Fairuz نهاد حداد‎ (b. 21 November 1935) is a Lebanese singer, and one of th… Read Full Bio ↴Fairuz نهاد حداد‎ (b. 21 November 1935) is a Lebanese singer, and one of the most famous singers of all time in the Arab world. Her stage name (also spelled Fairouz or Fayrouz) literally means "turquoise".

Fairuz was born Nouhad Haddad in Jabal al Arz, Lebanon. She began her musical career as a teenager. From chorus girl at the Lebanese radio station in the late 1940s, to critical and popular acclaim from the 1950s to today, Fairuz is acknowledged not only for her musical talent and contribution, but also as a cultural and political icon. A symbol of a people, a heritage, a quest for peace, and of humanity. During most of her career, Fairuz reflected two other great artists, Assi and Mansour Rahbani. They wrote the lyrics and composed her tunes. Today, many of her songs reflect the composing talent of Ziad Rahbani who is Fairuz's son. Her songs testify to the Rahbani musical genius, as well as to Fairuz's broad musical background. Referred to as "The Soul of Lebanon" in the 1970s, Fairuz became a pre-eminent figure, a superstar of current music in the Arab world. Together, the Rahbani family is both a school of music and a cultural phenomenon.

Chayef El Bahr Sho Kabeer
Fairuz Lyrics

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شايف البحر شو كبير؟
كبر البحر بحبك
شايف السما شو بعيدة؟
بعد السما بحبك

كبر البحر وبعد السما
بحبك يا حبيبي
يا حبيبي

يا حبيبي بحبك

نطرتك أنا، ندهتك أنا
رسمتك على المشاوير
يا هم العمر، يا دمع الزهر
يا مواسم العصافير

نطرتك أنا، ندهتك أنا
رسمتك على المشاوير
يا هم العمر، يا دمع الزهر
يا مواسم العصافير

ما أوسع الغابة
وسع الغابة قلبي
يا مصور عبابي
ومصور بقلبي

شايف البحر شو كبير؟
كبر البحر بحبك
شايف السما شو بعيدة؟
بعد السما بحبك

كبر البحر وبعد السما
بحبك يا حبيبي
يا حبيبي
يا حبيبي بحبك

نطرتك سني ويا طول السني
واسأل شجر الجوز
شوفك بالصحو جاي من الصحو
وضايع بورق اللوز

نطرتك سني، سني يا طول السني
واسأل شجر الجوز
شوفك بالصحو وجاي من الصحو
وضايع بورق اللوز

ما أصغر الدمعة
أنا دمعة بدربك
بدي أندر شمعة
وتخليني حبك

وشايف البحر شو كبير؟
كبر البحر بحبك
شايف السما شو بعيدة؟
بعد السما بحبك

كبر البحر وبعد السما
بحبك يا حبيبي

يا حبيبي
يا حبيبي بحبك

Overall Meaning

In Fairuz's song "Chayef El Bahr Sho Kabeer," the lyrics express deep and profound love, using the vastness of nature as metaphors to emphasize the magnitude of the singer's emotions. The opening lines, "شايف البحر شو كبير؟ كبر البحر بحبك" (Do you see how vast the sea is? The sea becomes larger with your love), suggest that the love the singer feels for their beloved is as expansive and deep as the sea itself. The sea is portrayed as growing in size and grandeur due to the presence of love.

The following verses continue to use nature imagery, with references to the distance of the sky and the expansiveness of the sea, all to convey the depth and enormity of the singer's love. The repetition of "بحبك يا حبيبي" (I love you, my love) reinforces the intensity and sincerity of the emotions being expressed. The singer is proclaiming their love openly and passionately, comparing it to the vastness of the sea and the distance of the sky.

The lyrics also touch upon themes of longing and anticipation, with the singer waiting and calling out for their beloved. References to the passage of time and the changing seasons further emphasize the enduring nature of their love. The imagery of drawing their beloved on journeys and comparing them to the essence of life itself adds layers of complexity to the emotions being conveyed.

In the final verses, the singer compares their heart to the wide expanse of a forest, symbolizing the depth and capacity of their love. The imagery of seeking solace in the presence of their beloved, likened to the illumination provided by a candle, underscores the importance of love in guiding and comforting them. The repetition of the refrain "شايف البحر شو كبير؟" anchors the song in the central metaphor of the vast sea, highlighting the enduring and all-encompassing nature of their love.

Overall, "Chayef El Bahr Sho Kabeer" is a song that beautifully captures the enormity of love through vivid nature imagery and heartfelt expressions of longing, devotion, and admiration. The lyrics paint a picture of a love that transcends boundaries and obstacles, drawing inspiration from the vastness and beauty of the natural world to convey the depth and magnitude of the singer's feelings for their beloved.

Line by Line Meaning

شايف البحر شو كبير؟
Do you see how vast the sea is?

كبر البحر بحبك
The sea grows with my love for you

شايف السما شو بعيدة؟
Do you see how far the sky is?

بعد السما بحبك
Beyond the sky, my love for you

كبر البحر وبعد السما
The sea grows and beyond the sky

بحبك يا حبيبي
I love you, my beloved

يا حبيبي
Oh my beloved

نطرتك أنا، ندهتك أنا
I waited for you, I called you

رسمتك على المشاوير
I drew you on my journeys

يا حم العمر، يا دمع الزهر
Oh the worries of life, oh teardrops of flowers

يا مواسم العصافير
Oh seasons of the birds