Taha was born in 1958 in Sig (Mascara Province), Algeria, although a second source suggests he was born in the Algerian seacoast city of Oran. Oran was the "birthplace of raï" music, and 1958 was a key year in the Algerian struggle for independence against French authority. He began listening to Algerian music in the 1960s, including street-style music called chaabi. And music from the Maghreb region was part of his upbringing. He moved with his parents to France when he was ten years old, settling in an immigrant community around the French city of Lyon in 1968. His father was a factory worker.
While working in a heating appliance factory in the late 1970s, Taha founded Les Refoulés ("The Rejects"), a nightclub where he would spin mashups of Arabic pop classics over Led Zeppelin, Bo Diddley, and Kraftwerk backbeats.
Based in Paris where he began his solo career after his beginnings as the leader of the French rock band Carte de Séjour, he usually sings in Arabic. In 1981, while living in Lyon, Taha met Mohammed and Mokhtar Amini. The three of them, Rachid, Djamel Dif and Eric Vaquer would later form the band "Carte De séjour" (green card) and record their first maxi Album "Carte De Séjour" in 1983. Their first LP Rhoromanie, came out in 1984. Their second and last LP entitled Ramsa (Five) was released in 1986 and included their famous and ironic cover of Douce France, originally sung by Charles Trenet. The band dissolved in 1989.
His breakthrough album as a solo artist was Diwân, featuring remakes of songs for the Algerian and Arab traditions. His album Tékitoi, produced by Steve Hillage and released in 2004, also brought him great acclaim and recognition from other rock musicians. In 2005 he performed with Robert Plant, Patti Smith and Brian Eno.
He covered The Clash song "Rock the Casbah" (in Arabic, as "Rock El Casbah"), which appeared in the 2007 film about Clash frontman Joe Strummer, "The Future Is Unwritten".
Some critics attribute Taha's unique sound to his use of the mandolute, a mixture of the traditional oud with European fretted instruments.
The song "Barra Barra" from his album "Made in Medina" was featured in the 2001 film "Black Hawk Down "as well as in the Games Convention 2008 trailer of the game Far Cry 2. Recently was featured in the 2007 film The Hunting Party. His song "Garab" from "Made in Medina" was used in the movie "The Truth About Charlie" in 2002, and also in "Blood and Chocolate" in 2007.
Rachid Taha died in September 2018.
Enti Rahti
Rachid Taha Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wa qad el masrar
Nehkilek aala m'habti
Wa thabak mazala
El qalb maak ma t'hanna ou hilou ghaddar
Enti hiya ras mali wenti fi koul aamala
Enti hiya rahti ya inin leghzala
Enti hiya rahti ya inin leghzala
Enti hiya rahti ya inin leghzala
Enti hiya mnam basfi wa el qalb khtar
Ma n'faraq fik ma n'salam lil wa n'har
Enti li zayda hbali meftah a-ddar
Wenti li zayda aadabi wanna cabbar
Hadhi hiya m'salti yefham el mahzala
Ya kahlet el aaiyn wa chfar
Wa qad el masrar
Nehkilek aala m'habti
Wa thabak mazala
Enti hiya mnam fekri wardi wa zhar
Wenti hiya hlel bahri ma djabt a-khbar
Mazal n'qoul wa n'zid hatta leqbar
Ya ghezali el bahiya maak aaqli rahou tar
Hadhi hiya risalti reddili risala
Ya kahlat el aaiyn wa chfar
Ya kahlet el aaiyn wa chfar
Wa qad el masrar
Nehkilek aala m'habti
Wa thabak mazala
Enti li maak djaz seghri, sahran li car
Houbek aaziz chhal ghali, ktar men malyar
Hadhak el welf ma n'sitou kwani be-nnar
Kifach n'dir qouli kifach natfi ledjmar
Hadhi hiya fhamti wa aadabi fi hala
Ya kahlet el aaiyn wa chfar
Wa qad el masrar
Nehkilek aala m'habti
Wa thabak mazala
Enti li maak ban zahri wa lhal qcar
Aala djalek ya ghzali klami demmar
Loukan ensib ki el youm idjini bechar
L-becharni oula semaani fi lekhbar
Hadhi hiya qcayti reddili risala
Ya kahlet el aaiyn wa chfar
Wa qad el masrar
Nehkilek aala m'habti
Wa thabak mazala
The song "Enti Rahti" by Rachid Taha is a beautifully crafted and emotive work of art that speaks to the depths of the human experience. The lyrics, which are sung in Algerian Arabic, tell the story of a love lost and the enduring pain that remains long after the relationship is over. The singer addresses his former lover, calling her "Enti Rahti", which roughly translates to "You left me", and speaks to her throughout the song about his feelings.
