ولطمة شفية القلبWith a lamenting beat that soothes the heart's ache,

اخوي اشتاقيناO brother, we longed for you,

ها ها آخAh, alas!

من بعد ذيج الغيبةAfter that long absence,

رد ظعن الأحبابThe caravan of the loved ones has returned.

من بعد ذيج الغيبةAfter that long absence,

رد ظعن الأحبابThe caravan of the loved ones has returned.

يطلع بقلبك شيبهIt brings gray hair to your heart,

الغالي اللي طول غيابهThe dear one whose absence has lasted so long.

من بعد ذيج الغيبة (2x)After that long absence,

رد ظعن الأحبابThe caravan of the loved ones has returned.

طلع بقلبك شيبهIt brought gray hair to your heart,

الغالي اللي طول غيابهThe dear one whose absence has lasted so long.

وعن اللي قلت شيجيبهAnd of him about whom you asked, 'What could ever bring him back?'

عاد النوايب جابهNow the afflictions themselves have brought him back.

وعن اللي قلت شيجيبهAnd of him about whom you asked, 'What could ever bring him back?'

عاد النوايب جابهNow the afflictions themselves have brought him back.

يحد بحزن ونهيبةSurrounded with sorrow and plundering grief,

القبر اللي يجي لعتابهToward the grave to whose threshold one comes,

قبر اللي يجي لعتابهThe grave of him to whose threshold one comes.

ويلي ويلي ويليWoe is me, woe is me, woe is me!

لون القبر من لون صار تراب عيوني (2x)The color of the grave has become the color of the dust in my eyes.

راح من العيون الشوف من كثر ما بكونيMy sight has faded from my eyes because of how much they made me weep.

من كثر ما بكونيBecause of how much they made me weep.

الليل سيبيد حيلي وانطر يخلص ليلي (2x)The night has drained my strength, and I wait for my night to end.

ولو نامن العلويات جيب لي نوم عيونيEven if the noble ladies sleep, how can sleep reach my eyes?

جيب لي نوم عيونيBring sleep to my eyes.

بعدك مشيت الدنيا كلهاAfter you, I traversed the entire world,

ولميت الايتام بحملهاAnd gathered the orphans with all their sorrow.

الايتام باچيناThe weeping orphans,

وليكم رديناWe have returned to you.

الشمس وليكم رديناLike the sun, we have returned to you.

وتلاقى الحسين وحبيبه (2x)And Hussain and his beloved have reunited.

طبع الشمس طبع الشمس رد من مغيبهIt is the nature of the sun to return after its setting.

وتلاقى الحسين وحبيبهAnd Hussain and his beloved have reunited.

طبع الشمس رد من مغيبهThe sun has returned after its setting,

وتلاقى الحسين وحبيبهAnd Hussain and his beloved have reunited.

واشتقنا ليكم ردينا (2x)Longing for you, we have returned.

عشرة يسر وراسك الله يا ذيك العشرةTen days of captivity with your severed head—oh God, what a companionship that was!

عشرة يسر علي عماد السعداويCompanionship of captivity [Ali Imad al-Saadawi]

عشرة يسر وراسك الله يا ذيك العشرةTen days of captivity with your severed head—oh God, what a companionship that was!

أنا أختك أقرأ إحساسك (2x)I am your sister, I can read your feelings,

وافتهمك من النظر (2x)And I understand you just from a glance.

عشرة يسر وراسك الله يا ذيك العشرةTen days of captivity with your severed head—oh God, what a companionship that was!

أنا أختك أقرا إحساسك وأفتهمك من النظرةI am your sister, I read your feelings and understand you from a single glance

من يوم قطع أنفاسك ما فارقتني الحسرةSince the day your breath was cut off, sorrow has never left me

من يوم قطع أنفاسكSince the day your breath was cut off

من يوم قطع أنفاسك ما فارقتني الحسرةSince the day your breath was cut off, sorrow has never left me

بالخيل أخوي الداسك داس على ضلع الزهرةO my brother, the horses that trampled you trampled upon the rib of al-Zahra

داس على ضلع الزهرةThey trampled upon the rib of al-Zahra

ويلي ويلي ويليWoe is me, woe is me, woe is me

آخا يا ذبح إخوانيAh, the slaughter of my brothers!

هو بسبي ودانيIt led me into captivity

آخا يا ذبح أقولهاAh, what slaughter, I cry out!

