Yabou Dahka Genan

Oh The One Who Has Outrageous Smile

Music from CD Legend: The Best of Farid El Atrache

Yabou dahka genan maliana hanan
Oh the one who has outrageous smile, full of softness
Edhakha kaman w kaman w kaman
Laugh agan, and again, and again

Khallik farhan w edhak a'la tool
Be happy and laugh all the time
Lak dahka genan she mish ma'ul
You have outrageous smile which is something unbeliavable
Betshufha el rooh omraha beitul
When the soul sees it, it'll live longer
wathush el alb ma' alf rasul
and it touches the heart with thousands of messages
Laha soot beoul ana mish masoul
It has a sound, which says I'm not responsible
law had ethayar aw bat mashghul
if someone is confused or restless at night
Wedhakha kaman w kaman yabou dahka genan
And laugh again, and again, and again

Dahkedak el helwa soof raiha le feen
Your beautiful smile, look where it's going
Nataed fi khududak a'la tefathen
It speaks on your cheeks, which are like two apples
wil awil marra betshof el a'iyn el fakha beterah a'la 'oud yasmin
and for the first time the eyes can see a fruit growing into the shape of yasmin flower
wil rooh wil a'iyn tahu el itneen
and the soul and the eyes are both lost
Yelauha ya albi minen walla minen
Oh my heart, where could they be found, where
Wedhakha kaman w kaman yabou dahka genan
And laugh again, and again, and again

El donya behalha fiha eh loh aman
What is secure in all the world
gher alb hanain yigma khelan
except a soft heart that collects the lovers?
a'la dahka tenawar leel el hairan
and smile lighting the night of all those (who are) confused.
Wil nabi tedhakha yabou dahka genan
Please smile, the one who has outrageous smile
Albi el walhan mahtag lehanan
My heart, which is in love, neads softness
Emlalu ya rohi wkhali atshan
Fill it, oh my soul, and keep it thirsty.
Wedhakha kaman w kaman yabou dahka genan
And laugh again, and again, and again

I'm very grateful for all my friends, who helped me to translate the lyrics of this song. None of my friends is a professional Arabic-English translator: some of them are fluent in Arabic, some in English and a few - my self included - have some skill in both languages. It's often quite challenging to express both the idea and the literal meaning of the lyrics in a few words, as I consider it most useful to dancers that the translation include both these aspects.