George Wassouf started singing very young at the age of 10 years old in his hometown Kafroun that consequent to Mashta Al Helou in Tartous, Syria on different occasions such as marriages, parties, hotels, etc. Shortly thereafter he moved to Lebanon where he started singing and his popularity grew. It was at the age of 16 years old when he became known as "Sultan El-Tarab" as called by the famous international Actor Omar Sharif, Arabic for "The Sultan of Singing", with his classic song "el-Hawa Sultan".
People at that time thought of him as being the only one who could provide tarab with his magical and crystal voice that was very sharp and high-pitched when he was young and matured into the deep, commanding voice that he is now known for. A few of his first songs include "Hawa Sultan", "Rohi ya Nesmah", "Helif el-Amar", "Law Naweit" are the ones that really brought him up to fame.
The family name "Wassouf" is first of all the name of a statue God that was worshipped in the middle ages (around 1500 b.c.). Wassouf's magical voice was discovered by his first manager and producer "George Al-Khouri". This happened when Wassouf was 12 years old - he was singing at a wedding party. George Wassouf also got married very young at the age of 21 to Shalimar, who is originally from Sierra Leone. They have three children: Wadee', Hatem, and George Jr. His oldest son's name is Wadee', which is why he is known as Abu Wadee'.
George Wassouf has produced more than 30 albums and has performed concerts all around the world. Started from the famous Lebanese show which fired the fame of many Lebanese singers "Studio El Fan" 1980 when he was only 16 years old, surprisingly he was called at this time "Sultan of Tarab". The Song "Hilef il Amar" made a massive hit in the Arab world, although Wassouf was quite young at that time. However Wassouf was able to rise to the rank of "king" of Arab Tarab. Many Singers are jealous of wassouf , and that's why they try to copy his unique style and performance. Some of the younger singers who attempt to copy his style are George al-Rassi and Wael Jassar. Wassouf is one of the few singers that were able to attract millions of fans in a short period of time. In addition, Wassouf is not only famous in the Arab World but is also known in Europe and the States as one of the Best Arabian Singers.
According to his life and his fame he should have been called also "The King of Rumors" as he lived a life that was filled with rumors about his love life, his health and so on that it was told once earlier in 2001 that he died of an overdose.
He doesn't like to shoot his songs into video clips although he had some successful hits in the early 1990s, he used to say about this: "I don't feel I can act ... I really can't... I only find myself when I'm on the stage ... singing, but the video clip forces me to act".
On June 2002 , Sultan Al Tarab Released his new album "Salaf Wi Dein", which made a huge success in both the Arab world and abroad.
Awat Einy
George Wassouf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
انا اسف لاني مكنش غصب عني
بين الزحام ادوب وارحل بين الدروب
وعن حبك اتوب . اتوب .
وارحل بين الدروب
مكنش غصب عني مكنش غصب عني
انا اسف ...
ونسيتك وبارادتي وبقيت عالشوق بخطي
ومشيت وسط الليالي ولا كان يخطر ببالي
بين الزحام ادوب وارحل بين الدروب
وعن حبك اتوب . اتوب .
وارحل بين الدروب
مكنش غصب عني مكنش غصب عني
انا اسف ...
وبايدي نسيت عينيكي لكن ندمان عليكي
وانا مهما حاولت انسى بياخذني الشوق اليكي
وما فيش بايدّي حيله غر الذكرى الجميله
بين الزحام ادوب وارحل بين الدروب
وعن حبك اتوب . اتوب .
وارحل بين الدروب
مكنش غصب عني مكنش غصب عني
انا اسف .
The lyrics to George Wassouf's "Awat Einy" (Open My Eyes) describe the singer's regret and longing for a past love. He apologizes for not being able to control his feelings and for leaving her behind as he wanders aimlessly through life. The chorus refers to his desire to repent for his mistakes and find a way back to her, even though he knows it may be impossible.
The song's verses describe the pain of missing someone deeply, and the inability to forget them even though he has tried. He remembers her eyes and how they made him feel, and confesses that he is still haunted by her memory. The imagery of wandering through crowded streets and deserted paths conveys the sense of loneliness and confusion he feels without her.
Overall, "Awat Einy" is a poignant expression of lost love and the unrelenting power of memories. It speaks to the universal experience of heartache and the longing for redemption, making it a beloved song across cultures and generations.
Line by Line Meaning
حياتي انا, روحي انا, حبيبتي انا ...
My life, my soul, my love are all me...
انا اسف لاني مكنش غصب عني
I'm sorry, I couldn't help it...
بين الزحام ادوب وارحل بين الدروب
I wander through the crowd and down the paths...
وعن حبك اتوب . اتوب .
And I repent of my love, I repent...
مكنش غصب عني مكنش غصب عني
I couldn't help it, I couldn't help it...
ونسيتك وبارادتي وبقيت عالشوق بخطي
I forgot you willingly, but my longing remained...
اتاريني غرقت مني, ونسيت في عنيك شطي
I thought I drowned in you, and forgot myself in your eyes...
ومشيت وسط الليالي ولا كان يخطر ببالي
I walked through the nights, not thinking at all...
وبايدي نسيت عينيكي لكن ندمان عليكي
I forgot your eyes by my own will, but I regret it...
وانا مهما حاولت انسى بياخذني الشوق اليكي
And no matter how much I try to forget, longing takes me to you...
وما فيش بايدّي حيله غر الذكرى الجميله
And there's nothing I can do to erase the beautiful memories...
انا اسف ...
I'm sorry...
Contributed by Brody A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Hoda
on Garahouna
Besides the explanation given above to which i'm not so inclined, this is obviously a love song, meaning that a loving person sings to his careless, unkind lover. The first line says so: the lover hurt the poet with her eyelashes. This is a common metaphor in persian/arab poetry. It simultanously appreciates the beautiful lashes of lover and complains how this beauty along with unkindness hurts him deeply.
As you see, this implication is basically related to the literary context and culture.