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يا رايح
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This page contains a translation into English of the lyrics to the Algerian shaabi song "Ya Rayah", which was originally released by Amrani Abderrahmane in 1973, then later in 1997 popularized by Rachid Taha. Also included is a transliteration of the Arabic lyrics into the Roman alphabet so you can sing along if you like.
Song lyrics are provided for educational purposes. If you like the song, please purchase either the album or a download from an authorized source. About Dahmane el-HarrachiDahmane el-Harrachi was the stage name for Abderrahmane Amrani, an Algerian musician of Chaoui origin. He is best known for his internationally-famous hit song "Ya Rayah". El-Harrachi was born in Algeria in 1926. He moved to France in 1949, living first in Lille, then Marseilles, before eventually moving to Paris. He made a name for himself in Paris by playing in the Algerian cafés there. El-Harrachi's music brought a modern touch to Algerian shaabi music. He wrote over 500 songs, incorporating themes such as the immigrant struggle and longing for his homeland. |
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About Rachid TahaRachid Taha was born in Algeria in 1958. He grew up listening to Algerian music in the 1960's, and was drawn to Algerian shaabi music. When he was 10 years old, his family moved to France, settling in Lyon. His father was a textile worker with long hours and low pay. Age 17, young Rashid took a job working during the day at a central heating plant, and working a night job as a DJ. In 1982, Taha and a group of friends formed a band, Carte de Sejour, which combined Algerian raï with funk and punk rock. Taha was the lead vocalist. The band dissolved in 1989, and Taha moved to Paris to pursue a solo career. Although he released several albums in the 1990's the first song of his to achieve the status of a hit was "Ya Rayah", in 1997. This was followed by his breakthrough album Diwân in 1998. In the years that followed he continued to release additional albums, and was a popular artist on live concert tours. He died from a heart attack in 2018. |
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Lyrics
Numbers in parentheses refer to footnotes that appear at the bottom of the translation.
Arabic Lyrics |
Transliteration |
English Translation |
Chorus |
Chorus |
Chorus |
| يا الرَايح وين مسافر تروح تعيا وتولي | Ya rayah win msafar trouh taaya wa twali | Oh emigrant (1) where are you going? You'll go, get tired, and come back. |
| شحال ندموا العباد الغافلين قبلك وقبلي | Chhal nadmou laabad el ghaflin qablak ou qabli | How society failed, before you and me! |
| يا الرَايح وين مسافر تروح تعيا وتولي | Ya rayah win msafar trouh taaya wa twali | Oh emigrant, where are you going? You'll go, get tired, and come back. |
| شحال ندموا العباد الغافلين قبلك وقبلي | Chhal nadmou laabad el ghaflin qablak ou qabli | How society failed, before you and me! |
| شحال شفت البلدان العامرين والبر الخالي | Chhal cheft al bouldan laamrine wa lber al khali | How many deserted cities I've seen and the empty desert! |
| شحال ضيعت اوقات وشحال تزيد ما زال تخلي | Chhal dhiyaat wqat chhal tzid mazal ou t'khali | How much time I've wasted, how much more, and still you're leaving it. |
| يا الغايب في بلاد الناس شحال تعيا ما تجري | Ya lghayeb fi bled ennas chhal taaya ma tadjri | Oh stranger in those foreign lands, how tired can you be from running? |
| بـِيك وعد القدرة ولّى زمان وانت ما تدري | Tzid waad el qoudra wala zmane wenta ma tedri | Destiny and time follow their course, you didn't notice. |
Chorus |
Chorus |
Chorus |
| يا الرَايح وين مسافر تروح تعيا وتولي | Ya rayah win msafar trouh taaya wa twali | Oh emigrant (1) where are you going? You'll go, get tired, and come back. |
| شحال ندموا العباد الغافلين قبلك وقبلي | Chhal nadmou laabad el ghaflin qablak ou qabli | How society failed, before you and me! |
| يا الرَايح وين مسافر تروح تعيا وتولي | Ya rayah win msafar trouh taaya wa twali | Oh emigrant, where are you going? You'll go, get tired, and come back. |
| شحال ندموا العباد الغافلين قبلك وقبلي | Chhal nadmou laabad el ghaflin qablak ou qabli | How society failed, before you and me! |
