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PHOTO CREDIT: Above photo by John Rickman Photography, San Jose, California. |
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Habibi Ya Eini
(Darling, Oh My Eye!)
This page contains a translation into English of the lyrics to the hit song "Habibi Ya Eini", which was made popular by the Lebanese-Armenian singer Nourhan. Also included is a transliteration of the Arabic lyrics into the Roman alphabet so you can sing along if you like.
The song title is sometimes spelled as "Habeebee Ya Ainy", and the singer's name is sometimes spelled as "Nourhanne". Other artists who have recorded it include Maya Yazbek (with the Sultans), Mayodi, and Alabina.
Listen to MP3 Clips of this Song
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Sung by Nourhan |
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Sung by Alabina |
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Sung by Maya Yazbek with The Sultans |
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Sung by Unidentified Singer on Amira Mor's CD |
Lyrics
Note from Shira: Two different transliterations and translations of this song have been contributed to this web site. I have decided to make both available. Song lyrics are poetry, and it can be challenging for a translator to communicate nuances of meaning. By having two translations to use, you can explore two different people's ideas on how to convey these nuances.
- Translation provided by Linda Grondahl, made available to this web site by Lennie Clark
- Translation by Jamil
Different versions have been recorded of this song, and some have different lyrics from others. It is possible these translations won't exactly match the particular version you are using.
Translation Provided by Linda Grondahl
Arabic Lyrics |
English Translation |
| Habibi ya einee | Love, oh my eyes! |
| Ya einee ya leilee | Oh my eyes, my nights! |
| Yam sahar einee | You who are making my eyes not sleep! |
| Bein haree wei leilee | During my day and nights. |
| Walla shta' na | I missed |
| Wahyatei einak | I missed your eyes |
| Yamfarei'na | You who are separating yourself |
| Shta'na lei einounak | From me, I miss you. |
| Beiou-joudak yabou samra | In your presence, you who are named Samra |
| Yehla sahar bei leil | The night becomes more enjoyable [literally, "When we're sitting together it's more fun"] |
| Weil heilou bei yetwal omra' | And the beautiful one prolongs it |
| Wein ghanee ya eine ya leil | And we sing, "Oh my eye! Oh night!" |
| El maghna hayateil rouh | Singing is the life of the soul |
| Yeishfeil albeil majrouh | Heals the wounded heart. |
| Yalla neir-ou's wein ghanee | Let's dance and sing |
| W einesh bei ahla janee | And let's live in the most beautiful paradise. |
| Yalla Yalla Yalla | Yippee! Yippee! Yippee! |
| Yalla Yalla Yalla | Yippee! Yippee! Yippee! |
| Yalla, ya Baseim | Hey, Baseim |
| Tabeilee shawaya | Beat the drums a little for me |
| W enta ya Yasbee | And you, oh Yasbee |
| Aseimlee showaya | Improvise a little for me |
| W entee ya mazika | And you, oh Music |
| Do-eele showaya | Play yourself for me a little |
Instrumental Interlude |
Instrumental Interlude |
| La la la la la la la | La la la la la la la |
| Btaatee btaatou | [Nonsense syllables] |
| Ra-asnee ya ho | Dance for me |
| Habibi Ya Eine | Darling, oh my eyes |
| Yam sahar eine | You who are making my eyes not sleep! |
Translation by Jamil
Key:
3 = letter ain “ع”
H = Strong letter He “ح”
2= glutteral pause (Hamze) “ء”
gh = rolling throat roll “غ”
Arabic Lyrics |
English Translation |
| Habibi ya 3einee | Darling, oh my eyes! |
| Ya 3einee ya leilee | Oh my eyes, my nights! |
| Ya m’saHar 3einee | You who has been keeping me awake [literally, making my eyes not sleep] |
| Be inHaree wei leilee | During my day and nights |
| Walla, shta2na | Honestly, I’ve missed |
| WaHyat 3einounak | I promise your eyes |
| Ya mfare2na | You who is separated from us |
| Shta2nal 3einounak | I have missed your eyes. |
| Beiou-joudak, ya 2abou samra | In your presence, “the father of Darkness/Brunette” |
| YeHla saHar bei leil | The night becomes more enjoyable [While we're sitting together it's more fun] |
| We il heilou bei yetwal 3omra | And the beautiful one prolongs its life |
| We in ghanee ya 3eine ya leil | And we sing "ya einee ya leil" ["oh my eyes, oh the night"] |
| El maghna hayat eil rouH | Singing is the life of the soul |
| Yeishf eil 2alb eil majrouH | Heals the wounded heart |
| Yalla neir2os we n’ghanee | Let's dance and sing |
| Wei n3eesh bei aHla janee | And let's live in the most beautiful paradise |
| Yalla Yalla Yalla | Come on, come on, come on |
| Yalla Yalla Yalla | Come on, come on, come on |
| Yalla, ya Baseim | Come on, oh Baseim |
| Tabeilee shawaya | Beat the drums for me |
| W-enta, ya Yasbee | And you, Yasbee |
| 2Aseimlee showaya | Improvise a little for me |
| W2entee ya mazika | And you oh music |
| Do2eele showaya | Play yourself for me a little |
| La la la la la la la | La la la la la la la |
| Btaatee btaatou | [Jibberish] |
| R2asnee ya ho | Dance for me, all of you |
| Habibi Ya 3eine | Darling, oh my eyes |
| Ya msaHar 3eine | You who are keeping me awake [literally, making my eyes not sleep] |
Where to Get Recordings of this Song
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Artist: Nourhan Amazon Store: |
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Artist: Alabina Amazon Store: |
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Artist: Unidentified Amazon Store: |
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Artist: The Sultans Amazon Store: |
Acknowledgements
About the Contributor of the First Translation
Linda Grondahl's background is that of a devoted lover of Arabic music and dance. She danced with Amina and the Aswan Dancers for many years. She took Arabic percussion with Mary Ellen Donald, Su Su Pampanin, George Dubai, Vince Deldado, and Tony Lammam. She took Arabic singing from Nicole Ibrahim, Mimi Spencer, Georges Lammam. On the oud, she studied under Nazir Latouf, Mimi Spencer, Abdullah Kdough. She was a member of the Aswat Arab-American Choir under the direction of Elias Lammam. She is now a member of the El Ashaab dance troupe, and Tahneen, the all-girl, all-American Middle eastern music ensemble. They have played for Arab and American events, and for many years at the Rakassah festival.
"I just saved whatever I could get my hands on, for years", writes Linda, "and really don't know why. It was always so dificult to get music, so I just kept on saving."
Linda lives in San Francisco, California. Her favorite color is any shade of purple.
About the Translator of the Second Translation
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. |
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About the Source
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.