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PHOTO CREDIT: Above photo by John Rickman Photography, San Jose, California. |
Sayyidi Elra-Ees
(My Master, Mr. President)
This page contains a translation into English of the lyrics to the Arabic song "Sayyidi Elra-Ees", which was popularized by Majda El-Roumi. Her name is sometimes spelled as Majida El Roumi or Magida al Rumi. 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 Lyrics |
| Sayyidi elra-ees, tahiyya wa-baa'd. | My master, Mr. President. Greetings and |
| Aqoulo fi kalbiya wal-masaaoh yaghmiro ilbilaad bilshojoun. | I say in my heart and the evening is covering the country with grief. |
| Aqoulo fi kalbiya wal-masaaoh yaghmiro ilbilaad bilshojoun. | I say in my heart and the evening is covering the country with grief. |
| Walyaaso baynana walsayfo elkhawfi mouslatoun a'alayna, mouslatoun a'alayna, mouslatoun a'alayna. | And hopelessness among us and the sword of fear is drawn on us, drawn on us. |
| Walkalako ilmoudhni, walkalako ilmoudhni, walkalako ilmoudhni yabeeto laylatan oukhraa ladayna, ladayna. | And the tiring worry and the tiring worry worry and the tiring worry and the tiring worries stay another night with us, with us. |
| Sayyidi elra-ees, sayyidi elra-ees. | My master, Mr. President, My master, Mr. President. |
| Sayyidi elra-ees, sayyidi elra-ees. | My master, Mr. President, My master, Mr. President. |
| Aqoolo fi qalbi. Mann. Mann. Mann. Mann. | I say in my heart who, who. who, who. |
| Mann fada elholma wa-arkha elhamma fi hiqdain a'alayna. | Who ransomed the dream and lowered the misery in a grudge upon us? |
| Mann fada elholma wa-arkha elhamma fi hiqdain a'alayna. | Who ransomed the dream and lowered the misery in a grudge upon us. |
| Wa-mann ramaa ayamana bilqahri, bilqahri, bilghadri, bilghadri, bilqahri, bilghadri, bi-aghlaali elsojoon. | And who through our days with conquer, conquer, betray, betray, conquer and betray in the prisons' locks. |
| Sayyidi elra-ees, sayyidi elra-ees. | My master, Mr. President. My master, Mr. President. |
| Atasmaa'ou elahraara heena yasaaloun: aamarrataini elshohadaao youqtaloon. Atfalouna fi illayli ma a'aadou yahlomoon. Mann younkizo elahlaama heina yana'asoun. | Do you hear the free people when they ask? Why is it that martyrs are killed twice? Our children do not leave the house during the night. Who is going to save their dreams when they get sleepy? |
| Atasmaa'ou elahraara heena yasaaloun: aamarrataini elshohadaao youqtaloon. Atfalouna fi illayli ma a'aadou yahlomoon. Mann younkizo elahlaama heina yana'asoun. | Do you hear the free people when they ask? Why is it that martyrs are killed twice? Our children do not leave the house during the night. Who is going to save their dreams when they get sleepy? |
| Sayyidi elra-ees, sayyidi elra-ees. | My master, Mr. President. My master, Mr. President. |
| Sayyidi elra-ees, sayyidi elra-ees. | My master, Mr. President. My master, Mr. President. |
| Sayyidi elra-ees, sayyidi. Wa-baa'd. | My master, Mr. President. My master and what then. |
| Namshi wa baynana yaghollo qa-eiloun | We walk and among us are people who benefit, they say. |
| Namshi wa baynana yaghollo qa-eiloun | We walk and among us are people who benefit, they say. |
| Namshi wa baynana yaghollo qa-eiloun | We walk and among us are people who benefit, they say. |
| Namshi wa baynana yaghollo qa-eiloun | We walk and among us are people who benefit, they say. |
| Yoshaaa'o annahoumo fi ghadina youqamiroon. Namshi wa baynana yaghillo el kailoon. Yajrahona annahomo qararana youhasiroon. Youqliqona annahoumo yadroona maaza yafa'aloon. | Rumor has it that they are gambling with our future. It is wounding us that they are surrounding our decisions. It worries us that they know what they are doing. |
