The 1st Song I Ever Liked...

In these "Valentine's" days, there isn't much to look at, or look for around here, but for some reason, i keep looking back at a song by Mayyada Hinnawi, of Syria, which is called "il-Hobb illi Kan" (The Love That Was). It has the most beautiful lyrics, and the most beautiful music, or that's how i thought, being 4 years old, as i went to a picnic with my parents on the shores of Lake Habbaniya west of Baghdad. I still remember the warmth of the sun on that spring day of 1981, and that song being played on the car's cassette player.

Who knows, perhaps this sad song, would be changed one day with the more cheerful, 2nd song i liked, also by Mayyada Hinnawi, which is "Habbeyna Withabbeyna" (We Loved and Have Been Beloved)... And until that day, i'll stick to this one :)

In case you wanted to listen to it, please click here (opens with Real Player).
I tried to translate it, and i hope it comes out well.

Once upon a time,
Love filled our home,
Giving us warmth and tenderness;
Time came, and took away our happiness and safety,
My lover was here,
Filling my world with love and happiness,
O, my lover, who is more dear than myself,
Have you forgotten who i am?
I am the love that was,
The love that you've forgotten,
So early,
Did you forget my name, too?
O, how traitor human beings could be?
Alas for love's bygone times!

O, my love,
Why did i ever come to this world,
Except for loving you?
So that my lifetime would melt,
Because of your betrayal,
Candle after candle,
While you live for your happiness...
O, my love,
May i give my life to you?
And my years-to-come?
And this heart that loved you?
Walk, walk above my tears, my sorrows, singing,
And may you never shed a tear of sadness on your cheeks...

Sighs, that are so sad that would make rocks melt,
Sighs, from a heart in which love was killed,
Sighs, for a lover that loves hopelessly...
You are sweetness, you are bitterness,
You are faithfulness, you are betrayal,
You are the love of my lifetime...
You are a lie, the sweetest lie,
That life ever sent me...
You are tenderness,
But it is full of thorns, tears,
And a sea of sadness...

Before, when you came,
After being away for years,
And you called for my heart,
I answered,
Thinking that my lover had come back,
Missing me, my love, my tenderness,
I wish i never answered...
Before, we had a home,
And good friends who cried whenever you cried,
And who were afraid for you and me,
From nights, even whispers and words;
And they would be delighted whenever you sang

My lover was here,
Filling my world with love and happiness,
O, my lover, who is more dear than myself,
Have you forgotten who i am?
I am the love that was,
The love that you've forgotten,
So early,
Did you forget my name, too?
O, how traitor human beings could be?
Alas for love's bygone times!