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المسيح
El Massih

(The Messiah)

 

This page contains a translation into English of the lyrics to the 1968 Egyptian song "El Massih", which was popularized by Abdel Halim Hafez. Some of the other ways to spell the song title include "El Messih", "El Maseh", and "El Masee7". Also included is a transliteration of the Arabic lyrics into the Roman alphabet so you can sing along if you like.

  • El Massih (The Messiah), 1968
  • Lyrics: Abdul Rahman Al-Abnoudi
  • Music: Baligh Hamdi
  • Original Artist: Abdel Halim Hafez

Song lyrics are provided for educational purposes. If you like the song, please purchase either the album or a download from an authorized source.

About this Song

The song's title is a reference to Jesus Christ. Abdel Halim Hafez sang this song in Albert Hall in London in front of an audience of 8,000 people after Egypt's 1967 war with Israel, and he donated his earnings to the war effort. In that war, Egypt suffered heavy losses and defeat. The lyrics of this song confront Israel over the war.

About Abdel Halim Hafez

Abdel Halim Hafez was born in 1929 in a village north of Cairo. He was orphaned at a young age. His mother died a few days after giving birth to him, and his father died five years later. After a few years of living in an orphanage, he went to live with his aunt and uncle in Cairo. At age 14, he joined the Arabic Music Institute in Cairo. His big break came in 1953 when he was recruited to do a live radio performance to substitute for another artist who was unable to do it. This performance was heard by Hafez Abdel Wahab, the supervisor of musical programming for Egyptian national radio, and he opened doors for the young artist.

Abdel Halim Hafez was known as both a singer and a movie star. His music, in particular, appealed to young women because of its romantic character. At the peak of his popularity in the 1960's, he was famous both as a singer and as a movie star. He was known as the "Dark Nightingale."

 

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Lyrics

Arabic Lyrics

English Translation

Part 1

Part 1

Ya kilmiti, lifi wa lifi al donia tolha wa aardaha Oh, my words... travel around the world from top to bottom
wa fatahi aioon el bashar, lilli hassal ala ardaha. and open the eyes of its people to what happened on its land.
Alla ardaha, taba al Massih qadamo... On its land, Christ imprinted his footsteps.
Alla ardaha, nazaf el Massih alamo. On its land, Jesus felt his pain.
Fil Qods, wa fi el tariq el alam... wa fil Khalil, ranit tarateel el kanais. In Jerusalem, in the trail of pain and in Hebron, the church bells rang.
Fi al khala, sabah el wigood ingeel. From the wilderness, the gospel emerged.
   

Part 2

Part 2

Tifdaal tidee feek el hiqooq le emta, ya tariq el alam? How long will justice be lost within you, oh trail of pain?
Wi yentifi al nor fil dameer wi tintifi nigoom el salam. And how long will the lights of conscience and the stars of peace be extinguished?
Wel imta feek yimshi gareeh, wel imta feek yifdal yiseeh.... And how long will men walk through you, wounded? And how long will will they remain screaming?
Massih! Wara, Massih, wara, Massih... ala ardaha! While Christ follows... Christ follows them on its land!
   

Part 3

Part 3

Tag el shok foq gibeeno wi foq kitfo el salib. The crown of thorns pierced his brow and he carried the cross on his shoulders.
Dilwaqti, ya Qods, ibnik zay el Massih, gharib... gharib. Right now, oh Jerusalem, your son is like Christ, a stranger... a stranger [in his own land].
Tag el shok foq gibeeno wa foq kitfo el salib. The crown of thorns pierced his brow and the cross he carried on his shoulders.
Khanoo! Khanoo nafs el Yahood! They betrayed him! These same Jews betrayed him!
Ibnik, ya Qods, zay el Massih lazim ya ood! Alla ardaha... Your son, oh Jerusalem, just like Christ, must prevail! On it's land...

 

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Translations of
Abdel Halim Hafez's Songs On This Site

Translations on this web site for songs performed by Abdel Halim Hafez include:

 

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About the Translation Source

This translation and transliteration of the song's lyrics are courtesy of www.arabic-lyrics.com.

 

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