آخا يا ذبح إخوانيAh, the slaughter of my brothers!

هو بسبي ودانيIt led me into captivity

مشاني ويا القتالIt forced me to walk alongside the killers

وبلا أهل خلاني (2x)And left me without my family

تعبانة من الفرقةI am exhausted from separation

مالي ويا راسك ملقىIs there no meeting for me with your severed head?

تعبانة تعبانة هاI am so weary, so weary, ah

تعبانة من الفرقةI am exhausted from separation

مالي ويا راسك ملقىIs there no meeting for me with your severed head?

فوق الرمح وأنا وياكYou atop the spear and I with you

واحد يصبر الثانيEach of us comforting the other

واحد يصبرOne comforting the other...

أتمنى راسك بين يديI wish your head were between my hands

وعليها موت ويا رقيةAnd upon it I would die, just like Ruqayyah

أتمنى راسك بين يديI wish your head were between my hands

وعليها موت ويا رقيةAnd upon it I would die, just like Ruqayyah

يا اللي تبكي علينا عليكمO you who weep for us, peace be upon you

يا اللي تبكيO you who weep

وتلاقى الحسين وحبيبهAnd al-Husayn met his beloved

وتلاقى الحسينAnd al-Husayn met...

يلا ظعن الشمسCome, caravan of the sun

ظعن الشمسCaravan of the sun

ظعن الشمس رد من المغيبهThe caravan of the sun returned from the sunset

وتلاقى الحسين وحبيبهAnd al-Husayn met his beloved

ظعن الشمس رد من المغيبهThe caravan of the sun returned from the sunset

وتلاقى الحسين وحبيبهAnd Hussain met with his beloved,

واخوي اشتاقينا بيك وديناO my brother, take us, we have longed for you,

واخوي اشتاقينا بيك يوم رديO my brother, we longed for you the day we returned,

يتلاقى الحسين وحبيبهHussain meets his beloved,

ويتلاقى الحسين وحبيبهAnd Hussain meets his beloved,

كلمن يسولف هم وخاطر يصبر خاطر (2x)Each speaks of their grief, one broken heart comforting another,

وبالدار بكلمة عمه بقد العطش بالعاشرAnd back home with the word 'Auntie', deep as the thirst on Ashura,

بالدار بكلمة عمهBack home with the word 'Auntie',

يا عمه (4x)O auntie,

كلمن يسولف هم وخاطر يصبر خاطرEach speaks of grief, one comforting the other,

وبالدار بكلمة عمه ندم جد العطش بالعاشرAnd in the ruin, calling 'Auntie', with a sorrow as burning as the tenth's thirst,

يا حسين اخوي الندمة (2x)O Hussain, my brother, what deep regret,

من عبر ضلع الحافرWhen the horse's hoof trampled across your ribs!

يا حسين اخوي الندمةO Hussain, my brother, what deep regret,

من جاز ضلوع الحافرWhen the hoof crushed past your ribs!

الموت على راسك نعمةDeath over your severed head would have been a blessing,

شوف اللي بحالك ايش صاير (2x)Look at what has happened to your state!

وجهك اللي يسوى امتانهYour face, which is so deeply awaited,

اخوي ايش كثر بكانهO my brother, how much it made us weep!

وجهك اللي يسوى امتانهYour face, which is worth longing for,

تدري ايش كثر بكانهDo you know how bitterly it made us weep?

يا اخوي من جابوا ماءO my brother, when they brought water,

قلت انا لك عطشانه (2x)I cried: 'I am thirsty for you!'

احسب حساب لقبركI hold your grave dear in my thoughts,

وامشي على ريحة نحركAnd I walk guided by the scent of your throat,

احسب حساب لقبركI count every step toward your grave,

وامشي على ريحة نحركAnd I walk drawn by the scent of your throat,

ولكربلا من عنيت (2x)And when I set out toward Karbala,

ماي وهوى تلقانا (2x)Water and breeze greeted us.

تروينا من قد ما يبسنا (2x)We quenched our thirst after being so parched,

وبريحة الخوة انترسناAnd we were filled with the scent of brotherhood.

جروح التمينا وليكم رديناWe, a gathering of wounds, returned to you,

جروح التجينا ولكم رديناSeeking refuge in wounds, we returned to you,

وتلاقى الحسين وحبيبهAnd Hussain met with his beloved.

