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PHOTO CREDIT: Above photo by John Rickman Photography, San Jose, California. |
Shi Ghareeb
(Something Strange)
This page contains a translation into English of the lyrics to "Shi Ghareeb", which was sung by Julia Boutros. 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 |
| Shi ghareeb, mitl ela'aadaih houbbak ya, ya habeebi. Yimkain liannak mish a'aadi, ibhibbak ya ya habeebi. | Something is strange, as usual. Your love oh, oh, my darling. Possibly because you are not normal in your love. Oh, oh, my darling. |
| Shi ghareeb, mitl ela'aadaih houbbak ya, ya habeebi. Yimkain liannak mish a'aadi, ibhibbak ya ya habeebi. | Something is strange, as usual. Your love oh, oh, my darling. Possibly because you are not normal in your love. Oh, oh, my darling. |
| Saa'aat ibshoufak aareeb, saa'aat ibshoufak ghareeb. | Hours, I see you close by, hours, I see you strange. |
| Saa'aat ibshoufak aareeb, saa'aat ibshoufak ghareeb. | Hours, I see you close by, hours, I see you strange. |
| Inta mish ghareeb, mish ghareeb. Ah shei ghareeb. | You are not strange, you are not strange. Aah, something strange. |
| Shi ghareeb, mitl ela'aadaih houbbak ya, ya habeebi. Yimkain liannak mish a'aadi, ibhibbak ya ya habeebi. | Something is strange, as usual. Your love oh, oh, my darling. Possibly because you are not normal in your love. Oh, oh, my darling. |
| Shei ghareeb ibtishtaqli ikteer, iw-bitkhabbi biaalbak, illi ibhibbake shoo biyseer. Aadi eldinyeh ibhibbak. Aah, aah. | It is strange that you miss me so much and you hide that in your heart. Aah, tell me you love me, what will happen? As big as this universe, I love you. Aah, Aah. |
| Shei ghareeb ibtishtaqli ikteer, iw-bitkhabbi biaalbak, illi ibhibbake shoo biyseer. Aadi eldinyeh ibhibbak. Aah, aah. | It is strange that you miss me so much and you hide that in your heart. Aah, tell me you love me, what will happen? As big as this universe, I love you. Aah, Aah. |
| Lamma ib-illak, laa ma itilli ibaalbak khabbi ilkilmaih iw-khalli elhob illi bayni iw-baynak saaken iba'eed iw-qareeb. Ah shi ghareeb. | When I tell you, you often tell me: in your heart, hide the words and leave the love between you and me living far and near. Aah, something is strange. |
| Lamma ib-illak, laa ma itilli ibaalbak khabbi ilkilmaih iw-khalli elhob illi bayni iw-baynak saaken iba'eed iw-qareeb. Ah shi ghareeb. | When I tell you, you often tell me: in your heart, hide the words and leave the love between you and me living far and near. Aah, something is strange. |
| Shi ghareeb, mitl ela'aadaih houbbak ya, ya habeebi. Yimkain liannak mish a'aadi, ibhibbak ya ya habeebi. | Something is strange, as usual. Your love oh, oh, my darling. Possibly because you are not normal in your love. Oh, oh, my darling. |
| Ibhibbak lamma ibtiza'al minni, iw-bitseer itraadheeni. Ibhibbak lamma ibtisaal a'anni, maabiddak tihkeeli aah. | I love you when you get angry with me and you try your best to make up. Aah. I love you when you ask about me. You don't want to talk to me, Aah. |
| Ibhibbak lamma ibtiza'al minni, iw-bitseer itraadheeni. Ibhibbak lamma ibtisaal a'anni, maabiddak tihkeeli aah. | I love you when you get angry with me and you try your best to make up. Aah. I love you when you ask about me. You don't want to talk to me, Aah. |
| Ibhibbak intah saaken tahti. Iw-lamma ibtiza'al, tirsoum dhihkaih. | I love you when you are living beneath me and when you get mad you draw a smile. |
| Ibhibbak intah saaken tahti. Iw-lamma ibtiza'al, tirsoum dhihkaih. | I love you when you are living beneath me and when you get mad you draw a smile. |
| Ibhibbak tibqa haddi lamma a'anni itgheib. Aah | I love you to be beside me, when you are not around. |
| Shi ghareeb, mitl ela'aadaih houbbak ya, ya habeebi. Yimkain liannak mish a'aadi, ibhibbak ya ya habeebi. | Something is strange, as usual. Your love oh, oh, my darling. Possibly because you are not normal in your love. Oh, oh, my darling. |
| Shi ghareeb, mitl ela'aadaih houbbak ya, ya habeebi. Yimkain liannak mish a'aadi, ibhibbak ya ya habeebi. | Something is strange, as usual. Your love oh, oh, my darling. Possibly because you are not normal in your love. Oh, oh, my darling. |
| Saa'aat ibshoufak aareeb, saa'aat ibshoufak ghareeb. | Hours, I see you close by, hours, I see you strange. |
| Saa'aat ibshoufak aareeb, saa'aat ibshoufak ghareeb. | Hours, I see you close by, hours, I see you strange. |
| Inta mish ghareeb, mish ghareeb. Aah shi ghareeb. | You are not strange. Not strange. Aah, something is strange. |
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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