SUNDAY, 22 JULY 2007
Note: for a more recent amd much better translation of another of Hussam AlRassam's songs check out this site:http://ejectiraqikkk.blogspot.com
Like so many others I receive these email circulars, occasionally pass the parcel style, open the message to reveal another within another within another, dozens of names all on the receiving end of all sorts of things, from power point presentations all about prayers, to what I call war pornography, from “foreign” fuzzy little feel good images to the faintly amusing Islamic style poison pen “and you will burn in hell if you do not forward to 10 others” messages.
I received this song in some format or other from two separate sources a few weeks ago, and was hooked, I am not sure why, maybe the words, maybe the music, and obsessive that I am I had to jot down the words and translate and then went off at a tangent into medieval poetry.
Then I found the videos, three so far, all with harrowing imagery to accompany the words, but interestingly different each using the words to convey their own viewpoint.
I still like this song, the translation is my understanding, others will interpret differently I am sure.
مو كالو جديد الوطن راح يصير
كبل وين الوضع عن الوضع هسه
كبل خنساء وحده وكلهم يعزون
هسه بكل زقاق و كل فرع خنساء
كبل ما ننسى ميت لو تمر سنين
وهسه الصبح ندفن و العصر ننسه
مو كالو جديد الوطن راح يصير
كبل وين الوضع عن الوضع هسه
شوف الناس تحرس لاوطنها يضيع
ليش احنا الوطن ما نكدر نحرسه
هسه الدنيا خربت و الوطن منهوك
يفرغ بير حزنه
و بيدنا نترسه
وتاهت والوضع ما تدري صار شلون
الشرطي و الحرامي تشابه بلبسه
كبل جانت الغيرة تعلي بينه الصوت
أشو حتى ابو الغيرة ما طلع حسه
كبل جان الامان يطب على البيوت
وهسه البشر كام يخاف من نفسه
مو كالو جديد الوطن راح يصير
كبل وين الوضع عن الوضع هسه
وطن للشمس بيت تنام بيه النجوم
غيوم الدنيا كلها ما تظم شمسه
يرجع شي اكيد ويرد بينا الحيل
و تتعالى الاصوات و ما تضل خرسه
اطلع يا غريب
البيت لاهل البيت
طاهر ما نريد اقدامك تنكسه
مو كالو جديد الوطن راح ايصير
كبل وين الوضع عن الوضع هسه
They said the country would be as new
We cannot compare the situation now with that before
We used to have one Khansaa*
Now we have a Khansa in every alleyway and every road
We used to remember our dead for years
Now we bury in the mornings and forget by the afternoon
People guard against the loss of their countries
Why can we not guard our own country?
Our world is falling apart
Our country is exhausted
Its well empties of sadness
And we refill it
We are at a loss to explain our situation
The thief and policeman are identically dressed
We use to raise our voice in pride
Now our proudest** are silent
Safety used to enter all our houses
Now people are afraid of themselves
A country homeland to the sun home to the stars
All the clouds on earth could not hide its sunlight
It will surely return and with it our strength
Our voices loud, none will remain mute
Leave oh stranger
This home is for its own people
Pure without the contamination of your boots
*Al-Khansaa
Tumadir bint 'Amr (c.575-c.646) was one of the major poets of pre-Islamic Arabia.
Most of her poems are about her brothers, Sakhr and Muawiya, killed in tribal battles pre-dating Islam. She met Muhammad in 629 and converted to Islam, and her sons fought and died in the Al Qadisiyah battle, when she received this news she said of them:
"My sons I bore you with pain
And brought you up with care;
You have fallen today for the cause of Islam,
Who says you are dead;
You are very much alive, and alive with honour.
I feel proud to be the mother of martyrs."
ما لذا الموت لا يزال مخيفا
كل يوم ينال منا شريفا
مولعا بالسراة منا فما يأخذ
خذ الا المهذب الغطريفا
فلو أن المنون تعدل فينا
قتال الشريف و المشروفا
كان في الحق ان يعود لنا الموت
وان لا نسومه تسويفا
“What have we done to you death
that you treat us so, with always another catch?
One day a warrior,
the next a head of state;
charmed by the loyal,
you choose the best,
iniquitous, unequalling death.
I would not complain
if you were just.
But you take the worthy
Leaving fools for us.
http://home.infionline.net/~ddisse/khansa.html
**An Iraqi euphemism for soldiers or maybe not
http://ejectiraqikkk.blogspot.com
POSTED BY 3EERAQIMEDIC AT 17:33 5 COMMENTS
Treasure of Baghdad said...
Very good translation. Thanks for sharing it with us.
28 July 2007 15:53
3eeraqimedic said...
Treasure
So glad you liked it
Thanks for visiting
Take care of yourself
29 July 2007 08:03
saminkie said...
Hussam Al Rassam is really a phenomenone in these days, he is a typical simple Iraqi young man with all the wisdom that one can get from frequent contiuous stresses...I was tring to write something about him in my blog these days but you came up with a very beautiful article...thank you very much....keep publishing... people like you give me reason to stay alive to see how life can be new everyday...
01 August 2007 15:55
3eeraqimedic said...
Sami
What a lovely comment! many thanks
I like the couple of his songs I have heard recently, but was not previously aware of him I must admit.
Anyone reading this go visit SAMINKIE'S blog it is good fun.
01 August 2007 20:00
Anonymous said...
THIS IS A VERY STRONG SONG.. EVERY TIME I LISTEN TO IT I HAVE TO CRY... CRY FOR OUR LOVELY IRAQ... CRY FOR ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE WHOM GIVEN THEIR LIVES AWAY...
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE SINGER HUSSAM AL RASSAM AND WISH HIM ALL THE BEST IN THE FUTUER, KEEP IT GOING HUSSAM AND GOD BELSS YOU.
REGARDS
X
15 August 2007 16
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