Hello guys, how are you? Today we have a special guest, Nour (which means “light”), who is going to sing some classic Lebanese childhood songs that everyone knows and loves. These are songs that many Lebanese and other Arab children grow up with.
Let’s listen to the first song, 3ammi Bou Mass3oud!
Song 1: 3ammi Bou Mass3oud (عمي بو مسعود)
This is a fun, silly song about an uncle with a big appetite.
| Arabic Lyrics | Latin Transliteration | English Translation |
| عمي بو مسعود | 3ammi Bou Mass3oud, | My uncle Bou Massoud, |
| عيونه كبار وسود | 3youno kbar w soud, | His eyes are big and black, |
| بياكل ما بيشبع | byakol ma byeshba3, | He eats and never gets full, |
| عمي بو مسعود | 3ammi Bou Mass3oud. | My uncle Bou Massoud. |
| شو تغديت اليوم؟ | Shou tghaddayt l yom? | What did you have for lunch today? |
| يا عمي بو مسعود | Ya 3ammi Bou Massoud. | Oh, uncle Bou Massoud. |
Song 2: Kellon 3endon Siyyarat (كلن عندن سيارات)
This song is about a grandpa who has a donkey instead of a car.
| Arabic Lyrics | Latin Transliteration | English Translation |
| كلن عندن سيارات | Kellon 3endon siyyarat, | Everyone has cars, |
| وجدي عنده حمار | w jeddeh 3endo Hmar, | And my grandpa has a donkey, |
| بيركبنا خلفه | birakkebna khalfo, | He puts us on his back, |
| وبياخذنا مشوار | w byakhedna meshwar. | And takes us for a ride. |
| البوليس يزمرله | L bolice yzammerlo, | The police honks at him, |
| وبإيده يأشرله | w b ‘ido y’asherlo, | And waves his hand at him, |
| سيارات تزمرله | siyyarat tzammerlo, | Cars honk at him, |
| باب باب باب | pap pap pap. | (Honk honk honk). |
A Quick Chat with Nour
Here is the small conversation I had with Nour after her lovely performance.
Hiba: Shou esmik? (شو اسمك؟) – What’s your name?
Nour: Nour.
Hiba: addeh 3omrik? (قديه عمرك؟) – How old are you?
Nour: 4 et demi. (4 and a half)
Hiba: W b ayya saff ente? (وبأي صف إنتِ؟) – And what class are you in?
Nour: PS1.
Hiba: 3endik ekhweh? Shou 3endik ekhweh? (عندك إخوة؟ شو عندك إخوة؟) – Do you have siblings? What siblings do you have?
Nour: ekhet. (أخت) – A sister.
Hiba: Ya3neh 3endik ekhet? Eh. shou esma? (يعني عندك أخت؟ إيه. شو اسما؟) – So you have a sister? Yes. What’s her name?
Nour: Sofia.
Salaam,
I came across your video while searching for a song I learned as a child, in the late 60s early 70s, in a summer school up in the mountains of Dhur El Shweir. If my, now old, memory serves me right the words were something like this,
“Awal Lafzah Habayta, Mama. Awal Kalmi La Festa, Mama. Ya Rabbi Khalil Mama, Noora Ayounil Mama.”
Does that make sense or sound familiar? I am So Keen to teach that song to my grandchildren. if you can help, my email is below. Please Do let me know.
Regards,
Muna Tabbarah Nana
yo2borne chaklaaaaa 😀