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PHOTO CREDIT: Above photo by John Rickman Photography, San Jose, California. |
A Nada
(O Nada)
This page contains a translation into English of the lyrics to the popular Lebanese song "A Nedda", which was made popular by Sabah. Also included is a transliteration of the Arabic lyrics into the Roman alphabet so you can sing along if you like.
This song comes from the region known as the Levant, which includes Lebanon, Syria, and surrounding countries. This song is appropriate for use in doing the folk dance known as debke.
The melody for this song appears with different lyrics under the name "Ya Abboud" on an old record album used by many U.S. folk dance clubs.
Lyrics: Rahbani Brothers
Music: Rahbani Brothers
Listen to MP3 Clips of this Song
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Sung by Sabah |
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Sung by George Abdo |
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Sung by the Brothers of the Baladi |
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Performed by Salatin el Tarab Orchestra |
Lyrics
Note from Shira: Two different 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 multiple translations to use, you can explore different people's ideas on how to convey these nuances.
- Tahseen Alkoudsi
- Adel Abdallah, made available to this web site by Lennie Clark.
Tahseen Alkoudsi's Version
Arabic Lyrics |
English Translation |
| A'alnadda, ilnadda, ilnadda. | O' Nadda, Nadda, Nadda. |
| Wilward imfattah a'a khadda. | Where roses are blooming on her cheek. |
| Win ma i'atyouni yaaki ya ijbaal ila'ali la-hidda. | And if they refuse to give you to me, I will tear down the high mountains. |
| A'alnadda, ilnadda, ilnadda. | O' Nadda, Nadda, Nadda. |
| Wilward imfattah a'a khadda. | Where roses are blooming on her cheek. |
| Win ma i'atyouni yaaki ya ijbaal ila'ali la-hidda. | And if they refuse to give you to me, I will tear down the high mountains. |
| Naddah kaanait haddi ila'ain | Nadda was by the water spring. |
| wi isaalt-ha hal ghaybaih waiyn. | And I asked her why she was not around. |
| Naddah kaanait haddi ila'ain | Nadda was by the water spring. |
| wi isaalt-ha hal ghaybaih waiyn. | And I asked her why she was not around. |
| Bassitni ibhak ila'aynain | She looked at me with those eyes. |
| Iw badda tihki iw ma badda. | And she wanted to talk to me and she did not want to. |
| A'alnadda, ilnadda, ilnadda. | O' Nadda, Nadda, Nadda. |
| Wilward imfattah a'a khadda. | Where roses are blooming on her cheek. |
| Win ma i'atyouni yaaki ya ijbaal ila'ali la-hidda. | And if they refuse to give you to me, I will tear down the high mountains. |
| Nadda nizlait a'al bistaan | Nadda went down to the garden. |
| Iw laaaha iw zahhar nisaan. | And she was met and April appeared. |
| Nadda nizlait a'al bistaan | Nadda went down to the garden. |
| Iw laaaha iw zahhar nisaan. | And she was met and April appeared. |
| A'am dhall imlabbak sahraan | And I always keep troubled and awake. |
| Ya injoom illaylaih iba'id-ha. | O' night stars take her away. |
| A'alnadda, ilnadda, ilnadda. | O' Nadda, Nadda, Nadda. |
| Wilward imfattah a'a khadda. | Where roses are blooming on her cheek. |
| Win ma i'atyouni yaaki ya ijbaal ila'ali la-hidda. | And if they refuse to give you to me, I will tear down the high mountains. |
| Imbaraih bilhilwaih itlaa-ate | Yesterday with the sweet one I met. |
| Hayk iw midri shoo hassaiyt. | This way and I do not know what I felt. |
| Imbaraih bilhilwaih itlaa-ate | Yesterday with the sweet one I met. |
| Hayk iw midri shoo hassaiyt. | This way and I do not know what I felt. |
| Iw limin a'azmitni a'al bait | And when she invited me to her house |
