“Ana Ba’sha’ El Bahr” (أنا بعشق البحر), translated as “I Love the Sea,” is a classic Arabic song by Egyptian artist Najat Al Saghira. The song was released in 1979 and is featured on her album “Elyoun El Alb.” This emotive piece blends elements of traditional Arabic music with a soulful, contemplative mood, running approximately 5 minutes and 29 seconds. The lyrics were penned by poet Nizar Qabbani, and the composition was crafted by musician Hany Shenouda.
Song Lyrics:
أنا بعشق البحر …
I love the sea…
Ana ba’sha’ el bahr…
زيك يا حبيبي حنون … وساعات زيك مجنون
Tender like you, my love… and sometimes crazy like you
Zayyak ya habibi hanoun… wa sa’at zayyak magnoun
ومهاجر ومسافر … وساعات زيك حيران
Migrating and traveling… and sometimes confused like you
Wa muhajir wa musafir… wa sa’at zayyak hayran
وساعات زيك زعلان … وساعات مليان بالصر
And sometimes upset like you… and sometimes full of silence
Wa sa’at zayyak za’lan… wa sa’at milyan bil samt
أنا بعشق البحر…
I love the sea…
Ana ba’sha’ el bahr…
أنا بعشق السما…
I love the sky…
Ana ba’sha’ el sama…
علشان زيك مسامحة … مزروعة نجوم وفرحة
Because, like you, it’s forgiving… adorned with stars and joy
Alashan zayyak msamaha… mazrou’a nujoum wa farha
وحبيبة وغريبة … وعشان زيك بعيدة
A lover and a stranger… and because, like you, it’s distant
Wa habiba wa ghriba… wa alashan zayyak ba’ida
وساعات زيك قريبة … بعيون متنغمة
And sometimes near like you… with harmonious eyes
Wa sa’at zayyak qariba… bi’uyoun mutanaghima
أنا بعشق السما…
I love the sky…
Ana ba’sha’ el sama…
أنا بعشق الطريق…
I love the road…
Ana ba’sha’ el tareeq…
لأنه فيه لقانا … وفرحنا وشقانا
Because it holds our meetings… our joy and our sorrow
Li’annahu fihi liqana… wa farhana wa shaqana
وأصحابنا وشبابنا … وفيه ضحكة دموعنا
Our friends and our youth… and in it, the laughter of our tears
Wa as’habna wa shababna… wa fihi dhahikat dumu’na
وفيه بكيت شموعنا … وضاع فيه الصديق
In it, our candles wept… and a friend was lost
Wa fihi bakat shumu’na… wa da’a fihi al-sadiq
أنا بعشق الطريق…
I love the road…
Ana ba’sha’ el tareeq…
أنا بعشق البحر… وبعشق السما … وبعشق الطريق
I love the sea… and I love the sky… and I love the road
Ana ba’sha’ el bahr… wa ba’sha’ el sama… wa ba’sha’ el tareeq
لإنهم حياه … وأنت يا حبيبي … انت كل الحياة
Because they are life… and you, my love… you are all of life
Li’annahum hayat… wa anta ya habibi… anta kull al-hayat