Opening
UGA Middle East Music Ensemble Concert
University of Georgia
Ramsey Hall 7:30pm
April 21, 2026
Song Lyrics
Wanderer / Sawwāḥ / حاوس
sawwaḥ wa māshī fī l-bilād sawwaḥ w-il-khaṭwa baynī wa bayn ḥabībī barāḥ mishwār ba‘īd w-anā fīh gharīb w-il-layl yi’arrab w-in-nahār rawwaḥ
I am a wanderer who walks the land. The steps between my lover and me are many. I am far away, and I feel like a stranger. The day is over and nighttime is near.
Refrain
w-in la’ākum ḥabībī sallimūlī ‘aleh ṭamminūnī l-asmarānī ‘amla eh il-ghurba fīh?
If my lover should find you, give him my greetings. Set my mind at ease, how is that dark, handsome guy faring during our separation?
Verse 1
sawwaḥ w-anā māshī layālī sawwaḥ
wa-lā dārī bi-ḥālī sawwaḥ m(in)-l-fur’a yā ghālī sawwaḥ eh illī garālī sawwaḥ
I am a wanderer walking at night, a wanderer. Or my mind in a daze, a wanderer. From the separation, Oh my Dear! Awanderer. What has happened to me?Awanderer.
wi-snīn w-anā dāyib shō’wa-ḥanīn ‘āyiz a‘raf bassi ṭarī’u mnīn
For years I have been madly in love and longing for tenderness. I only want to know which way to go. [refrain]
Verse 2
yā ‘ayūnī, ah yā ‘ayūnī eh garālak fayn inta wa bita‘amil eh?
yā ẓnūnī, ah yā ẓnūnī mā tsībūni
mish nā’iṣ anā ḥīra ‘alayh lā anā ‘ārif artāḥ w-anā tāyih sawwaḥ
Precious, Oh my Precious one, what happened to you?
Where are you, and what are you doing?
Oh my suspicions!Ah! Oh my suspicions, why don’t you leave me alone?
I don’t need to be worried about him.
I don’t know how to rest, and I am lost, a wanderer.
wi-snīn w-anā dāyib shō’wa-ḥanīn
‘āyiz a‘raf bassi ṭarī’u mnīn
For years I have been madly in love and longing for tenderness. I only want to know which way to go.
[refrain]
Verse 3
yā ‘amar yā nāsīnī rassīnī ‘a-llī ghāyib nawwar lī warrīnī sikit il-ḥabāyib
waṣṣaytak waṣṣiyya yā shāhid ‘alayya
Tiḥkī luh ‘a-llī biyya w-illī ’asituh fī layāliyya
Oh Beautiful one who has forgotten about me, explain to me what is missing. Illuminate to me and show me the way of lovers.
I gave you some advice, you know I did.
Tell him what I am feeling and what I suffer at night.
wi-snīn w-anā dāyib shō’wa-ḥanīn
‘āyiz a‘raf bassi ṭarī’u mnīn
For years I have been madly in love and longing for tenderness. I only want to know which way to go.
[refrain]
The Breeze Blew Over Us / Nassem
Refrain
Nassem ‘aleynā l-hawā min mafra’il-wādī yā hawā dakhl il-hawā khidnī ‘ala bilādī
The breeze blew over us from the valley's crossroads. Oh breeze, for the sake of love, take me to my home!
Verse 1
yā hawā yallī ṭāyir bi-l-hawā fī mantūra wi ṭā’a wi ṣūra khidnī li-‘andhunna yā hawā fi-z‘āni ya ’albī tikbara bihā l-gharbi mā ta‘rifnī bilādī khidnī ‘ala bilādī
Oh breeze...you who are flying in the air, In a sweet-smelling flower, a window, and a photograph, Take me to them, oh breeze
You frighten me, my heart,
Growing older in this exile, Will my home no longer recognize me?
Take me to my home! [refrain]
Verse 2
shū binā yā ḥabībī shū binā kintū wi kinnā
tḍallū ‘annā wi-ftara’nā shū binā w-ba‘d i-shams bi-tibkī ‘ā-l-babu w-mā taḥkī yaḥkī hawā bilādī khidnī ‘ala bilādī
What has happened to us? Oh my love, what has happened to us?
We used to be together and we were...
We’ve lost the way and have separated, what happened to us?
Even the sun is weeping
At the door, saying nothing, While the breeze of my home speaks
Take me to my home! [refrain]
I Swear, Mama / Wi-n-Nabi Yamma /
امي
Refrain
wi-n-nabī yammā ta‘zurīnī tit’annī ‘alayya
ḥubbi ḥabībī shāghilnī lānī rāyḥa wa lā gāyya
wi-n-nabī yammā
I swear, mama, have patience, go easy on me. Love for my beloved occupies me. I don’t know if I’m coming or going. I swear, mama...
Verse 1
ashūf ḥabībī ‘a ṭ-ṭarī’yitmakhṭar
wi-l-‘ayn sūda sūda wi-l-khudūd ward ahmar
ṭalabt waṣluh ’āl ḥaḍir lammā nishar
w-allāh in mā gānī mā gānī lānī rāyḥa wa lā gāyya
wi-n-nabī yammā
I see my beloved strutting down the road. His eyes black, so black, and his cheeks like a red rose.
I asked for a tryst, and he said, “Fine, let’s meet late at night.”
I swear, if he doesn’t come, if he doesn’t come, I won’t know if I’m coming or going.
I swear, mama...
Verse 2
ashūf ḥabībī ’āyid fi-l-‘illiyyah
Il-khadd zāhī zāhī wi-l-‘uyūn ‘asaliyyah
ṭalabt waṣluh ’āl ḥaḍir ṣubḥiyyah
w-allāh in mā gānī mā gānī lānī rāyḥa wa lā gāyya wi-n-nabī yammā
I see my beloved sitting up on the balcony. His cheeks bright, so bright, and his eyes are honey-colored.
I asked for a tryst, and he said, “Fine, let’s meet in the early morning.”
I swear, if he doesn’t come, if he doesn’t come, I won’t know if I’m coming or going.
I swear, mama...
What’s Wrong with You, Beautiful One? / Mā Lik Yā
mā lik yā ḥilwa mā lik huwa l-garām ghayyar ḥālik fatanū ‘alayki ‘udhdhālik lamma ra’ūk bi-jamālik
Mā Lik /
What’s wrong with you, beautiful one? It is love that changed your whole state. They told on you the jealous and envious ones when they saw your beauty.
inti ḥayātī wa rūḥ ’albī baḥibbik lākin eh dhanbī mā mṭḥoṭṭī ’albik ’alā ’albī dāwī ḥabībī bi-waṣālik
You are my life and the soul of my heart. I love you, but what did I do wrong? Why don’t you put your heart on my heart? Heal me, my beloved, my being close.
Oh Bird, Fly / Ya Tirah Tiri /
yā ṭīrah ṭīrī yā ḥamāmah w-inzilī b-dummar w-il-hāmah hātī lī min ḥibbī ‘alāmah
yā asmar yā abū l-khāl
yikfā ‘azābī ḥarām w-allāh
anā ‘alā dīnī jannantīnī
‘alā dīnī l-‘ish’ḥarām w-allāh
Oh bird, fly. Oh dove!
Fly to Dummar and Hama. Bring me a sign from my beloved. The dark-skinned one with a beauty mark on his cheek. Enough suffering, it’s ḥarām, by God! I swear, you made me wildly possessed. I swear, this passion is ḥarām, by God.
yā ṭīrah yā ḥilwah ta‘ālī w-iḥkī luh ‘a llī shaghal bālī
'ūlī luh ḥubbak yiḥlālī
yā asmar yā abū l-khāl
yikfā ‘azābī ḥarām w-allāh
anā ‘alā dīnī jannantīnī
‘alā dīnī l-‘ish’ḥarām w-allāh
Oh beautiful bird, come, And tell him what preoccupies my mind. Tell him, “Your love pleases me.”
The dark-skinned one with a beauty mark on his cheek. Enough suffering, it’s ḥarām, by God! I swear, you made me wildly possessed. I swear, this passion is ḥarām, by God.
yā ṭīrah ṭīrī bi-wādīnā w-iḥkī luh ‘a llī mjāfīnā 'ūlī luh ḥubbak kāwīnā
yā asmar yā abū l-khāl yikfā ‘azābī ḥarām w-allāh anā ‘alā dīnī jannantīnī ‘alā dīnī l-‘ish’ḥarām w-allāh
Oh bird, fly to our valley, And tell him what happened to us. Tell him, “Your love has burned us.”
The dark-skinned one with a beauty mark on his cheek. Enough suffering, it’s ḥarām, by God! I swear, you made me wildly possessed. I swear, this passion is ḥarām, by God.
O Syrian (Damascus) Woman / Yā Māl i-Shām /
yā māl ish-shām yallā yā mālī
ṭāl il-māṭāl yā ḥilwa ta‘ālī
Oh Syrian (Damascus) woman, Oh my treasure! You have been away for a long time. Oh beautiful one, come back.
law il-māṭāl ṭāl wa ṭawwil mā bitghayyir wa-lā bitḥawwal
Even if you were away for a long and still longer time, I won't change, and I won't turn away (from you).
mishta'lik yā nūr ‘ayūnī
ḥatta na‘īd iz-zaman il-awwal aḥlā zamān ’adaytuh ma‘āki
I long for you, Oh light of my eyes. Let us bring back our first days. The best times I have spent were with you.
