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Koulli Sana Wi-Inta Tayyeb Ya Habibi
(Happy Birthday, Oh My Darling)

 

 

This page contains a translation into English of the lyrics to the Arabic song "Koulli Sana Wi-Inta Tayyeb Ya Habibi", which was sung by the Sudanese vocalist Gawaher. An alternate spelling for the song title is "Kol Sanah Wa Enta Taip". Also included is a transliteration of the Arabic lyrics into the Roman alphabet so you can sing along if you like.

  • Koulli Sana wa enta Tayeb (Happy Birthday), 1999
  • Song Title in Arabic:
  • Album: Ala Elkornesh
  • Lyrics: Mostafa Kamel
  • Composer: Hussein Mahmoud
  • Original Artist: Gawaher

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 Gawaher

Gawaher is a Sudanese singer and songwriter who has been based in Cairo since 1995. Her musical style includes mixing Nubian and shaabi musical styles with south-of-the-Sahara melodies to create a distinctive sound.

As a child, Gawaher felt drawn to music. But with Sudan's music industry being limited, she moved to Egypt to pursue her dream. She started at a hotel in Aswan, both singing and belly dancing for tourists. She recorded her first album in 1995 in the Sudanese dialect of Arabic, incorporating a strong traditional Nubian flavor with African instrumentation. Although this album was not commercially successful, it launched her career by bringing her talent to the attention of lyricists, producers, and publishers. This was followed by her second album in 1996, and others soon followed.

From 2004 to 2008, Gawaher took a hiatus from her career for personal reasons. Her album Enday marked her return in 2008, but it proved to be her final album.

 

 

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Listen to MP3 Clips of this Song

Note

Sung by Gawaher

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Lyrics

Arabic Lyrics

English Translation

Happy birthday to you ... Yaaaa habibi, yaaaa habibi, yaaaa habibi. Happy birthday to you ... Oh my darling, oh my darling, oh my darling.
Koulli sana we-inta tayyeb ya, ya habibi, yayaya ya habibi. Every year and you are good, oh, oh my darling, ooooh my darling. Ooooh my darling.
Koulli sana we-inta tayyeb ya, ya habibi, yayaya ya habibi. Every year and you are good, oh, oh my darling, ooooh my darling. Ooooh my darling.
We-inshallah iy-khaleek liyya, yaaa habibi, ya hayati ya dhayya a'inayya, yaaa habibi. And God willing, you stay for me, ooooh my darling, oh darling, oh my life, my eyes' glow, ooooh my darling.
We-inshallah iy-khaleek liyya, yaaa habibi, ya hayati ya dhayya a'inayya, yaaa habibi. And God willing, you stay for me, ooooh my darling, oh darling, oh my life, my eyes' glow, ooooh my darling.
Inta naari we-laheebi, we-jiraahi we-tabeebi, qadari we-naseebi. You are my fire and flame, my wounds, my doctor, my fate, and my destiny.
Koulli sana we-inta tayyeb ya, ya habibi, yayaya ya habibi. Every year and you are good, oh, oh my darling, ooooh my darling. Ooooh my darling.
Koulli sana we-inta tayyeb ya, ah ya habibi, yayaya, ah ya habibi. Yayaya, yayaya, yayaya. Every year and you are good, oh, oh my darling, ooooh, aah, oh my darling. Ooooh, ooooh, ooooh.
   
Sanah rayhah iw-sanah, sanah jayyah iw-ana a'ishqaq, will-a'ishqi maraar. Shofna iw-hibina, saaken qalbina, we imwalaa' zayyi elnaar. One year went, and another year, year, is coming and i am in love with you and to be in love is bitter. We saw our love resided in our heart and infatuated like fire.
Sanah rayhah iw-sanah, sanah jayyah iw-ana a'ishqaq, will-a'ishqi maraar. Shofna iw-hibina, saaken qalbina, we imwalaa' zayyi elnaar. One year went, and another year, year, is coming and i am in love with you and to be in love is bitter. We saw our love resided in our heart and infatuated like fire.
La zamaan itwallad ma bainna, wala youm a'ala baa'dhihunna. Not a time was born and even a day after that.
La zamaan itwallad ma bainna, wala youm a'ala baa'dhihunna. Not a time was born and even a day after that.
Wala feena waahed ghaltaan. Inshallah iykhaleek liyya, yaaa habibi, ya hayati ya dhayya a'inaiyya, yaaa habibi. And there is no one between us is mistaken. God willing will keeep you for me, oooh my darling, oh my life, oh my eye's glow, oh my darling.
Inta naari we-laheebi, we-jiraahi we-tabeebi, qadari, wi-naseebi. You are my fire and flame, my wounds, my doctor, my fate and my destiny.
Koulli sana we-inta tayyeb ya, ya habibi, yayaya ya habibi. Every year and you are good, oh, oh my darling, ooooh my darling. Ooooh my darling.
Koulli sana we-inta tayyeb ya, ah ya habibi, yayaya, ah ya habibi. Yayaya, yayaya, yayaya. Every year and you are good, oh, oh my darling, ooooh, aah, oh my darling. Ooooh, ooooh, ooooh.
   
