Aba'ad
(Far Away)

(also often called "Leyla Leyla")

This page contains a translation into English of the lyrics to "Aba'ad", a very well-known song from the Khaleegy (Persian Gulf) region. The full-length song is 20.5 minutes!

Many dancers and musicians in the United States know this song as "Layla, Layla" because about 14 minutes into the song the lyrics sing "layla" (which means "night") many times over and over again. The Saudi Arabian vocalist who made this song popular was Mohammed Abdou.

Also included on this page is a transliteration of the Arabic lyrics into the Roman alphabet so you can sing along if you like.

Listen to MP3 Clips of this Song

	Sung by Mohammed Abdo
	Performed by Ya Salaam

Lyrics

Arabic Lyrics	English Translation
Lo-leesh	Zaghareet
Iba'aad kintoum willa willa krayibean. Limradikoum. Dayem, dayem salimean.	Far away you were, or near to what your heart desires. Always, always you are in good hands.
Iba'aad kintoum willa willa krayibean. Limradikoum. Dayem, dayem salimean.	Far away you were, or near to what your heart desires. Always, always you are in good hands.
Ma koul gheir allah. Allah ykouni b-a'oun killi el-a'ashikean. Ya-iba'aad.	I do not say except oh God! God help all in love, oh you far away.

Iba'aad kintoum willa willa krayibean. Limradikoum. Dayem, dayem salimean.	Far away you were, or near to what your heart desires. Always, always you are in good hands.
Iba'aad kintoum willa willa krayibean. Limradikoum. Dayem, dayem salimean.	Far away you were, or near to what your heart desires. Always, always you are in good hands.
Iba'aad kintoum willa willa krayibean. Limradikoum. Dayem, dayem salimean.	Far away you were, or near to what your heart desires. Always, always you are in good hands.
Iba'aad kintoum willa willa krayibean. Limradikoum. Dayem, dayem salimean.	Far away you were, or near to what your heart desires. Always, always you are in good hands.
Ma koul gheir allah. Allah ykouni b-a'oun killi el-a'ashikean. Ya-iba'aad.	I do not say except, oh God! God help all in love, oh you far away.

Iba'aad kintoum walla walla krayibean. Limradikoum. Dayem, dayem salimean.	Far away you were, or near to what your heart desires, always, always you are in peace.
Iba'aad kintoum walla walla krayibean. Limradikoum. Dayem, dayem salimean.	Far away you were, or near to what your heart desires, always, always you are in peace.
Ma koul gheir allah. Allah ykouni bi-a'oun killi el-a'ashikean.	I do not say except God! God help all in love, oh you far away.

Lo-leesh	Zaghareet
Lo-leesh	Zaghareet

Ashtaak, ashtaak, ashtaak, w-asaal a'ankoum el-ashwaaa.	I miss you, I miss you, I miss you and I ask my love about you.
Li-fraak, li-fraak, li-fraak, maa ghayyer a'alayya lifraak	Separation, Separation, Separation, did not change me, Separation.
Li-fraak, li-fraak, li-fraak, maa ghayyer a'alayya lifraak	Separation, Separation, Separation, did not change me, Separation.
Li-fraak, li-fraak, li-fraak, maa ghayyer a'alayya lifraak	Separation, Separation, Separation, did not change me, Separation.

A'asakoum ma nisitouni a'asaakoum, w- a'asaa ma marr hawa baa'di w-khadakoum	I hope you did not forget me, I hope. And I hope that another love did not come along and take you.
A'asakoum ma nisitouni a'asaakoum, w- a'asaa ma marr hawa baa'di w-khadakoum	I hope you did not forget me, I hope. And I hope that another love did not come along and take you.

Naater hawakoum naater. Kaader w-laani kaader.	I am waiting for your love, I am waiting, but I can not.
Naater hawakoum naater. Kaader w-laani kaader.	I am waiting for your love, I am waiting, but I can not.

