Marhaba! In a previous post I introduced you all to one of my favorite artists in the Arab world: Julia Boutros. As you all know, she is admired and loved by millions in the Arab world and many expatriates living in different places across the world. As you have realized from an earlier post, many of her songs are vibrantly strong and mostly carry a patriotic message. Given the fact that the world is still watching how millions and millions in the Arab world are still taking to the streets to voice their grievances against what they view as illegitimate and biased regimes, today I am sharing another musical masterpiece by Julia called ‘Nehna el Thawra w el Ghadab (نحن الثورة والغضب)’ which literally means ‘We are the Uprising and the Outcry.’ This song among others has become one of the staple songs of the different protests in the Arab world. I have added a live performance of this beautiful song by Julia in form of a YouTube video. I have added the lyrics in Arabic and I have translated them into English for you to follow with the song and understand the meaning behind these profound and beautiful lyrics.
Julia Boutros – We Are the Uprising and the Outcry | جوليا بطرس – نحن الثورة والغضب
نحن الثورة والغضب
We are the uprising and the outcry نحن امل الأجيال
We are the hope of the generations من هون من عنا انكتب
From here and from us is written تاريخ الأبطال
The history of our heroes فجر اللي طالع نحن
We are the dawn that is breaking والسيف القاطع نحن
We are the sword that is cutting قلوب الناس مطارحن
Our place is in the hearts of the people نحن فرح الأطفال
We are the joy of our children
رح ننسى الأيام الصعبة
We will forget these hard days ياهالناس المنسيين
Oh forgotten people كنا طول سنين الغربة
Throughout these years of estrangement بوطنا منفيين
We’ve been exiled in our own country شوفي يا هالحرية
Observe, oh Freedom دموع الفرح المنسية
The forgotten tears of joy غالي عليكون وعليي هالنصر اللي طال
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.
