Tha'er
Al-Bara'em Lyrics

The lyrics of Al-Bara'em’s song Tha'er are a powerful statement of individuality and resistance. The song urges the listener not to tell the singer that they wish they were a simple bread seller in Algeria or a cattle herder in Yemen, working in Havana cafes or singing for the oppressed people of the world. The message seems to be that the singer cannot be content with simple pleasures or menial labor, but rather is called to a mission of singing for the struggles of their times. The refrain “Don’t tell me, I wish I were...” is repeated throughout the song, emphasizing the singer’s determination to choose their own path and to embrace their role as a rebel.

The song’s final stanzas are particularly inspiring. The singer reminds their friend that the Nile, the Congo, the River Jordan, and the Euphrates all have their own sources and paths. Every river has its own “birth”, trajectory, and life, as does every land. The final refrain “Every river has a date with a rebel” sums up the powerful message of this song - that every person and every natural force has a purpose and a destiny, and that it is through individuality and rebellion that we can rise to our highest potential.