West Asia and the Middle East In the winter and spring of 2013 many All Around This World classes are focusing on the music of West Asia and the Middle East. Here you'll find a little information about each tune we plan to enjoy. Follow the links in the "more info" section of each description to learn more the song and hear some original versions. Most of the below translations, when offered, aren't exact, but use a little poetic license so the words will work well in English. All transliterations below are the work of translators or native speakers. Click on the title of each song to listen to an mp3 of Jay playing the song to give you a sense of how we may sing it in class. Please let Jay know about any overly egregious mispronunciations. Jay is currently in midst of the process of contacting the publishers and/or composers of the songs in question to work out licensing arrangements to share them with the kids in class. If you control the copyright for any of these songs and haven't yet been contacted please contact Jay to discuss your wonderful music. Explore other "All Around This World" sessions: Latin America | Africa | South and Central Asia | Caribbean | Eastern Europe and the Baltics | East and Southeast Asia | West Asia and the Middle East | Oceania and the Pacific Islands

Hello/We Are Happy Country: Uganda Lyrics: We are happy, we are happy on this day. (4x) Selaam everybody, hello hello More info:Wait! Uganda isn't in West Asia or the Middle East! We sing this "hello" song every session. The Abayudya of Uganda are a small community of about 500 Luganda-speaking Bagandans who have been practicing Judaism for over 80 years. Abayudaya community members Rabbi Gershom Sizomu and his brother JJ Keki wrote these two welcome songs that are combined here into one. The Abayudaya have recorded four CDs of African-Jewish music, including Shalom Everybody Everywhere and Abayudaya: Music from the Jewish People of Uganda. WayakWayak Country: Syria/Egypt Language: Arabic More info: A song by a favorite son of both Syria and Egypt, Syrian-raised Egyptian film star Farid el Atrache. Watch this version on YouTube. Ya Mustapha Country: Egypt Language: Arabic Lyrics: Cherie je t'aime, Cherie je t'adore, Como la salsa del pomodoro. Darling I love you, without you I am lost I love you more than tomato sauce Darling I love you, without you I am lost I love you more than tomato sauce Ya Mustapha, ya Mustapha, oh how I miss you Mustapha After all that we've been through I want to be back at home with you I see you in the market I see you on the street I see you in the faces of all the friends I meet You have been away so long I see you when I sing this song You have been away so long I see you when I sing this song Ya Mustapha, ya Mustapha, oh how I miss you Mustapha After all that we've been through I want to be back at home with you More info: This is a popular belly dancing song with origins most likely in Egypt, though it's also well-known throughout the region (take a look at to see how "A Song Conquers the World.") The most widely recognized version is by U.S.-based Middle Eastern/bellydancing musician, George Abdo, though versions have been recorded around the world, such as this awesome one from Turkey. Nahna Wil Kamar Jeeran Country: Lebanon Language: Arabic Lyrics: Nahna wil kamar jeeran Nahna wil kamar jeeran We are neighbors with the moon, he comes to listen to our songs Nahna wil kamar jeeran Nahna wil kamar jeeran He smiles his light upon us, when he listens to our songs Ah, we stay up late with him and sing About our loves, he understands everything, everything. Nahna wil kamar jeeran Nahna wil kamar jeeran He smiles his light upon us, when he listens to our songs More info: A song performed most popularly by Lebanon's all-time favorite vocalist, Fairuz. She has been among a beloved Arabic language female vocalist for decades, probably second in fame and adoration only to Oum Kalthoum. Watch her hypnotic live performance of the song. Wala Milyon Country: Egypt Language: Arabic Lyrics: el-Hobbi nadani (el-Hobbi nadani) Wahid, atnain, thalatha, arba'aa One, two, three, four, heeeeey ah! wala waHed wala meyya wala waHed wala meyya wala waHed wala meyya wala wala milyon You're not one in a hundred, not one in a thousand, you're one in a million, wala milyon!! More info: This is a totally fun song by Hakim, one of the main superstars of shaabi, which is Egyptian “music of the streets.” (Here is a history of shaabi.) Hakim looks very happy in this post of the song on YouTube, as well he should be. Look In My Eyes Country: Iraq Language: originally in Kurdish Lyrics: Lu lu lu lu lu lu lu lu lu lu lu lu!! Lai lai lai lai lai lai, lai lai lai lai lai lai, Lai lai lai lai lai lai, lai lai lai lai lai lai Look in my eyes More info: Found on the Smithsonian Folkways album, “Kurdish Folk Songs and Dances." The original, listed on the album as "Besta," starts with the line, “Oh, my eye, my love, I want you to be for me alone,” with “my eye” being a Muslim