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

Shoo Imkhabbair Ahlak A'anni
(What Are You Telling
Your Family About Me?)

 

This page contains a translation into English of the lyrics to the popular Arabic song "Shoo Imhkabbair Ahlak A'Anni", which was sung by Katia Harb. The song title is sometimes spelled "Chou Mkhabber". Also included is a transliteration of the Arabic lyrics into the Roman alphabet so you can sing along if you like. This song appears on Katia's debut album, titled Al Bab Al A'ali.

The Lebanese singer Katia Harb was born in 1973. She broke into show business in 1996 as a result of her appearance on the television show Studio Al Fan (Studio of the Arts). Her early successes lay in romantic ballads, but as her career evolved she also became known for her interpretations of rap and hiphop.

In 2005, she took a break from her show business career, allegedly to work with orphans, the elderly, and the needy. This led to circulation of a rumor that she had resigned from show business to become a nun. Whether or not the rumor was true, the fact is that in the four years since it appeared she has not returned to her singing career.

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

Katia Harb

 

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Listen to MP3 Clips of This Song

Note

Sung by Katia Harb

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Lyrics

Arabic Lyrics

English Translation

Hassayt imbaraih bila'eid, lamma rakasna eid ib eid. Yesterday I felt the party mood when we danced hand in hand.
Hassayt imbaraih bila'eid, lamma rakasna eid ib eid. Yesterday I felt the party mood when we danced hand in hand.
Bayyak yidh-hakli imn iba'eid, iw immak min aalba itghanni. Your father was laughing far away and your mother was singing from her heart.
Bayyak yidh-hakli imn iba'eid, iw immak min aalba itghanni. Your father was laughing far away and your mother was singing from her heart.
Shoo imkhabbair ahlak a'anni, shoo aayilhom tamminni. What are you telling your family about me? What are you saying? Reassure me!
Shoo imkhabbair ahlak a'anni, shoo aayilhom tamminni. What are you telling your family about me? What are you saying? Reassure me!
Shoo imkhabbair ahlak a'anni, shoo aayilhom tamminni. What are you telling your family about me? What are you saying? Reassure me!
   
Hassayt imbaraih bila'eid, lamma rakasna eid ib eid. Yesterday I felt the party mood when we danced hand in hand.
Hassayt imbaraih bila'eid, lamma rakasna eid ib eid. Yesterday I felt the party mood when we danced hand in hand.
Bayyak yidh-hakli imn iba'eid, iw immak min aalba itghanni. Your father was laughing far away and your mother was singing from her heart.
Shoo imkhabbair ahlak a'anni, shoo aayilhom tamminni. What are you telling your family about me? What are you saying? Reassure me!
Shoo imkhabbair ahlak a'anni, shoo aayilhom tamminni. What are you telling your family about me? What are you saying? Reassure me!
   
Hassayt imbaraih bila'eid, lamma rakasna eid ib eid. Yesterday I felt the party mood when we danced hand in hand.
Hassayt imbaraih bila'eid, lamma rakasna eid ib eid. Yesterday I felt the party mood when we danced hand in hand.
Bayyak yidh-hakli imn iba'eid, iw immak min aalba itghanni. Your father was laughing far away and your mother was singing from her heart.
Ra-aasna ishwayyaih iw bayyak taar yirsoum bi-ia'yoonoh ildhihkaih. We danced a little and your father was smiling with his eyes.
Iw lamma shaaf ilhaki iktaar, inzalna hadd ildabke. And when he saw us talking was too much, we joined in dancing the debke.
Ra-aasna ishwayyaih iw bayyak taar yirsoum bi-ia'yoonoh ildhihkaih. We danced a little and your father was smiling with his eyes.
Iw lamma shaaf ilhaki iktaar, inzalna hadd ildabke. And when he noticed the talk was too much, we joined in dancing the debke.
   