Ashtaak, ashtaak, ashtaak, w-asaal a'ankoum el-ashwaaa.	I miss you, I miss you, I miss you and I ask my love about you.
Li-fraak, li-fraak, li-fraak, maa ghayyer a'alayy lifraak	Separation, separation, separation, did not change me, separation.
Ashtaak, ashtaak, ashtaak, w-asaal a'ankoum el-ashwaaa.	I miss you, I miss you, I miss you and I ask my love about you.
Li-fraak, li-fraak, li-fraak, maa ghayyer a'alayy lifraak	Separation, separation, separation, did not change me, separation.

A'asakoum ma nisitouni a'asaakoum, w- a'asaa ma marr hawa baa'di w-khadakoum.	I hope you did not forget me, and I hope that another love did not come along and take you.
A'asakoum ma nisitouni a'asaakoum, w- a'asaa ma marr hawa baa'di w-khadakoum.	I hope you did not forget me, and I hope that another love did not come along and take you.

Naater hawakoum naater. Kaader w-laani kaader.	I am waiting for your love. I can, I can not.
Naater hawakoum naater. Kaader w-laani kaader.	I am waiting for your love. I can, I can not.
Ma koul ghaiyr allah ... Allah ykouni bi-a'oun kouli el-a'ashikeen	I can not say except oh God! God help all those in love.
Ya aba'ad!	Oh you far away.

Iba'aad kintoum willa willa krayibean. Limradikoum. Dayem, dayem salimean.	Far away you were, or near to what your heart desires. Always, always you are in good hands.
Iba'aad kintoum willa willa krayibean. Limradikoum. Dayem, dayem salimean.	Far away you were, or near to what your heart desire. Always, always you are in good hands.
Ma koul gheir allah. Allah ykouni b-a'oun killi el-a'ashikean. Ya-iba'aad.	I do not say except oh God! God help all in love. Oh you far away.
Lo leeesh.	Zaghareet!

Layla, layla, layla, Allah, layla, layla, Layla	Night, night, night, oh God, night, night, night
Layla, layla, layla, layla	Night, night, night, night
Layla, layla, layla w-addi ahla layla, layla, layla	Night, night, night, and this is the sweetest night, night, night.
Layla, layla, layla, layla, layla, layla	Night, night, night, night, night, night
Layla, layla, layla, Allah, Allah, layla	Night, night, night, oh God, God, night

Layla, layla, layla, layla, layla, ya layla	Night, night, night, night, night, oh night
Layla, layla, layla, layla, layla, ya layla	Night, night, night, night, night, oh night
Layla, layla, layla, layla, layla, ya layla	Night, night, night, night, night, oh night
Layla, layla, layla, layla, layla, ya layla	Night, night, night, night, night, oh night
Layla, layla, layla, layla, layla, ya layla	Night, night, night, night, night, oh night
Layla, layla, layla, layla, layla, ya layla	Night, night, night, night, night, oh night
Layla, layla, layla, layla, layla, ya layla	Night, night, night, night, night, oh night
Layla, layla, layla, layla, layla, ya layla	Night, night, night, night, night, oh night

Mounyiti ashar maa'akoum layla, layla, wa- ishtiri b-omri ridhakoum layla, layla	My wish is to spend one night with you, one night, and with my life your acceptance, one night.
Mounyiti ashar maa'akoum layla, layla, wa- ishtiri b-omri ridhakoum layla, layla	My wish is to spend one night with you, one night, and with my life your acceptance, one night.

Yi-ra-widni el-amal fi layla alkaakoum, w-attirrid efarah ahzaani w-arjaak.	A hope accompanies me that I will meet you in one night and with this joy I will kick all my sorrow.
Yi-ra-widni el-amal fi layla alkaakoum, w-attirrid efarah ahzaani w-arjaak.	A hope accompanies me that I will meet you in one night and with this joy I will kick all my sorrow.

