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From Lennie Clark's Web Site:Samra, Ya Samra
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Arabic Lyrics |
English Translation |
| Samra ya Samra marra fee marra Shaghalny hawaku Shaghalny hawaku Damek gheffa our tag el effa Shabakny maakee shabaknee maakee |
Samra, oh Samra |
| Samra ya Samra helwa ya samra Ya Samra ya Samra |
Samra, oh Samra, oh sweet Samra Oh Samra, oh Samra |
| Samra ya helwa ya lahne ya ghen Wa ya ahla raneen Wa ya ahla raneen Seher el hageb dabeyet aageb alhelween Shoftoh ba ateh min nary ya Samra Shoftoh ba ateh min nary ya Samra Tayeh ked mosh dary ya Samra Wente el kass we shafayfek khamra |
By looking at her, you can tell she's honest That's the reason I fell in love with It has a beautiful tune to the ear [Comparing her to a beautiful song] This eyebrow of yours makes the one next to you un-beautiful |
| Ya Samra ya Samra ya helwa ya Samra Ya Samra ya Samra |
Samra, oh Samra, oh sweet Samra Oh Samra, oh Samra |
| Wared khedoudek gah aala oudek zadoh gamal Khala el sho'ore ye shoofoo el somur ye batoo fe hal Eirfoo el nar wel gheira ya Samra Aashoo fe zouil ou heira ya Samra Wente el kass el shafayfek khamsa |
I saw her I became By all the fire in my heart I don't know where I am You are the glass of love and your lips are the drink Your cheeks make your body more beautiful. [He is comparing her to a rose on a stem] |
| Ya Samra ya Samra ya helwa ya Samra | Samra, oh Samra, oh sweet Samra |
| Batlob widek alan foli radek Maana el aafaa Afra beike wa oul-le-aayheke Ya ramz el kheffa Radek fee el aazaya Samra Aeayef albee maaza ya Samra Winta el Kass we shafeyek khamra |
You make blondes look at brunettes and get jealous Every time I ask you to come close to me I get the answer: The meaning of purity I am so happy looking at you and I tell your eyes Your answer is a big meaning to me You have added much love to my heart |
| Samra ya Samra ya helwa ya Samra Ya Samra ya Samra | Samra, oh Samra, oh sweet Samra Oh Samra, oh Samra |
* "Light blood" is a compliment in Arabic, it has something to do with a person's mood.
Where to Get Recordings of this Song
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Artist: Karim Mahmoud |
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Artist: Eddie Kochak |
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Artist: John Berberian Ensemble |
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Artist: Mohammed Hussein |
Acknowledgements
About the Person Who Provided the 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 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. |
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