يلا يا الشمسCome, O sun!

ظعن الشمس رد من مغيبهThe caravan of the sun returned from its sunset,

وتلاقى الحسين وحبيبهAnd Hussain met with his beloved.

ظعن الشمس رد من مغيبهThe caravan of the sun returned from its sunset,

وتلاقى الحسين وحبيبهAnd Hussain met with his beloved.

اخويا يا اخويا جينا ليكم رديناO brother, my brother, we came and returned to you,

واخويا جينا ليكم رديناAnd brother, we came and returned to you,

وتلاقى الحسين وحبيبهAnd Hussain met with his beloved,

وتلاقى على القبر صحت عياليAnd they met... At the grave, I called out to my family:

شو تريدين مولاتي شو تريدين منهم؟“What do you want, my lady? What do you seek of them?”

على القبر صحت عياليAt the grave, I cried to my family:

ياللي جبت عمري دواكم“O you whose comfort I tended my entire life,

ناموا ويظل باليSleep now, while my heart remains troubled,

والدار كله ارعاكمAnd throughout the whole house I watched over you.

هالساعة ارحموا بحاليHave mercy on my state in this hour,

نخوة غريب انخاكمWith a stranger’s plea, I call upon you.

هالساعة ارحموا بحالي (2x)Have mercy on my state in this hour,

نخوة غريب انخاكم (2x)With a stranger’s plea, I call upon you.

خل اشبع من الغالي (2x)Let me have my fill of my precious one,

وبعدين اموت وياكAnd then I will die with you.

بعدين اموت وياكAnd then I will die with you.

خلوني اطيح بكثرهLet me collapse beside him,

مشتاق اشمن عطرهLonging to breathe in his fragrance.

خلوني اطيح بكثرهLet me collapse beside him,

مشتاق اشمن عطره من العاشر مضيعه حسينI yearn to smell his scent; since the Tenth of Muharram I have lost Hussain.

ولك يا ريحة قبره (2x)Oh, the sacred fragrance of his shrine!

ويل الحكي اللي بعيونيWoe, the agony untold within my eyes,

غير الحكي اللي بمتونيIs different from the pain written on my bruised shoulders.

ويل الحكي اللي بعيونيWoe, the agony untold within my eyes,

غير الحكي اللي بمتونيIs different from the pain written on my bruised shoulders.

تعبانة من حكي الشامI am exhausted from the taunts and whispers of Damascus,

وطبت السوق الحسرةAnd the anguish of entering the marketplace,

طبت السوق الكسرةThat heart-breaking entrance into the bazaar.

ديوانهم هم ما وقفوناIn their court, did they not make us stand humiliated?

أول شي طاح راس أخوناFirst of all, our brother's severed head was cast down.

وليكم رديناTo you we have returned,

لحد ما مليناWeary to the point of exhaustion.

وليكم رديناTo you we have returned,

وتلاقى الحسين وحبيبهAnd Hussain met his beloved.

وتلاقى الحسينAnd Hussain met...

ظعن الشمس ظعنيCaravan of the sun is my caravan,

ظعن الشمس ظعني ظعني ظعنيCaravan of the sun is my caravan, my caravan, my caravan,

وتلاقى الحسين وحبيبهAnd Hussain met his beloved.

ظعن الشمس ظعني ظعني ظعنيCaravan of the sun is my caravan, my caravan, my caravan,

وتلاقى الحسين وحبيبهAnd Hussain met his beloved.

أخوي جايين لكم رديناO my brother, we are coming! To you we have returned.

أخوي السقايا لكم رديناO my water-bearing brother, to you we have returned.

وتلاقى الحسينAnd Hussain met...

خادم الزهراء الطيب العزيز علي عماد السعداوي[Dedication to servant of Zahra, Ali Imad Al-Saadawi]

آه رديت الروس بكفةAh... In one hand I brought back the heads of the martyrs,

وبكفة ملتقى أحبابAnd in the other, a reunion with my beloveds.

ع القبر شفت اللهفةAt the grave, I saw such yearning,

من طولت بغيابيAfter my long absence.

صحت أبا فاضل واسفةI cried out: 'O Aba Fadl, what sorrow!'

ظل ما سمع بعتابيYet he remained silent, unable to hear my lament.

صحت أخو زينب وقفةI cried: 'Brother of Zainab, rise for a moment!'

ظل ما سمع بعتابيYet he remained silent, unable to hear my lament.

لو عدل چان تحفى (2x)Were he alive, he would have rushed barefoot to me,

عباس خدر حجابي (2x)Abbas, guardian of my veil and honor!

رديت روحي بكفهI returned my soul upon his palm,

وبكفه ملگى أحبابيAnd on his palm was the reunion with my beloved ones.

على القبر شفت اللهفةAt the grave, I saw the yearning

من طولت بغيابيWhen my absence had lasted so long.

صحت أبو فاضل وقفةI cried out: "O Abu Fadhl, rise and stand!"

صحت أخو زينب وقفةI cried out: "Brother of Zaynab, rise and stand!"

ظل ما سمع بعتابيYet he remained still, not hearing my reproach;

لو عدل چان تحفىIf he were alive, he would have rushed barefoot to me.

عباس خدر حجابي (2x)O Abbas, protector of my veil!

زينب اللي لفت حيوها (2x)Zaynab has arrived, greet her!

تستاهل تلاگوهاShe is worthy of being welcomed!

زينب اللي لفت على وجههاZaynab has arrived, covering her face in grief,

زينب اللي لفت حيوهاZaynab has arrived, greet her!

تستاهل تلاگوهاShe is worthy of being welcomed!

زينب اللي لفت حيوهاZaynab has arrived, greet her!

تستاهل تلاگوهاShe is worthy of being welcomed!

حرمة بعمرها الخمسينA woman in her fifties,

تركض ركض خلوهاThey forced her to run and flee!

زينب اللي لفت حيوهاZaynab has arrived, greet her!

تستاهل تلاگوهاShe is worthy of being welcomed!

حرمة بعمرها الخمسينA woman in her fifties,

تركض ركض خلوها (2x)They forced her to run and flee!

تتحفى على النار هوايBarefoot she stepped across so many burning embers,

عطشانة بس مو للماي (2x)Thirsty, but not for water;

يابس گلبها على إخوانHer heart is parched with longing for her brothers,

للذبح ما عافهاEven to the slaughter, he did not abandon her,

للذبح ما ماTo the slaughter... not...

غمضت ليلة بضعنهاDid she ever close her eyes for a single night in her caravan?

وين راح تنام زين؟Where could she ever sleep peacefully?

هذا الضعن كله ما نايمThis whole caravan has never slept.

أوي أوي أويOh... alas, alas...

أبويا ياماO my father! O my mother!

أبو آهO father... ah...

ذبيت روحي من على النوقI threw myself down from atop the camels,

ما گليلي انهنا وضيعونيNone told me to rest, and they left me forlorn,

يا يماO mother,

قِلّي أنا ذبّيت روحي من على النّوقI threw myself down from atop the camels,

لكن يا خوي كفّي مشبوكYet, O my brother, my hands were bound in chains.

آخ آخAh! Ah!

قالت كل ساعة أكشف الرؤوس وانعىShe said: Every moment I unveil the heads and lament,

أكشف الرؤوس وانعىI unveil the heads and lament,

وانقلب من النوح دمعهAnd turn entirely into a tear of mourning.

أبويا من ونه المدفونة سمعهاO my father, whoever heard the moans of the buried one

كأن ونه المكسور ضلعهFound it just like the groans of the one with broken ribs.

لما غمضت ليلى بضعهاWhen Layla closed her eyes for a brief while,

وين راحت تنام؟Where did she go to sleep?

يم القبر غمض جفنهاRight beside the grave her eyelids closed.

لما غمضت ليلى بضعهاWhen Layla closed her eyes for a brief while,

يم القبر غمض جفنهاBeside the grave her eyelids closed.

ويلي ويلي ويليWoe is me, woe is me, woe is me!

وقال قالت حنيناShe said: We yearned for you,

وإليكم ردينا... قالت حنيناAnd to you we have returned... she said: We yearned for you.

قالت حنيناShe said: We yearned for you,

وإليكم رديناAnd to you we have returned.

قالت حنيناShe said: We yearned for you.

يلا فدوه! ظعن الشمس رد من مغيبهCome, by my soul! The caravan of the sun has returned from its sunset,

ظعن الشمس رد من مغيبه (2x)The caravan of the sun has returned from its sunset,

وضاع الحسين وحبيبه (2x)And lost is Hussain and his beloved.

وإليكم ردينا (5x)And to you we have returned.