Ana we-inta ya seedi, eiydak maa' eiydi, ha-inkhatti a'ala el-ahzaan. Itnain sawa, sawa we-talitna elhawa, iw-maa' baa'dh if- kulli makaan. Me and you, my master. Your hand with mine, we will cross sorrows together, together and our third is the love. We all together in every place.
Ana we-inta ya seedi, eiydak maa' eiydi, ha-inkhatti a'ala el-ahzaan. Itnain sawa, sawa we-talitna elhawa, iw-maa' baa'dh if- kulli makaan. Me and you, my master. Your hand with mine, we will cross sorrows together, together and our third is the love. We all together in every place.
Ha-ina'eesh ela'omri koullo, handouaak elhoubbi koullo. We are going to live all our life, we will taste all the love.
Ha-ina'eesh ela'omri koullo, handouaak elhoubbi koullo. We are going to live all our life, we will taste all the love.
Handouaa houbbi iw-hanaan. We will taste my love and my compassion.
Inshallah iy-khaleek liyya, yaaa habibi, ya hayati ya dhiyya a'inayya, yaaa habibi. And God willing, you stay for me, ooooh my darling, oh darling, oh my life, oh my eyes' glow, ooooh my darling.
Inta naari we-laheebi, we-jiraahi we-tabeebi, qadari, wi-naseebi. You are my fire and flame, my wounds, my doctor, my fate and my destiny.
Koulli sana we-inta tayyeb ya, ya habibi, yayaya ya habibi. Every year and you are good, oh, oh my darling, ooooh my darling. Ooooh my darling.
Koulli sana we-inta tayyeb ya, ah ya habibi, yayaya, ah ya habibi. Yayaya, yayaya, yayaya. Every year and you are good, oh, oh my darling, ooooh, aah, oh my darling. Ooooh, ooooh, ooooh.

 

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Where to Get Recordings of this Song

Ala Elkornesh Album Cover

Note

Listen to Clip

Artist: Gawaher
CD Title: Ala Elkornesh

 

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Translations of
Gawaher's Songs on This Site

Songs by Gawaher that have translations available on this web site include:

 

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About the Translator

More than 100 song translations that appear on this web site, including this one, were created by Dr. Tahseen Alkoudsi. Together with his wife Kathe, Tahseen owned an import business in Lawrence, Kansas known as Cartouche.

Dr. Alkoudsi's imports business was his second career. His first career was in the service of the United Nations. Born in Damascus, Syria, he came to the U.S. for his M.A. and Ph.D. in economics, and worked in San Francisco. He joined the United Nations in Yemen, and worked in Saudi Arabia. He then joined the UNESCO Regonal Office for Arab States. He visited most of the Arab States in the course of his work, responsible for introducing computer sciences into educational facilities. For a time, he was stationed in Cairo, Egypt. He retired from that work in 1995.

Sadly, Tahseen died on Sunday, October 15, 2006. See this link for his obituary.

To me, Tahseen was so much more than a contributor to my web site. Even though we lived far apart, I saw Tahseen and Kathe several times over the years. I always appreciated their warmth and generosity. I first "met" Tahseen online back in 1997 on the med-dance list on the Internet, where he periodically posted messages. I knew he was in Lawrence, Kansas, so when a business trip arose requiring me to travel to the Kansas City area, I emailed him to say I'd be in the neighborhood. He and Kathe came to Kansas City for an evening get-together at Tasso's restaurant, and they invited several local dancers to join us. I saw them on follow-up visits to Kansas City. They vended at Rakkasah for several years, and it was always a pleasure to greet them there in the anteroom off to the left of the main stage. I also enjoyed encountering them in Egypt at the Ahlan wa Sahlan festival.

Tahseen will be missed by many.

Tahseen Alkoudsi

 

 

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