info:

Top >
Belly Dancing >
Middle Eastern Culture >
Index to Middle Eastern Music Section

 

Share this page!

On Facebook
 

 

   Top > Belly Dancing > Middle Eastern Culture > Index to Middle Eastern Music Section

| Contact Shira | Links | Search this Site |