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

Έλεος

(Elleos)
(Habibi Ya Habib Albi Yadoob)
(Hatırla Veni)

(Mercy)
(My Love, It Only Takes)
(Remember Me)

 

 

This page contains a translation into English of the lyrics to the popular Arabic/Greek song "Elleos" (Έλεος), which was sung by Angela Dimitriou and Amr Diab as a duet. Also included is a pronunciation guide for the Greek lyrics 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 Song

This song was originally a Greek-Egyptian collaboration between Angela Dimitriou and Amr Diab. In 2005, it was included on one of Amr Diab's albums, Ahla Ma Ghana (Αχλα Μα Γκανα) with the track named "Elyos", though it has also been referred to as "Habibi Ya Habib Albi Yadoob" because of the Arabic lyrics.

ABOUT THE PHOTO: The photo shows Amr Diab and Angela Dimitriou together.

The Arabic lyrics were written by Ayman Bahgat Qamar (Αιμαν Μπαγατ Καμαρ). Angela Dimitriou has been a huge hit in the Turkish and Middle Eastern market. Another collaboration between Angela Dimitriou and Amr Diab was "Ana Bahebak Akhtar".

In 2000, a Greek-Turkish collaboration of this song was recorded by Natalia Doussopoulou (Ναταλία Δουσσοπούλου) and Mustafa Sandal (Μουσταφα Σανταλ). Its title was "Hatırla Beni" (Χατυρλα Μπενι), and it appeared on the album Akışına Bırak (Ακυσυνα Βυρακ). The Turkish lyrics are by Ferda Anıl Yarkın (Φερντα Ανυλ Γαρκυν) and (Μουσταφα Σανταλ). Turkish back up vocals are by Ferda Anıl Yarkın (Φερντα Ανυλ Γαρκυν) and Mahsun Kımızıgül (Μαχσουν Κυμυζυγουλ). Natalia has recorded several Greek/Turkish songs.

About Angela Dimitriou

Angela Dimitriou (Άντζελα Δημητρίου) is the stage name for Angeliki Kiourtsaki, the Greek singer who sang this song as a duet with Egyptian artist Amr Diab.

Dimitriou began her professional career as a singer in 1970, and has collaborated with many highly successful Greek musicians over the years. In particular, the legendary Rebetiko composer and lyricist Vasilis Tsitsanis believed in her potential and worked with her on some projects. Her big break came in 1980 with the commercial success of her third album.

About Amr Diab

Amr Diab joined Angela Dimitriou in singing this song as a duet. Diab's musical talents extend beyond his singing — he also knows how to play oud and piano. Amr Diab graduated from the music program at the Cairo Academy of Art in 1986. The spectacular hit song that brought him to worldwide fame was his release in 1996 of this song, "Habibi, Ya Nour el Ain." It garnered the title of Arabic Song of the Year, and with its Spanish fusion sound it defined a new genre of music known as "Mediterranean music."

According to Let's Go Egypt, Diab is the best-selling Arab recording artist of all time. He has received the World Music Award in the category of "Best-Selling Arab Artist" three times - in 1998, 2002, and 2007. In 2003, Amr Diab won two major awards in a poll done by Nile Variety TV. One was "Best Music Video" for the song, "Ana "A'ayesh," and the other was Best Singer.

About Natalia Doussopoulou

Natalia Doussopoulou was the artist who sang the Turkish version of this song as a duet with Mustafa Sandal. She is known professionally as Natalia Dusso and also as just Natalia.

Although Doussopoulou was born in Greece, she spent her early childhood in the United Kingdom. Her talent for music was recognized when she was a teen-ager. When performing as part of a friend's summer show in 1999, she met Turkish pop singer Mustafa Sandal. He proposed that she collaborate with him on making a Greek-Turkish version of "Elleos", which had been released by Angela Dimitriou and Amr Diab. The successful project launched her professional career and made her a major star in Turkey. She later collaborated with him again on another Greek-Turkish duet, this time for "Ti Zitas" (known in Turkish as "Yok Gerekçem").

Natalia has continued her successful career since then, expanding her popularity internationally via live shows, collaboration with international artists, and releasing additional recordings.

About Giorgos Theofanous

Giorgos Theofanous, the composer of this song, is a Greek-Cypriot composer. After studying guitar, piano, and music theory at the Greek conservatory, he settled in Athens in 1990 and began his career in the Greek music industry. Since then, he has written over 500 songs, including music for several prominent Greek recording artists. He served as a judge on four seasons of the Greek version of The X Factor.

