Egyptian Songs in Marvel’s Moon Knight Series

A few days ago the last episode of Marvel’s Moon Knight series was released. The story and acting were quite good, but there was an aspect that many people liked. It is basically how Egypt, and its civilization and culture were portrayed. One significant aspect of Egyptian culture was the choice of the songs used in the intro and ending of each episode, as well as those that served as background music. As language learners, we may be curious about what these songs actually say, so in this post, we will cover a number of these songs, with their lyrics and explanation.

Nagat – ba7lam ma3aak

This song appeared in the first episode while the main character was waiting for his romantic date. The song itself is quite romantic, but its words portrays some interesting picture, which apparently have some significance in a later episode (No spoilers here 🙂 ). The singer of this song is Nagat (or Nagat al-Sagheerah, the little Nagat, apparently to distinguish her from another singer called Nagat).

ba7lam ma3aak lyrics

These are the lyrics of the song.

I Dream with you	ba7lam ma3aak	بحلم معاك
I dream with you .. of a ship	ba7lam ma3aak … be-safeenah	باحلم معاك.. بسفينة
and a harbour .. to anchor us	we be-meenaa .. terasseenaa	وبمينا….ترسينا
and sail again	we-neba77ar taanee	ونبحّر تاني
the wind resists ..and i found you	el-ree7 te3aaned … we-ala2eek	الريح تعاند … وألاقيك
in your eyes .. and your hands	fee 3enaik .. we-eedaik	في عينيك …..وإيديك
my shore and my safety	shhaTTee we amaanee	شطي وأماني
the whole world	el-3aalam kolloh	العالم كله
with its secrets	be-asraaroh	بأسراره
living with me	3aayesh wayyaayaa	عايش ويايا
living inside me	3aayesh gowwaayaa	عايش جوايا
as long as you’re .. in the journey with me	Tool ma-enta … fee el-re7lah ma3aayaa	طول ما انت ..في الرحلة معايا
my name and your name .. my darling	esmak we esmee … ya 7abeebee	اسمك واسمي…. يا حبيبي
my town .. and my story	madentee … we-7ekaaytee	مدينتي…… وحكايتي
my home and my roving	sakanee we-ter7aalee	سكني وترحالي
the whole world	el-3aalam kolloh	العالم كله
with its secrets16	be-asraaroh	بأسراره
living with me	3aayesh wayyaayaa	عايش ويايا
living inside me	3aayesh gowwaayaa	عايش جوايا
as long as you’re .. in the journey with me	Tool ma-enta … fee el-re7lah ma3aayaa	طول ما انت ..في الرحلة معايا

Lyrics are adapted from Lyrics translate website 

Ahmed Saad – el-molook (the kings)

This song appeared in the outro of the second episode. It belongs to a genre of music in Egypt called mahraganaat (literally means “carnivals”). This kind of music was at first mainly the music of more certain areas of cairo (manaatiq sha’beyyah = literally means popular areas but refer to more crowded and poorer areas). However, this music spread in popularity everywhere. It is similar to rap music in terms of some focus on “dissing” (or expressing disrespect) to other unnamed rivals. Of course there are also carnivals about romantic love and others about contemplating life and human nature. However, this song “el-melook” belongs to the first category, with a message of “we are better than you”.

