"...After My Departure I Caled To Mynde Our Conference..."
Sting Lyrics


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Hadaee mada tawila
Wa ana nahos ana wahala ghzalti
Wa ana nahos ana wahala ghzalti
Wa ana nahos ana wahala ghzalti
Oh night oh night
It has been a long time
And I am looking for myself and my loved one
And I am looking for myself and my loved one
And I am looking for myself and my loved one

I dream of rain
I dream of gardens in the desert sand
I wake in vain
I dream of love as time runs through my hand

I dream of fire
Those dreams are tied to a horse that will never tire
And in the flames
Her shadows play in the shape of a man′s desire

This desert rose
Each of her veils, a secret promise
This desert flower
No sweet perfume ever tortured me more than this

And as she turns
This way she moves in the logic of all my dreams
This fire burns
I realize that nothing's as it seems

I dream of rain
I dream of gardens in the desert sand
I wake in vain
I dream of love as time runs through my hand

I dream of rain
I lift my gaze to empty skies above
I close my eyes
This rare perfume is the sweet intoxication of her love

Aman aman aman
Omry feek antia
Ma ghair antia
Ma ghair antia
Aman aman aman
My life is for you
And no one other than you
And no one other than you

I dream of rain
I dream of gardens in the desert sand
I wake in vain
I dream of love as time runs through my hand

Sweet desert rose
Each of her veils, a secret promise
This desert flower
No sweet perfume ever tortured me more than this

Sweet desert rose
This memory of Eden haunts us all




This desert flower
This rare perfume, is the sweet intoxication of the fall

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Sting's "Desert Rose" is a poem-like composition of a man yearning for his loved one. From the opening stanza, "Hadaee mada tawila," which is Arabic for "many gates are still to be opened," the song talks about how the singer has been searching for himself and his loved one for a long time. The chorus, "I dream of rain / I dream of gardens in the desert sand / I wake in vain / I dream of love as time runs through my hand," highlights his longing for a love that seems elusive.


The second verse is steeped in symbolism, starting with the line, "I dream of fire / Those dreams are tied to a horse that will never tire," which suggests that his longing for love is like a blazing fire that will never die out. The line "Her shadows play in the shape of a man's desire," creates an image of desire and longing for the woman he loves. The idea of a "desert rose" is introduced in the third verse, as each of her veils represents a secret promise, while the flower's scent of perfume holds memories and a longing for paradise.


The song reflects the yearning for something unattainable and how time marches on despite one's desires. It also offers a portrayal of the "other" and the exotic, with Arab influences evident in the rhythm and lyrics.


Line by Line Meaning

Hadaee mada tawila
It has been a long time


Wa ana nahos ana wahala ghzalti
And I am looking for myself and my loved one


Oh night oh night
Addressing the night


I dream of rain
Imagining rain


I dream of gardens in the desert sand
Imagining gardens in the desert sand


I wake in vain
Waking up in disappointment


I dream of love as time runs through my hand
Imagining love slipping away


I dream of fire
Imagining fire


Those dreams are tied to a horse that will never tire
Dreams are endless


And in the flames
In the midst of the fire


Her shadows play in the shape of a man's desire
The shadows create pictures of desires


This desert rose
Describing a rose in the desert


Each of her veils, a secret promise
The veils hold hidden promises


No sweet perfume ever tortured me more than this
Nothing has been more tormenting than the sweet fragrance


And as she turns This way she moves in the logic of all my dreams
As she turns and moves, my dreams come together logically


This fire burns
Describing a burning fire


I realize that nothing's as it seems
Realizing that things are not always what they appear to be


I lift my gaze to empty skies above
Looking up at empty skies


I close my eyes
Closing eyes


This rare perfume is the sweet intoxication of her love
Her love is like an intoxicating perfume


Aman aman aman
Expressing surprise


Omry feek antia
My life is for you


Ma ghair antia
No one other than you


My life is for you
Repeating the sentiment from previous line


And no one other than you
Repeating the sentiment from previous line


This memory of Eden haunts us all
A memory of utopia that continues to trouble us


This rare perfume, is the sweet intoxication of the fall
Her scent is pleasant and intoxicating, reminiscent of the fall


Sweet desert rose
Repeating the description of the rose


This desert flower
Repeating the description of the flower


No sweet perfume ever tortured me more than this
Repeating the sentiment from a previous line




Writer(s): John Dowland

Contributed by Austin M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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A Basque folk carol, originally based on Angelus ad virginem, a 13th or 14th Century Latin carol,[2] it was collected by Charles Bordes and then paraphrased into English by Sabine Baring-Gould, who had spent a winter as a boy in the Basque country. The tu


on gabriels_message

Sting's song "Gabriel's Message" is a rendition of the biblical story of the Annunciation, where the angel Gabriel visits Mary to inform her that she is to be the mother of Jesus Christ. The lyrics describe Gabriel's appearance as he descends from heaven with his wings as white as snow and eyes as bright as flames. Upon seeing Mary, Gabriel greets her with the words "All hail, thou lowly maiden Mary, Most highly favored lady," referring to her as a blessed mother and foretelling that her son will be Emmanuel, as prophesized by seers.

Mary's response to Gabriel's message is one of humility and acceptance, as she meekly bows her head and says, "To me be as it pleaseth God," praising and magnifying His holy name. The lyrics are a beautiful interpretation of this pivotal moment in Christian history, showcasing the wonder and awe of Gabriel's visitation, and the steadfast faith and acceptance of Mary's response.

Tommy Wells


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I liked the Wild Thornberry's TV series.
What's your favorite episode of the show?

Jesus Ledesma Rios


on Englishman in New York

Thats been good way to learn English, tahnk´s...

Kolektivo Azul


on Russians

Russians <3

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