Join the Struggle with Mashrou‘ Leila and Roman Posted by jesa on Sep 9, 2017 in Arabic Language, Culture, Vocabulary
Marhaba! It is no secret to anyone that I love the Arabic band Mashrou‘ Leila. I have already featured some of their songs earlier on this blog, Sing with Mashrou’ Leila Kalaam and Sing with Mashrou’ Leila Lil Watan. Today I am going to present you with a fairly new song that they have released, Roman (رومان).
Mashrou’ Leila Performing Live in Baalbek, Lebanon
Image via Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 1.0)
This song, which was released in the form of a video, has received critical acclamations. Working with an emerging female director, Jessy Mousallem, the band in this video/song take a backseat to all the women on screen. Meant as an empowerment for women and the intersectionality of the equal rights struggle that Mashrou‘ Leila as a band and as members believe in, this song has another strong political goal: to highlight ‘eastern’ women in the face of dominant Western media attempts to victimize Arab and Muslim women.
I have translated the lyrics of the song, and of course included a Youtube link of the accompanying powerful video. I have you enjoy it!
Mashrou‘ Leila – Roman
رومان – مشروع ليلى
مش ناوي ابلع اكاذيبك
I don’t intend on swallowing your lies
الكلام رح يحرق حلقي
The words will burn my throat
مش ناوي اشرح نواياك
I don’t intend on dissecting your intentions
خلي لسانك بقفصه
Keep your tongue in it’s cage
خلي الوقت اللي اعطيته لك
Keep the time that I gave you
و اخنق النفس اللي كنتها لك
and suffocate my self, what she was for you
بس قبل ما تقبرني
But before you bury me
قلي شو كان سعري
Tell me what was my price
عليهم
Charge! (Upon them!)
الدود بينحت جسدي
Worms carve my body
و الارض بتحضن جلدي
and the earth embraces my skin
كيف بتبيعني للرومان؟
How could you sell me to the Romans?
الدود بينحت جسدي
Worms carve my body
و الارض بتحضن جلدي
and the earth embraces my skin
كيف خسرتك للرومان؟
How could you sell me to the Romans?
عليهم
Charge! (Upon them!)
كيف بتبيعني للرومان؟
How could you sell me to the Romans?
كيف خسرتك للرومان؟
How have I lost you to the Romans?
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.