يا باح يا باح
"I used to hear this tickle game from my grandparents in Syria, but I think it is common culture for the Levant. The tone is the same but the words change from one country to another, and even from one area to another in the same country." -Wa'ad Mkarem
يا باح يا باح
Hey, Reveal
(Ya Bah Ya Bah)
Tickle Game
Tickle Game
(Arabic)
(English)
يا باح يا باح
ياعرق التفاح
يا أصابع اللولو
يا إيدين أنجلينا الحلوين المناح
إجى العصفور يشرب من هوني
هادا سقا
وهادا طعما
وهادا غطّا
وهدا دفّا
وهادا غفّا
هاد زند السوارة
هاد كوع السّلة
هاد كتف الجرّة
وغر غر غر
1. Hey, reveal, hey, reveal!
2. An apple branch
3. Pearl fingers
4. Hands of (kid's name) are beautiful and lovely,
5. The bird came to drink from here,
6. This one watered him
7. This one fed him
8. This one tucked him in
9. This one warmed him
10. This one made him fall asleep.
11. This is the wrist of the bracelet
12. This is the elbow of the basket
13. This is the shoulder of the jar
14. Ger ger ger.
Notes
*Regarding "reveal": "The meaning in Arabic is the mom has a secret and will tell her kid about it." -Wa'ad Mkarem
Transliteration:
1. ya bah ya bah
2. ya'erq altfah
3. ya asab'e allwlw
4. ya eydyn Angelina alhlwyn almnah
5. eja al'esfwr yshrb mn hwny
6. hada sqa
7. whada t'ema
8. whada ghta
9. whda dfa
10. whada ghfa
11. had znd alswarh
12. had kw'e alslh
13. had ktf aljrh
14. wghr ghr ghr
Game Instructions
Lines 1 – 4: On each line stroke starting from the child's palm to the end of their fingers.
Line 5: Tap in the middle of the child's palm.
Line 6: Fold over the child's thumb.
Line 7: Fold over the index finger.
Line 8: Fold over the middle finger.
Line 9: Fold over the ring finger.
Line 10: Fold over the pinkie.
Line 11: Put your hand on the child's wrist.
Line 12: Put your hand on the child's elbow.
Line 13: Put your hand on the child's shoulder.
Line 14: Tickle the child!
Thanks!
Thanks and Acknowledgements
Many thanks to Wa'ad Mkarem for sharing this song with the translation and YouTube video.
شكراً (Shukran)