| Ma a'aad aalbi yithadda. | I can not calm my heart. |
| A'alnadda, ilnadda, ilnadda. | O' Nadda, Nadda, Nadda. |
| Wilward imfattah a'a khadda. | Where roses are blooming on her cheek. |
| Win ma i'atyouni yaaki ya ijbaal ila'ali la-hidda. | And if they refuse to give you to me, I will tear down the high mountains. |
| Ya karm illi kont tayeb iw haaliii | O' grapevine that were excellent and sweet. |
| Ayaam ilhawa ilhilwaih Wa haaliiiiiiiy. | The days of sweet passion and myself. |
| Tara mean yir-aaaf Ib halak iw haali. | Wondering who take care of you and me. |
| Iw nirjaa' mitil ma kinna sawaah. | And return back to the way we were together, ha. |
| Ya wail waili, ya wail waili, | Woe unto me, woe unto me, |
| Ya wail waili, ya waili, ya waili, | Woe unto me, O' my distress, O' my distress. |
| Yay, yay, yah haaaay | Yay, Yay, Yah Haaaay. |
| Ya tayr illi bitsalitni. | O' bird that you guide me. |
| Baa'mail bilshams imshaweer. | I make picnics with the sun. |
| Ya tayr illi bitsalitni. | O' bird that you guide me. |
| Baa'mail bilshams imshaweer. | I make picnics with the sun. |
| Sallimli a'alhilwaih ikteer | Say sincere hello to the sweet. |
| In kannak maraiaa min hadda. | If you were walking close to her. |
| A'alnadda, ilnadda, ilnadda. | O' Nadda, Nadda, Nadda. |
| Wilward imfattah a'a khadda. | Where roses are blooming on her cheek. |
| Win ma i'atyouni yaaki ya ijbaal ila'ali la-hidda. | And if they refuse to give you to me, I will tear down the high mountains. |
| Ya ijbaal ila'ali la-hidda. | I will tear down the high mountains. |
| Ya ijbaal ila'ali la-hidda. | I will tear down the high mountains. |
| Ya ijbaal ila'ali la-hidda. | I will tear down the high mountains. |
Adel Abdallah's Version
Naada, Naada, your cheeks are like open roses
Getting to her is like reaching high mountains
I saw in her eye - that she wants to talk
But she does not want to talk at the same time
I'll see her coming down from the garden
And I'll just be able to look at her only
I'll be going home alone wandering without her
Naada, Naada
Oh night, oh night
You birds send my regards to her
Whenever you fly under the sun
Where to Get Recordings of this Song
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Artist: Sabah Amazon Store: |
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Artist: George Abdo Amazon Store: |
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Artist: Brothers of the Baladi Amazon Store: |
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Artist: Salatin al Tarab Orchestra CD Title: Belly Dance 2000 Amazon Store: |
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Artist: Melissa Murphey & Carmine T. Guida Amazon Store: |
Translations of
George Abdo's Songs on this Site
About the Translator Adel Abdallah
Adel Abdallah is an Egyptian who resides in New Orleans, Louisiana. If you are traveling to that great city, he invites you to stop by the Cafe Picasso, located at 3401 Chartres (on the corner of Chartres and Desire, in the Bywater). The cafe serves delicious Middle Eastern food, and offers shiisha smoking. They are open daily except for Sundays, from 10 A.M. to 6 P.M. (Deliveries until 10 P.M.) The phone number is (504) 948-6881.
The translation summary was done by Adel at Lennie Clark's request. Muchisimas gracias to Kruz, (whose Morocco to India ethnic boutique, located in the historic French Quarter, is not-to-be-missed) for suggesting Adel as a translator.
About the Translator
More than 80 song translations that appear on this web site, including this one, were created by Tahseen Alkoudsi. Together with his wife Kathe, Tahseen owned an import business in Lawrence, Kansas known as Cartouche.
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. |
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