Filler
Photo of Shira

 

 

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

Ouyoun Albi
(My Heart's Eyes)

 

This page contains a translation into English of the lyrics to the hit song "Ya Ia'Youn Aalbi," often spelled as "Ouyoun Aalbi", which was sung by Najwa Karam. Her name is often spelled as "Nagwa Karam" by Egyptians. Also included is a transliteration of the Arabic lyrics into the Roman alphabet so you can sing along if you like.

Najwa Karam was born February 26, 1966 in Zahle, Lebanon, with three brothers and a sister. Her career was launched in 1985 when she won a gold medal on the Layali Loubnan television program. Her first hit, which led to her popularity in the Arab world, was "Ma Bessmahlak". Her favorite singers are Fairuz, Wadih Al Safi, Oum Kalthoum, and Abdel Halim Hafez.

This was the most popular song in the Middle East for about two weeks in May of 2000.

Lyrics: Imad Shams El Deen
Music: Imad Shams El Dee

Song lyrics are provided for educational purposes. If you like the song, please purchase either the album or a download from an authorized source.

Najwa Karam

 

 

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Listen to MP3 Clips of this Song

Note

Sung by Najwa Karam

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Lyrics

Arabic Lyrics

English Translation

Ya ia'youn aalbi, ia'youn aalbi. Keif baddi naam. Lamhait basar, hal-a'omr, will bey-hibb maa ibyinlaam. Oh my heart's eyes, heart's eyes. How I can sleep? This life is a glance, and the one who loves can not be blamed.
Ya ia'youn aalbi, ia'youn aalbi. Keif baddi naam. Lamhait basar, hal-a'omr, will bey-hibb maa ibyinlaam. Oh my heart's eyes, heart's eyes. How I can sleep? This life is a glance, and the one who loves can not be blamed.
Halka-awn saar isgheer. Ibni, habeebi, iyteer a'ala a'alam taani, iykoun koullou gharaam. The universe became small. My child, my darling, fly away to another life. Life, all of it full of love.
   
Asl ilgharaam nazrah, nazrah hanoonaih. Koul ma iltaaoo marrah ia'yoonak bia'yooni. The love is based on affectionate look. Whenever my eyes and yours meet.
Asl ilgharaam nazrah, nazrah hanoonaih. Koul ma iltaaoo marrah ia'yoonak bia'yooni. The love is based on affectionate look. Whenever my eyes and yours meet.
Aalbi beyseer jamra min naar ijnooni. My heart becomes a charcoal from my mad fire.
   
Ya ia'youn aalbi, ia'youn aalbi. Keif baddi naam. Lamhait basar, hal-a'omr, will bey-hibb maa ibyinlaam. Oh my heart's eyes, heart's eyes. How I can sleep? This life is a glance, and the one who loves can not be blamed.
Halka-awn saar isgheer. Khidni habeebi, inteer. A'ala a'alam taani, iykoun koullou gharaam. The universe became small. Take me my darling, fly away to another life. Life, all of it full of love.
Omr il-insaan yama maktoub a'a ijbee-know. Mosh bil-iyaam ibyin-aas wala ibtool isnee-know. The life of a human being is written on his forehead. It can not be measured by days and not even by how long the years are.
Omr il-insaan yama maktoub a'a ijbee-know. Mosh bil-iyaam ibyin-aas wala ibtool isnee-know. The life of a humanbeing is written on his forehead. It can not be measured by days and not even by how long the years are.
Willi ma beydoub ihsaas, Ya rabbi ita'iknow. And the one who can not melt by feelings, God help him.
   
Ya ia'youn aalbi, ia'youn aalbi. Keif baddi naam. Lamhait basar, hal-a'omr, will bey-hibb maa ibyinlaam. Oh my heart's eyes, heart's eyes. How I can sleep? This life is a glance, and the one who loves can not be blamed.
Ya ia'youn aalbi, ia'youn aalbi. Keif baddi naam. Lamhait basar, hal-a'omr, will bey-hibb maa ibyinlaam. Oh my heart's eyes, heart's eyes. How I can sleep? This life is a glance, and the one who loves can not be blamed.
Halka-awn saar isgheer. Khidni, Khidni inteer. A'ala a'alam taani, iykoun koullou gharaam. The universe became small. Take me my darling, fly away to another life. Life, all of it full of love.

 

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Where to Get Recordings of this Song

Very Best of Najwa Karam

Note

Listen to Clip

Artist: Najwa Karam
CD Title: The Very Best of Najwa Karam

Cover of Nagwa Karam's Greatest Hits

 

Artist: Nagwa Karam
CD Title: Greatest Hits

Ouyoun Albi Album Cover

Note

Listen to Clip

Artist: Najwa Karam
CD Title: Ouyoun Albi

 

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Translations of
Nagwa Karam's Songs on this Site

Other translations of songs performed by Nagwa Karam 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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If you wish to translate articles from Shira.net into a language other than English, Shira will be happy to post your translation here on Shira.net along with a note identifying you as the translator. This could include your photo and biography if you want it to. Contact Shira for more information. You may not post translations of Shira's articles on anybody else's web site, not even your own.

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