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PHOTO CREDIT: Above photo by John Rickman Photography, San Jose, California. |
El Layali
(The Nights)
This page contains a translation into English of the lyrics to the popular Arabic song "El Layali", which was sung by Nawal el-Zoughbi. Also included is a transliteration of the Arabic lyrics into the Roman alphabet so you can sing along if you like.
The vocalist's name is sometimes spelled as "Nawal Elzoghbi", "Nawal Alzoughbi", "Nawal el-Zoughby" or "Nawal al Zoghbi". Nawal al-Zoughbi was born in Beirut, Lebanon. Despite the civil war that erupted in Lebanon during her teen-age years, she dreamed of a career as a singer. At first her family was skeptical about her chosen vocation, but once it became clear how serious she was about it, they supported her in pursuing the dream. She released her debut album Wehyat Andak in 1992 upon her return to Lebanon following a 2-year stint working as a singer in the Gulf. |
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Lyrics: Khaled Mounir
Music: Mohammed Raheem
Listen to MP3 Clips of this Song
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Sung by Nawal el-Zoughbi |
Lyrics
Arabic Lyrics |
English Translation |
| El layali rajaa'itli taani, Hobbi Aalbi min jideed. | The nights brought me back again, and renewed the love in my heart. |
| Baa'd ghaiba, jaali, rah nadaani. Khalla A'omri kollo A'eid. | After he left, he came back and called for me. and made my life start anew. |
| El layali rajaa'itli taani, Hobbi Aalbi min jideed. | The nights brought me back again, and renewed the love in my heart. |
| Baa'd ghaiba, jaali, rah nadaani. Khalla A'omri kollo A'eid. | After he left, he came back and called for me. and made my life start anew. |
| Konti fain ya, ya shaghilli hawaya? | Where were you? You who stole my love? |
| Konti fain ya, yalli Albak maa'aya? | Where were you? You whose heart I possess? |
| Konti fain ya, ya shaghilli hawaya? | Where were you? You who stole my love? |
| Konti fain ya, yalli Albak maa'aya? | Where were you? You whose heart I possess? |
| Layali, layali, layaali. | Nights, nights, nights. |
| El layali rajaa'itli taani, Hobbi Aalbi min jideed. | The nights brought me back again, and renewed the love in my heart. |
| Baa'd ghaiba, jaali, rah nadaani. Khalla A'omri kollo A'eid. | After he left, he came back and called for me. and made my life start anew. |
| Lay, lay, lay. Lay la la. | Lay, lay, lay. Lay la la. |
| Hobak, ya ghali, ghayarli haali. | Your love, oh precious, changed my entire outlook. |
| A'ala shoqi laik, bas-ha wa banam. | My love to you keeps me awake and lulls me to sleep. |
| A'alimti rohi, tihwak, ya rohi. | You taught my soul to love you, oh my soul. |
| Wit dooq maa'ak agmal gharaam. | And to taste, with you, the most beautiful love. |
| Hobak, ya ghali, ghayarli haali. | Your love, oh precious, changed my entire outlook. |
| A'ala shoqi laik, bas-ha wa banam. | My love to you keeps me awake and lulls me to sleep. |
| A'alimti rohi, ya roohi tihwak, ya rohi. | You taught my soul, O' my soul to love you, oh my soul. |
| Wit dooq maa'ak agmal gharaam. | And to taste, with you, the most beautiful love. |
| Konti fain ya, ya shaghilli hawaya? | Where were you? You who stole my love? |
| Konti fain ya, yalli Albak maa'aya? | Where were you? You whose heart I possess? |
| Konti fain ya, ya shaghilli hawaya? | Where were you? You who stole my love? |
| Konti fain ya, yalli Albak maa'aya? | Where were you? You whose heart I possess? |
| Layali, layali, layaali. | Nights, nights, nights. |
| El layali rajaa'itni taani, | The nights brought me back again, |
| Hobbi Aalbi min jideed. | And renewed the love in my heart. |
| Baa'd ghaiba, jaani, rah nadaani. | After he left, he came back and called for me. called for me. |
| Khalla A'omri kollo A'eid. | And made my life start anew. |
| Lay, La, La. Lay, La, La. | Lay, La, La. Lay, La, La. |
| Law ghibti a'anni lahza Ibtew-hashni. | If you're away from me for a second, I miss you. |
| Wandah a'alaik tool el saa'at. | And I call for you through the hours. |
| Wayak ya A'omri, ihlaw A'omri. | Because of you, oh my life, my life became joyful. |
| Wa rijia'li beek A'omri elli faat. | And with you, I regained my lost life. |
| Law ghibti a'anni lahza Ibtew-hashni. | If you're away from me for a second, I miss you. |
| Wandah a'alaik tool el saa'at. | And I call for you through the hours. |
| Wayak ya A'omri, ihlaw A'omri. | Because of you, oh my life, my life became joyful. |
| Wa rijia'li beek A'omri elli faat. | And with you, I regained my lost life. |
| Konti fain ya, ya shaghilli hawaya? | Where were you? You who stole my love? |
| Konti fain ya, yalli Albak maa'aya? | Where were you? You whose heart I possess? |
| Konti fain ya, ya shaghilli hawaya? | Where were you? You who stole my love? |
| Konti fain ya, yalli Albak maa'aya? | Where were you? You whose heart I possess? |
| Layali, layali, layaali. | Nights, nights, nights. |
| El layali rajaa'itni taani, | The nights brought me back again, |
| Hobbi Aalbi min jideed. | And renewed the love in my heart. |
| Baa'd ghaiba, jaani, rah nadaani. | After he left, he came back and called for me. called for me. |
| Khalla A'omri kollo A'eid. | And made my life start anew. |
| El layali rajaa'itni taani, | The nights brought me back again, |
| Hobbi Aalbi min jideed. | And renewed the love in my heart. |
| Baa'd ghaiba, jaani, rah nadaani. | After he left, he came back and called for me. called for me. |
| Khalla A'omri kollo A'eid. | And made my life start anew. |
| Aaah, Lay, la, la | Aaah, Lay, la, la |
Where to Get Recordings of this Song
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Artist: Nawal el-Zoghbi Amazon Store: |
Translations of
Nawal al-Zoughbi'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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