Loading ...A Love Song to Eternity: Fairuz's 'Bektob Ismak Ya Habibi'
By: Fedal Hanoun / Arab America Contributing Writer
The Song’s Significance and Fairuz’s Cultural Influence
Fairuz, a Lebanese singing icon, has captured listeners internationally with her wonderful voice and expressive lyrics. One of her most renowned songs, “Bektoub Ismak Ya Habibi,” translates as “I Write Your Name, My Love,” is a heartfelt confession of love and betrayal.
While the identity of the person she addresses is unknown, the richness of her emotions and broad themes make this song a lasting work of art. Fairuz expresses her feelings in this sentimental piece, displaying her intense passion for a man who could not reciprocate her feelings. She remains upset with his lack of response despite her constant dedication and efforts to show love. Fairuz’s lyrics are renowned for their profound emotional depth, portraying vivid scenes of love, tragedy, and hope. Her ability to translate spoken poetry into compelling songs demonstrates her vocal skills.
This connection has enabled her music to cross cultural barriers and touch the hearts of listeners worldwide. We reduced the lyrics to minimize the repetition of most lines, creating a more simplified and readable translation. While the repeated phrases add to the song’s emotional intensity, we believe the condensed version effectively catches the essential message, allowing readers to focus on the depth of Fairuz’s sentiments while also appreciating the song itself.
‘Bektob Ismak Ya Habibi’
Song :
بكتب اسمك يا حبيبي عالحور العتيق
I write your name, my beloved, on the old poplar tree
تكتب اسمي يا حبيبي ع رمل الطريق
You write my name, my beloved, on a dirt road
بكتب اسمك يا حبيبي عالحور العتيق
I write your name, my beloved, on the old poplar tree
تكتب اسمي يا حبيبي ع رمل الطريق
You write my name, my beloved, on a dirt road
بكرة بتشتي الدنيي عالقصص المجرحة
Tomorrow it will rain over the painful stories
بيبقى اسمك يا حبيبي واسمي بينمحى
Your name, my beloved, will remain, and my name will be erased
بيبقى اسمك يا حبيبي واسمي بينمحى
Your name, my beloved, will remain, and my name will be erased
بحكي عنك يا حبيبي لأهالي الحي
I talk about you, my beloved, to the neighborhood
بتحكي عني ياحبيبي لنبعة المي
You talk about me, my beloved, to the water spring
ولما بيدور السهر تحت قناديل المسا
And when we gather under the lanterns of the night
بيحكوا عنك يا حبيبي وأنا بنتسى
They talk about you, my beloved, and I am forgotten
بيحكوا عنك يا حبيبي وأنا بنتسى
They talk about you, my beloved, and I am forgotten
وهديتني وردة فرجيتا لصحابي، خبيتا بكتابي، زرعتا عالمخدة
You gifted me a rose, I showed it to my friends, I hid it inside my book, and I planted it on my pillow
هديتك مزهرية لا كنت تداريها ولا تعتني فيها تا ضاعت الهديه
I gave you a vase, and you didn’t nurture it or take care of it until the gift was lost
وبتقلي بتحبني ما بتعرف قديش
And you tell me you love me, more than you can comprehend
ما زالك بتحبني ليش دخلك ليش
But since you love me so much, why oh why?
بكتب اسمك يا حبيبي عالحور العتيق
I write your name, my beloved, on the old poplar tree
تكتب اسمي يا حبيبي ع رمل الطريق
You write my name, my beloved, on a dirt road
بكتب اسمك يا حبيبي عالحور العتيق
I write your name, my beloved, on the old poplar tree
تكتب اسمي يا حبيبي ع رمل الطريق
You write my name, my beloved, on a dirt road
بكرة بتشتي الدنيي عالقصص المجرحة
Tomorrow it will rain over the painful stories
بيبقى اسمك يا حبيبي واسمي بينمحى
Your name, my beloved, will remain, and my name will be erased
بيبقى اسمك يا حبيبي واسمي بينمحى
Your name, my beloved, will remain, and my name will be erased
واسمي بينمحى
And my name will be erased
واسمي بينمحى
And my name will be erased.
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