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Veronique Soufflet Records Fairuz's Classic Song "Aatini Nay" in French

فيرونيك سوفليه تغني اغنية فيروز الشهيرة "اعطني الناي وغنّ" باللغة الفرنسية

Veronique Soufflet recently recorded Fairuz's classic song "Atini Nay" in French! The lyrics are by Kahlil Gibran and the composer is, of course, the great Najib Hankash. This is the first time that this song has been translated and sung in a European language although, of course, several Arab and Western singers have recorded their version of the song in the original Arabic (see http://wn.com/Aatini_Nay).


Here is Veronique Soufflet's version (you can read the lyrics on the screen in French as the song plays) plus the original song as performed by Fairuz (followed by the Arabic lyrics) as well as the versions of the song by Lhasa de Sela, Shakira, and Tino Favazza (all of whom sing in Arabic!).

Finally, you can read an English translation of the poem/lyrics (based on Kahlil's Gibran's original verses).


Veronique Soufflet begins the song in Arabic but continues with a beautiful French translation





Fairuz sings the original song on Lebanese TV







اعطني الناي و غن
جبران خليل جبران

أعطني النايَ و غنِّ فالغِنا سرُّ الوُجود

و أنينُ النايِ يبقى بعدَ أنْ يفنى الوُجود


أعطني النايَ و غنِّ فالغِنا سرُّ القلوب 

و أنينُ النايِ يبقى بعدَ أنْ يفنى الخلود


هل تخذتَ الغابَ مثلي منزلاً دونَ القصور؟ 

فتتبعتَ السواقي و تسلقتَ الصخور

هل تخذتَ الغابَ مثلي منزلاً دونَ القصور؟ 

فتتبعتَ السواقي و تسلقتَ الصخور



هل تحممتَ بعطرٍ و تنشفتَ بِنور؟

هل تحممتَ بعطرٍ و تنشفتَ بِنور؟

و شربتَ الفجرَ خمراً في كؤوسٍ من أثير



أعطني النايَ و غنِّ فالغِنا سرُّ الوُجود 

وأنينُ النايِ يبقى بعد أنْ يفنى الوُجود

أعطني النايَ و غنِّ فالغِنا سرُّ القلوب 

و أنينُ النايِ يبقى بعد أنْ يفنى الوجود


هل جلست العصر مثلي بين جفناتِ العِنَب 

و العناقيدُ تدَلّت كَثُرياتِ الذهب

هل جلستَ العصر مثلي بين جفنات العنب 

و العناقيدُ تدلت كَثُريات الذهب 


هل فرشتَ العشبَ ليلاً و تلحفتَ الفضا؟

هل فرشتَ العشبَ ليلاً و تلحفتَ الفضا ؟

زاهداً في ما سيأتي ناسياً ما قد مضى


أعطني الناي و غن فالغنا عدلُ القلوب 

و أنين الناي يبقى بعد أن تفنى الذُنوب


أعطني النايَ و غنِّ و انسَ داءً و دَواء 

إنما الناسُ سطورٌ كُتِبَت لكن بِماء

أعطني النايَ و غنِّ و انسَ داءً و دَواء 

إنما الناسُ سطورٌ كُتِبَت لكن بِماء


أعطني النايَ و غنِّ و انسَ داءً و دَواء 

إنما الناسُ سطورٌ

كُتِبَت .... لكن بِماء 




Lhasa de Sela (1972-2010) sings the Fairuz song in Arabic on Canadian TV



Another live performance of the song, in Arabic, by Lhasa de Sela



Shakira sings her version of the song, in Arabic, at many of her concerts


Interview with Shakira (in Spanish) where she talks about Fairuz and sings the first few verses of the song



Tino Favazza sings an operatic version of the song in Arabic


Give Me the Nay (Flute, Lute) and Sing 
(English Translation of the poem by Kahlil Gibran)



Give me the Nay and sing,
The secret song of eternity.
The laments of the Nay will linger
Beyond the decline of existence. 

Have you, like me,
Chosen the forest dwelling 
Rather than the castle? 

Have you followed the stream 
And climbed the rocks? 
 
Have you anointed your body 
With fragrance distilled in light? 
Have you been drunk with dawn 
In the goblets full of pure air? 

Have you, like me,
Sat down at dusk, 
Among the glowing languor
Of vines laden with grapes? 
     
Have you lain down on the grass at night
And covered yourself with heavens, 
Opening your heart to the future, 
Forgetful of the past?
     
Give me the Nay and sing,
The song in tune with hearts.
The laments of the Nay will linger
Beyond the fading of sins. 

Give me the Nay and sing,
Give me the flute and sing, 
forgetting all ailments and cures; 
for people are like lines on a page
--written down--but with water

To listen to other singers and artists singing or playing the instrumental versions of this song, see http://wn.com/Aatini_Nay

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