Marhaba! For the last few days, I have been listening to Mashrou’ Leila‘s different albums on repeat. I am always amazed by the depth of their lyrics and beautiful compositions. Today, I want to share with you another masterpiece by the great band Mashrou’ Leila! The song is called Kalaam (كلام), which literally translates to ‘Words.’ I have added the song in the form of a YouTube video as well as the lyrics in Arabic. I have also added the lyrics in Arabic so that you can follow and sing with Mashrou’ Leila, and translated them to English so that you can learn what these beautiful lyrics mean. Enjoy and have a great day.
مشروع ليلى – كلام Mashrou’ Leila – Words
ازا لمستك بحلاوة رقصك قربي عليا شوي
If your touch is as sweet as your dance come a little closer
في جحيم تحت جلدي و انتي ايدك باردين
There’s hell under my skin and your hands are cold
و الجهلانين ملتحيين بوراق التين و مقموحين و حواجبهم مرفوعين
And the ignorant are bearded with the leafs of fig and their eyebrows are lifted
كتبو حدود البلد ع جسدي و جسدك و الجلد بيكشد الكلام
They wrote the country’s borders on my body and your body and the skin took over the talk
كلمتي ع كلمتك جسدي ع جسدك
My word over yours like my body over yours
و الجلد بيحرك الكلام and the skin is stirring the talk
حاسس اني حاسس اللي انت حاسس فيه
I’m feeling that I know what you are feeling
وين العيب
And there’s nothing shameful
حس اللي انت حاسس فيه
I feel that you feel me
و بذوق الوسكي و الاغلاط ع شفافك, ما بتتعطل لغة الكلام
And i taste whiskey and the mistakes on your lips and yet, the language of speaking does not break down
الحروف بتلفنا لما وشوش كل اسراري بتمنا
The letters surrounds us and I whisper all my secrets from our mouths
و انت بترجع ل دنيتك و انا عالفراغ
And you return to your world and I go back to emptiness
Mashrou’ Leila Performing Live in Baalbek, Lebanon Image via Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 1.0)
For now take care and stay tuned for upcoming posts! Happy Learning! Have a nice day!!
نهاركمسعيد
Salam everyone! Born as an American to two originally Arab parents, I have been raised and have spent most of my life in Beirut, Lebanon. I have lived my good times and my bad times in Beirut. I was but a young child when I had to learn to share my toys and food with others as we hid from bombs and fighting during the Lebanese Civil War. I feel my connection to Arabic as both a language and culture is severing and so it is with you, my readers and fellow Arabic lovers, and through you that I wish to reestablish this connection by creating one for you.
Comments:
eleanor:
What does the expression “with fig leaves” mean in Arabic?
cs:
Recently discovered Mashrou Leila. Even though I do not understand Arabic, their music still brings me to tears. So incredibly beautiful.
Thank you for the lyrics translation. You made a wonderful song even more wonderful.
Comments:
eleanor:
What does the expression “with fig leaves” mean in Arabic?
cs:
Recently discovered Mashrou Leila. Even though I do not understand Arabic, their music still brings me to tears. So incredibly beautiful.
Thank you for the lyrics translation. You made a wonderful song even more wonderful.