Song: Eleos (Mercy), 1999

Lyrics for Greek/Arabic Version: Evi Droutsa and Ayman Bahgat Qamar

Lyrics for Greek/Turkish Version: Evi Droutsa, Ferda Anıl Yarkın, and Mustafa Sandal

Music: Giorgos Theofanous

Original Artists for Greek/Arabic Version: Angela Dimitriou and Amr Diab as a duet

Original Artists for Greek/Turkish Version: Natalia Doussopoulou and Mustafa Sandal as a duet

Dance: Belly dancing

Angela Dimitriou's Album with Greek/Arabic Version: Kane Stin Akri

Amr Diab's Album with Greek/Arabic Version: Ahla Ma Ghana

Mustafa Sandal's Album with Greek/Turkish Version: Akışına Bırak

Τραγούδι: Έλεος, 1999

Στίχοι: Εύη Δρούτσα & Αιμαν Μπαγατ Καμαρ

Μουσική: Γιώργος Θεοφάνους

Πρώτη Εκτέλεση: Αγγελική Κιουρτσάκη (Άντζελα Δημητρίου) & Αμιρ Ντιαμπ

Άλμπουμ: Κάνε Στην Άκρη

 

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Lyrics

As noted above, there are at least two versions of this song: one in which the man's part is sung in Arabic by Amr Diab, and the other in which the man's part is sung in Turkish by Mustafa Sandal. Both versions are translated here.

 

Angela Dimitriou's and Amr Diab's Version

Numbers in parentheses refer to footnotes that appear at the bottom of the translation.

Greek Lyrics

Pronunciation

English Translation
Greek Section Greek Section Greek Section
Μέσα στα μάτια σου mesa sta matia sou Inside your eyes,
βουλιάζω λίγο λίγο vouliazo ligo ligo I sink little by little.
ο χρόνος φεύγει o hronos fevgi Time is running out,
μα από εσένα δε' θα φύγω ma apo esena de' tha figo but I won't leave you.
Τον ήλιο σβήνω ton ilio svino I erase the sun
για να ζήσω στο φεγγάρι ya na ziso sto fegari so I can live in the moon.
την αγκαλιά σου tin agalia sou Your embrace
θα την κάνω μαξιλάρι tha tin kano mazilari I will make a pillow
     
Συντρίμμια η ζωή μου sidrimia ee zoi mou My life is in ruins.
έλεος eleos Mercy.
θυσία η αντοχή μου thisia ee andohi mou My endurance is sacrificed.
έλεος eleos Mercy.
ηφαίστειο είναι η ματιά σου ifestio ine ee matia sou Your glance is a volcano,
φωτιά ανάβουν τα φιλιά σου fotia anavoun ta filia sou your kisses light fires.
     
Arabic Section Arabic Section Arabic Section
  Habibi, ya habib albi ya doob My love, it only takes
  be kelmeten bashtak wa badoob two words to make me fall for you
  ta-alaa khalee ouloubna te-eesh come and let our hearts live
  lo-anaa da nasibna we maktoob being together is our fate.
     
  Ahhhh Ahhhh
  Ahhhh Ahhhh
     
  Ouyouno helwa wa medawebanee Her eyes are beautiful and they melt me.
  abelt feehom agmaal ma-ani In them I found the sweetest meanings.
  khalanee aheboo wadoub fe hoboh She made me love her and fall for her.
  ah yanee meno, fe hawah ramanee Oh my, from your love it grew into a passionate romance.
     
  La la la la la la la la la La la la la la la la la la
     
Greek Section Greek Section Greek Section
Συντρίμμια η ζωή μου sidrimia ee zoi mou My life is in ruins.
έλεος eleos Mercy.
θυσία η αντοχή μου thisia ee andohi mou My endurance is sacrificed.
έλεος eleos Mercy.
ηφαίστειο είναι η ματιά σου ifestio ine ee matia sou Your glance is a volcano,
φωτιά ανάβουν τα φιλιά σου fotia anavoun ta filia sou your kisses light fires.
     
Arabic Section Arabic Section Arabic Section
  Habibi, ya habib albi ya doob My love, it only takes
  be kelmeten bashtak wa badoob two words to make me fall for you
  ta-alaa khalee ouloubna te-eesh come and let our hearts live
  lo-anaa da nasibna we maktoob being together is our fate.
     
  Ahhhh Ahhhh
  Ahhhh Ahhhh
     
Greek Section Greek Section Greek Section
Εγώ σε βάζω ego se vazo I am putting you
πάνω από τον ουρανό pano apo ton ourano on top of the sky
     
Arabic Section Arabic Section Arabic Section
  Habibi gali gali ya layiali My sweetheart is very, very precious
     
Greek Section Greek Section Greek Section
Και κάθε μέρα ke kathe mera And every day
πιο πολύ θα σ' αγαπώ pio poli tha s' agapo I will love you even more.
ω, ω, ω ohhh ohhh
     

 

 La la la la la la la la la la la La la la la la la la la la la la
     
Συντρίμμια η ζωή μου sidrimia ee zoi mou My life is in ruins.
έλεος eleos Mercy.
θυσία η αντοχή μου thisia ee andohi mou My endurance is sacrificed.
έλεος eleos Mercy.
ηφαίστειο είναι η ματιά σου ifestio ine ee matia sou Your glance is a volcano,
φωτιά ανάβουν τα φιλιά σου fotia anavoun ta filia sou your kisses light fires.
     
Arabic Section Arabic Section Arabic Section
  Habibi, ya habib albi ya doob My love, it only takes
  be kelmeten bashtak wa badoob two words to make me fall for you
  ta-alaa khalee ouloubna te-eesh come and let our hearts live
     
Greek Section Greek Section Greek Section
φωτιά ανάβουν τα φιλιά σου fotia anavoun ta filia sou your kisses light fires

 

Natalia Doussopoulou's and Mustafa Sandal's Version

Numbers in parentheses refer to footnotes that appear at the bottom of the translation.

Greek Lyrics

Pronunciation

English Translation
Greek Section Greek Section Greek Section
Μέσα στα μάτια σου mesa sta matia sou Inside your eyes,
βουλιάζω λίγο λίγο vouliazo ligo ligo I sink little by little.
ο χρόνος φεύγει o hronos fevgi Time is running out,
μα από εσένα δε' θα φύγω ma apo esena de' tha figo but I won't leave you.
Τον ήλιο σβήνω ton ilio svino I erase the sun
για να ζήσω στο φεγγάρι ya na ziso sto fegari so I can live in the moon.
την αγκαλιά σου tin agalia sou Your embrace
θα την κάνω μαξιλάρι tha tin kano mazilari I will make a pillow
     
Turkish Section Turkish Section Turkish Section
Asla düzelmez, asla düzelmez asla douzelmez, asla douzelmez Never heals, never heals.
     
Hatırla beni şarkılarda hatuhrla beni sharkuhlarda Remember me with the songs.
başın dönerse dünyada bashuhn duhnerse diounyada If you feel dizzy in this world,

sözüm geçmese de rüyada

 suhzioum gechme de ruhyada even though I don't rule your dreams,
Uyutmayacağım seni bu gece uyutmayacajuhm seni bou geje I won't let you sleep tonight.
     
Greek Section Greek Section Greek Section
Συντρίμμια η ζωή μου sidrimia ee zoi mou My life is in ruins.
έλεος eleos Mercy.
θυσία η αντοχή μου thisia ee andohi mou My endurance is sacrificed.
έλεος eleos Mercy.
ηφαίστειο είναι η ματιά σου ifestio ine ee matia sou Your glance is a volcano,
φωτιά ανάβουν τα φιλιά σου fotia anavoun ta filia sou your kisses light fires.
     
Turkish Section Turkish Section Turkish Section
Kimsenin hakkı hiç kimsede kalmaz Kimsenin hakuh Nobody's virtue is achieved through injustice
hiç kimsede kalmaz hich kimsede kalmaz nobody stays
Sana hakkımı helal etmiyorum sana hakuhmuh helal etmiyorum I don't wish you well
Kırdın incittin tertemiz kalbimi kuhrduhn injitin tertemiz kalbimi You broke [and] hurt my innocent heart
Asla düzelmez asla düzelmez asla diouhzelmez asla diouhzelmez It never heals, never heals.
Asla düzelmez asla düzelmez asla diouhzelmez asla diouhzelmez It never heals, never heals.
     
Greek Section Greek Section Greek Section
Συντρίμμια η ζωή μου sidrimia ee zoi mou My life is in ruins.
έλεος eleos Mercy.
θυσία η αντοχή μου thisia ee andohi mou My endurance is sacrificed.
έλεος eleos Mercy.
ηφαίστειο είναι η ματιά σου ifestio ine ee matia sou Your glance is a volcano,
φωτιά ανάβουν τα φιλιά σου fotia anavoun ta filia sou your kisses light fires.
     
Turkish Section Turkish Section Turkish Section
Hatırla beni şarkılarda hatuhrla beni sharkuhlarda Remember me with the songs.
Kolay mı sandın aklınca kolai mi sandin aklinja Did you think that it would be as easy as you imagined it?

sözüm geçmese de rüyada

 suhzioum gechme de ruhyada even though I don't rule your dreams,
Uyutmayacağım seni bu gece uyutmayacajuhm seni bou geje I won't let you sleep tonight.
     

