We get asked about the meanings of the songs so we compiled a list for most of them below. These are rough translations or transliterations to give you the gist.
In the green fields a young man is walking, a young girl is swaying. He met me with a rose in his hand, his eyes were speaking of love, he has been on my mind, I hope he won't disappoint me. We sowed the seed of love and it grew. We placed the apple and the pomegranate to honor peace and love. It was fate, written in the Book. He promised to talk to my father and uncle; if my father agrees, I will agree, too. I've lived with him long enough! I’ll make a sweet rosewater drink for the guests. Egyptian song of the Fellahin (Tribal Spirit)
In the springtime, when the rain brings new life, is when I miss you the most. Remember when we sat by the river, just you and I, how we laughed and were so happy. Now all I have is the pain of our parting. I need to breathe the air that surrounds you. Afghan song (SpiceBox)
You are walking around Beyoğlu (Istanbul’s downtown area), winking you eyes, braking hearts, why do you keep away from me? Stop shaking, stop boiling, and just come to me! Turkish (Istanbul’da)
These beans cost seven and a half Lira. Shake your hips! I love you from my soul, if you love me divorce your husband! Tonight my money didn’t come, the children came home and ate the blankets. Turkish Rom (Istanbul’da)
I lost my fortune. Peace be upon you. Egyptian folk song (SpiceBox)
My love left me; here I am: young, poor and lonely. Everyday I ask God to bring back my mother and father. O dear God, how could you do this to me? Kosovo Rom Song (Tribal Spirit)
Pour me a glass of wine, O you whose clear beauty has no match. Please be generous and give me a kiss. Egyptian song (SpiceBox)
The beautiful girls of the Tunisian Island of Jarsis. The olives trees are in bloom, there will be a lot of olives this year. Tunisian (The Qaria Project)
You are fine, oh darling. He tripped and fell; they say he is no good. He doesn't work like other people do. He sits on the carpet all day. They say he is with the times, though. He has a pen in his pocket and may God give him a brain! Moroccan song (SpiceBox)
Keep on braiding your hair, you mother of all braids! I want to tell you a secret: As long as I live, I’ll keep loving you. When she goes to pick oranges she sways like a gazelle, I don’t know if she is a dream or a hallucination, but one day she disappeared and is no longer here to brighten our way. Jordanian (Istanbul’da)
A young girl is asking: "Who has seen my red silk scarf and my silver belt?" A young man answers: "Never mind your silk scarf and your silver belt, let my arm wrap around your waist and we'll dance!". Serbian Rom Song (Tribal Spirit)
Oh, black eyed girl, I love you so much, but you don’t believe me. Can you drive two boats? Can you handle my love? Oh beautiful, I love you so much! Turkish Rom (Istanbul’da)
Hey uncle, you have travelled far and wide, have you seen our mother? Refrain: We are Roma children, without a mother, without a father, Our grandmother sent us some money, that was a good deed. Bulgarian Rom (Muse Melodic)
A young maiden was walking under the white rose bush when three young captains invited her into town. After dinner, she pretends to die to avoid spending the night with them. The captains resolve to have prayers to ensure her safe passage to Paradise and bury her in her father's rose garden. A few days later her father, while walking in the garden, hears a voice: "Please open the tomb if you love me, for I am just pretending to be dead.". French song from Brittany (Tribal Spirit)
Leili, my life, you broke my heart, you didn’t come to the gathering. Your eyes are as black as a crow. Your mother doesn’t see my sorrow. The rain came from the sky, my love entered through the corridor, I asked her for a kiss and tears came to her eyes. Leili, you broke my heart. Afghan (Istanbul’da)
It's Thursday night and the party is at my house. The bride and groom are here, let's rejoice for them and may God fulfill their dreams. Let's hear the zaghareet and may happiness be with them for life. The groom gave the bride a belt and gold coin necklace, what a beautiful gesture. Here is the bride, she is beautiful and she brings the light of God with her. Moroccan folk song (SpiceBox)
She pierced my heart with one glance; her silhouette is so graceful, and when she sings, she brings a bird into the garden. Her lips on the glass of wine will bring back to life the ones who were lost in love. Muwasha from Syria (Tribal Spirit)
How nice and beautiful the feeling of love! She is playful like a branch in the breeze. He brought love letters in his pocket but he can't speak. How nice our time away from the jealous one. Moroccan muwasha (SpiceBox)
Our beloved appeared; so let the breeze of my country blow gently. They settled in our lands; the valley's flowers laughed. We sang in the shadow and met near the water; The chanting bird on our branches won't forget us. We are stories in its mind, and from us come the tones of its melodies. When it likes the breeze, it chants between the trees. From above our dark mountains, the dawn rose chatting with us. In our green fields, roses started confiding in us. The birds, on both sides, narrate the stories of the roads. Lebanese (The Qaria Project)
I loaded my horse with tobacco and tea leaves. Do you count the days like I count the days? The cherry season is here, the young girl is dancing, shaking all over. You sing a song, I’ll sing a song, you are a christian, your parents are against us getting together, we can’t dance here, let’s go to our high place. Let your grand mother comb your hair and cover you with black soil and let Allah take you ( this is some kind of curse, not that serious!). Let’s gather some Black Sea sand, and let me sleep in your arms. What shall I do with this girlfriend, she can’t carry the water jug, and she can’t handle the sun, Oh come, cloud and make some shade for her! Black Sea “rap” song (Istanbul’da)
Going to Üsküdar (a neighborhood of Istanbul on the Asian side), I saw my katib (literate office worker), his suit was muddy from the rain. He found my handkerchief and put a Turkish delight in it (thus showing his interest for me). I don’t care what other people think, he is so handsome in his while shirt! Turkish (Istanbul’da)
Oh shepherd roaming the hills at dawn, the flute is playing sweet songs and the flowers are smiling. Keep climbing high, and play old songs so we can dance the Debke. Life in our country is so fun! The olive tree grew in the grove! Palestinian (Istanbul’da)
Let us hear beautiful melodies far into the night; let us have a drink. Your eyebrows are the banks and your forehead is the river. Syrian Muwasha (SpiceBox)
My love’s hair is curly, to me she is a white flower. O my love, my heart is a violin; when, oh when, do we meet? My love’s eyes are like grapes, she is beautiful as day, others look like night to me. Oh, when do we meet? My love’s teeth are white, my love for her draws the blood from my face. When, oh when, do we meet? Turkish (Istanbul’da)