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

This page contains a translation into English of the lyrics to the classic Egyptian song "Ghanili Shwaya, Shwaya", which was sung by Oum Kalthoum. Also included is a transliteration of the Arabic lyrics into the Roman alphabet so you can sing along if you like.

Other spellings for this song title include "Ganili Schwaye Schwaye", "Ghanely Shewaye", "Ghanny Li Shewaya", "Ghannili Sheway Sheway", "Gannili Showaya Showaya," and "Ganili Shwia Shwia."

Oum Kalthoum was born in 1904 and died in 1975. She was unquestionably the most gifted singer and musician of the 20th century in the Middle East. She was continuously popular for over 50 years and her songs are still played nightly on any number of Arabic-language radio stations, particularly within Egypt.

Her name is transliterated many different ways in the Roman alphabet, including Um Kulthum, Om Kalsoum, Umm Kulthoum, Om Kalthoum, Umm Kalsum, Oum Kalthum, Oum Kolthoum, Oum Kaltsoum, Umm Kulthum, and others.

Arabic Lyrics

English Translation

Chorus

Chorus

Verse

Verse

Repeat the Chorus

Repeat the Chorus

(Melody changes)

(Melody Changes)

Repeat Chorus

Repeat Chorus

(Melody changes)

(Melody Changes)

Repeat Chorus

Repeat Chorus

Repeat Chorus

Repeat Chorus

(Melody changes)

(Melody Changes)

(Melody changes)

(Melody Changes)

Repeat Chorus

Repeat Chorus

Artist: Oum Kalthoum
CD Title: Ghanny Li Shewaya

Artist: Oum Kalthoum
CD Title: La Diva de L'Orient

Artist: Hossam Shaker and his Ensemble
CD Title: Jalilah's Raks Sharki 3: Journey of the Gipsy Dancer

Artist: Hossam Ramzy
CD Title: Best of Om Kolthoum

• Al Ward Gamil
• Alf Leyla wa Leyla
• Ana fi Inte Zahark
• Ghanili Shwaya Shwaya
• Huwwa Sahih el-Hawa Ghallab

• Inte Omri
• Lissa Fakir
• Sirt el Hob

This song was translated by Ghalep "Gaby" Tawil. Gaby started his career on television and radio in Jordan. He was in so much demand that he stayed in broadcasting for a total of eleven years. He traveled to many Middle Eastern countries, including Egypt, Syria, and Lebanon, where he performed to some of the best venues with top entertainers, such as Sabah and Nadia Gamal. Gaby played with famous Middle Eastern musicians and singers at private parties for royalty, the rich, and the famous.

He resided in New York and circuited the city's hottest nightclubs, including the El Darwich, Cedars of Lebanon, Sinbad's, and Aladdin. He assisted many Middle Eastern dance instructors such as Bobby Farrah and Yousry Sharif in teaching their students to understand the complex Middle Eastern rhythms. He has recorded in numerous studios with famous Middle Eastern artists such as Sabah, Bobby Farrah, and Nadia Gamal and many more. Gaby also had the honor of performing at the Cedars of Lebanon nightclub with Led Zeppelin's Robert Plant.

He moved to Arizona in 1996 where he has been teaching workshops, groups, and private classes in Phoenix and Tucson. He continues to accompany belly dance instructors in their studios to teach the students Middle Eastern rhythms.

Gaby played at a private party in Amman, Jordan with the very famous singer Abdel Halim Hafez. In Haleb, Syria he worked with famous singers Sabah Fakari, Mohammed Hairi, and Suad Mohammed and famous dancer Fifi Abdo.

This article originally appeared on Lennie Clark's web site, "Arabic Song Translations." Lennie created this web site in 2002 as a response to discussion on the Internet regarding incidents of dancers who performed inappropriate sensual dances to religious music. Lennie's web site resided on a free web hosting service known as Geocities.

When the planned October 2009 closure of the Geocities web hosting service was announced, Lennie and Shira agreed to move the contents of Lennie's site to Shira.net. To explore all the articles and song translations that once appeared on Lennie's Geocities site, visit Lennie's portal page here on Shira.net.