Instrumental

Instrumental

Instrumental
     
Turkish Section Turkish Section Turkish Section
Anılar benimle yaşıyor anuhlar benimle yashuhyor The memories live within me
Sanki birbirinden kopuyor sevenler bana hesap soruyor sanki biribirinden kopouyor sevenler bana hesap soruyor As if the lovers are breaking each other
sanki sanki If
     
Greek Section Greek Section Greek Section
Συντρίμμια η ζωή μου sidrimia ee zoi mou My life is in ruins.
έλεος eleos Mercy.
θυσία η αντοχή μου thisia ee andohi mou My endurance is sacrificed.
έλεος eleos Mercy.
ηφαίστειο είναι η ματιά σου ifestio ine ee matia sou Your glance is a volcano,
φωτιά ανάβουν τα φιλιά σου fotia anavoun ta filia sou your kisses light fires.
     
Turkish Section Turkish Section Turkish Section
Hatırla beni şarkılarda hatuhrla beni sharkuhlarda Remember me with the songs.
Kolay mı sandın aklınca kolai mi sandin aklinja Did you think that it would be as easy as you imagined it?

sözüm geçmese de rüyada

 suhzioum gechme de ruhyada even though I don't rule your dream,
     
Greek Section Greek Section Greek Section
φωτιά ανάβουν τα φιλιά σου fotia anavoun ta filia sou your kisses light fires.
     
Συντρίμμια η ζωή μου sidrimia ee zoi mou My life is in ruins.
έλεος eleos Mercy.
θυσία η αντοχή μου thisia ee andohi mou My endurance is sacrificed.
έλεος eleos Mercy.
ηφαίστειο είναι η ματιά σου ifestio ine ee matia sou Your glance is a volcano,
     
Turkish Section Turkish Section Turkish Section
Uyutmayacağım seni bu gece uyutmayacajuhm seni bou geje I won't let you sleep tonight.

 

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Translation of
Angela Dimitriou's Songs On This Site

  • Ana Bahebak Aktar (I Love You More). The Greek title for the song is "Spasta". Duet with Amr Diab.
  • Ela Ela (Come Come).
  • Elleos (Mercy). Appears on one of Amr Diab's albums as "Elyos". Has also been referred to as "Habibi Ya Habib Albi Yadoob". Duet with Amr Diab.

 

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Translations of
Amr Diab's Songs On This Site

Translations on this web site of songs performed by Amr Diab include:

  • Ahe Ahe Ahe (There She Goes, There She Goes, There She Goes). Duet with Eirini Papadopoulou. Partly in Greek, partly in Arabic. The Greek name is "Esi Esi" ("You, You").
  • Aktar Wahed (I'm the One)
  • Amarain (Two Moons)
  • Ana Bahebak Aktar (I Love You More). Duet with Angela Dimitriou. Partly in Greek, partly in Arabic. The Greek name is "Spasta" ("Break Everything").
  • Ana Ayesh (I Am Alive)
  • Gamalo (Her Beauty)
  • Habibi Ya Habib Albi Yadoob. Duet with Angela Dimitriou. Partly in Greek, partly in Arabic. The Greek name is "Elleos" ("Mercy").
  • Kan Andak Haq (You Had It Right)
  • Kol al-Kalam (All Your Words). Sometimes called "Kalast Feek Kol al Kalam".

 

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Translations of
Natalia Doussopoulou's and Mustafa Sandal's Duets On This Site

 

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About the Translator

This page was contributed by Panayiota Bakis, who is happy to share her culture and music she grew up with! Here's how Panayiota describes her background:

I always love engaging with intelligent like-minded people, especially artists. I love sharing anything and everything about my Hellenic culture and upbringing, especially music and dance. A conversation with me will bring you back to America's favorite Greek-American movie by Nia Vardalos called My Big Fat Greek Wedding.

I love investigating Greek culture, history, music, and dance. Speaking of investigating, I think I missed my calling, I probably should have been an investigator. Instead, I use those skills to dig and dig and dig tirelessly, often times falling asleep on my laptop... just to find the truth. But, most importantly, accurate truth. For me personally, and other respectable folklorists, my culture and accuracy are very important. Each generation of ethnic born artists has a duty to do the best it can to pass down our traditions as was taught to us. We have been given this artistic gift to be the gatekeepers of our heritage and culture.

Panayiota

 

 

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