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.
Ya Habibi Taala
Wadih El Safi Lyrics
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زهرة يا حبيبي وبإيدك غريبة مليانة ندى، مليانة ندى
خذني يا حبيبي ع تلة غريبة ما فيها حدا
زهرة يا حبيبي وبإيدك غريبة مليانة ندى، مليانة ندى
سفرني بعيونك ع دنية أحلام
غطيني بجفونك ذوبني أنغام
سفرني بعيونك ع دنية أحلام
وبقلبك مرجحني وها المرة سامحني
وقل لي يا حبيبي لحنك ع الهدا، لحنك ع الهدا
خذني يا حبيبي ع تلة غريبة ما فيها حدا
زهرة يا حبيبي وبإيدك غريبة مليانة ندى، مليانة ندى
ضوي لي قنديلك بالكوخ المهجور
النجمة تومي لك من شباك النور
ضوي لي قنديلك بالكوخ المهجور
النجمة تومي لك من شباك النور
والوردة غنية لعيونك حنية
إلك يا حبيبي حلوة تنهدى، حلوة تنهدى
خذني يا حبيبي ع تلة غريبة ما فيها حدا
زهرة يا حبيبي وبإيدك غريبة مليانة ندى، مليانة ندى
لا تخبي بضلوعك قل لي شو بتريد
عندي من دموعك موسم ورد جديد
لا تخبي بضلوعك قل لي شو بتريد
عندي من دموعك موسم ورد جديد
لا تخبي بضلوعك قل لي شو بتريد
عندي من دموعك موسم ورد جديد
بهمساتك كحلني وبقلبك نقلني
ونوصل يا حبيبي لثاني مدى، لثاني مدى
خذني يا حبيبي ع تلة غريبة ما فيها حدا
زهرة يا حبيبي وبإيدك غريبة مليانة ندى، مليانة ندى
آه خذني يا حبيبي ع تلة غريبة ما فيها حدا
زهرة يا حبيبي وبإيدك غريبة مليانة ندى، مليانة ندى
The lyrics of Wadih El Safi's song Ya Hala Ya Habibi tell the story of a lover who is asking their beloved to take them to the top of a hill where they can find peace and beauty. The hill is described as a strange one, where no one else is found, and on it, the lover sees a mysterious flower, which their beloved is holding. The flower is full of dew, and its beauty is captivating, bringing joy and tranquillity to the heart of the lover.
The lover asks their beloved to take them on a journey with their eyes, to a world of dreams, where they can lose themselves in the music and melt under the gaze of their beloved. The lover also seeks forgiveness from their beloved and asks them to sing them a melody that will lead them to the right path. The chorus repeats the opening verse, describing the strange hill and the beautiful flower, inviting the beloved to take them there.
In the second verse, the lover asks their beloved to light their lantern in an abandoned hut and to call the star into their window. The lover also says that the rose is singing a melancholic song that touches their heart. The lover tries to understand the needs of their beloved and offers them a season of new roses instead of tears.
Overall, the song expresses the deep emotions of the lover, who longs for the company of their beloved and finds refuge in their world of beauty and music.
Line by Line Meaning
خذني يا حبيبي ع تلة غريبة ما فيها حدا
Take me, my beloved, to a strange hill with no one around
زهرة يا حبيبي وبإيدك غريبة مليانة ندى، مليانة ندى
O flower, my beloved, and in your hand a strange flower full of dew, full of dew
سفرني بعيونك ع دنية أحلام
Travel me with your eyes to a world of dreams
غطيني بجفونك ذوبني أنغام
Cover me with your eyelids and melt me with music
وبقلبك مرجحني وها المرة سامحني
And with your heart swing me and this time forgive me
وقل لي يا حبيبي لحنك ع الهدا، لحنك ع الهدا
And tell me, my beloved, your melody is on calmness, your melody is on calmness
ضوي لي قنديلك بالكوخ المهجور
Light up your lantern for me in the abandoned cabin
النجمة تومي لك من شباك النور
The star is coming to you from the window of light
والوردة غنية لعيونك حنية
And the rose sings for your tender eyes
إلك يا حبيبي حلوة تنهدى، حلوة تنهدى
For you, my beloved, she sighs sweetly, sighs sweetly
لا تخبي بضلوعك قل لي شو بتريد
Don't hide in your chest, tell me what you want
عندي من دموعك موسم ورد جديد
I have a new season of roses from your tears
بهمساتك كحلني وبقلبك نقلني
With your whispers sharpen me and with your heart transport me
ونوصل يا حبيبي لثاني مدى، لثاني مدى
And we will reach, my beloved, to the second horizon, the second horizon
آه خذني يا حبيبي ع تلة غريبة ما فيها حدا
Ah, take me, my beloved, to a strange hill with no one around
زهرة يا حبيبي وبإيدك غريبة مليانة ندى، مليانة ندى
O flower, my beloved, and in your hand a strange flower full of dew, full of dew
Lyrics © Rotana Publishing s.a.r.l.
Written by: SABA ASAAD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind