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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