Today, we’re looking at the lyrics of a popular song by Najwa Karam, a Lebanese singer, who is known for being called ‘The sun of the Arabic song’ شـَمْسْ الأُغْنِيَة العَرَبِيَّة . The song (video below) is in Lebanese Arabic.

The song talks about this lady who is telling her husband how honoured she is that her name is associated with his. It is worth mentioning though that Muslim women do not change their names after marriage, i.e. married women do not take their husbands’ last name). Instead, a married woman can keep her surname forever and is usually called:  the wife of Mr. XXX or حَرَمْ  haram so حَرَمْ السَّيِّدْ عَلِي  would be the ‘The wife of Mr. Ali’.

 

إِسْمَكْ بِيْشَرِّفْنِي حَبِيبِي

Your name brings me honour, baby

 وِينْ مَا كَانْ

Where it is (mentioned)
إِسْمَكْ يَا رُوحِي

Your name, my soul (beloved)

 كْتَبْتُه عَ جْبِينِي

I wrote it on my forehead

 

أنا عِنْدَكْ صِرْتْ تِحْمِينِي

When I’m with you, you’re my protector

 مِنْ غَدْرْ الزَّمَانْ

from treason of time
بِندِرْلَكْ حَالِي

I vow my life to you

 عَ طُولْ سْنِينِي
Throughout my years (life)

 

وحُبَّكْ تَاجْ رَاسِي

Your love is a crown on my head

 وْعَ رَاسِي هَوَاكْ

And your love is everything to me

 يِسْعِدْلِي صَبَاحَكْ

May you have a happy morning

 يِسْعِدْلِي مَسَاكْ

May you have a happy evening

وتِسْلَمْ تِسْلَمْ يَا مَحْبُوبِي

May God protect you, my beloved

 تِسْلَمْ هَالطَّلَّه المَهْيُوبِه

What a respectful presence you have

يـَا عُمْرِي أَنَا
Oh, (you’re) my life

إِسْمَكْ بِيْشَرِّفْنِي

Your name brings me honour

 وِينْ مَا كَانْ

Where it is (mentioned)
إِسْمَكْ يَا رُوحِي

Your name, my soul (beloved)

 كْتَبْتُه عَ جْبِينِي

I wrote it on my forehead

 

إنْتَ رْفِيقْ عُمْرِي

you’re my friend

 وْعَ عُمْرِي بِتْمُونْ

And I’d do anything for you

 وْإِنْ مَا سَاعَكْ قَلْبِي

And if my heart is not enough for you

 بْتْسَاعَكْ العْيُونْ
I will keep you in my eyes

وْشُو بْحِبّْ النَّاسْ يْنَادُونِي

How much I love to be called

 عَ اِسْمَكْ

by your name,

 يَا نُورْ عْيُونِي

you the light of my eyes

 

يـَا عُمْرِي أَنَا
Oh, (you’re) my life

إِسْمَكْ بِيْشَرِّفْنِي

Your name brings me honour

 وِينْ مَا كَانْ

Where it is (mentioned)
إِسْمَكْ يَا رُوحِي

Your name, my soul (beloved)

 كْتَبْتُه عَ جْبِينِي

I wrote it on my forehead

أنا عِنْدَكْ صِرْتْ تِحْمِينِي

When I’m with you, you’re my protector

 مِنْ غَدْرْ الزَّمَانْ

from treason of time
بِندِرْلَكْ حَالِي

I vow my life to you

 عَ طُولْ سْنِينِي
throughout my years (life)