Uploaded August 2024 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago

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Strings by Akram Berrada, qanun by the Hiimart group, vocals & arrangement by Farya Faraji. This is a folk song mainly found in Lebanon but also in Syria and Jordan. It was notably sung by singers Samira Tewkif and Layal Khaddaj. I modeled my pronunciation after Jordanian recordings of the song. The orchestration is a typical representation of Arabic Classical music as arranged in the Levant countries since the previous two centuries, with a Western string section of violins, cellos and contrabass played in a noticeably oriental manner using copious amounts of glissando and portamento on every note, instead of the Western reliance on vibrato as the standard way of playing all notes, traditional percussions, a qanun, as well as

Lyrics in Arabic:
ا هلا بالضيف ضيف الله
ع حساب الروح اي والله
ما بنرضى تروح من عنا
ما بنرضى تروح لا والله

يا هَلّا بِالضَيْف ضَيْف اللّٰه
ع حِساب الرُوح أَي وَاللّٰه
ما بنرضى تُرَوِّح لا وَاللّٰه
مرت ايام ع الفرقة ما دق ابوابي دقة

مرت ايام ع الفرقة ما دق ابوابي دقة
اشكي شوقي والحرقة مثل عيونك ما القى
اشكي شوقي والحرقة مثل عيونك ما القى
ع الديرة الله جابك ردك من طول غيابك

ع الديرة الله جابك ردك من طول غيابك
وانا دخيله وانا دخيله

مشتاقة العين مشتاقة وع خدودي دموع حراقة
وعلى بعدك مالي طاقة يا محلى يوم نتلاقى
وعلى بعدك مالي طاقة يا محلى يوم نتلاقى

يا امير الكون غايتنا نشوفك تدوم فرحتنا
يا امير الكون غايتنا نشوفك تدوم فرحتنا
اسكن بربوع ديرتنا بي اهلنا وعزوتنا
اسكن بربوع ديرتنا بي اهلنا وعزوتنا

English translation:
Welcome guest of god
I feel you in my soul, in truth
Welcome guest of god
I feel you in my soul in truth
We don't want you to leave
We don't want you to leave, in truth

Days passed since we broke
I complained to flame about you
Days passed since we broke
I complained to flame about you

I had a complaint
You came and helped me
God brought you to me
God brought you from your whole nothingness
God brought you to me
God brought you from your whole nothingness
I am servant of god
I am servant of god

I miss you so much
Quench my heart, I miss you
I miss you so much
Quench my heart, I miss you
We finally meet after separation
My heart is relieved, We come together again

God brought you to me
God brought you from your whole nothingness
God brought you to me
God brought you from your whole nothingness
I am servant of god
I am servant of god

God brought you to me
God brought you from your whole nothingness
God brought you to me
God brought you from your whole nothingness
I am servant of god
I am servant of god

Welcome guest of god
I feel you in my soul in truth
We don't want you to leave
We don't want you to leave in truth
We don't want you to leave in truth