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.
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.
Hele Hele
COUNTRY: Armenia
“Hele Hele” is a party song from Armenia that inspires us to get up and shake our bottoms.
I love my cow
COUNTRY: Iran
“I Love My Cow,” a Kurdish-language song from Iran, is essentially a love song to a cow.
Jeyran
COUNTRY: Azerbaijan
“Jeyran” is a love song from Azerbaijan, extoling the virtues of the strong and stalwart deer.
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.
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.
Look in my eyes
COUNTRY: Iraq
“Look In My Eyes” is an Iraqi Kurdish song that starts as a tribute to the beautiful eyes of the singer's beloved.
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.
Niloufar
COUNTRY: Iran
“Niloufar” is a Persian song of longing in which the singer searches for his true love.
Sar Hemenuneh
COUNTRY: Yemen
“Sar Hemenuneh” is a song from Yemen originally written in Hebrew and Arabic about making friends across the cultures.
Shogher Jan
COUNTRY: Armenia
“Shogher Jan” is a traditional Armenian song that we sing while waiting for the winter-time return of our friend.
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.
Tren Gelir
COUNTRY: Turkey
“Tren Gelir” is a Turkish children's song about the beloved train.
Wala Wahed
COUNTRY: Egypt
“Wala WaHed” is an Egyptian “shaabi” song about the singer's “one in a million” love.
Ya Mustapha
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.
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.