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PHOTO CREDIT: Above photo by John Rickman Photography, San Jose, California. |
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From Lennie Clark's Web Site:
Dige, Dige, Ya Rababa
(Play, Play Oh Rababa)
This page contains a translation into English of the lyrics to "Dige Dige Ya Rebaba", which was recorded by Nabiha Yazbek. Also included is a transliteration of the Arabic lyrics into the Roman alphabet so you can sing along if you like.
Other ways of spelling this song title include "Diggy Diggy Ya Rababa", "Diki Diki Ya Rebaba", "Dikki Dikki Ya Rebaba", "Degi Ya Rababa", "Deq iRababa", and "Digi Ya Rebaba".
The singers name could also be spelled "Nabih Yazbik" or "Nabiha Yabeck".
Lyrics
Arabic Lyrics |
English Translation |
| Dige, dige ya rababa | Play, play oh rababa |
| Dige afrah el hababa | Play for happiness of my loved ones, |
| Badimaraho we ghabo | After they left they did not return |
| Warathoo be gelbe azaba | They broke my heart when they left |
| Dige dige dige dige ya rababa | Play, play, play, play oh rababa |
| Gadaralh ya habaib | God sent this misfortune for me, my friends |
| Thgorone raba el assiel | You left by beloved place |
| Gelbe ysall aleghib | My heart is inquiring |
| Materdoona el gawaba | Of those who left |
| Dige dige dige dige ya rababa | Play, play, play, play oh rababa |
Where to Get Recordings of this Song
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Artist: Various Amazon Store: |
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Artist: John Bilezikjian Dantz Records - John Bilezikjian Telephone: (+1) (949) 581-5664 Web Site: www.dantzrecords.com |
Acknowledgements
About the Person Who Provided the Translation
Linda Grondahl's background is that of a devoted lover of Arabic music and dance. She danced with Amina and the Aswan Dancers for many years. She took Arabic percussion with Mary Ellen Donald, Su Su Pampanin, George Dubai, Vince Deldado, and Tony Lammam. She took Arabic singing from Nicole Ibrahim, Mimi Spencer, Georges Lammam. On the oud, she studied under Nazir Latouf, Mimi Spencer, Abdullah Kdough. She was a member of the Aswat Arab-American Choir under the direction of Elias Lammam. She is now a member of the El Ashaab dance troupe, and Tahneen, the all-girl, all-American Middle eastern music ensemble. They have played for Arab and American events, and for many years at the Rakassah festival.
"I just saved whatever I could get my hands on, for years", writes Linda, "and really don't know why. It was always so dificult to get music, so I just kept on saving."
Linda lives in San Francisco, California. Her favorite color is any shade of purple.
About the Source
This article originally appeared on Lennie Clark's web site, "Arabic Song Translations." Lennie created this web site in 2002 as a response to discussion on the Internet regarding incidents of dancers who performed inappropriate sensual dances to religious music. Lennie's web site resided on a free web hosting service known as Geocities. When the planned October 2009 closure of the Geocities web hosting service was announced, Lennie and Shira agreed to move the contents of Lennie's site to Shira.net. To explore all the articles and song translations that once appeared on Lennie's Geocities site, visit Lennie's portal page here on Shira.net. |
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