PHOTO CREDIT: Above photo by John Rickman Photography, San Jose, California.

This page contains a translation into English of the lyrics to the wistful ballad "Osad A’ainy", which was recorded by Amr Diab. Also included is a transliteration of the Arabic lyrics into the Roman alphabet so you can sing along if you like. An alternate spelling of the song title is "Osad Eini".

Amr Diab was born in Port Said, Egypt on October 11, 1961. Although his father worked for the Suez Canal Corporation, he possessed a fine singing voice of his own and encouraged young Amr to sing. The boy's talent showed itself at an early age. One evening when he was only 6 years old, Amr accompanied his father to a festival in Port Said. When they visited a local radio station, Amr was invited to sing the national anthem, "Baladi, Baladi". The governor of Port Said praised him and gave him a guitar as a prize.

Diab's musical talents extend beyond his singing - he also knows how to play oud and piano. Amr Diab graduated from the music program at the Cairo Academy of Art in 1986.

His first album, Ya Tareeq, was released shortly afterward and proved to be an instant success. However, the spectacular hit song that brought him to worldwide fame was his release in 1996 of this song, "Habibi, Ya Nour el Ain." It garnered the title of Arabic Song of the Year, and with its Spanish fusion sound it defined a new genre of music known as "Mediterranean music."

Diab was one of the early artists to record music which later became known as al jeel, or "generation" music - the genre of pop music created for the under-25 generation of young Egyptians in the 1980's and 1990's.

According to Let's Go Egypt, Diab is the best-selling Arab recording artist of all time. He has received the World Music Award in the category of "Best-Selling Arab Artist" three times - in 1998, 2002, and 2007. In 2003, Amr Diab won two major awards in a poll done by Nile Variety TV. One was "Best Music Video" for the song, "Ana "A'ayesh," and the other was Best Singer.

Amr Diab has a daughter from his marriage to Sherine Reda (Mahmoud Reda's daughter), and three children from his later marriage to Zinah Ashour.

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

Sung by Amr Diab

Arabic Lyrics

English Translation

Wi bainna maa’aad  law ehna iba’aad.

Wi bainna maa’aad  law ehna iba’aad.

Wi lisaany akeed raja’een. Ana dayeb wi kolli haneen.

Wi lisaany akeed raja’een. Ana dayeb wi kolli haneen.

• Ahe Ahe Ahe (There She Goes, There She Goes, There She Goes). Duet with Eirini Papadopoulou. Partly in Greek, partly in Arabic. The Greek name is "Esi Esi" ("You, You").
• Aktar Wahed (I'm the One)
• Amarain (Two Moons)
• Ana Bahebak Aktar (I Love You More). Duet with Angela Dimitriou. Partly in Greek, partly in Arabic. The Greek name is "Spasta" ("Break Everything").
• Ana Ayesh (I Am Alive)
• Gamalo (Her Beauty)
• Habibi Ya Habib Albi Yadoob. Duet with Angela Dimitriou. Partly in Greek, partly in Arabic. The Greek name is "Elleos" ("Mercy").
• Kan Andak Haq (You Had It Right)
• Kol al-Kalam (All Your Words). Sometimes called "Kalast Feek Kol al Kalam".

• Nawi Ta'Ateb (You Are Determined to Blame)
• Nour El Ain (Glow in My Eyes). Sometimes called "Habibi, Ya Nour El Ain".
• Osad Ainy (In Front of My Eyes)
• Rouhi Mertahalak (My Soul Is Happy With You)
• Tamally Maak (I Am With You)
• Wala Ala Baloa (Not Even on His Mind)
• We Malo (So What?)

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.