Born in Bab El-Shaariyah area of Cairo, Egypt (where his statue stands), Abdel Wahab played oud before the Prince of Poets, Ahmed Shawqi. Abdel Wahab acted in several movies. Mohammed Abdel Wahab was a very close friend to singer Abdel Halim Hafez.
Despite the fact that Abdel Wahab composed many songs and musical pieces of classical Arab music, he was always criticized for his orientation to Western music. In fact, he introduced Western rhythms to Arab songs in a way appropriate to the known forms of Arab songs. For example, in 1941, he introduced a waltz rhythm in his song "Al Gondol," and, in 1957, he introduced a rock and roll rhythm in Abdel Halim Hafez's song "Ya Albi Ya Khali".
Abdel Wahab played oud before the prominent Arab poet, Ahmed Shawqi, and acted in several movies. He composed ten songs for Umm Kulthum (أم كلثوم). He was the first Egyptian singer to move from silent-era acting to singing. He was interviewed in one of the most famous program named "ALNAHR ALKHALED" the immortal river. This show was a great success briefing his great biography from him personally.
His personal belongings were put in his museum in the Music institute in Cairo. A statue was erected in Bab El-Sheriya square (where he grew up) to keep his memory. As a memorial and honor for him, Omar Khayrat, an Egyptian composer, rearranged some of Abdel Wahab's music and released them on an album called Wahabiat. He died of heart failure.
Alik
Mohamed Abdel Wahab Lyrics
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مضناك جفاه مرقده، وبكاه ورحم عوده
حيران القلب معذبه، مقروح الجفن مسهده
يستهوي الورق تأوهه، و يذيب الصخر تنهده
يستهوي الورق تأوهه، ويذيب الصخر تنهده
ويناجي النجم و يتعبه، ويقيم الليل ويقعده
الحسن حلفت بيوسفه، والسورة أنك مفرده
وتمنت كل مقطعة، يدها لو تبعث تشهده
الحسن حلفت بيوسفه، والسورة أنك مفرده
وتمنت كل مقطعة، يدها لو تبعث تشهده
جحدت عيناك ذكي دمي، أكذلك خدك يجحده
قد عز شهودي إذ رمتا، فأشرت لخدك أشهده
بيني في الحب وبينك ما، لا يقدره واش يفسده
ما بال العاذل يفتح لي، باب السلوان وأوصده
ويقول تكاد تجن به، فأقول وأوشك أعبده
جحدت عيناك ذكي دمي، أكذلك خدك يجحده
قد عز شهودي إذ رمتا، فأشرت لخدك أشهده
بيني في الحب وبينك ما، لا يقدر واش يفسده
ما بال العاذل يفتح لي، باب السلوان وأوصده
ويقول تكاد تجن به، فأقول وأوشك أعبده
مولاي وروحي في يده، قد ضيعها سلمت يده
ناقوس القلب يدق له، وحنايا الأضلع معبده
مولاي وروحي في يده، قد ضيعها سلمت يده
ناقوس القلب يدق له، وحنايا الأضلع معبده
آه وحنايا الأضلع معبده
قسما بثنايا لؤلؤها، قسم الياقوت منضده
ما خنت هواك ولا خطرت، سلوى بالقلب تبرده
The song "Alik" by Mohamed Abdel Wahab is a classic love song expressing the pain of a love that is unrequited or lost. The opening lines describe the singer's beloved as someone who has passed away, and the singer laments his loss and cries for his return. The song goes on to describe the heartache and suffering of the singer as he remembers his love, and how everything around him reminds him of that love. The singer states that his love for his beloved is so strong that it cannot be compared to anything else.
The second stanza continues the theme of unrequited love, with the singer addressing his beloved directly. He speaks of the witness of his eyes and the witness of his cheeks, and how they both testify to the depth of his feelings. The singer is frustrated that his love is not reciprocated, and he questions how anyone could deny the truth of his love. He asks why the world is cruel to him, and why he is being denied the comfort that he seeks. The song ends with the singer swearing that he has never betrayed his beloved, and that his love will always burn bright.
Overall, "Alik" is a powerful and emotional song that speaks to the universal experience of unrequited love. The lyrics are poetic and deeply expressive, and the music is moving and soulful.
Line by Line Meaning
مضناك جفاه مرقده، وبكاه ورحم عوده
Your loved one’s betrayals have caused you pain and you weep for them and wish for their return.
حيران القلب معذبه، مقروح الجفن مسهده
Your heart is confused and tormented, and your eyes are wounded and tearful.
يستهوي الورق تأوهه، و يذيب الصخر تنهده
The rustling of leaves fascinates you, and the sound of melting rocks makes you sigh.
ويناجي النجم و يتعبه، ويقيم الليل ويقعده
You talk to the stars and they tire you, and you stay up all night and sit alone.
الحسن حلفت بيوسفه، والسورة أنك مفرده
You swear by the beauty of Joseph and that you’re left alone, like the singular letter reed (symbol of loneliness).
وتمنت كل مقطعة، يدها لو تبعث تشهده
You wish every piece of her could return to you just so you could witness it.
جحدت عيناك ذكي دمي، أكذلك خدك يجحده
Your eyes deny the knowledge of my pain, and likewise your cheek also denies my grief.
بيني في الحب وبينك ما، لا يقدره واش يفسده
Between me and you in love, there is something that cannot be expressed or explained.
ما بال العاذل يفتح لي، باب السلوان وأوصده
Why does the wise person open up the door to my peace and then close it?
ويقول تكاد تجن به، فأقول وأوشك أعبده
They say you will almost lose your mind over it, but I say that I’m close to falling in love with it.
مولاي وروحي في يده، قد ضيعها سلمت يده
My lord and my soul are in his hands, and I gave it to him willingly even if he lost it.
ناقوس القلب يدق له، وحنايا الأضلع معبده
The bell of my heart rings for him, and my ribcage is his temple.
آه وحنايا الأضلع معبده
Oh, and my ribcage is his temple.
قسما بثنايا لؤلؤها، قسم الياقوت منضده
I swear by the pearls of my two arms, and by the setting of the ruby.
ما خنت هواك ولا خطرت، سلوى بالقلب تبرده
I never betrayed your love nor did I ever think to do so, and the comfort in my heart will cool it down.
Contributed by Mila W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.