The opening lines of the song, "Ya kahlet el aaiyn wa chfar / Wa qad el masrar" ("Oh, those eyes and that chin / And the secrets you keep") set a wistful tone, capturing the singer's longing for his lost love. He goes on to describe the betrayal he feels, lamenting that his heart no longer rejoices in her presence and that she has betrayed him. The chorus repeats the refrain "Enti hiya rahti ya inin leghzala" ("You are the one who left me, oh ignoble one") several times, emphasizing the depth of the singer's pain.
As the song continues, the singer remembers moments from his time with his former lover, describing her as his "sun" and his "ocean". He speaks to her directly, telling her that she is always on his mind and that he can't forget her. He also criticizes her for being unfaithful and for treating him poorly, saying that he has moved on from her.
Line by Line Meaning
Ya kahlet el aaiyn wa chfar
Oh, deep dark eyes and eyebrows that arch like the crescent moon
Wa qad el masrar
Your secrets are well-kept
Nehkilek aala m'habti
I'll talk to you about my love
Wa thabak mazala
Your image is still with me
El qalb maak ma t'hanna ou hilou ghaddar
My heart is with you, always faithful and never treacherous
Enti hiya ras mali wenti fi koul aamala
You are on my mind in all of my actions
Enti hiya rahti ya inin leghzala
You are my ultimate goal, oh charming dreamer
Enti hiya rahti ya inin leghzala
You are my ultimate goal, oh charming dreamer
Enti hiya rahti ya inin leghzala
You are my ultimate goal, oh charming dreamer
Enti hiya rahti ya inin leghzala
You are my ultimate goal, oh charming dreamer
Enti hiya mnam basfi wa el qalb khtar
You are a soft breath and my heart is yours
Ma n'faraq fik ma n'salam lil wa n'har
I cannot leave you, I cannot say goodbye to the day and the night
Enti li zayda hbali meftah a-ddar
You are the key to my happiness, you open the door to my home
Wenti li zayda aadabi wanna cabbar
You increase my manners and my pride
Hadhi hiya m'salti yefham el mahzala
This is what I am telling you to understand the situation
Enti hiya mnam fekri wardi wa zhar
You are a sweet thought, like the roses and the flowers
Wenti hiya hlel bahri ma djabt a-khbar
You are the beauty of the sea, no news can sadden you
Mazal n'qoul wa n'zid hatta leqbar
I keep saying and saying, until it becomes unbearable
Ya ghezali el bahiya maak aaqli rahou tar
My beloved, the beauty, my mind wanders with you
Hadhi hiya risalti reddili risala
This is my message to bring back to you
Enti li maak djaz seghri, sahran li car
You are my companion in my calm and in my chaos
Houbek aaziz chhal ghali, ktar men malyar
Your love is precious, more than silver and gold
Hadhak el welf ma n'sitou kwani be-nnar
We will not forget that fire burned between us
Kifach n'dir qouli kifach natfi ledjmar
How can I say, how can I extinguish the embers?
Hadhi hiya fhamti wa aadabi fi hala
This is my understanding and my advice in this situation
Enti li maak ban zahri wa lhal qcar
You are my poison and my sweet nectar
Aala djalek ya ghzali klami demmar
On your lips, oh beauty, my words flow like blood
Loukan ensib ki el youm idjini bechar
If I were to die today, it would be my fortune
L-becharni oula semaani fi lekhbar
Tell my story first in the news
Hadhi hiya qcayti reddili risala
This is my message for you to bring back to me.
Ya kahlet el aaiyn wa chfar
Oh, deep dark eyes and eyebrows that arch like the crescent moon
Wa qad el masrar
Your secrets are well-kept
Nehkilek aala m'habti
I'll talk to you about my love
Wa thabak mazala
Your image is still with me
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ABDERRAHMANE AMRANI, RACHID TAHA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-om2zp4nx2w
بسبب رشيد طه إشتهر التراث الجزائري عبر العالم الله يرحمو
@ItalianoDelSud7
loveeee this song!!! bellissimaaaa!
@djillalibelhadj2463
une chanson magnifique
@francoisredhon6798
Hommage à Dahmane cette fois encore.
@MrXtmatx
احبك موووووووووووووووووت رشيد طه
@rachidalmajari479
الله يرحمو
@abdelatifelhabri5354
🇲🇦🇲🇦💔💔
@annabi89
دحمان الحراشي