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.
Lea'eb El Hawa
George Wassouf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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إوعى الهوى تِخلِف معاه
إوعى فيوم تخسر رضاه
إوعى الهوى تِخلِف معاه
إوعى فيوم تخسر رضاه
ولا تحلى الدّنيا أو كلام
ما فيش حياه من غير غرام
ولا تحلى الدّنيا أو كلام
ولا تظلموا حبّي البريء
أو تجرحوا أقرب صديق
ولا تظلموا حبّي البريء
أو تجرحوا أقرب صديق
لعب الهوى لعبتُه
لعب الهوى
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لمّا الهوى يأمُر عليك
إيّاك تلاوعوا مهما كان
فرصة وجاتلك بين إيديك
دي جايّة مرّة في الزّمان
لمّا الهوى يأمُر عليك
إيّاك تلاوعوا مهما كان
فرصة وجاتلك بين إيديك
دي جايّة مرّة في الزّمان
طاوعني وامشي في سكّتُه
و سيبُه يلعب لعبتُه
طاوعني وامشي في سكّتُه
و سيبُه يلعب لعبتُه
ولا تظلموا حبّي البريء
أو تجرحوا أقرب صديق
ولا تظلموا حبّي البريء
أو تجرحوا أقرب صديق
لعب الهوى لعبتُه
لعب الهوى
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لمّا الهوى تِعرف دواه
دُنية غرامك تِحلى بيه
حتكون في أعلى مستوى
و لا حدّ يقدر يوم عليك
لمّا الهوى تِعرف دواه
دُنية غرامك تِحلى بيه
حتكون في أعلى مستوى
و لا حدّ يقدر يوم عليك
إيه يعني لو ضفنا عليه
أحلام حلوة من حواليه
إيه يعني لو ضفنا عليه
أحلام حلوة من حواليه
ولا تظلموا حبّي البريء
أو تجرحوا أقرب صديق
ولا تظلموا حبّي البريء
أو تجرحوا أقرب صديق
لعب الهوى لعبتُه
لعب الهوى
George Wassouf's song "Lea'eb El Hawa" (Play the Love Game) advises the listener not to play with love or take it for granted. The song begins by warning that one should not be left alone with the love they embrace or lose their satisfaction. A life without love is not truly lived and the world is not delightful without it. The tone of the song suggests that love is something to be taken seriously, and not just a game to flirt with. The lyrics cautions on keeping love pure and respecting those who are involved in it. If one falls in love, they should follow its path with trust and not tempt fate, because it might be the only opportunity that comes their way.
The song also reminds the listener of the consequences of playing with love when it overtakes them. The sweet moments of love will only endure as long as it is respected and treated with honor. If not, they will experience the heartbreak of having their love betrayed or their closest friend hurt. The song concludes that one should let love lead the way and take them down the path of its choosing.
Line by Line Meaning
إوعى الهوى تِخلِف معاه
Don't let love lead you astray
إوعى فيوم تخسر رضاه
Don't lose their approval one day
ما فيش حياه من غير غرام
Life is incomplete without love
ولا تحلى الدّنيا أو كلام
And the world isn't beautiful without it
ولا تظلموا حبّي البريء
Don't harm my innocent love
أو تجرحوا أقرب صديق
Or hurt my closest friend
لعب الهوى لعبتُه
Love is just a game
لمّا الهوى يأمُر عليك
When love commands you
إيّاك تلاوعوا مهما كان
Obey it, no matter what
فرصة وجاتلك بين إيديك
Opportunity is in your hands
دي جايّة مرّة في الزّمان
It may never come again
طاوعني وامشي في سكّتُه
Follow its path
و سيبُه يلعب لعبتُه
And let it play its game
لمّا الهوى تِعرف دواه
When love knows its remedy
دُنية غرامك تِحلى بيه
Your world is filled with love
حتكون في أعلى مستوى
You'll reach the highest level
و لا حدّ يقدر يوم عليك
And no one can bring you down
إيه يعني لو ضفنا عليه
What if we add
أحلام حلوة من حواليه
Sweet dreams around it
Writer(s): Nabeel Afioni, Nour Al Malah
Contributed by Hannah 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.