OUR SONGS FROM WEST ASIA AND THE MIDDLE EAST

AY DI DI DI DAI

COUNTRY: Israel (by way of Eastern Europe)

“Ay Di Di Di Dai” is a hand play – well, a “thumb play” – that made it to Israel by way of Eastern Europe. (More.)

DRINK THE WATER

COUNTRY: Egypt

“Drink the Water” is a song of the Bedouin from the water-starved deserts of Egypt and the Sinai Peninsula. (More.)

HELE HELE

COUNTRY: Armenia

“Hele Hele” is a party song from Armenia that inspires us to get up and shake our bottoms. (More.)

I LOVE MY COW

COUNTRY: Iran

“I Love My Cow,” a Kurdish-language song from Iran, is essentially a love song to a cow. (More.)

JEYRAN

COUNTRY: Azerbaijan

“Jeyran” is a love song from Azerbaijan, extoling the virtues of the strong and stalwart deer. (More.)

LayLA

COUNTRY: Saudi Arabia

“Layla” is a Saudi Arabian love song that we sing while we're playing amazing imaginary instruments in our awesome Arabic orchestra. (More.)


LILY

COUNTRY: IRAN

“Lily” is a Persian love song that is so exciting we can't help but cheer at the end of every line. (More.)

LOOK IN MY EYES

COUNTRY: Iran

“Look In My Eyes” is an Iraqi Kurdish song that starts as a tribute to the beautiful eyes of the singer's beloved. (More.)

MAYIM

COUNTRY: Israel

“Mayim” is an early Israeli folk song – and accompanying early Israeli folk dance – that celebrates the discovery of water in the desert.

NAHNA WIL KAMAR

COUNTRY: Lebanon

“Nahna Wil Kamar” is a Lebanese classic about the nosy, neighborly moon. (More.)

NILOUFAR

COUNTRY: Iran

“Niloufar” is a Persian song of longing in which the singer searches for his true love. (More.)

 

SAR HEMEMUNEH

COUNTRY: Yemen

“Sar Hemenuneh” is a song from Yemen originally written in Hebrew and Arabic about making friends across the cultures. (More.)

SHOGHER JAN

COUNTRY: Armenia

“Shogher Jan” is a traditional Armenian song that we sing while waiting for the winter-time return of our friend. (More.)

SIKI SIKI BABA

COUNTRY: Turkey

“Siki Siki Baba” is a Turkish tune about a “strict strict father” who threatens to stand in the way of true love. (More.)

TREN GELIR

COUNTRY: Turkey

“Tren Gelir” is a Turkish children's song about the beloved train. (More.)

WALA WAHED

COUNTRY: Egypt

“Wala WaHed” is an Egyptian “shaabi” song about the singer's “one in a million” love. (More.)

Ya MUSTAFA

COUNTRY: Egypt

“Ya Mustapha” is a playful song sung in many permutations all over West Asia and the Middle East, but always to a bellydancer's drum beat. (More.)

YAHALALY YAMALAY

COUNTRY: The Palestinian Territories

“YaHalaly Yamalay” is a Palestinian “dabke” dance song that we sing in class to remind us of the wonder of Arabic music's many rhythms. (More.)