| Ila mata, ila mata, ila mata, ila mata ila mata houm fi sharrayni louaana yaskonoon. | 'Til when, 'til when, 'til when, 'til when are they going to live in our veins? |
| Sayyidi elra-ees, sayyidi elra-ees. | My master, Mr. President. My master, Mr. President. |
| Atasmaa'ou elahraara heena yasaaloun. Aamarrataini elshohadaao youqtaloon. Atfalouna fi illayli ma a'aadou yahlomoon. Mann younqizo elahlaama heena yana'asoun | Do you hear the free people when they ask? Why is it that martyrs are killed twice? Our children do not leave the house during the night. Who is going to save their dreams when they get sleepy? |
| Atasmaa'ou elahraara heena yasaaloun. Aamarrataini elshohadaao youqtaloon. Atfalouna fi illayli ma a'aadou yahlomoon. Mann younqizo elahlaama heena yana'asoun | Do you hear the free people when they ask? Why is it that martyrs are killed twice? Our children do not leave the house during the night. Who is going to save their dreams when they get sleepy? |
| Sayyidi elra-ees, sayyidi. | My master, Mr. President. My master. |
| Sayyidi elra-ees, sayyidi elra-ees. | My master, Mr. President. My master, Mr. President. |
| Sayyidi elra-ees, sayyidi wa-baa'd. | My master, Mr. president. My master and what then. |
| Bayna yadayka oudia'at dama'atuna. | Between your hands we deposited our tears. |
| Bayna yadayka oudia'at dama'atuna. | Between your hands we deposited our tears. |
| Ji'ena ilayka wa-bina a'izatona. | We came to you with our dignity. |
| Ji'ena ilayka wa-bina a'izatona. | We came to you with our dignity. |
| Bayna yadayka oudia'at dama'atuna. | Between your hands we deposited our tears. |
| Bayna yadayka oudia'at dama'atuna. | Between your hands we deposited our tears. |
| Ji'ena ilayka wa-bina a'izatona. | We came to you with our dignity. |
| Ji'ena ilayka wa-bina a'izatona. | We came to you with our dignity. |
| Bal yanhadaim, bal yanhadaim, bal yanhadaim, bal yanhadaim, bal yanhadaim baabo ilsojoun. | Yes demolish, yes demolish, yes demolish, yes demolish. Yes demolish the jails'door. |
| Bal yanhadaim, bal yanhadaim, bal yanhadaim, bal yanhadaim, bal yanhadaim baabo ilsojoun. | Yes demolish, yes demolish, yes demolish, yes demolish. Yes demolish the jails'door. |
| Wa liyazhab haza eljinoon. Waliyanhazaim, maliyanhazaim. Wa linadhraib mann qad yakoun, mann qad yakoun, mann qad yakoun. | And let all this craziness wither away. And to withdraw, withdraw and to beat who ever is going to be, who ever is going to be, who ever is going to be, who ever is going to be. |
| Wa haazihi qolobona maa'akilo elhoriyyeh. Wa haazihi ajsaadouna masaaeil elqadhiyeh. | And these are our hearts the freedom prison. These are our bodies; the part of the issue. |
| Wa haazihi qolobona maa'akilo elhoriyyeh. Wa haazihi ajsaadouna masaaeil elqadhiyeh. | And these are our hearts the freedom prison. These are our bodies; the part of the issue. |
| Wanoqsimo sanabka, wanoqsimo sanabka. | We swear that we will stay, we swear that we will stay. |
| Wanoqsimo sanabka, wanoqsimo sanabka. | We swear that we will stay, we swear that we will stay. |
| Liannanna wa ardhana, liannanna wa ardhana, wa alhaqq. | Because we and our land. We and our land and the truth. |
| Liannanna wa ardhana, wa alhaqqa akthariyyah. | Because we and our land and the truth are the majority. |
| Liannanna wa ardhana, wa alhaqq akthariyyah. | Because we and our land and the truth are the majority. |
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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