Nour
Zap Tharwat Lyrics

منبه صوته عالي فوق عقلي وترتيباتي، يوم المقابلة فكرني بأول شغل في حياتي
My alarm is loud, above my thoughts and preparations. During the job interview, it reminded me of my first job ever.

مهندسين كثير جدعان وبيسعوا للوظيفة، خبرتهم في الحياة مفيش زي الورقة النظيفة
Many engineers are competent and strive for the job. Their life experience is like a clean sheet of paper.

آخر سي في في إيدي بإسم نور عبد الكريم، ورقة مذكرات من نصه وقعت بتاريخ قديم
The last CV in my hand is under the name of Nour Abdel Karim, with a memo paper signed long ago.

نور كان الكبير على بنتين اثنين، من المسؤولية عمره ما اشتكى طول السنين
Nour was the elder brother of two girls, who never complained about his responsibilities all these years.

صحابه دايماً بيلوموه وضغوط كثير عليه يا ابني هتعمل إيه بالعلم وبالدراسة حتبقى إيه؟
His friends always blamed him and put a lot of pressure on him. They would ask him, 'What will you do with education and studying? What will become of you?'

سؤال عارف إجابته فعمره في يوم ما حيره، أمه دايماً في ظهره بتسنده وتصبره
The question he knew the answer to, but it puzzled him one day. His mother was always there to support him and give him patience.

بس فجأة مرض أبوه بقى ياكل فيه ويكسره لازم يلحق إخواته وبيته قبل ما يخسره
But suddenly, his father got sick and consumed by his illness. He had to catch up with his sisters and his home before losing them.

نزل ورشة أبوه وقال للناس حنسى العلام شهور واتقال عليه أسطى زي أبوه تمام
He went to his father's workshop and told the people there that they'd close for a few months. He was praised as smart as his father.

في السر كان بيذاكر والدكاترة قدروه عرفوا ظروفه ومشاكله وفي الغياب إستحملوه
In secret, he was studying, and the professors appreciated his circumstances and problems, and they tolerated him during his absence.

يوم ما استلم الشهادة كان طاير فوق السما مهندس ميكانيكا قد الدنيا إنما
The day he received his degree, he was flying above the sky. A mechanical engineer, he conquered the world.

خبر وفاة أبوه كان رصاصة هتقتله كثر الهموم من صغره قدرت يومها تصبره
The news of his father's death was like a bullet that could kill him. Because of the many problems he faced since childhood, he could endure that day.

الورقة قلبتها وفي عقلي بقول ده مش هيوقع وللوظيفة خلاص إخترته لأنه جدع
He turned the paper over and thought to himself, 'This is never going to happen.' He decided to choose the job because it was straightforward.

لا أنا هتحط على الهامش ولا هقبل أكون ع الرف
I will neither be marginalized nor accept being on the shelf.

دي الدنيا بتمشي عشان إحنا في نفس الصف
The world goes round because we are all on the same level.

أنا بسبق بتحدى ظروف إنت مبتعشهاش
I challenge circumstances you have not experienced.

ودور هو لا يمكن يوم هيكمل غير بدور هي
His job can't be completed until she does her role.

معاد المقابلة جه ومتحمس إني أشوفه أسمع منه أكثر عن حياته وأحلامه وظروفه
The day of the interview arrived, and I was excited to see him and learn more about his life, dreams, and circumstances.

بس المفاجأة كانت أن نور مطلعش راجل في بنت قدامي بتقول لي أهلا مبقتش فاهم
But the surprise was that Nour turned out to be not a man but a girl in front of me, saying hello and I did not understand.

سألت بإستغراب إسمك نور عبد الكريم؟ ردت عليّ بابتسامة أهلاً، وإنت مين؟
In surprise, I asked, 'Your name is Nour Abdel Karim?' She replied with a smile, 'Hello, and who are you?'

سألت ثاني ليكي أخوات؟ ردت أيوه بنات
I asked again, 'Do you have sisters?' She answered, 'Yes, two girls.'

وأنا المسؤولة عنهم من يوم ما أبويا مات، إتصدمت من الإجابة نفس كلام السطور
'And I have been responsible for them since my father died,' she added. I was shocked by her response, and it was just as the lines had described.

وجوه عقلي ألف صوت بيقول لي مش معقول إزاي كانت في ورشة؟ إزاي كانت سند؟
My mind had many voices saying it wasn't possible. How could she be in a workshop? How could she be a support?

إزاي كانت رجولة دي بنت أصلاً مش ولد؟ إزاي عُمال رجال يقول ليها يا ريسة؟
How could she be so brave, being a girl and not a boy? How could men call her 'boss'?

إزاي حقول إخترت ست إخترت مهندسة؟
How could I say that I chose a boy, but it turned out to be a girl and an engineer?

جوايا صوت بينكر السؤال قبل الإجابة، بينكر التردد وبيأمر بالإستجابة
A voice inside me denied the question before the answer, denied hesitation, and commanded a response.

لصوت العدل فيّ ويفكرني باختياري عشان قدامي بنت يبقى هغير قراري؟
The voice of justice within me reminded me of my choice, my decision to change my decision because a girl was in front of me?

عيب وعار عليّ وليها لازم أعتذر إزاي، ما بين أفكار مريضة قديمة بتأسِر؟
It is my shame and mistake, and I have to apologize to her. How could I still be imprisoned by old, sick thoughts?

عقلت واديت لنور ورقة مذكراتها قلت لها إني عارف كثير قوي عن حياتها
I gathered my thoughts and gave Nour her memo paper, telling her that I knew a lot about her life.

مبروك عليك الشغل ومتأكد حتنجحي وأتمنى نكون صفحة في حياتك فيها تفرحي
Congratulations on your job, and I am sure you will succeed. I hope we will be a happy chapter in your life.