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

From the Site

Arab Song Translations

By Lennie Clark

Lennie

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, Mayodi, The Sultans, and Alabina.

Music by: George Yazbek

 

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Listen to MP3 Clips of this Song

Note Sung by Nourhan
Note Sung by Alabina
Note Sung by The Sultans
Note Sung by Samir Shukry on Amira Mor's CD

 

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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.

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]

 

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Where to Get Recordings of this Song

Bellydance Superstars

Note

Listen to Clip

Artist: Nourhan
CD Title: Bellydance Superstars Volume 3

Alabina CD Cover

Note

Listen to Clip

Artist: Alabina
CD Title: Alabina - The Album

Amira Mor

Note

Listen to Clip

Artist: Samir Shukry
CD Title: Amira Mor

Best of the Sultans

Note

Listen to Clip

Artist: The Sultans
CD Title: The Best of the Sultans

 

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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.

Jamil

 

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.

Lennie Clark

 

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