Marcel Khalifé (Arabic: مرسيل خليفة) was born in 1950 in Amchit, Mount-Leba… Read Full Bio ↴Marcel Khalifé (Arabic: مرسيل خليفة) was born in 1950 in Amchit, Mount-Lebanon. He studied the oud (the Arabic lute) at the Beirut National conservatory. His music works around the classical Arabic oud but also includes jazz piano and many other influences. His playing techniques expand far outside those of classical oud playing, however, and he is attributed for having greatly expanded the horizons of this traditional Arabic instrument.

Sing a Little Oh Birds
Marcel Khalife Lyrics

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توت توت ع بيروت .يابيي خدني مشوار
اشلحني حدك بالسرفيس .واربطني ببكلة وزنار
قلي استاذ الانشا قبل ساعة من الفكة جدي المير بشير كان بيستاهل دكة
استاذ التاريخ فنجر عينو وقال هيدا الماشاف المتحف جاهل وثرثار

وقفنا قدام باب المتحف عتمة وريحة عطن كتير
خفنا وقلنا المتحف مهري عفنت دقن الامير
فتنا على المتحف على روس الاصاب ع

بيي يدفش ال

وصرنا نمشي وصرنا ندور ونطلع عالداير

وهيدا هنيبعل الحامل هالقوس
فجأة ما دريت وحسيت الا قلبي فز وقام

في ملك فرنساوي مركب فوق المير بشير

فات الحارس طاير عقلو
استاذ التاريخ ياه يا فرنساوي انت بتحكي
وينك
واجو البوليسية و جيوش و عسك

وزمامير ودق طبول

ويا بيي دور
كذبو علينا بالتاريخ وطلع الدكة فيي
درسنا تواريخ حفظنا تواريخ اجا التاريخ طعمانا كف

يا هاللبنان
انطرينا انطرينا بيروت انطرينا

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Marcel Khalife's song Sing a Little, Oh Birds are symbolic of the cultural and political oppression experienced by the Lebanese people during the years of civil war. The song starts by calling the birds of Beirut to come and take the singer on a journey. The singer then talks about being forced to ride a crowded bus and being tied up with a belt, which is an allegory for the feeling of being constricted and oppressed. The singer then remembers how his grandfather was denied a place on the bench by the history teacher, who thought he was not worthy of it. The museum they visit is described as a decaying place with a bad smell. However, they soon realize that the museum holds an important place in their nation's history, but they feel cheated and lied to by the history books. The singer ends the song by saying, "Oh, this Lebanon, we waited for Beirut to come, we waited."

The song reflects the political atmosphere during the Lebanese civil war, which lasted from 1975 to 1990, and how the people felt oppressed and restricted during that time. The lyrics also pay homage to the nation's history and highlight the struggles of the people in preserving their cultural heritage. Khalife's use of metaphorical language and symbolism in the song is a powerful way of conveying the feelings of the people and the social and political trends of the time.

Line by Line Meaning

توت توت ع بيروت .يابيي خدني مشوار
Horns honk in Beirut as I find someone to take me on a journey

اشلحني حدك بالسرفيس .واربطني ببكلة وزنار
Flag me down on the bus and tie me up with a belt and a sash

قلي استاذ الانشا قبل ساعة من الفكة جدي المير بشير كان بيستاهل دكة
The literature teacher told me an hour before recess that my great-grandfather Emir Bashir deserved a punishment

استاذ التاريخ فنجر عينو وقال هيدا الماشاف المتحف جاهل وثرثار
The history teacher squinted and said, 'This museum exhibit is ignorant and talkative'

وقفنا قدام باب المتحف عتمة وريحة عطن كتير
We stood in front of the museum door, in darkness and a foul smell

خفنا وقلنا المتحف مهري عفنت دقن الامير
We whispered, 'The museum is rotten like the prince's unkempt beard'

فتنا على المتحف على روس الاصاب ع
We became enthusiastic and began to talk loudly about the museum, turning heads

بيي يدفش ال
Suddenly he bursts in

وصرنا نمشي وصرنا ندور ونطلع عالداير
We started to walk and wander, going around in circles

وهيدا هنيبعل الحامل هالقوس
And that's when Hannibal carried the bow

فجأة ما دريت وحسيت الا قلبي فز وقام
Suddenly, I didn't know or feel anything but my heart racing and standing up

في ملك فرنساوي مركب فوق المير بشير
There's a French king's ship above Emir Bashir

فات الحارس طاير عقلو
The guard lost his mind

استاذ التاريخ ياه يا فرنساوي انت بتحكي وينك واجو البوليسية و جيوش و عسك
The history teacher said, 'Hey you French guy, where are you?' and then the police, the army, and the crowd arrived

وزمامير ودق طبول
And there were trumpets and drumming

ويا بيي دور
Oh father, turn around

كذبو علينا بالتاريخ وطلع الدكة فيي
They lied to us about history and it turned out the punishment was for me

درسنا تواريخ حفظنا تواريخ اجا التاريخ طعمانا كف
We studied and memorized history, but when the truth came out, it slapped us in the face

يا هاللبنان انطرينا انطرينا بيروت انطرينا
Oh, Lebanon, we've been waiting, waiting for you, Beirut, we've been waiting

Writer(s): marcel khalife

Contributed by Aaliyah M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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