العطش آه العطش ( لا يا ماي )

باكر لا تفز ع المشرعه وتسقي الغصنTomorrow, do not rush to the riverbank to water the branch,

لا يا ماي (2x)No, O water!

يخاطر سهم منه وقمر بينطعنAn arrow risks striking, and a moon will be pierced,

لا يا مايNo, O water!

وها يا مايO water,

يا ماي عوف الغيم خضر بالـO water, leave the clouds, turn green in the...

يا ماي عوف الغيم خضر بالعينO water, leave the clouds and blossom in the eyes,

نخفى ويعط بينا العطش ما ادري لوينWe faint as thirst drags us to who knows where,

جف الدمع ونريد نبكي على حسينOur tears have dried up, yet we yearn to weep for Hussain,

يا ماي عوف الغيم خضر بالعينO water, leave the clouds and blossom in the eyes,

نخفى ويعط بينا العطش ما ادري لوينWe faint as thirst drags us to who knows where,

جف الدمع ونريد نبكي على حسينOur tears have dried up, yet we yearn to weep for Hussain.

العطش اه العطش (3x)Thirst, oh thirst!

العطش اه واللهThirst, oh by Allah!

العطش اه العطشThirst, oh thirst!

اه العطشOh, thirst!

آه العطش العطش (2x)Ah, the thirst! The thirst!

أنت سالفتك قديمة ويانا (2x)Your tale with us is ancient,

من قضية بابنا ونيرانه (2x)Since the tragedy of our door and its fire,

ما مريتYou never came by,

ما مريت خاف نسيت (2x)You didn't pass by; perhaps you forgot,

تذكر من بطيت وما اجيتDo you remember when you delayed and never arrived,

تطفي لذاك قلبي خاف نسيتTo quench that burning heart? Perhaps you forgot,

وانطينا بوقتها أمي وفقدت ثالث عليWhen at that time we gave up my mother, and I lost a third Ali,

خاف نسيت (2x)Perhaps you forgot,

يا ماي باكر عاشر أنت المسؤول (2x)O water, tomorrow is the Tenth, and you are answerable,

لو طفل من العطش صبح مقتولIf an infant ends up slain by thirst!

للظامي لو عاتبك باكر شو تقول؟ (2x)To the thirsty one, if he reproaches you tomorrow, what will you say?

أهل العطش (11x)The people of thirst,

ولا تربيلي فوق برمح نايم عيونهمLook up at them, atop the spears their eyes are resting,

الظما أوجع من جلدهمThirst hurt them deeper than any scourge,

تربيلي فوق برمح نايم عيونهمLook up at them, atop the spears their eyes are resting,

رمح عالي وما تلوح كفوفهمThe spear is high, and their hands cannot reach,

ها ياما شلون بهاي (2x)O water, what shall we do about this?

تعطشنا وتغسلناYou leave us thirsty yet wash us in death,

إشوالمهن سوى هاي وهايHow can these two ever go together?

ها يا ماي (2x)O water...

تعطشنا وتغسلناYou make us thirst yet wash our dead,

شوالمهن سوا هاي وهايhow can these two ever be reconciled?

ها يا مايO water...

ودينا لك جربة ما تنراعي وغاب هواهاWe sent you a waterskin with no regard, and its longing faded away,

ها يا مايO water...

لو جاينا بجرفك نقص رويناك (2x)Had you come to us lacking water at your bank, we would have quenched you,

بدموعنا الجفت تظل ما عِفناكwith our tears that dried up; we would never have forsaken you.

بس رد لخيام القمر لو مرةJust return the Moon to the tents even once,

بس رد لخيام القمر ولاjust return to the Moon's tents, otherwise...

العطش آه العطش (5x)The thirst, oh, the thirst!

العطش ولو ولوThe thirst... oh alas, alas!

كل شي حي منك تقولي الآية (2x)"Every living thing from you", the verse tells me,

ومن أهلنا موتيت هوايةyet so many of our family you caused to die!

كل شي حي منك تقولي الآية"Every living thing from you", the verse tells me,

ومن أهلنا موتيت هوايةyet so many of our family you caused to die!

ها يا ماي (2x)O water...

إش يقضي بمايهWhat will suffice with its water?

ها يا مايO water...

إش يقضي بمايهWhat will suffice with its water?

تعاتب اللي يجيك وتروي ناس العبرة تهضمه (2x)You reproach the one who comes to you, and quench people while choking tears oppress him,

ما ضل راحNothing remained, it is gone...

ها يا مايO water...

يا خيرك رضيع حسين سلم منحرWhere is your bounty, when Hussain's infant surrendered his throat?

ما ضل راحNothing remained, it is gone...

ها يا ماي (2x)O water...

من اليوم مالك قيمة مالك كل لون (2x)From this day on, you have no worth, you have no color!

يالغيرة بكربلاء لون ومعاني (2x)O honor that in Karbala gave color and meaning,

ع اليريدونك تشح هاي شلون؟ (2x)How can you be withheld from those who yearn for you?

العطش آه العطشThirst, ah, the thirst!

آه العطش (4x)Ah, the thirst!

العطش العطش آه العطشThe thirst! Thirst, ah, the thirst!

آه العطش (2x)Ah, the thirst!

العطش آه العطش ويلوهThirst, ah, the thirst! Woe!