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حبيبها
Habibaha

(Her Lover)

 

 

This page contains a translation into English of the lyrics to the 1966 Egyptian song "Habibaha" (حبيبها), which was popularized by Abdel Halim Hafez. Also included is a transliteration of the Arabic lyrics into the Roman alphabet so you can sing along if you like.

  • Habibaha (Her Lover), 1966
  • Lyrics: Kamal el-Shenawi
  • Music: Mohamed el-Mougy
  • 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 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

Transliteration

English Translation

Part 1

Part 1

Part 1

حبيبها Habibaha. You are her lover.
لست وحدك ..حبيبها Lasta wahdak habibaha! But you are not her only love!
حبيبها أنا قبلك Habibaha ana qablak! I was her lover before you!
وربما جئت بعدك We robama geito baadak, And I might have come later than you.
وربما كنت مثلـــــــــــــــك We robama kont mithlak. Or maybe she had us both at the same time!
     

Part 2

Part 2

Part 2

فلم تزل تلقاني .. وتستبيح خداعــــــــــــــي Fa lam tazalta qani, We tasdadiho khedaei. And yet she still spends time with me, and allows me to be deceived.
بلهفة في اللقاءِ .. Be lahfatin fel lekaei. Be raafaten fel wadaei. With longing in our relations, by a shudder when we say goodbye.
بدمعة ليس فيها ..كالدمع إلا البريـــــــــــــــق Bel damatein laysa feeha, kal damei illal bariq. With the tears that were within her, the tears that lacked a sparkle.
برعشة .. هي نبض .. Be reishatin, heya nabdoon, nabdoon be ghair eirooq. With a shudder, she shook without cause.
     

Part 3

Part 3

Part 3

بيبها وروت لي .. ما .. كان منك ومنهـــــــــــم Habibaha, we rawatli makana menka wa menhoom. Yes, I was her lover, and she told me that there was no other.
هم كثيرٌ ... فهم كثير ولكن .. لا شيء نعرف عنهــــــــــــم Fahom kathiron, We laken la shai naarifo anhom, Yet there were many, and I knew nothing of them,
وعانقتني .. و ألقت برأسها فوق كتفــــــــ we anakatni, we alkat be raksiha fawq kitfee. for she would embrace me and throw her head onto my shoulder.
تباعدت وتدانت .. كأصبعين بكفــــــــــــــــي Tabei adad, wa tadana, kay esbaeen be kaffi. Then she would leave and meet another. I was blind.
     

Part 4

Part 4

Part 4

ويحفر الحب قلبي ... We yehforol hob qalbi And love digs into my heart
بالنار ..بالسكيــــــــــــــن Bel nar, bel sikein. with fire and with knives.
وهاتفُ يهتف بي .. Wa hatifo, yatifo be. And the telephone cheers me up.
حذاري يا مسكيــــــــــــــن Hazari ya maskin. Beware, my poor heart!
     

Part 5

Part 5

Part 5

وسرت وحدي شريدا .. محطم الخطــــــــــواتِ We serto wahdi sharidan, mohatama el khatawati, And so I began to wander alone, my path crumbling before me.
تهزني انفاسي .. تخيفني لفتاتــــــــــــــــــــــي Tahizoni anfasi, Tekhifoni lafatati. My every breath shakes me, my every turn scares me.
كهارب ليس يدري .. من اين او اين .. يمضـــــي Kaharebin laysa adri, men ain aw ain yamdi. I try to hide myself. But from where can I escape?
شكٌ .. ضبابٌ .. حطام .. بعضي يمزق بعضــــــــــي Shakoon! Dababon! Hotaam! Baadi yomaziki baadi. Doubt, fear and hopelessness keep tearing at me little, by little.
     

Part 6

Part 6

Part 6

سألت عقلي فأصغى وقال لا لا .. لن تراهــــــــا .. لن تراهــــــــا Saalto aqli fa asgha. We qalla la lan taraha. I asked my mind, he listened and said: "We will not see her again, we will not see her."
وقال قلبي اراها .. ولن احب سواهـــــــــــــــــا We qalla qalby araha, wa lan ohibati sawaha. And my heart said, "I shall see her, or nobody at all!"
ما أنت يا قلب قلـ لي .. أأنت لعنة حبـــــــــــي .. Ma anta ya qalb qalbi, aanta laanata hobi. My heart, you are no longer my heart, but a curse on my love.
أم أنت نقمة ربــــي .. الى متى .. الى متى .. الى متى انت قلبــــــــي إلى متــــــــــــــــــى Fa anta nikmato rabi, Allah mataa, Allah mataa, Allah mataa, ila mata anta qabli. You are a punishment from God, from God, from God, until I die, oh my heart!

 

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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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