Marhaba! Music is an essential tool in learning a new language. Popular culture in general can help beginners, intermediate and advanced learners to learn about a language. The cultural twists, values and beliefs of most languages are usually reflected in songs among other mediums of popular culture. By far the Arabic language is an extremely friendly, expressive and vocal that is beautifully reflected in the vast amount of songs by prominent and noteworthy artists in the Arab world. Arabic is truly a passionate and intimate language that finds genuine meaning and expression in music.

http://youtu.be/tGEe3DEFnxg

 

Among many noteworthy artists in the Arab world and one of my favorite is Kazem el-Saher. He is also known as the Ambassador of the Iraqi song and in some circles as Caesar of the Arabic song. I have added a video of a musical masterpiece by Kazem. I have also added the lyrics in Arabic so that you can follow with the song and the English translation. This song is titled ‘Make Your Passion Grow (زيديني عشقاً).’

 

The lyrics are written by the famous poet Nizar Qabbani. Needless to say, Kazem’s music and unmatched vocal talent have made Qabbani’s poetry even more beautiful.

كاظم الساهر – زيديني عشقاً

زيديني عشقا زيديني

Make my passion grow
يااحلى نوبات جنوني زيديني

Oh most beautiful fit of madness
زيديني غرقا ياسيدتي ان البحر يناديني

Drown me milady the sea is calling me
زيديني موتا عل الموت اذا يقتلني يحييني

Kill me for perhaps if death kills me it will revitalize me
يااحلى امرأه بين نساء الكون احبيني

Oh sweetest of the universe’s women love me

يامن احببتك حتى احترق الحب احبيني

Oh you who I loved until it burned, love me
يامن احببتك حتى احترق الحب احبيني

Oh you who I loved until it burned, love me
ان كنتِ تريدين السكنى اسكنتِ في ضوء عيوني

If you wanted a place to stay I will house you in the light of my eyes
حبك خارطتي ماعادت خارطه العالم تعنيني

Your love is my map, the world’s map no long concerns me
انا اقدم عاصمه للحزن وجرحي نقش فرعوني

I am it’s oldest city of sadness, and my wound is hieroglyphics
وجعي يمتد كسرب حمام من بغداد الى الصين

My pain extends like a flock of birds from Baghdad to China

زيديني عشقا زيديني

Make my passion grow
يااحلى نوبات جنوني زيديني

Oh beautiful fit of madness
عصفورة قلبي نيساني

Sparrow of my heart my April
يارمل البحر وروح الروح

Oh sand of the sea and soul of my soul
وياغابات الزيتون

Oh jungles of olives
ياطعم الثلج وطعم النار

Oh taste of ice and taste of fire
ونكهة شكي ويقيني

And flavor of my doubt and my belief

اشعر بالخوف من المجهول فآويني

I feel scared of the unknown so strengthen me
اشعر بالخوف من الظلماء فضميني

I’m scared of the darkness so hold me
اشعر بالبرد فغطيني وغني قربي غنيلي

I feel cold so cover me and sing near me sing for me
فأنا من بدأ التكوين ابحث عن وطن لجبيني

For I have searched since the beginning of the universe for a country for my forehead
عن حب امرأه يأخذني لحدود الشمس ويرميني

For the love of a women to take me to the edge of the sun and throw me

زيديني عشقا زيديني يااحلى نوبات جنوني زيديني

Make my love grow, Oh most beautiful fit of madness

نواره عمري مروحتي قنديلي فوح بساتيني

Light of my life my fan my lamp my vineyard
قدي لي إثرا من رائحه الليمونِ

Give me a bridge made of the scent of orange
وضعيني مشطا عاجيا في عتمه شعركِ وانسيني

And put me in the darkness of your hair like a comb and forget me
من اجلكِ اعددت رثائي وتركت التاريخ ورائي

On your behalf I freed my lament and left history behind me
وشطبت شهادة ميلادي وقطعت جميع شراييني

And scratched out my birth certificate and cut up all my arteries

زيديني عشقا زيديني يااحلى نوبات جنوني زيديني

Make my love grow, Oh most beautiful fit of madness

Stay tuned for upcoming posts.

Have a nice day!!

نهاركم سعيد