سنة حلوة يا جميل
Sana Helwa Ya Gameel

(Happy Birthday to You)

This page contains a translation into English of the lyrics to "Sana Helwa Ya Gameel", which is the Arabic-language version of the song "Happy Birthday to You". The song title is sometimes spelled as "Sana Hilwa Ya Gamil". Sana Helwa Ya Gameel (Happy Birthday, Handsome), 1964 Song Title in Arabic: سنة حلوة يا جميل Album: Joyeux Anniversaire Appeared in the Motion Picture Fatinat Al Jamahir Lyricist: Mohamed Abdel Fotouh Composer: Mildred J. Hill Sabah's Version Arranged By: Mohamed Abdel Wahab This version became popular throughout the Arabic-speaking world when legendary Lebanese singer Sabah sang it in the 1964 movie Fatinat Al Jamahir. This arrangement was created for her by the famous Egyptian composer Mohammed Abdel Wahab. Also included is a transliteration of the Arabic lyrics into the Roman alphabet so you can sing along if you like. About Sabah Sabah was a highly successful Lebanese singer and movie star, born in 1927 to a Christian family. Tragically, her father was abusive, and her brother murdered her mother because he believed she was having an affair. Sabah's first marriage was mostly to escape this home life. Sabah recorded her first song in 1940, at age 13. Her first movie, El-Qalb Luh Wahed, was released in 1945 and made her a star. Her career in cinema led her to move to Egypt. Sabah had ten different husbands. One of them, Egyptian actor Rushdie Abaza, married her in 1977 while still married to Samia Gamal! It seems he failed to inform Sabah that he had not yet completed his divorce from Samia, and the marriage only lasted three days. There is a famous quote in which Sabah said, "Whoever hasn't been married to Rushdy Abaza, hasn't been married." (Her words are always repeated with a broad wink.) Over the course of her career, Sabah recorded over 3,000 songs and appeared in 98 movies. She received a special honor at the 1998 Alexandria film festival and retired from cinema in 1981. Sabah is considered one of the three Lebanese icons, along Wadih El Safi and Fairouz, and she was nicknamed "The Empress of Lebanese Song".

Listen to MP3 Clips of This Song

	From the CD titled Birthday Dance Songs
	Sung by Sabah in the 1964 motion picture Fatinat Al Jamahir

Lyrics

As Sung at Birthday Parties

Numbers in parentheses refer to footnotes that appear at the bottom of the translation.

1. The literal meaning of "sana helwa" is "sweet year", but it is used to mean "Happy birthday".

As Sung by Sabah in "Fatinat Al Jamahir"

Note: In this 1964 movie, Sabah delivers a very sultry version of this song reminiscent of Marilyn Monroe's "Happy Birthday Mr. President" from May 19, 1962.

Sung in English:

Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday, happy birthday,
Happy birthday to you!

Sung in Arabic:

Happy birthday, Handsome, (ie, "Sweet year, O Handsome)
Happy birthday, Handsome,
Happy birthday, O my darling,
Happy birthday, Handsome!

Happy birthday, Handsome,
Happy birthday, Handsome,
Happy birthday, O my darling,
Happy birthday, Handsome!

Be the happiest of all
You're more beautiful than roses
The heartbeats sing
And dance near the chandeliers
This is the best birthday

Happy birthday, Handsome,
Happy birthday, Handsome,
Happy birthday, O my darling,
Happy birthday, Handsome!

Please say you love me,
Please say you love me,
Please say you love me,
Please say you love me.

I'm a candle that glows around you
I'm a rope in your hand
I'm a candle that glows around you
I'm a rope in your hand

My soul says
And my heart says
May you live forever, darling!

Happy birthday, Handsome,
Happy birthday, Handsome,
Happy birthday, O my darling,
Happy birthday, Handsome!

Sung in English:

Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday, happy birthday,
Happy birthday to you!

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