Layla, layla, layla, layla, layla ya layla	Night, night, night, night, night, oh night.
Layla, layla, layla, layla, layla ya layla	Night, night, night, night, night, oh night.
Layla, layla, layla, layla, layla ya layla	Night, night, night, night, night, oh night.
Layla, layla, layla, layla, layla ya layla	Night, night, night, night, night, oh night.
Layla, layla, layla, layla, layla ya layla	Night, night, night, night, night, oh night.
Layla, layla, layla, layla, layla ya layla	Night, night, night, night, night, oh night.
Layla, layla, layla, layla, layla ya layla	Night, night, night, night, night, oh night.
Layla, layla, layla, layla, layla ya layla	Night, night, night, night, night, oh night.

Mounyiti ashar maa'akoum layla, layla, wa- ishtiri b-omri ridhakoum layla, layla.	My wish is to spend one night with you, one night and with my life your acceptance, one night.
Mounyiti ashar maa'akoum layla, layla, wa- ishtiri b-omri ridhakoum layla, layla.	My wish is to spend one night with you, one night and with my life your acceptance, one night.

Eh-yrawidni amal fi layla alkaakoum, watrid bilfarah ahzaani w-arjaakoum.	A hope accompanies me that I will meet with you in one night and with this joy I will kick all my sorrow.
Yrawidni amal fi illayla alkaakoum, Ya habibi!	A hope accompanies me that I will meet with you in one night ... Oh my Love!

Saha fiil a'ashikeen, saaha fil a'ashikeen ya-aala kinanah.	He shouted at the lovers, shouted at the lovers... Oh you from Kinana's tribe.
A'ashikoun fi eljifooni minhou kinanah.	Love in the eyelids, from Kinanah.
Badawiyoun badat tallaaaia'ou lahzatan fakanat fattakatan fattaaaanah.	Bedouin, he appeared and he was beautiful.
A'adda minna el-koloub - a'adda minna el-koloub mounkasiraat a'indama raaha kasiran ajfaana.	He passed by the hearts, passed by the hearts (Broken, especially when he went to break my eyelids).
Badawiyoun aaah, aaah, aaah badawiyoun, kataratou elnaseem tajrahou khaddayh, wa- lamsou el hareer toudmi anaimaloho.	Bedouin, Oh, Oh, Oh Bedouin, the drops of the breeze wounded his cheeks, and silk touch makes his fingers bleed.

Y-rawidni el-amal fi layla alkaakoum, wattarred bilfarah ahzanoukm.	A hope accompanies me that I will meet with you in one night and with this joy I will kick all my sorrow.
Y-rawidni el-amal fi layla alkaakoum, wattarred bilfarah ahzanoukm.	A hope accompanies me that I will meet with you in one night and with this joy I will kick all my sorrow.

A'asaakoum ma nisaytouni a'asaakoum, w-a'asa ma marr hawa baa'di w-khadakoum	I hope you did not forget me and hope that there was not another love that took you from me.
A'asaakoum ma nisaytouni a'asaakoum, w-a'asa ma marr hawa baa'di w-khadakoum	I hope you did not forget me and hope that there was not another love that took you from me.
Naater hawakoum naater, kaader w-laani kaader.	I am waiting for your love. I can, I can not.
Naater hawakoum naater, kaader w-laani kaader.	I am waiting for your love. I can, I can not.

Eish akoul ghair ellah.	What can I say, except God!

Allah ykouni b-a'oun killi el-a'ashikeen!	God help all those in love!
Allah ykouni b-a'oun killi el-a'ashikeen!	God help all those in love!
Allah ykouni b-a'oun killi el-a'ashikeen!	God help all those in love!
Allah ykouni b-a'oun killi el-a'ashikeen!	God help all those in love!
Allah ykouni b-a'oun killi el-a'ashikeen!	God help all those in love!

Where to Get Recordings of this Song

Listen to Clip

Artist: Mohammed Abdu
CD Title: Aba'ad

Amazon Store:

Artist: Salatin Tarab Orchestra
CD Title: Casbah Bellydance

Amazon Store:

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.

Aba'ad (Far Away)