“Oh, Charming Tall One” (يا ظريف الطول – Ya Zarifa El Toul) is an Arabic classic song by the renowned Lebanese artist Nasri Shamseddine. Featured on his album “Melodies of the Heart” and released in the 1970s, this soulful and romantic track runs for approximately 4 minutes. The song was penned by a celebrated lyricist (details not widely documented) and composed by an acclaimed musician (details not widely documented), embodying the timeless elegance of traditional Arabic music.
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**Translated Lyrics**
*Verse 1*
يا قلب صارلك من سنين سنين
Oh heart, it has been ages.
Ya qalb sarlek min sineen sineen
تركض وراهن بس يا مسكين
You run after them, poor one.
Tarkud wra’hen bas ya meskeen
حاجي ورا أهل الحلى ماشي
Oh traveler, following the people of beauty.
Haji wra ahl al-hala mashi
بتتعب ومش رح يتعبوا الحلوين
You tire, while the beautiful ones will not.
Btit’ab w mesh rah yit’aboo al-hilween
*Verse 2*
يا ظريف الطول ويا بو الميجانا
Oh, charming tall one, oh master of majana.
Ya zarif al-toul wa ya boo al-maijana
يا بو العيون السود شو بحبك أنا
Oh, you with the black eyes, how I love you.
Ya boo al-‘uyun al-soud, shu bihibbak ana
*Verse 3*
ويا ظريف الطول طولك هدّني
Oh, charming tall one, your height has guided me.
Wa ya zarif al-toul, toolak haddani
كنت رايح بطريقي ردّني
When you were on my path, you returned me.
Kunt rayih b-tareeqi raddani
هالله هالله يا دني شو هالدني
Oh my God, oh my God, oh world, what is this world?
Hallah hallah ya deni, shu hal-deni
جافيتنا ونسيت أيام الهنا
You abandoned us and forgot the days of bliss.
Jafaytna w niseet ayyam al-hana
*Verse 4*
يا ظريف الطول يا طول الحلو
Oh, charming tall one, the epitome of beauty.
Ya zarif al-toul, ya tool al-hiloo
يا زنبق ونسمة هوا بتميله
Oh lily, and a gentle breeze tilts it.
Ya zanbaq, wa nasmat hawa bitmeeleh
مرقتوا علينا وليش ما بتميّلوا
You passed by us, so why do you not sway?
Mar’aqtoo ‘alayna, w leesh ma bitmeeloo
وتغامزوا الجيران وعرفوا شو بنا
And you wink at the neighbors, revealing our secret.
W tghamazoo al-jiraan wa ‘arafu shu bana
*Verse 5*
يا ظريف الطول يا جار الرضا
Oh, charming tall one, neighbor of contentment.
Ya zarif al-toul, ya jar al-rida
حبك على قلبي بدمعاته مضا
Your love illuminates my heart with its tears.
Hubbak ‘ala qalbi bidum’ato mada
وما بقى من العمر أكثر ما مضى
And what remains of life is but what has passed.
W ma ba’a min al-‘umr akthar ma mada
خلّي الليالي الباقية رقص وغنا
Let the remaining nights be filled with dance and song.
Khalli al-layali al-baqiya raqs w ghina
*Verse 6*
منغنّي .. ما منغني .. لأ منغني
I sing… I don’t sing… oh, I do sing.
Manghanni .. ma manghanni .. la manghanni
ليل مضوّي ودنيتنا صارت جنّه
A night shines, and our world has become heaven.
Leil madhawi w duneytna sarat janna
*Verse 7*
ويا طير ال بالزعرورة وغاوي زهورها
Oh bird, with the care of the little one and enamored with its flowers.
Wa ya teer al-balza’roura wa ghaawi zhoorha
لمّن بتروح تزورها اسألها عنّي
When you go to visit her, ask her about me.
Lammen bitrouh tazoorha, is’alha ‘anni
*Verse 8*
ويا إم الشلحه الحمرا ويضحك عمرها
Oh, mother of the red shawl, whose age smiles.
Wa ya im al-shalha al-hamra, w yidhak ‘umraha
لفتة من عيون السمرا بتجنني
A glance from those brown eyes drives me crazy.
Lafta min ‘uyun al-samra bitjannini