work term of endearment for “loved one,” or “apple of my eye.” Hele Hele Country: Armenia Language: Armenian Lyrics: There's going to be a party and everyone's invited Hele hele hele ninnay eh There's going to be a party it will last all night, Hele hele hele ninnay eh At least until we all get tired, Hele hele hele ninnay eh Which nowadays is about 7:30, Hele hele hele ninnay eh What is a farm and what is a garden?, Hele hele hele ninnay eh What is stopping and what is starting?, Hele hele hele ninnay eh The fruit's so sweet on the tallest tree, Hele hele hele ninnay eh If I can't reach it how sweet is it to me?, Hele hele hele ninnay eh There's going to be a party and everyone's invited, Hele hele hele ninnay eh There's going to be a party it will last all night, Hele hele hele ninnay eh We'll go to bed at the break of dawn, Hele hele hele ninnay eh Who am I kidding? We'll be be asleep by 9, Hele hele hele ninnay ey More info: Found on the Smithsonian Folkways recording by Richard Hagopian, "Armenian Music Through the Ages." Singing on the original track starts at 1:12.

BuSonOlsun Country: Turkey Language: Turkish More Info: This is a tune by Turkish/Anatolian progressiver rocker Cem Keraca, a giant in the annals of Turkish rock who took Turkish folk/rock. His performances were stirring—he began his career as part of an Elvis cover band—and his lyrics were powerfully personal and political. This page about Cem Karacla on the Prog Rock archives site follows the development of his career. Of his many performances available on YouTube, "Namus Belasi" sticks out for both the great melody of the song and the undeniably awesome video. "Islak Islak" is a close second, if for the joy of the hat and crooked mustache alone. Ya Leyl Country: Egypt Language: Arabic More info: A song by Amr Diab, one of the best-selling Arabic language vocal artists of all time. Diab is a pioneer of “al-Jeel,” an Egyptian pop music that blends Eastern and Western melodies and rhythms. This one, known as “Alby Ekhtarak” is a blend of Arabic sounds with modern flamenco. I Love My Cow Country: Iran Language: Kurdish Lyrics: Pi pi pi my cow loves me, Wow wow wow, I love my cow Pi pi pi my cow loves me, Wow wow wow, I love my cow I love my cow I love my cow I love my cow I love my cow I love my cow, I really love my cow More info: This is a song from a Smithsonian Folkways album called, "Kurdish Folk Music from Western Iran," known on the album as “Gawas: Magna Lawaneh.” The liner notes say, “Gawas are sung while cows are being milked....The call 'pi pi pi' is utilized both in the song and separately to cause the cow to remain in place and to stand still during the milking process. The song functions to soothe the cow during milking and the cow is addressed with many affectionate terms, 'You are dear, you are my life, you are my eyes, etc....'" Dala'ona Country: Lebanon Language: Arabic Lyrics: Ma maa, mayy, mayy, ma ma ma Ma maa, mayy, mayy, ma ma ma may To the Dala'ona, sing a little, sing a little, dance with me To the Dala'ona, sing a little, sing a little, dance with me To the Dala'ona, sing a little, sing a little, dance with me To the Dala'ona, sing a little, sing a little, dance with me Dala'ain dala'ain a'ala dala'ona All summer long we danced to the Dala'ona In the summer sun we had some fun Dancing dancing dancing dancing dancing the dala'ona More info: Dala'ona is a kind of Arabic song that often lays the musical foundation for the Lebanese/Syrian/Palestinian dance, the dabke. Nawal al Zoghibi popularized this version. TzurManoti Country: Yemen/Israel Language: Hebrew More info: Ofra Haza is a beloved Israeli vocalist of Yemeni ancestry who found fame singing Israeli versions of Yemenite songs. Check out the Yemenite dance that goes along with the song in in this performance on YouTube. Ya Leily Country: Leily Language: Arabic Lyrics: More info: More Fairuz. Here's a version on YouTube. Lily Country: Iran Language: Persia Lyrics: When you're sad I am sad, when you're shy I'm shy (jan!) When you're mad I am mad, when you cry I cry (jan!) But when you smile my heart smiles, do you wonder why? (jan!) Do you wonder why? (jan!) Do you wonder why? (jan!) Because I love you Lily Lily How I love you Lily More info: Found on "Folk Songs and Dances of Iran." A song from the forests of Elborz in Gilan, which is near the Caspian Sea. Eman Country: Turkey Language: Kurdish Lyrics: Şeva tarî şeva tarî eman eman, şeva tarî şeva tarî eman eman The water's flowing everywhere, the water's flowing everywhere Eman eman eman eman More info: By Turkish/Kurdish pop star Aynur, who is controversial in Turkey because she sometimes sings in her native Kurdish language. This is actually a protest song, commenting on the Turkish government's plan to build a dam that will flood a Kurdish village. See Aynur's video for the song. Peeri Country: Iran Lyrics: More info: A totally fun song popularized by Iranian pop singer Aref. The song is about growing older. Watch Aref perform it on YouTube.

