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PHOTO CREDIT: Above photo by John Rickman Photography, San Jose, California. |
Ya Ej Maira!
(Oh Ej Maira!)
This page contains a translation into English of the lyrics to the Arabic song "Ya Ej Maira", which was sung by Nihad Najjar. His name is sometimes spelled as Nouhad Najjar. Also included is a transliteration of the Arabic lyrics into the Roman alphabet so you can sing along if you like.
Lyrics
In the Arabic language, the expression "qamar-14" (14th day of the moon's cycle, or full moon) is used to refer to a beautiful woman. In these lyrics, which are an ode to the woman named Ej Maira, she is called "the beauty mark on the moon's face," which is a high compliment indeed.
Arabic Lyrics |
English Translation |
| Haaay, haaay, haaay. | Heeey, heeey, heeey. |
| La, la, la, laaah ... Aaaaah | La, la, la, laaah ... Aaaaah |
| La, la, laaaa ... Aaaah ... Aaaah, aaaaay | La, la, laaaa ... Aaaah ... Aaaah, aaaaay |
| Laaaa, aaah, aaah. | Laaaa, aaah, aaah. |
| La, lay, la, la, la | La, lay, la, la, la |
| La, lay, la, la, la | La, lay, la, la, la |
| La, lay, la, la, la | La, lay, la, la, la |
| La, lay, la, la, la | La, lay, la, la, la |
| Ya Ej Maira ya binta el-a'arab. Mahla elkihil bil a'ain, w-elsihr b-khdoudake a'ajab ma y-zayirhoum haddain. | Oh Ej Maira... Oh the Arab daughter... How nice the kohl in your eyes and the magic in your cheeks. Wonder can not be visited twice. |
| Ya Ej Maira ya binta el-a'arab. Mahla elkihil bil a'ain, w-elsihr b-khdoudake a'ajab ma y-zayirhoum haddain. | Oh Ej Maira... Oh the Arab daughter... How nice the kohl in your eyes and the magic in your cheeks. Wonder can not be visited twice. |
| Ya Ej Maira mahlaaki, ma a'eishi lou-laaki. | Oh Ej Maira, how sweet you are! I can not live without you! |
| Ya Ej Maira mahlaaki, ma a'eishi lou-laaki. | Oh Ej Maira, how sweet you are! I can not live without you! |
| Wil-qalbi yihwaaki, ya-imwarrada el-khadain. | And the heart loves you. Oh you with rosy cheeks. |
| Wil-qalbi yihwaaki, ya-imwarrada el-khadain. | And the heart loves you. Oh you with rosy cheeks. |
| La, lay, lay, la, la. | La, lay, lay, la, la. |
| La, lay, lay, la, la. | La, lay, lay, la, la. |
| La, lay, lay, lay, la, la, la. | La, lay, lay, lay, la, la, la. |
| A'aynaiki el-sood sahrana el-laiyl wi-njoum it-laalei bi-samaaki. Shaamat libdour, ya habba el-hail, ana a'omri atloub ridhaaki. | Your black eyes staying up all night and stars shining in your sky. The beauty mark on the moon's face, oh cardamom seed. In my life I ask for your acceptance (blessing). |
| A'aynaiki el-sood sahrana el-laiyl wi-njoum it-laalei bi-samaaki. Shaamat libdour, ya habba el-hail, ana a'omri atloub ridhaaki. | Your black eyes staying up all night and stars shining in your sky. The beauty mark on the moon's face, oh cardamom seed. In my life I ask for your acceptance (blessing). |
| Ya Ej Maira mahlaaki, ma a'eishi lou-laaki. | Oh Ej Maira, how sweet you are! I can not live without you! |
| Ya Ej Maira mahlaaki, ma a'eishi lou-laaki. | Oh Ej Maira, how sweet you are! I can not live without you! |
| Wil-qalbi yihwaaki, ya-imwarrada el-khadain. | And the heart loves you. Oh you with rosy cheeks. |
| Wil-qalbi yihwaaki, ya-imwarrada el-khadain. | And the heart loves you. Oh you with rosy cheeks. |
| La, lay, lay, la, la. | La, lay, lay, la, la. |
| La, lay, lay, la, la. | La, lay, lay, la, la. |
| La, lay, lay, lay, la, la, la. | La, lay, lay, lay, la, la, la. |
| Lahzake fattan wi-rmoush syouf w-ana omri batloub ridhaaki, wil mabsam baan lolo maskoul, ma bihwa rouhi li-siwaaki. | Your figure is fascinating, your eyelids like swords. And in my life I ask for your acceptance (blessing). Your smile shows polished pearl. My soul can not be fond to any one but you. |
| Lahzake fattan wi-rmoush syouf w-ana omri batloub ridhaaki, wil mabsam baan lolo maskoul, ma bihwa rouhi li-siwaaki. | Your figure is fascinating, your eyelids like swords. And in my life I ask for your acceptance (blessing). Your smile shows polished pearl. My soul can not be fond to any one but you. |
| Ya Ej Maira mahlaaki, ma a'eishi lou-laaki. | Oh Ej Maira, how sweet you are! I can not live without you! |
| Wil-qalbi yihwaaki, ya-imwarrada el-khadain. | And the heart loves you. Oh you with rosy cheeks. |
| Wil-qalbi yihwaaki, ya-imwarrada el-khadain. | And the heart loves you. Oh you with rosy cheeks. |
| La, lay, lay, la, la. | La, lay, lay, la, la. |
| La, lay, lay, la, la. | La, lay, lay, la, la. |
| La, lay, lay, lay, la, la, la. | La, lay, lay, lay, la, la, la. |
| Aaah. | Aaah. |
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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