Eyes of the Heart – عيون القلب (Oyoun el Alb)
This is an Arabic classic song by the renowned Egyptian singer Najat al Saghira, from the album “Golden Melodies,” released in the 1970s. It is an evocative and soulful ballad with a full runtime of 4 minutes. This song was written by Morsi Gameel and composed by Baligh Hamdi.
Line-by-line Translation & Romanization:
عيون القلب سهرانه مابتنامشى
The eyes of the heart are sleepless; they do not sleep.
Oyoun el alb sehrana mabitnaamshi
لانا صاحيه ولا نايمه مبقدرشى
For I can neither stay awake nor sleep.
Lana saheya wala nayma mabidraashi
يبات الليل يبات سهران على رمشى
The night passes, remaining awake upon my eyelashes.
Yebat el leil yebat sehran 3ala romsha
وانا رمشى مداق النوم وهو عيونه تشبع نوم
And my eyelashes savor sleep, while his eyes are filled with it.
W ana romsha medaaq el noom w howa 3youno teshba3 noom
روح يا نوم من عين حبيبى روح يا نوم
Go, sleep, from the eyes of my beloved; go, sleep.
Rooh ya noom men 3ein habibi rooh ya noom
حبيبى حبيبى اه من حبيبى عليه احلى ابتسامه
My beloved, my beloved—oh, from my beloved comes the most beautiful smile.
Habibi habibi ah men habibi 3aleih ahla ebtisama
لما بتتضحك عيونه بقول يلا السلامه
When his eyes burst into laughter, I say, “Yalla elsalama!”
Lama bitetda7ak 3youno ba2oul yalla elsalama
لما يسلم عليه والا يقولى كلام
When he greets him or even speaks a word to me.
Lama yeslam 3aleih wala ye’oli kalam
عايزه ورا كل كلمه اقوله ياسلام ياسلام
I want every word I say to be followed by a “Yislam, Yislam!”
3ayza wara kol kelma a2oolo yislam yislam
ده قالى فى يوم ياحبيبتى خدى القمر
He once told me, “My love, take the moon.”
Da a2oli fi yom ya habibti khodi el amar
ورحت معاها وما ادنى الا السهر
And I went with her, and nothing came near except the night.
W ro7t ma3aha w ma adna ella el sehr
وانا رمشى مداق النوم وهو عيونه تشبع نوم
And my eyelashes savor sleep, while his eyes are filled with it.
W ana romsha medaaq el noom w howa 3youno teshba3 noom
روح يا نوم من عين حبيبى روح يا نوم
Go, sleep, from the eyes of my beloved; go, sleep.
Rooh ya noom men 3ein habibi rooh ya noom
تقولى كلام وافرح بيه انا افرح بيه
Tell me words, and I rejoice with them.
Te’oli kalam w afr7 bih ana afr7 bih
اسيب النوم وافكر فيك انا افكر فيك
I forsake sleep and think of you; indeed, I think of you.
Aseeb el noom w afakkar feek ana afakkar feek
انت تقول وتمشى وانا اسهر منامشى
You speak and walk, while I stay awake, unable to sleep.
Enta te2oul w temshi w ana ashar menamshi
ياللى مبتسهرشى ليله ياحبيبى
Oh, you who do not stay awake at night, my love.
Ya elli mabtesahrshi leila ya habibi
سهرانى حبيبى حبك ياحبيبى
I am sleepless, my love, for your love, my dear.
Sahrani habibi, hubbak ya habibi
بكتب على الليالى اسمك ياحبيبى
I write your name upon the nights, my love.
Bektob 3ala el layali ismak ya habibi
انت تقول وتمشى وانا اسهر منامشى
You speak and walk, while I stay awake, unable to sleep.
Enta te2oul w temshi w ana ashar menamshi
ياللى مبتسهرشى ليله ياحبيبى
Oh, you who do not stay awake at night, my love.
Ya elli mabtesahrshi leila ya habibi
سهرانى حبيبى حبك ياحبيبى
I am sleepless, my love, for your love, my dear.
Sahrani habibi, hubbak ya habibi
بكتب على الليالى اسمك ياحبيبى
I write your name upon the nights, my love.
Bektob 3ala el layali ismak ya habibi
ده قالى فى يوم ياحبيبتى خدى القمر
He once told me, “My love, take the moon.”
Da a2oli fi yom ya habibti khodi el amar
وروحت معاها وماادنى الا السهر
And I went with her, and nothing came near except the night.
W ro7t ma3aha w ma adna ella el sehr
وانا رمشى مداق النوم وهو عيونه تشبع نوم
And my eyelashes savor sleep, while his eyes are filled with it.
W ana romsha medaaq el noom w howa 3youno teshba3 noom
روح يا نوم من عين حبيبى روح يا نوم
Go, sleep, from the eyes of my beloved; go, sleep.
Rooh ya noom men 3ein habibi rooh ya noom
حبيتك يا حبيبى من غير ما اسال سؤال
I loved you, my love, without even asking a question.
7abbaytak ya habibi men gheir ma asaal soal
وها اسهر يا حبيبى مهما طال المطال
And I will stay awake, my love, no matter how long the wait.
W ha ashar ya habibi mahma tal el mataal
انا بس اللى محيرانى ومخلنيش انام
I am the one left bewildered, and you have left me sleepless.
Ana bass elli mu7ayyarni w makhallinish anam
ازاى انا بقدر اسهر و ازاى تقدر تنام
How can I stay awake, and how can you sleep?
Ezay ana ba2dar ashar w ezay te2dar tenaam
و اقوله حبيبى كل ما فيك حبيبى وحلو
And I tell him, “My love, all that is in you is dear and beautiful.”
W a2oloh habibi kol ma feek habibi w 7elo
صوتك حلو قلبك حلو وحتى لما تتعبنى
Your voice is sweet, your heart is sweet, and even when you tire me…
Sootak 7elo, albak 7elo, we hatta lamma tet3abni
و اسهرلك سهرك حلو
I’ll keep you company through a sweet night.
W asharlak sehrak 7elo
وانا رمشى مداق النوم وهو عيونه تشبع نوم
And my eyelashes savor sleep, while his eyes are filled with it.
W ana romsha medaaq el noom w howa 3youno teshba3 noom
روح يا نوم من عين حبيبى روح يا نوم
Go, sleep, from the eyes of my beloved; go, sleep.
Rooh ya noom men 3ein habibi rooh ya noom