Mamiana Country: Iraq Language: Kurdish Lyrics: Mamiana, sing to me Mamiana, oh how I love you, sing to me Mamiana More info: From "Kurdish Folk Songs and Dances," listed there as “Love Songs.” Drink the Water Country: Egypt Language: ?? (a Bedouin language) Lyrics: Drink the water, drink the water... Camel, drink the water, camel More info: From the Smithsonian Folkways recording, "Bedouin Music of Southern Sinai." Layla Country: Saudi Arabia More info: This is a song performed by Saudi Arabia's beloved vocalist Mohammed Abdu. Now this is a great band. Layla means “night.” Jeyran Country: Azerbaijan Language: Azeri Lyrics: I long to embrace you, my dear Your soul strong and clever, Jeyran I'll love you forever, my dear I'll love you forever, Jeyran Let all the songbirds sing it, my dear Let all the poets rhyme it, Jeyran Your eyes, pure as heaven, my dear True love knows no time my Jeyran I long to embrace you, my dear My soul strong and clever, Jeyran You'll love me forever, my dear I'll love you forever, Jeyran More info: A love song from Azerbaijan. The liner notes of the Smithsonian Folkways album that features this song, say, "In Azerbaijan, jeyran refers to a kind of deer that lives in the mountains and the plains. They’re lovely animals, and because theireyes are so beautiful, poets often use this word. There are many girls named Jeyran in Azerbaijan." Ani V'Atah Country: Israel Language: Hebrew More info: A very hopeful song by well-known Israeli composer. Arik Einstein. Listen to the song on YouTube. Kollina Country: Egypt Language: Arabic More info: The individual lines of this song have been harvested from a 40-something minute performance of “Alf Lila wa Lila” by none other than Oum Kalthoum, the most revered female vocalist in the history of the Arab world. Kalthoum's hour-long performances of epic love songs are legendary, as well then should be. The music and Kalthoum's vocals are heart-wrenchingly passionate. You'll find a version on YouTube and the translated lyrics here. Thirty Stars Country: Palestine Language: Arabic Lyrics: Thirty stars brighten the sky over the cypress grove Thirty stars brighten the sky over the cypress grove Thirty stars brighten the sky over the cypress grove The heart aches and the moon cries But we find strength in hope. Thalathin nijma in the sky over the cypress grove Thalathin nijma in the sky over the cypress grove Thalathin nijma in the sky over the cypress grove The heart aches and the moon cries But we find strength in hope. More info: A song by Sabreen, a long-term Palestinian band that has transformed into a non-profit organization called Association for Artistic Development. Members of Sabreen have performed with Israelis in croos-border concerts. Ay Di Di Di Dai Country: Israel Lyrics: Ay di di di dai di di di dai dai dai dai dai dai Ay di di di dai di di di dai Ay di di di dai di di di dai dai dai dai dai dai Ay di di di dai di di di dai Oy oy oy oy oy oy oy oy oy oy oy oy oy oy Ay di di di dai di di di dai Ya7alaly Yamaly Country: Palestine Language: Arabic Lyrics: Ya7alaly yamaly, Ya7alaly yamaly More info: Listen to a version of this song on this Palestinian music website. It's the Alaa Aljalad version. (A 7 in the English translation of an Arabic word represents the non-Western sound “kh.")

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