Mashrou’ Leila is a Lebanese seven-mem… Read Full Bio ↴Beirut, Lebanon (2008 – 2022)
Mashrou’ Leila is a Lebanese seven-member alternative rock band. The band formed in Beirut, Lebanon in 2008 as a music workshop at the American University of Beirut. Led by frontman and co-founder Hamed Sinno, the band has released one studio album while causing numerous controversies due to their satirical lyrics and themes.
Taxi
مشروع ليلى Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
المشوار صعب وطويل وبيمتحن الروح
بس كبر جسمي صغر قلبي ليتحمل
طعم الخل يللي لقيتو بدل العسل
فيك تسوق يا ما تنساق بيرجعلك الخيار
قبل ما العالم ينساك بأخر المشوار
شئت أم أبيت العربيه رح تمشي
هتموت
غصباً عنك رح بتموت
The song "Taxi" by مشروع ليلى, begins with the words "طلاع يا إبني لوديك وين ما بدك تروح", which translates to "Hey son, tell the driver where you want to go". The song talks about the journey of life being difficult and challenging for the human soul. The singer of the song acknowledges that his body has grown in size but his heart has remained small and weak, unable to cope with the hardships of life. The bitterness of life has taken over the sweetness of life, like finding vinegar instead of honey.
The singer mentions that the listener can drive the taxi but must not forget that the wrong turns will come back to haunt them at the end of the journey. The Arabic lyric "قبل ما العالم ينساك بأخر المشوار" roughly translates to "Before the world forgets you, at the end of the trip", implies that it is essential to make a memorable journey by doing something significant before it is too late. The singer wonders whether the listener will choose to drive the car and move forward or remain stationary instead. The song ends with the reminder that regardless of what one may choose to do, everyone will eventually die.
Line by Line Meaning
طلاع يا إبني لوديك وين ما بدك تروح
Hey, son, tell me where you want to go and I'll take you there
المشوار صعب وطويل وبيمتحن الروح
The journey is difficult and long, and it tests the soul
بس كبر جسمي صغر قلبي ليتحمل
But as I grew up, my heart shrank to bear the weight
طعم الخل يللي لقيتو بدل العسل
The taste of vinegar I found instead of honey
فيك تسوق يا ما تنساق بيرجعلك الخيار
You can drive, but if you speed, you may end up with nothing
قبل ما العالم ينساك بأخر المشوار
Before the world forgets you at the end of the journey
شئت أم أبيت العربيه رح تمشي
Whether you want it or not, the car will go
ومشوارك ما إلو معنى متل كل شي
And your journey is meaningless like everything else
هتموت
You will die
غصباً عنك رح بتموت
Whether you like it or not, you will die
Writer(s): Ibrahim Badr, Firas Abou Fakher, Carl Gerges, Haig Papazian, Hamed Khalil Sinno, Omaya Malaeb
Contributed by Austin A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.