Storytelling With Souad Massi Posted by jesa on Jul 8, 2017 in Arabic Language, Culture, Grammar, Pronunciation, Vocabulary
Marhaba! Today I want to introduce you to one of my favorite contemporary singers in the Arab world, Souad Massi (سعاد ماسي)! Born in Algeria, Massi is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist. She first started performing at around the age of 17, and started her career with the political rock band Atakor. After moving to Paris, France in 1999, she started her solo career. Her music is infused with American folk music, western rock music, as well as oriental and African musical influences.
Image via Flickr (Public Domain)
I am sharing with you today one of my favorite songs by Souad Massi, Raoui (راوي), which translates into Storyteller. This song carries Arabic folk undertones and reminisces about a time of childhood when storytellers used to weave their stories about life and take children to another world. Raoui is also the title of Massi’s first solo album released in 2001. I have added the song in the form of a YouTube video. I have also added the lyrics in Arabic so that you can follow and sing with Souad Massi, and translated them to English so that you can learn what these beautiful lyrics mean.
https://youtu.be/LH5SzwRwXkQ
Souad Massi – Raoui
سعاد ماسي – راوي
يا راوي حكي حكاية
Oh storyteller tell us a story
مادابك تكون رواية
Make it a tale
حكي لي على ناس الزمان
Tell me about the people of old
حكي لي على ألف ليلة وليلة
Tell me about 1001 Nights
وعلى لنجة بنت الغولة
And about Lunja daughter of the Ghoul
وعلى ولد السلطان
And about the son of the Sultan
حانجيتك مانجيتك
I’m about to tell a story
دنا بعيد من هادي دنيا
We’ll be far from this world
حاجيتك ماجيتك
I’m about to tell a story
كل واحد منا في قلبه حكاية
Everyone of us has a story in his heart
حكي وانسى بلي احنا كبار
Narrate and forget we’re adults
في بالك رانا صغار
In your mind we’re young
حكي لنا على الجنة حكي لنا على النار
Tell us about heaven and hell
على طير عمره ما طار
About the bird that never flew in his life
فهمنا معانى الدنيا
Make us understand the meaning of the world
يا راوي حكي كما حكوا لك
Oh storyteller tell it just as they told you
ما تزيد ما نقص من عندك
Don’t add anything, don’t leave anything out
كاين نشفوا على بالك
We could see into your mind
حكي لنسينا في هاد زمان
Narrate to make us forget this time
خلينا في كان يا ما كان
Leave us at once upon a time
For now take care and stay tuned for upcoming posts!
Happy Learning!
Have a nice day!!
نهاركم سعيد
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About the Author: jesa
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.