Born in Niha, Lebanon, Wadih El Safi started his artistic journey at the age of seventeen when he took part in a singing contest held by Lebanese Radio and was chosen the winner among fifty other competitors.
Wadih El Safi, a classically trained tenor, studied at the Beirut National Conservatory of Music. He became nationally known when, at seventeen, he won a vocal competition sponsored by the Lebanese Broadcasting Network. El Safi began composing and performing songs that drew upon his rural upbringing and love of traditional melodies, blended with an urban sound, and creating a new style of modernized Lebanese folk music
In 1947, El Safi traveled to Brazil, where he remained until 1950.
El Safi toured the world, singing in many languages, including Arabic, Syriac, French, Portuguese and Italian.
In the spring of 1973, El Safi recorded and released a vinyl single with the songs "Grishlah Idi" lyrics by Ninos Aho and "Iman Ya Zawna" (lyrics by Amanuel Salamon), first one in Western Syriac and second one in Eastern Syriac. The music arrangements were done by Nuri Iskandar and the songs were produced especially for an Aramean Festival, which occurred in the UNESCO building in Beirut at that time where El Safi participated as a singer.
El Safi has written over 3000 songs. He is well known for his mawawil (an improvised singing style) of 'ataba, mijana, and Abu el Zuluf. He has performed and recorded with many well-known Lebanese musicians, including Najwa Karam, Fairouz, and Sabah.
Wadih El Safi (وديع الصافي), the prominent Lebanese composer and singer of his time, often described as the "Voice of Lebanon" and responsible for the mark of distinction and popularity of the Lebanese musical sound. His name is synonymous with traditional Lebanese folklore. His tenor voice commends a unique beauty and evokes the images and sounds of Lebanese terrain. Wadie' grew up in a village in the mountains of Lebanon and later on moved to Beirut, where he began composing and performing music based on his folklore roots incorporating a new urban sound, which would be later described as the urbanization of the Lebanese folk music.
Recently, through his work with Jose Fernandes & Michel Elefteriades through Elefrecords, Wadih El Safi has explored new pathways for his music, exposing a new generation to his sound. Wadih El Safi & Jose Fernades have found great success with their arabic-flamenco fusion.
Indak Bahriyeh
Wadih El Safi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
سمر و شرقية . يا ريس
و البحر كويس يا ريس
و صلني حبيبي يا ريس .
عا الرمل الدايب كتبنا
شوق الحبيايب دوبنا
و انشاالله توصل مراكبنا
الـ فيها أهالينا و حبايبنا
ريحة أراضينا . يا ريس
عم بتنادينا . يا ريس
امشي و طير بينا . يا ريس
من مينا لمينا . يا ريس
ودينا بلدنا . يا ريس
تا نشم ترابا . يا ريس
(موال):
حبيب القلب نادانا فرحنا
نزرع ورد و نحضر فرحنا
و إذا بيتم بالملقى فرحنا
لرش الورد عا دروب الحباب
ريحة أراضينا . يا ريس
عم بتنادينا . يا ريس
امشي و طير بينا . يا ريس
من مينا لمينا . يا ريس
ودينا بلدنا . يا ريس
تا نشم ترابا . يا ريس .
دخلك يا هوى الشمالي
نيران الهوى قتالي
والغربه بتخطر على بالي
ايام زمان وليالي
بعدا على بالي . يا ريس
بعدا على بالي . يا ريس
The song Indak Bahriyeh by Wadih El Safi is a joyful celebration of the beauty of Lebanon and the love shared by its people. The lyrics paint a picture of a coastal town with a warm sea breeze and clear waters. The singer is eagerly awaiting the arrival of their lover and imagining a future where they can sail together with their families and loved ones. They reminisce about the past and the days of planting roses and spreading joy, even in times of hardship. The chorus urges the listener to embrace the scent of the homeland and walk with them from one port to another, so they can breathe in the earth and feel the connection to their home. The last stanza provides an evocative image of the Northern breeze and the memories of old times that it brings forth.
The song is characterized by its catchy melody and upbeat rhythm, typical of the dabke Lebanese folk dance. The lyrics express a strong sense of patriotism and nostalgia, reminding the listener of the beauty of Lebanon and its people, despite external challenges. Moreover, it's a love song, where the singer longs for their partner's arrival, conveying a message of love that goes beyond borders and distances.
Line by Line Meaning
عندك بحرية . يا ريس
You have a sea, oh chief.
سمر و شرقية . يا ريس
It's dark and eastern, oh chief.
و البحر كويس يا ريس
And the sea is good, oh chief.
و صلني حبيبي يا ريس .
And my beloved has arrived, oh chief.
عا الرمل الدايب كتبنا
On the flowing sands we wrote.
شوق الحبيايب دوبنا
We immersed ourselves in longing for our loved ones.
و انشاالله توصل مراكبنا
And God willing, our boats will arrive.
الـ فيها أهالينا و حبايبنا
With our families and loved ones on board.
و الفرحة تكمل . يا ريس
And the joy will be complete, oh chief.
ريحة أراضينا . يا ريس
The smell of our land, oh chief.
عم بتنادينا . يا ريس
Calling out to us, oh chief.
امشي و طير بينا . يا ريس
Walk and fly with us, oh chief.
من مينا لمينا . يا ريس
From port to port, oh chief.
ودينا بلدنا . يا ريس
We love our country, oh chief.
تا نشم ترابا . يا ريس
Till we smell its soil, oh chief.
(موال):
(Chorus):
حبيب القلب نادانا فرحنا
Our beloved called us, and we rejoiced.
نزرع ورد و نحضر فرحنا
We plant flowers and celebrate.
و إذا بيتم بالملقى فرحنا
And even in times of mourning, we still celebrate.
لرش الورد عا دروب الحباب
Sprinkling roses on the paths of love.
دخلك يا هوى الشمالي
Please, the love of the north.
نيران الهوى قتالي
The fire of love is my battle.
والغربه بتخطر على بالي
And exile is always on my mind.
ايام زمان وليالي
Days of old and nights.
بعدا على بالي . يا ريس
Still on my mind, oh chief.
بعدا على بالي . يا ريس
Still on my mind, oh chief.
Contributed by Alex Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@samhaj8569
Harbi arab şarkilari çok guzel
@utilisateur4711
You MUST say that the composer is the GREATEST MOHAMED ABDELWAHAB !!
@onderbostanc7655
Is it really the composer Mohammad Abdel Vahab?
@mohamedmonem3352
Yes
@beeconeccooper7423
Uh, John Williams is. Jesus Christ is the Greatest.
@MannalEldin-dl1xv
Good. Good 👍😊
@fatihdemir5055
Arap şarkılarıda güzel gercekten
@mannaleldin4252
Jesus Christ is Lord. Wow!!!!! King of kings and Lord of Lords! He is risen!!!!!!
Praise the Lord!
@thehumandevil7646
No
@latifahafsi697
J adooore. Allah yarahmou winaamou.