Umm Kulthum
أراك عصي الدمع lyrics with English translation
- Language
- Arabic
- Level
- Intermediate
- Genre
- Tarab
- Length
- 6:14
أراك عصي الدمع،شيمتك الصبر
I see you, defiant against tears, your nature is patience.
أما للهوى نهي عليك ولا أمر
Is there no prohibition against love, no command for me?
نعم انا مشتاق وعندى لوعة
Yes, I am longing and I have a burning desire.
ولكن مثلى لا يذاع له سر
But one like me has no secrets that can be revealed.
إذا الليل أضواني بسطت يد الهوى
When the night envelops me, I stretch out my hand to love.
وأذللت دمعا من خلائقه الكبر
And I humble a tear that pride has created.
تكاد تضيء النار بين جوانحى
The fire almost lights up within my core.
إذا هى أذكتها الصبابة والفكر
If it is ignited by longing and thought.
معللتى بالوصل والموت دونه
You, my source of solace, with death as the barrier.
اذا مت ظمأنا فلا زال القطر
If I die thirsty, the rain still falls.
وفيت وفى بعض الوفاء مذلة
I fulfilled my promise, yet some loyalty brings shame.
لفاتنه في الحي شيمتها الغدر
In the neighborhood, her traitorous beauty is well-known.
تسألنى: "من أنت؟"وهي عليمة
She asks me: 'Who are you?' and she is wise to it.
وهل بشجى مثلي على حاله نكر؟
And is there anyone, like me, who suffers such a fate?
فقلت كما شاءت وشاء لها الهوى
So I replied as she desired, and fate agreed.
قتيلك!! .قالت:: ايهم؟فهم كثر
Your victim!! She asked: which one? There are many.
وقلبت أمرى لا أرى لى راحة
And I turned my affairs, finding no comfort for myself.
اذا البين انسانى ألح بيا الهجر
If separation sets me free, it compels me with its absence.
وقالت لقد اسرى بك الدهر بعدنا
And she said: Time has taken you away from me.
فقلت معاذ الله بل انت لا الدهر
I said: God forbid, for you are the cause, not time.
Key vocabulary
- أراك
- I see you
- عصي
- my sins
- الدمع،شيمتك
- tears, your trait
- أما
- as for
- للهوى
- to desire
- نهي
- forbid
- أمر
- order
- نعم
- yes
- مشتاق
- longing
- لوعة
- heartache
Test yourself
How much of أراك عصي الدمع did you catch?
A quick quiz on the key words from this song.
About this song
Umm Kulthum was an Egyptian singer and actress associated with Arabic classical music. She is especially remembered for her iconic vocal performances and her major influence across Egypt and the wider Arab world.