|
PHOTO CREDIT: Above photo by John Rickman Photography, San Jose, California. |
Ma Bi3od Balaki
(I Can Not Sit Without You)
This page contains a translation into English of the lyrics to the popular Lebanese song "Ma Bi3od Baladi", which was sung by Ilyas Karam. Also included is a transliteration of the Arabic lyrics into the Roman alphabet so you can sing along if you like.
Lyrics
Arabic Lyrics |
English Translation |
| Ana bi3od min doon shams iw mayy, bass ma bi3od balaki. | I can sit without sun and water, but I can not sit without you. |
| Ma beyfarfaih albi ilhayy illa nasmait hawaki. | No one can make my living heart happy, but the breeze of your love. |
| Bi3od min doon shams iw mayy, bass ma bi3od balaki. | I can sit without sun and water, but I can not sit without you. |
| Ma beyfarfaih albi ilhayy illa nasmait hawaki. | No one can make my living heart happy, but the breeze of your love. |
| Ana wihyatake eih wihyatake, bi3od min doon shams iw mayy, bas ma bi3oad balaaki. | I swear by your life, yes your life, I can sit without sun and water, but i can not sit without you. |
| Bi3od min doon shams iw mayy, bass ma bi3od balaki. | I can sit without sun and water, but I can not sit without you. |
| Iw ma beyfarfaih albi ilhayy illa nasmait hawaki. | And no one can make my living heart happy, but the breeze of your love. |
| Ana wihyatake eih wihyatake bi3od min doon shams il mayy, bas ma bi3oad balaaki. | I swear by your life, yes your life, i can sit without sun and water, but i can not sit without you. |
| Hawaki 3ambar beyfooh balsam lilalb ilmajrooh. | Your love is amber spreading all over. It is a remedy for the wounded heart. |
| Hawaki 3ambar beyfooh balsam lilalb ilmajrooh. | Your love is amber spreading all over. It is a remedy for the wounded heart. |
| Iw laoula tlabti minni ilrooh. | And if you ask for my soul. |
| Laoula tlabti minni ilrooh. | If you ask for my soul. |
| Albi iw roohi fidaki. | My heart and soul are sacrificed for you. |
| Bi3od min doon shams il mayy, bass ma bi3od balaki. | I can sit without sun and water, but i can not sit without you. |
| Ma beyfarfaih albi ilhayy illa nasmait hawaki. | No one can make my living heart happy, but the breeze of your love. |
| Ana wihyatake eih wihyatake. | I swear by your life, yes your life. |
| Bi3od min doon shams il mayy. Bass ma bi3od balaki. | I can sit without sun and water, but i can not sit without you. |
| Imnain jibti halsihr imnain, Alf ismallah iw yikhzi il 3aynain. | Where did you get this magic, from where? One thousand names for God and get the eyes to look down. |
| Imnain jibti halsihr imnain, Alf ismallah iw yikhzi il 3aynain. | Where did you get this magic, from where? One thousand god names and get the eyes to look down. |
| Wismallah 3ala hal 3aynain ma fi bint ibhalaati. | And God's name on these eyes. There is no girl as in my situation. |
| Bi3od min doon shams iw mayy. Bass ma bi3od balaki. | I can sit without sun and water, but i can not sit without you. |
| Iw ma beyfarfaih albi ilhayy illa nasmait hawaki. | No one can make my living heart happy, but the breeze of your love. |
| Ana wihyatake eih wihyatake bi3od min doon shams il mayy. Bass ma bi3od balaki. | I swear by your life, yes your life, I can sit without sun and water, but i can not sit without you. |
| 3al dabkaih illibnaniyaih, rah ghanilake ghiniyaih. | On the Lebanese dabke, I will sing you a song. |
| 3al dabkaih illibnaniyaih, rah ghanilake ghiniyaih. | On the Lebanese dabke, I will sing you a song. |
| Iw badna 3al dabkaih shwayaih. Badna 3al dabkaih shwayaih. Tab irous ana wayaaki. | We need a bit of dabke. We need a bit of dabke. Ok, let us dance, you and me. |
| Bi3od min doon shams il mayy, bass ma bi3od balaki. | I can sit without sun and water, but I can not sit without you. |
| Iw Ma beyfarfaih albi ilhayy illa nasmait hawaki. | No one can make my living heart happy, but the breeze of your love. |
| Ana wihyatake eih wihyatake bi3od min doon shams il mayy. Bas ma bi3od balaki. | I swear by your life, yes your life, i can sit without sun and water, but i can not sit without you. |
| Allah min dabkate tikween, Zadake hisn iw riaaaa, iw reem. | God from dabkate tikween. It increased your beauty and tenderness. |
| Allah min dabkate tikween, Zadake hisn iw riaaaa, iw reem. | God from dabkate tikween. It increased your beauty and tenderness. |
| Aktar min kill ilhilween Sihr iw khiffaih 3a faadhi. | More than all the sweet ones, magic and lightness but empty. |
| Bi3od min doon shams il mayy, bass ma bi3od balaki. | I can sit without sun and water, but I can not sit without you. |
| Ma beyfarfaih albi ilhayy illa nasmait hawaki. | No one can make my living heart happy, but the breeze of your love. |
| Ana wihyatake eih wihyatake bi3od min doon shams il mayy. Bas ma bi3od balaki. | I swear by your life, yes your life, I can sit without sun and water, but I can not sit without you. |
| Illaylaih fares ahlami baddo yi3lon gharami, | Tonight my dream knight will announce my love. |
| Illaylaih fares ahlami baddo yi3lon gharami, | Tonight my dream knight will announce my love. |
| Mihra timshi idaami, mihra timshi idaami, iw mihra timshi waraki. | A mare walks in front of me. A mare walks in front of me and a mare walks behind you. |
| Bi3od min doon shams il mayy, bass ma bi3od balaki. | I can sit without sun and water, but I can not sit without you. |
| Ma beyfarfaih albi ilhayy illa nasmait hawaki. | No one can make my living heart happy, but the breeze of your love. |
| Ana bi3od min doon shams il mayy, bass ma bi3od balaki. | I can sit without sun and water, but I can not sit without you. |
| Iw ma beyfarfaih alb ilhayy illa nasmait hawaki. | And no one can make my living heart happy, but the breeze of your love. |
| Ana wihyatake eih wihyatake bi3od min doon shams il mayy, bas ma bi3oad balaaki. bas ma bi3oad balaaki. bas ma bi3oad balaaki, bas ma bi3oad balaaaaaki. | I swear by your life, yes your life, I can sit without sun and water, but I can not sit without you, but I can not sit without you, but I can not sit without you, but I can not sit without you, |
| Ya Baaay. | O Daddy. |
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. |
 |