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PHOTO CREDIT: Above photo by John Rickman Photography, San Jose, California. |
Abo A'ali
(Father of Ali)
This page contains a translation into English of the lyrics to the Arabic song "Abo A'ali", which was popularized by the Sudanese vocalist Gawaher. Also included is a transliteration of the Arabic lyrics into the Roman alphabet, so you can sing along if you like.
Music: Husein Mahmoud
Listen to MP3 Clips of this Song
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Sung by Gawaher |
Lyrics
Some comments about this translation:
- The opening lines of the song, "Aah ya laali iw-ya la laali iw-ya laali iw ya lala," are nonsense syllables, similar to "tra-la" in English-language music.
- "Abo A'ali" means "the father of A'li". When they are young, most Arabs have a name beginning with "Abo" ("father of") that their peers call them.
Arabic Lyrics |
English Lyrics |
| Aah ya laali iw-ya la laali iw-ya laali iw ya lala | Aah ya laali iw-ya la laali iw-ya laali iw ya lala |
| Aah ya laali iw-ya la laali iw-ya laali iw ya lala | Aah ya laali iw-ya la laali iw-ya laali iw ya lala |
| Aah ya laali iw-ya la laali iw-ya laali iw ya lala | Aah ya laali iw-ya la laali iw-ya laali iw ya lala |
| Aah ya laali iw-ya la laali iw-ya laali iw ya lala | Aah ya laali iw-ya la laali iw-ya laali iw ya lala |
| Abo a'ali. Wala ya Hasan ... Abo a'ali iw-a'aini ya Hasan. | Abo A'ali, Oh Hasan ... Abo A'ali and an eye oh Hasan. |
| Abo a'ali qalbi ya Hasan. | Abo A'ali, my heart O' Hasan. |
| Habeebi w-inta ya Hasan. | My darling, oh Hasan. |
| Ana tareeki iw-sikkiti, tareek Hasan ... Aah | My road and direction is Hasan's road, Aah. |
| Ana hayati iw-doonyiti, wayya Hasan ... Aah. | And my life and world, are with Hasan ... Aah. |
| Ana tareeki iw-sikkiti, tareek Hasan ... Aah | My road and direction is Hasan's road, Aah. |
| Ana hayati iw-doonyiti, wayya Hasan ... Aah. | And my life and world, are with Hasan ... Aah. |
| Wallah in jabouli beer dahab, ana a'ala qalbi inkatab gharam Hasan. | I swear in God's name if they brought me gold. It is written in my heart the love for Hasan. |
| Abo a'ali. Wala ya Hasan ... Abo a'ali iw-a'aini ya Hasan. | Abo A'ali, Oh Hasan ... Abo A'ali and an eye oh Hasan. |
| Abo a'ali qalbi ya Hasan. | Abo A'ali, my heart O' Hasan. |
| Habeebi | My darling |
| Wallah ma yihla elhawa, illa ana iw-inta sawa. | I swear by God's name that love is not beautiful unless we both are together. |
| Wallah ma yihla elhawa, illa ana iw-inta sawa. | I swear by God's name that love is not beautiful unless we both are together. |
| Ghayarti haali, shaghalti baali iw-a'aqli minni taar. Tool el-layali yabou a'ali waana naari naar. | You changed me, kept me worried about you and my mind flew away. All nights alone O' Abo A'ali and my fire is burning. |
| Ghayarti haali, shaghalti baali iw-a'aqli minni taar. Tool el-layali yabou a'ali waana naari naar. | You changed me, kept me worried about you and my mind flew away. All nights alone O' Abo A'ali and my fire is burning. |
| Ana tareeki iw-sikkiti, tareek Hasan ... Aah | My road and direction is Hasan's road, Aah. |
| Ana hayati iw-doonyiti, wayya Hasan ... Aah. | And my life and world, are with Hasan ... Aah. |
| Wallah in jabouli ibhal dahab, ana a'ala qalbi inkatab gharam Hasan. | I swear in God's name if they brought me gold. It is written in my heart the love for Hasan. |
| Abo a'ali. Wala ya Hasan ... Abo a'ali iw-a'aini ya Hasan. | Abo A'ali, Oh Hasan ... Abo A'ali and an eye oh Hasan. |
| Abo a'ali qalbi ya Hasan. | Abo A'ali, my heart O' Hasan. |
| Habeebi | My darling |
| Inta omri iw-doonyiti. Inta hanaya iw-farhiti. | You are my life and my world. You are my happiness and joy. |
| Inta omri iw-doonyiti. Inta hanaya iw-farhiti. | You are my life and my world. You are my happiness and joy. |
| Hamsait a'inaik, lamsait iydaik, dawibo kalbi doab. | The whisper of your eyes, the touch of your hands melted my heart melt. |
| Wallah ya ghaali ya bo a'ali a'an hobbak ma doub. | I swear in God name, O' you precious O' Abo A'ali for your love I will not melt away. |
| Hamsait a'inaik, lamsait iydaik, dawibo kalbi doab. | The whisper of your eyes, the touch of your hands melted my heart melt. |
| Wallah ya ghaali ya bo a'ali a'an hobbak ma doub. | I swear in God name, O' you precious O' Abo A'ali for your love I will not melt away. |
| Ana tareeki iw-sikkiti, tareek Hasan ... Aah | My road and direction is Hasan's road, Aah. |
| Ana hayati iw-doonyiti, wayya Hasan ... Aah. | And my life and world, are with Hasan ... Aah. |
| Wallah in jabouli ibhal dahab, ana a'ala qalbi inkatab gharam Hasan. | I swear in God's name if they brought me gold. It is written in my heart the love for Hasan. |
| Abo a'ali. Wala ya Hasan ... Abo a'ali iw-a'aini ya Hasan. | Abo A'ali, Oh Hasan ... Abo A'ali and an eye oh Hasan. |
| Abo qalbi ya Hasan. | Abo A'ali, my heart O' Hasan. |
| Abo a'ali, abo a'ali, abo a'ali, hey ... | |
| No, no |
Where to Get Recordings of this Song
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Artist: Gawaher Amazon Store: |
Translations of
Gawaher's Songs on This Site
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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