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PHOTO CREDIT: Above photo by John Rickman Photography, San Jose, California. |
Al Bab Al A'ali
(Al Baki Alay)
(Enter from the High Gate)
This page contains a translation into English of the song lyrics to the Arabic song "Al Baki Alay", which is sometimes called "Al Bab al-A'ali" or "Elbab El-A'ali" because of the lyrics in its chorus. This song appears on Katia Harb's debut album, also titled Al Bab Al A'ali.
The Lebanese singer Katia Harb was born in 1973. She broke into show business in 1996 as a result of her appearance on the television show Studio Al Fan (Studio of the Arts). Her early successes lay in romantic ballads, but as her career evolved she also became known for her interpretations of rap and hiphop. In 2005, she took a break from her show business career, allegedly to work with orphans, the elderly, and the needy. This led to circulation of a rumor that she had resigned from show business to become a nun. Whether or not the rumor was true, the fact is that in the four years since it appeared she has not returned to her singing career. |
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Listen to MP3 Clips of this Song
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Sung by Katia Harb |
Lyrics
Arabic Lyrics |
English Lyrics |
| Shobak minni sirt a'am titloub mwaaa'eid w faza'aan yaa'ref hadah innak btihwani. | What is wrong with you? You are asking for an appointment? Are you afraid that they will know that you love me?!? |
| Maa'leish a'andi talab minnak iza bitread | It is okay... I have a personal request if you don't mind! If you want. |
| Maa'leish a'andi talab minnak iza bitread | It is okay... I have a personal request if you don't mind! If you want. |
| Ya zourni bil bayt ... | You can visit me at home ... |
| Ya zourni bil bayt ... | You can visit me at home ... |
| Ya insaani ... | Or just forget about me... |
| Ya insaani. | Just forget about me. |
| Ma fiyi shoufak bil sir khabi a'a immi w bayyi ... W mabzinni innak midhttar thamilni masouliyeh. | I can't see you in secret, hiding it from my parents. I do not think you want me to have that responsibility. |
| Ma fiyi shoufak bil sir khabi a'a immi w bayyi ... W mabzinni innak midhttar thamilni masouliyeh. | I can't see you in secret, hiding it from my parents. I do not think you want me to have that responsibility. |
| Foot mnil el-bab el-a'ali kiddam elkoul ... koulhoum jayeh kirmali w a'alaya dill. | Enter from the high gate in front of everyone. Tell them that you are coming especially for me and point at me... |
| Foot mnil el-bab el-a'ali kiddam elkoul ... koulhoum jayeh kirmali w a'alaya dill. | Enter from the high gate in front of everyone. Tell them that you are coming especially for me and point at me... |
| W-Itrouk elbaki a'alayeh ... | And leave the rest to me... |
| Itrouk elbaki a'alayeh | Leave the rest to me. |
| Ma fiyi shoufak bil sir khabi a'a immi w bayyi ... W mabzinni innak midhttar thamilni masouliyeh. | I can not see you in secret. Hiding it from my parents. I do not think you want me to have that responsibility. |
| Foot mnil el-bab el-a'ali kiddam elkoul ... koulhoum jayeh kirmali w a'alaya dill | Enter from the high gate in front of everyone. Tell them that you are coming especially for me and point at me... |
| W-Itrouk elbaki a'alayeh ... | And leave the rest to me... |
| Itrouk elbaki a'alayeh | Leave the rest to me. |
| Ana ahli maa'houm mirtaha rabbouni bidalal ... a'awadouni a'al saraha bikil elahwal ... | I am very happy and content that my parents pampered me. They pampered me and brought me up to be honest in every facet of life... |
| Ana... Ana ahli maa'houm mirtaha rabbouni bidalal ... a'awadouni a'al saraha bikil elahwal. | I ... I am very happy and content that my parents pampered me. They pampered me and brought me up to be honest in every facet of life. |
| Ta khabbi a'alayhoum saa'beh ... Elkissah a'andi mish lia'beh | To hide a thing from them is very hard. The situation as I am concerned is not a game. |
| Ta khabbi a'alayhoum saa'beh ... Elkissah a'andi mish lia'beh | To hide a thing from them is very hard. The situation as I am concerned is not a game. |
| Tatikder timlouk qalbi w tibka kbeer ba'aynayeh | If you want to seize my heart and be great in my eyes, |
| Tatikder timlouk qalbi w tibka kbeer ba'aynayeh | If you want to seize my heart and be great in my eyes, |
| W tibka kbeer ba'aynayeh ... | And be great in my eyes, |
| Foot mnil bab el a'ali kiddam elkoul ... koulhoum jayeh kirmali w-a'alaya dill | You should enter from the high gate in front of everyone. Tell them that you are coming especially for me and point at me... |
| Ma fiya shoufak bil sir khabi a'aimmi w bayyi ... W mabzinni inak midhtar thamilni masouliheh. | I can not see you in secret. Hiding it from my parents. I do not think you want me to have that responsibility. |
| Hinneh Elhiriyeh A'atyouni w a'ala dhawii ikhtar ... Fadhl elnaas illi rabouni ma binsah wala inhar.. hinneh ... | My parents gave me freedom so that I can choose. I will not forget their favor at all... My parents ... |
| Hinneh Elhiriyeh A'atyouni w a'ala dhawii ikhtar ... Fadhl elnaas illi rabouni ma binsah wala inhar. | My parents gave me freedom so that I can choose. I will not forget their favor at all. |
| Kilmeit ahli a'an hali a'andi ma bitseir itnain... | My parents' words about me can not be two ways... |
| Kilmeit ahli a'an hali a'andi ma bitseir itnain... | My parents' words about me can not be two ways... |
| W inteh a'alraas w a'al a'ain iza kint mfakker fiyii ... | You are on the top of my head and in my eyes if you are thinking about me. |
| Iza kint mfakker fiyii... | If you are thinking about me. |
| W inteh a'alraas w a'al a'ain iza kint mfakker fiyii ... | You are on the top of my head and in my eyes if you are thinking about me. |
| Iza kint mfakker fiyii... | If you are thinking about me. |
| Foot mnil bab el a'ali kiddam elkoul ... koulhoum jayeh kirmali w a'alaya dill. | Enter from the high gate in front of everyone. Tell them that you are coming especially for me and point at me... |
| W itrouk el baqi a'alateh. | And leave the rest to me. |
| Ma fiya shoufak bil sir khabi a'aimmi w bayyi ... W mabzinni innak midhttar thamilni masouliyeh. | I can't see you in secret, hiding it from my parents. I do not think you want me to have that responsibility. |
| Ma fiya shoufak bil sir khabi a'aimmi w bayyi ... W mabzinni innak midhttar thamilni masouliyeh. | I can't see you in secret, hiding it from my parents. I do not think you want me to have that responsibility. |
| Foot mnil bab el a'ali kiddam elkoul ... koulhoum jayeh kirmali w a'alaya dill. | Enter from the high gate in front of everyone. Tell them that you are coming especially for me and point at me... |
| Foot mnil bab el a'ali kiddam elkoul ... koulhoum jayeh kirmali w a'alaya dill. | Enter from the high gate in front of everyone. Tell them that you are coming especially for me and point at me... |
| W Itrouk elbaki a'alayeh ... | And leave the rest to me. |
| W Itrouk elbaki a'alayeh | And leave the rest to me... |
| W Itrouk elbaki ... elbaki ... elbaki a'alayeh | And leave the rest ... the rest ... the rest to me. |
Translations of
Katia Harb'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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