| يا مسافر نعطيك وصايتي ادّيها على بكري | Ya msafer naatik oussaayti addiha el bakri | Oh traveller, I'll give you my advice. Take it [with you] ahead of time. |
| شوف ما يصلح بيك قبل ما تبيع وما تشري | Chouf ma yeslah bik qbal ma tbia ou ma techri | Look at what is in your best interest, before you start selling and buying (2) |
| يا النايم جاني خبرك كيما صرالك يصرى لي | Ya nnayem djani khabrek ma sralek ma srali | Oh you sleeper, I received your news. What has happened to you [also] happened to me. |
| هكذا راد وقدر في الجبين سبحان العالي | Hakdha rad el qalb bel djbine sabhane el aali | The heart has accepted this from the Amighty [God]. |
Chorus |
Chorus |
Chorus |
| يا الرَايح وين مسافر تروح تعيا وتولي | Ya rayah win msafar trouh taaya wa twali | Oh emigrant (1) where are you going? You'll go, get tired, and come back. |
| شحال ندموا العباد الغافلين قبلك وقبلي | Chhal nadmou laabad el ghaflin qablak ou qabli | How society failed, before you and me! |
| يا الرَايح وين مسافر تروح تعيا وتولي | Ya rayah win msafar trouh taaya wa twali | Oh emigrant where are you going? You'll go, get tired, and come back. |
| شحال ندموا العباد الغافلين قبلك وقبلي | Chhal nadmou laabad el ghaflin qablak ou qabli | How society failed, before you and me! |
| علاش قلبك حزين وعلاش هكذا كي الزاوالي | Aalach qalbek hzine waalach hakdha ki zawali | Why is your heart so sad? |
| ما تدوم الشدة والى قريب تعلم وتدري | Matdoum achadda wila tzid taalem ou tabni | And why are you staying there [even though you're] miserable? |
| يا الغايب في بلاد الناس شحال تعيا ما تجري | ya al-ghayib fi bilad al-naas shahal teya ma tajri | Oh stranger in a strange land, scarcely aware of what is happening |
| يا حليلو مسكين اللي غاب سعدو كي زَهري | Ya hlilou meskine li ghab saadou ki zahri | Oh poor fellow who missed his chance just as I missed mine. |
Chorus |
Chorus |
Chorus |
| يا الرَايح وين مسافر تروح تعيا وتولي | Ya rayah win msafar trouh taaya wa twali | Oh emigrant (1) where are you going? You'll go, get tired, and come back. |
| شحال ندموا العباد الغافلين قبلك وقبلي | Chhal nadmou laabad el ghaflin qablak ou qabli | How society failed, before you and me! |
| يا الرَايح وين مسافر تروح تعيا وتولي | Ya rayah win msafar trouh taaya wa twali | Oh emigrant, where are you going? You'll go, get tired, and come back. |
| شحال ندموا العباد الغافلين قبلك وقبلي | Chhal nadmou laabad el ghaflin qablak ou qabli | How society failed, before you and me! |
| يا الرَايح وين مسافر تروح تعيا وتولي | Ya rayah win msafar trouh taaya wa twali | Oh emigrant (1) where are you going? You'll go, get tired, and come back. |
Chorus |
Chorus |
Chorus |
| يا الرَايح وين مسافر تروح تعيا وتولي | Ya rayah win msafar trouh taaya wa twali | Oh emigrant (1) where are you going? You'll go, get tired, and come back. |
| شحال ندموا العباد الغافلين قبلك وقبلي | Chhal nadmou laabad el ghaflin qablak ou qabli | How society failed, before you and me! |
| يا الرَايح وين مسافر تروح تعيا وتولي | Ya rayah win msafar trouh taaya wa twali | Oh emigrant, where are you going? You'll go, get tired, and come back. |
| شحال ندموا العباد الغافلين قبلك وقبلي | Chhal nadmou laabad el ghaflin qablak ou qabli | How society failed, before you and me! |
Chorus |
Chorus |
Chorus |
| يا الرَايح وين مسافر تروح تعيا وتولي | Ya rayah win msafar trouh taaya wa twali | Oh emigrant (1) where are you going? You'll go, get tired, and come back. |
| شحال ندموا العباد الغافلين قبلك وقبلي | Chhal nadmou laabad el ghaflin qablak ou qabli | How society failed, before you and me! |
| يا الرَايح وين مسافر تروح تعيا وتولي | Ya rayah win msafar trouh taaya wa twali | Oh emigrant, where are you going? You'll go, get tired, and come back. |
| شحال ندموا العباد الغافلين قبلك وقبلي | Chhal nadmou laabad el ghaflin qablak ou qabli | How society failed, before you and me! |
| In French | In French | In French |
| Merci, merci | Thank you, thank you. | |
| In Arabic | In Arabic | In Arabic |
| شكرا | Shokran | Thank you. |
- "Emigrants" refers to people who are leaving the country.
- This is a saying in Algeria.
Related Translations
This song has been released in more than one language. Versions translated on this web site include:
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About the Translator
This translation was created by "Nanu" at allthelyrics.com.
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