Can Someone Help with the Lyrics or Melody to the Arabic Lullaby called “Doha Ya Doha”?
Rondi wrote to me…
Hello Lisa!
This is Rondi Charleston – I am a singer/songwriter in the NY area.
I have an important recording project coming up in which I need an Arabic Lullaby to incorporate into an original song. I’m searching for the MELODY! Sheet music? or an MP3?
I heard about “Doha Ya Doha” from an article in Mothering Magazine by Cynthia Mosher. However, I can not find the lyrics and melody anywhere! I contacted Cynthia, but she no longer has the book, and can’t remember the song.
Also, by any chance, do you know any songs in Arabic that talk about PEACE?
I would GREATLY APPRECIATE any assistance you can give. I’ve tried the Arabic publishing house but they no longer have it. It is a traditional lullaby, apparently.
PLEASE contact me with any information.
Best Always,
Rondi
If anyone can help Rondi, please comment below or email me.
Thanks in advance!
Lisa
June 1st, 2008 at 6:11 am
just found these on another site and came here looking for more!
doha ya doha
wa al-ka’aba banooha
wa bi al-zamzam rashooha
baba safar makka
jablee zanbeel ka’aka
wa al-ka’aka fi al-makhzan
wa al-makhzan yih’taj muftah
wa al-muftah ‘ind al-najar
wa al-najar yibgh’a al-filoos
wa al-filoos ‘ind al-aroos
wa al-aroos tibgh’a walad
wa al-walad yibgh’a al-haleeb
wa alhaleeb ‘ind al-bagara
wa al-bagara tibgh’a al-hasheesh
wa al-hasheesh foog al-jabal
wa al-jabal yibgh’a al-matar
ya matara hutee hutee
‘alaa gray’at bint ukhtee
bint ukhtee jabat walad
wa samatoo ‘abd al-samad
doha ya doha
wa al-kaaba banooha
June 1st, 2008 at 9:15 am
Thanks for the info! We’re pretty sure this lullaby is from Saudi Arabia. Two Arabic people we talked to have mentioned they thought so and your link seems to point to Saudi Arabia as its source too.
We may have someone to sing it for the tune (though she’s not from Saudi Arabia!), and to send an English translation and the Arabic text. Come back soon to see what we find out!
-Mama Lisa
June 1st, 2008 at 3:22 pm
Hi Lisa or any one who can read my words . Iam Ahmed Iraqi and living in Iraq too . Iam woking in an American company called C.H.F. international company .Iam teaching English in a high school as well and writing Aabic and English poetry as well. Call me if you need and help or write to me on my above email.My skype is ahmedalbabili and my number is 07808310721.
Best Regards,
Ahmed.
June 5th, 2008 at 11:38 am
I asked Ahmed if he was familiar with “Doha Ya Doha” and here’s what he wrote back:
The song “Doha Ya Doha” is an Iraqi tale in origin… It is a tale sung with hand clapping from Iraq history.
Regards,
Ahmed Jawad
July 2nd, 2008 at 1:06 pm
I received a translation from Fatima in Iran (Fatima is an Iranian of Arabic culture). Here it is… one word is missing, if someone can help s/he’s welcome.
doha ya doha and they built the ka’aba (Mecca)
and with zamzam water they put on it
my father traveled to Meccah
he brought me a kind of cookie
the cookie is now in the storage
and the storage needs a key
the key is with the carpenter
and the carpenter wants money
the money is with the bride
and the bride wants to have a baby boy
the boy wants milk
and the milk is with the cow
the cow wants vegetables
and the vegetables are on the mountain
the mountain wants rain
the rain: please fall fall on the mountain
on my nephew’s ….?! (I don’t know the meaning of the word in Arabic, but may be it’s meaning is near to the pregnancy)
my nephew brought a son
and she named him Abdulsamad
doha ya doha
and they built the Ka’aba
MECCA: the city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia, considered by Muslims to be the holiest city of Islam. Muslims do the HAJ in Mecca. Haj is the greater pilgrimage to Mecca which all Muslims are expected to make at least once if they can afford to do so
ZAMZAM: The sacred well near the Kaaba at Mecca. According to Arab tradition, this is the well that was shown by Jibril to Hagar when the baby Ishmael was perishing of thirst. Its water is believed to be more health-giving than any other.
July 7th, 2008 at 4:06 am
as far as i know its originaly a hejazy lullaby.. my grantmother and mom used to sing it for us when we were kids and now i keep singing it for my baby :)
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hejaz)
ill try to post a link with the full song ..
Doha ya doha
wal ka’aba banoha
seedi safar mecca
jabli zambeel ka’aka
wal ka’aka fil mokhzan
wal mokhzan malu mofatah
wal moftah ind al najjar
wal najjar yebgha al floos
wal floos ind al malek
wal malek yebgha al manadeel
wal manadeel ind al soghar
wal soghar yebghu al haleeb
wal haleeb ind al bagara
wal bagra tebgha al hasheesh
wal hasheesh fog al jabal
wal jabal yebgha al matara
ya rabbi houtt al matara
ya matara hutti hutti
ala gara’at bent ukhti
bent ukhti jabat walad
samatu abdulsamad
P.S
Hasheesh means grass
gara’at means bald and in the song it means on her head
——————————–
and here is the rest of the song but the next part of the song doesn’t have to be translated because some of the sentences wont give a meaning .. coz its like when some1 make up a song and doest care of the meaning he just wants rhyme the words !
hadarja madarja
min kul ain sarja
ya fatima ya bent al nabi
khoudi ketabek wo anzuli
ala sedrat al nabi
feeha hotab
wo feeha rotab
ya rayheen al hadra
khoudu ma’akum bagara
tehleb wo tesgeeni
seeni ala seeni
wal rabbi ye’ateeni
dakhalt bait allah
lagait habeeb allah
fi yaddu tair akhdar
yelagemu al sukkar
we yelagemu al anbar
July 7th, 2008 at 7:05 pm
Nag, could you please give us the translation even if it’s meaningless
September 26th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
some people are confused about some of the words
Fall rain fall on the mountain
on my niece’s pumpkins
my niece gave birth to a son
she named him abdessamad
hope this helps
ridha
September 27th, 2008 at 8:25 pm
Thanks so much!
If someone could email me the Arabic text, that would be great.
-Mama Lisa