Iw bil zaafaih, dayer min daar iw yia'la sawt ildirbakaih And in the hand clapping, all around, the sound of the drum is very loud.
Iw bil zaafaih, dayer min daar iw yia'la sawt ildirbakaih And in the hand clapping, all around, the sound of the drum is very loud.
Iw immak lin wi itghaar a'alayyi iw sammaa'itni kilmaih. And your mother was jealous of me and she said a few things to me.
Shoo imkhabbair ahlak a'anni, shoo aayilhom tamminni. What are you telling your family about me? What are you saying? Reassure me!
Shoo imkhabbair ahlak a'anni, shoo aayilhom tamminni. What are you telling your family about me? What are you saying? Reassure me!
Hassayt imbaraih bila'eid, lamma rakasna eid ib eid. Yesterday I felt the party mood when we danced hand in hand.
Hassayt imbaraih bila'eid, lamma rakasna eid ib eid. Yesterday I felt the party mood when we danced hand in hand.
Bayyak yidh-hakli imn iba'eid, iw immak min aalba itghanni. Your father was laughing far away and your mother was singing from her heart.
   
Immi sa-aalitni bil-bayt, shoo sar imbaraih bila'eid.
Iltilha rakast iw ghannait iw hassayt ibihsaas ijdeed.
My mother asked me at home, what happened yesterday at the festivity? I told her I danced and sang and I felt a new feeling.
Immi sa-aalitni bil-bayt, shoo sar imbaraih bila'eid.
Iltilha rakast iw ghannait iw hassayt ibihsaas ijdeed.
My mother asked me at home, what happened yesterday at the festivity? I told her I danced and sang and I felt a new feeling.
Imbaraih ya immi hassayt. Ghasbin a'anni iw mish bil-eid Oh mother, yesterday I resisted my desire and I did not have any control on it.
Imbaraih ya immi hassayt. Ghasbin a'anni iw mish bil-eid Oh mother, yesterday I resisted my desire and I did not have any control on it.
Iw min a'aiynak wilfi safayt, mitlak habouni hinnain. And from your eyes, you too, you loved me.
   
Shoo imkhabbair ahlak a'anni, shoo aayilhom tamminni. What are you telling your family about me? What are you saying? Reassure me!
Shoo imkhabbair ahlak a'anni, shoo aayilhom tamminni. What are you telling your family about me? What are you saying? Reassure me!
Hassayt imbaraih bila'eid, lamma rakasna eid ib eid. Yesterday I felt the party mood when we danced hand in hand.
Hassayt imbaraih bila'eid, lamma rakasna eid ib eid. Yesterday I felt the party mood when we danced hand in hand.
Bayyak yidh-hakli imn iba'eid, iw immak min aalba itghanni. Your father was laughing far away and your mother was singing from her heart.
Bayyak yidh-hakli imn iba'eid, iw immak min aalba itghanni. Your father was laughing far away and your mother was singing from her heart.
Bayyak yidh-hakli imn iba'eid, iw immak min aalba itghanni. Your father was laughing far away and your mother was singing from her heart.

 

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Translations of
Katia Harb's Songs on this Site

Other translations of songs performed by Katia Harb on this web site include:

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About the Translator

More than 100 song translations that appear on this web site, including this one, were created by Dr. Tahseen Alkoudsi. Together with his wife Kathe, Tahseen owned an import business in Lawrence, Kansas known as Cartouche.

Dr. Alkoudsi's imports business was his second career. His first career was in the service of the United Nations. Born in Damascus, Syria, he came to the U.S. for his M.A. and Ph.D. in economics, and worked in San Francisco. He joined the United Nations in Yemen, and worked in Saudi Arabia. He then joined the UNESCO Regonal Office for Arab States. He visited most of the Arab States in the course of his work, responsible for introducing computer sciences into educational facilities. For a time, he was stationed in Cairo, Egypt. He retired from that work in 1995.

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.

Tahseen Alkoudsi

 

 

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