El-melook lyrics

Here are the lyrics of the song

The Kings		الملوك
[Singer: 3enaba]		[عنبة]
I can see non of you	anaa mesh shaayef feekom 7add	أنا مش شايف فيكم حد
y’all bunch of boys, wheedling for a living	entoo 3eyaal 3aayshah 3alaa el-7akk	إنتوا عيال عايشين ع الحك
Everyone knows that y’all are miniscule	koll el-naas 3arfaakoo 3al-2ad	كل الناس عارفاكوا ع القد
Everyone knows that i’m fierce	koll el-naas 3aarfah enne ghasheem	كل الناس عارفة إني غشيم
Never needed backup	3omree fee yoam maa e7tagt le-7add	عمري في يوم ما أحتجت لحد
Not bragging, swear to god it’s true.	mesh tafkheem wallaahee begadd	مش تفخيم و الله بجد
Like a lion, standing in front of everyone	waa2ef west el-koll asad	واقف وسط الكل أسد
Wasn’t meant1 to be mean	maa etrabbet-sh ennee ab2aa la2eem	ما أتربتيش إنى أبقى لئيم
When it’s serious, i got the missiles (name of a band)	fee el-tanfeez 3andee el-Sawaareekh	في التنفيذ عندى الصواريخ
I am 3enab from mars, dude	anaa 3ennaab yasta el-marreekh	أنا عناب ياسطى المريخ
In my wars i use RPGs	west 7oroobee baDrab bawaazeek	وسط حروبي بضرب بوازيك
In my county, i make history	west belaadee bakteblee tareekh	وسط بلادي بكتبلي تاريخ
[Singer: Young Zuksh]		[يانج زوكش]
Dude,	7abeebee	حبيبى
Papa,	baabaa	بابا
Here comes the gang	7aDarnaa gainaa 3eSaabah	حضرنا جينا عصابة
We live…	3eshnaa	عيشنا
Modestly	basaaTah	بساطة
You’ll make it, if determined	hatenga7 law feeh eraadah	هتنجح لو فى إراده
Never needed support, i am on my own (Alone)	ma7tagtesh 7add, anaa saaned nafsee alone	Alone ما احتاجتش حد أنا ساند نفسى
Ringing and buzzing daily, is my phone.	arqaam betrenn be-tezenn 3ala el-telephone	أرقام بترن بتزن على التليفون
Now that i made it, they love me, took my side!	7abboonee lammaa weSelt etlawwenoo 100 loan	حبونى لما وصلت اتلونوا 100 لون
Your shot hits the post, mine scores a goal	kortak teegee 3aarDah kortee teegee goan	كورتك تيجى عارضه كورتى بتيجى جوون
[Singer: Ahmed Saad]		[أحمد سعد]
hush hush hush hush.	sokoot sokoot sokoot sokoot	سكوت سكوت سكوت سكوت
The kings, kings, kings, kings are here	gatt el-molok molook molook	جت الملوك ملوك ملوك ملوك
There is no escape, escape escape	mafeesh horoob horoob horoob	مفيش هروب هروب هروب
from the lions, the lions	men el-osood men el-osood	من الأسود من الأسود
No sales talk!	e7naa mesh be-nebee3 kalaam	إحنا مش بنبيع كلام
We get to the point!	e7naa naas doghree we-tamaam	إحنا ناس دوغرى و تمام
(We) do not care who says what	mesh shaaghelnaa meen ellee 2aal	مش شاغلنا مين اللى قال
The envious have no place	el-7aqood malhoosh makaan	الحقود مالهوش مكان
[Singer: Young Zuksh]		[يانج زوكش]
Mess with me, you get a taste of lunacy	tenkosh-nee teshoof genaan	تنكشنى تشوف جنان
People would gather2	we-tetlam el-geraan	وتتلم الجيران
God blessed me with a wise tongue	rabbak eddaanee 7ekmah fee el-lesaan	ربك إدانى حكمة فى اللسان
(with which) I’d win battles	akol-kom bel-kalaam	أكلكم بالكلام
Yang Zuksh is from El-Salam	yough zoksh gaay men el-salaam	يانج زوكش جاي من السلام
Do not trust me	akhook malhoosh amaan	أخوك مالهوش أمان
I’m decent, so don’t yell “man” at me	anaa 3ala el-mazboot tamaam fa mat2olleesh yaa man	أنا على المظبوط تمام فمتقوليش يا مان
hitting the gas, wining all trophies, bottled poison, quenched their thirst!	anaa daayes we faayez kesebt kol el-gawaayez .. 7aTTait el-semm fee azaayez .. sherebt koll ellee 3aayez	انا دايس و فايز كسبت كل الجوايز حطيط السم فى ازايز شربت كل اللى عايز
I want you to understand me, distinguish! (as i’m doing), and know what’s right!	anaa 3aayez zayy maa-anaa 3aayez amayyez 3aayzak tefham-nee we-temayyez we-teshoof el-Sa77 we-dah kowayyes	انا عايز زى مانا عايز أميز عايزك تفهمنى و تميز و تشوف الصح ده كويس
[Singer: Ahmed Saad]		[أحمد سعد]
Look, look, look where have we been	shoof shoof shoof konnaa fain	شوف شوف شوف كنا فين
And where are we now	we-ba2ainaa delwa2tee fain	و بقينا دلوقتى فين
You, who forgot about me in your good few days, i will forget you for years	yaa ellee neseetoo-nee fee yomain-kom anaa hansaa-kom seneen	ياللى نسيتونى فى يومينكم انا هنساكم سنين
Thanks for hardships, that opened my eyes,	kattar khair el-Zoroof ellee tekhalleenee ashoof	كتر خير الظروف اللى تخلينى أشوف
some i did truly love, others do not deserve consideration	naas 7abbait-haa be-amaanah we-naas taanyah maa-yetshaafoo-sh	ناس حبيتها بأمانه وناس تانيه مايتشافوش
[Singer: 3enaba]		[عنبة]
Everyone was blown away when i’m present	lammaa gait el-koll Taar	لما جيت الكل طار
Undeliberate, i’m an explosion	ghaSb 3annee anaa enfegaar	غصب عنى انا انفجار
It’s hard to see you in space	Sa3b ashoofak fee el-faDaa2	صعب اشوفك فى الفضاء
If you came to me, we’ll make a mess	law gait a3mel ma3aak 7ewaar	لو جيت اعمل معاك حوار
Stay away, i vigorous, from Cairo, yet stronger than any foreigner	eb3ed 3annee 3ashaan anaa ghabee, qaaheraawee we-agmad men el-agnabee	ابعد عنى علشان انا غبى قاهراوى و اجمد من الاجنبى
Dude, your planet is different from mine	kawkabkoo yasTaa ghair kawkabee	كوكبكوا ياسطى غير كوكبي
Alone, can drive an army of Tatars	beToolee wa7dee asoo2 tataar	بطولى وحدي اسوق تاتار
[Singer: Young Zuksh]		[يانج زوكش]
I’m cool, i’m cool, i’m chic	anaa gaamed anaa gaamed anaa sheek	انا جامد انا جامد انا شيك
If you have money, a car gets anywhere	law ma3aak feloos 3arabeyyah be-temashsheek	لو معاك فلوس عربيه بتمشيك
Bro, befriend no hobos, it’s a given	ma3roof ya zemeelee ma-teSaa7eb-sh halaafeet	معروف يازميلى متصحبش هلافيت
(Are you) Cultured? Welcome aboard	law betefham fee el-oSool ahlan beek	لو بتفهم فى الاصول اهلا بيك
We’d want you	neshtereek	نشتريك
You’ll be on top	teb2aa foa2	تبقى فوق
Gray-haired?, meh, it’s just a colour.	we-law yesheeb el-sha3r loan	و لو يشيب الشعر لون
Till the end we’ll keep up	mekammeleen le-aakher yoam	مكملين لآخر يوم
Success is hard, requires no sleep	aSl el-nagaa7 dah sa3b mesh me7taag el-noam	أصل النجاح ده صعب مش محتاج النوم

