Hamza Namira: “Free for a bit?” فاضي شويّة؟ Posted by Hanan Ben Nafa on Mar 31, 2022 in Arabic Language, comprehension, Culture, Idioms, Music, Pronunciation, Proverbs, Vocabulary
Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of attending a live performance by the Egyptian artist Hamza Namira in London حضور أداء موسيقي حيّ للفنّان المصري حمزة نمرة في لندن. It was a lovely night that it made me want to share one of his hit songs titled: ‘Fadhy Shwayya‘ – ‘Free for a bit?‘ that surpassed 200 million views تجاوزت نسبة مشاهدته ال٢٠٠ مليون مشاهدة on YouTube. The lyrics are provided below, in Egyptian Arabic and English.
Photo by Harli Marten on Unsplash
Hamza Namira is an Egyptian singer مُغنّي & song-writer كاتب أغاني. He is known as ‘The Voice of the Revolution’ صوت الثورة as he supported and joined, with his music, Egyptian young people in Tahrir Square.
*The song is a bit of a sad one. The speaker is addressing his friend whom he apparently has not seen in a while المُتحدّث يوجه كلامه إلى صديقه الذي يبدو أنه لم يره منذ مدة. The speaker is asking him whether he has got some time for them to grab a coffee and have a good old chat.
Hamza Namira on stage – London, by: Hanan
Lyrics كلمات الأغنية
!آه يا سلام
Oh how so
سيبنا الوقت يعدّي أوام
We’ve left time pass so quickly
ما حسبناش اللحظة الجاية
We didn’t think about the next moment
!دا اسمه كلام
How can it be?
عِشنا العمر نربّي حمام
We lived our life raising birds
بس نسينا نقوم غِيّة
but we forgot to put up a birdhouse
= = = = = = =
ومايهمكش عادي
And don’t worry, it’s ok
اسمع مني الساعة دي
Listen to me, this hour
مش وقت عتاب أو لوم
it’s not a time for reproach or blame
فيها إيه لو نرجع تاني
So what, if we returned again?
وبدل ما تكون وحداني
And instead of being lonely
تسندني معاك ونقوم؟
You support me and we stand up
= = = = = = =
فاضي شوية؟
Are you free for a bit
نشرب قهوة في حتة بعيدة
to go drink coffee in a faraway place?
اعزمني على نكتة جديدة
Invite me over for a new joke
وخلّي حساب الضحك عليّا
and leave the laughter’s bill on me
= = = = = = =
دا احنا يا دوب
We barely
ما لحقناش نقرا المكتوب
had a chance to read what’s written1referring to destiny
علشان نلقى هموم وقسية
for us to find this many worries and sorrows
!دا اسمه كلام
How can it be?
عِشنا العمر نربّي حمام
We lived our life raising birds
بس نسينا نقوم غيّة
but we forgot to put up a birdhouse
= = = = = = =
عارفك مشغول الايام دي
I know you’re busy these days
ما أنا زيك بس عندي
Well, I’m just like you, but I have
حكايات صعب أخبيها
stories that are hard for me to hide
واكمنّك داري بحالي
and since you’re aware of my state
مذاكرني وعارف مالي
You already know me and know what’s with me
مستني عشان أحكيها
I’m waiting to tell them to you
= = = = = = =
2See translation aboveفاضي شوية؟
نشرب قهوة في حتة بعيدة
اعزمني على نكتة جديدة
وخلّي حساب الضحك عليّا
= = = = = = =
موج الدنيا أناني وعالي
Life’s wave is selfish and high
وإنت لوحدك وأنا لسه لي
and you’re alone and I still have
عمر هعيشه معاك لو يوم
a life to live with you, even just for a day
ماشي براحتك بس راهنّى
Okay, as you like, but bet me
على يوم منّك وسنين منى
over a day from you and years from me
إنك مابتعرفش تعوم
that you don’t know how to swim
= = = = = = =
3See translation aboveومايهمكش عادي
اسمع مني الساعة دي
مش وقت عتاب أو لوم
فيها إيه لو نرجع تاني
وبدل ما تكون وحداني
تسندني معاك ونقوم؟
= = = = = = =
فاضي شوية؟
Are you free for a bit
نشرب قهوة في حتة بعيدة
to go drink coffee in a faraway place?
اعزمني على نكتة جديدة
Invite me over a new joke
وخلّي حساب الضحك عليّا
and leave the laughter’s bill on me
فاضي شوية؟
Are you free for a bit
دا أنا واحشاني القعدة معاك
I miss sitting down with you.
وإن ماقدرتش تيجي هناك
And if you can’t go there
هستناك المرة الجاية
I’ll wait for you the next time
= = = = = = =
- 1referring to destiny
- 2See translation above
- 3See translation above
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About the Author: Hanan Ben Nafa
Hi, this is Hanan :) I'm an Arabic linguist. I completed my PhD in Linguistics - 2018. My PhD thesis was entitled Code-switching as an evaluative strategy: identity construction among Arabic-English bilinguals. I'm also a qualified public service translator & interpreter.
Comments:
mitch:
Excellent.
I sometimes find that keeping up with the songs posted in Arabic (especially dialect) is several steps beyond my ability.
This one has clear vocals, limited dialect, and a stripped down feel that lets me hear what’s being sung.
It’s also a good song! I’ve downloaded it to my Arabic playlist. Thank you.
Hanan Ben Nafa:
@mitch Thank you, Mitch, for your kind comment. I hope you enjoy listening to the song 🙂