Song Name (English): Oh, Traveler
Song Name (Arabic): يا الرايح
Song Name (Arabic Romanized): Ya Rayah
This is an Algerian modern song by Algerian artist Rachid Taha from the album Diwân, released in 1998. It is a melancholic and reflective song. The full duration of the song is 6 minutes and 17 seconds. This song was written and composed by Dahmane El Harrachi.
Song Lyrics Translation:
يا الرايح وين مسافر تروح تعيا وتولي
Oh, traveler, where are you going? You’ll get tired and come back.
Ya rayah, win msafer, trouh t’aya w twali
شحال ندموا العباد الغافلين قبلك وقبلي
So many before you and me have regretted their heedlessness.
Chhal nadmou l’bad l’ghaflin k’blak w k’bli
يا الرايح وين مسافر تروح تعيا وتولي
Oh, traveler, where are you going? You’ll get tired and come back.
Ya rayah, win msafer, trouh t’aya w twali
شحال ندموا العباد الغافلين قبلك وقبلي
So many before you and me have regretted their heedlessness.
Chhal nadmou l’bad l’ghaflin k’blak w k’bli
شعال شفت البلدان العامرين والبر الخالي
How many thriving lands and empty deserts have you seen?
Chhal ch’ft l’baldan l’amrin w l’ber l’khali
شعال ضيعت وقات وشعال تزيد مازال تخلي
How much time have you wasted, and how much more will you let slip away?
Chhal dyaat waqat w chhal t’zeed mazal t’khali
يا الغايب في بلاد الناس شعال تعيا ما تجري
Oh, stranger in foreign lands, how much longer will you keep running?
Ya l’ghayeb fi bled n’nas chhal t’aya ma tgri
بيك وعد القدرة ولا الزمان وانت ما تدري
Is it fate or time that has promised you? You do not know.
Bik waad l’qodra wala z’man w inta ma tdri
يا الرايح وين مسافر تروح تعيا وتولي
Oh, traveler, where are you going? You’ll get tired and come back.
Ya rayah, win msafer, trouh t’aya w twali
شحال ندموا العباد الغافلين قبلك وقبلي
So many before you and me have regretted their heedlessness.
Chhal nadmou l’bad l’ghaflin k’blak w k’bli
علاش قلبك حزين وعلاش هكذا كي الزوالي
Why is your heart so sad? Why are you like a poor man?
Alech galbek hazin, walech hakda ki z’wali
ما تدوم الشدة وإيلا بطيت أعلم واكتب لي
Hardships do not last forever; if you delay, let me know and write to me.
Ma tdoum ch’dda w ila b’tayt a’lem w’ktb li
ما يدوموا ليام ولا يدوم صغرك وصغري
Days do not last forever, nor does our youth.
Ma ydoumou lyam, wala ydoum s’ghrek w s’ghri
يا حليلو مسكين الي خاب سعدو كي زهري
Poor man, unlucky like me, whose fate has failed him.
Ya h’lilo miskin, eli khab s’ado ki zahri
يا الرايح وين مسافر تروح تعيا وتولي
Oh, traveler, where are you going? You’ll get tired and come back.
Ya rayah, win msafer, trouh t’aya w twali
شحال ندموا العباد الغافلين قبلك وقبلي
So many before you and me have regretted their heedlessness.
Chhal nadmou l’bad l’ghaflin k’blak w k’bli
يا مسافر نعطيك وصايتي أديها عالبكري
Oh, traveler, I give you my advice, take it early.
Ya msafer n’atik wasayti, d’hiha a’l bakri
شوف ما يصلح بيك قبل ما تبيع وما تشري
See what suits you before you sell or buy.
Chouf ma y’slah bik q’bl ma t’bi w ma t’chri
يا النايم جاني خبرك كيما صرالك صرالي
Oh, sleeper, I heard about you, just as it happened to you, it happened to me.
Ya n’aim jani kh’brak, kima sralk srali
هكذا راد وقدر في الجبين سبحانه العالي
So fate has decreed, written on the forehead, by the Almighty.
Hakda rad w qaddar, fi l’jbin s’bhanou l’aali
يا الرايح وين مسافر تروح تعيا وتولي
Oh, traveler, where are you going? You’ll get tired and come back.
Ya rayah, win msafer, trouh t’aya w twali
شحال ندموا العباد الغافلين قبلك وقبلي
So many before you and me have regretted their heedlessness.
Chhal nadmou l’bad l’ghaflin k’blak w k’bli