Sabah – Sa3aat Sa3aat (Sometimes … sometimes)

This song appeared at the end of episode 5. A very melancholic song by the amazing Lebanese singer and actress Sabah. The song portrays a complex psychological state, about a person oscillating between feelings of unexplained happiness and sadness. 

saa3aat saa3aat lyrics

Here are the lyrics of the song.

Sometimes. ..Sometimes	saa3aat saa3aat	ساعات…ساعات
Sometimes. sometimes	saa3aat saa3aat	ساعات…ساعات
I love my life & adore the things ( issues) .	a7ebb 3omree, we a3sha2 el-7agaat	أحب عمري و أعشق الحاجات
I love all people	a7ebb koll el-naas	أحب كل الناس
and how much of feeling (I have)	we-add eih e7saas	و أد ايه احساس!
and I feel inside me hundred melodies	we-a7ess gowwaayaa be-meet nagham	و احس جوايا بميت نغم
hudred melodies filling up the silence	meet nagham yemloo el-sokaat	ميت نغم يملوا السكات
Sometimes. ..Sometimes	saa3aat saa3aat	ساعات .. ساعات
Sometimes. ..Sometimes	saa3aat saa3aat	ساعات …ساعات
I feel how much I am lonely !	a7ess add eih wa7eedah	أحس أد ايه وحيدة
the words that are in my mouth are not new !,	we-add eih el-kelmah fee lesaanee ma-hesh gedeedah	و أد ايه الكلمة في لساني مهيش جديدة
and how much I am not happy! ,	we-add eih maa-anee-sh sa3eedah	و أد ايه منيش سعيدة
and that the stars are so far !,	we-enn el-negoom be3eedah	و ان النجوم بعيدة
And how heavy the time step is !	we-te2eelah khaTwet el-zaman	و ثقيلة خطوة الزمن
How heavy theticking of the clocks!	te2eelah da22et el-sa3aat	ثقيلة دقة الساعات
Sometimes. Sometimes	sa3aat sa3aat	ساعات…ساعات
refrain
I laugh & play like a spring bird	aD7ak we-al3ab zayy 3aSfooret rabee3	أضحك و ألعب زي عصفورة ربيع
Like the breeze ..as it comes.. then it suddenly vanishes	zayy el-naseem maa ye3addee we-fee la7zah yeDee3	زي النسيم ما يعدي و في لحظة يضيع
I get very happy ..and laugh so very much	afra7 awee … we-aD7ak awee awee	أفرح قوي ..و أضحك قوي قوي
and love my life and adore the passing day .	we-a7ebb 3omree we a3sha2 el-yoam ellee faat	و أحب عمري و اعشق اليوم اللي فات
Sometimes. Sometimes	saa3aat saa3aat	ساعات …ساعات
it’s strange, it is strange	ghareebah, we-ghareebah	غريبة ..و غريبة
the same thing that makes me happy, doesn’t make me happy	nafs elle beyfarra7-nee maa yefarra7-nee	نفس اللي بيفرحني ما يفرحني
and it’s strange	we-ghareebah	و غريبة
the same thing that comforts me doesn’t comfort me	nafs elle yerayya7-nee maa yerayya7-nee	نفس اللي يريحني ما يريحني
and I feel my lifetime is gone by	we-a7ess enn 3omree faat	و احس ان عمري فات
without me loving me life and adoring things	men ghair ma-a7ebb 3omree we-a3sha2 el-7agaat	من غير ما احب عمري و اعشق الحاجات
like this sometimes	kedah saa3aat	كدة ساعات
and like that sometimes	we-kedah saa3aat	و كدة ساعات
and it’s strange, the ticking of time passing	we-ghareebah, ghareebah da22et el-zaman	و غريبة..غريبة دقة الزمن
and it’s strange, strange how the clock game is	we-ghareebah ghareebah … le3bet el-saa3aat	و غريبة غريبة ..لعبة الساعات
Sometimes. Sometimes	saa3aat saa3aat	ساعات…ساعات

And here is a list of all songs (Egyptian and non-Egyptian) used in the series.

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