Tati G13 writes the raw verses that chase a restless night. Voluptyk, the producer, adds a gritty beat that drives the story. The lyrics trace a path of exile and hope, echoing the album Rahal.
Released: January 24, 2022
El Kazaoui
Tati G13 • From “Rahal”
Rahal’s El Kazaoui Arabic Lyrics English Meaning
Tati G13 notes a candle melting at sunset, a symbol of fading hope. The poet describes a phone call from cousin Murad, a lifeline in exile. Send my money to El Kazaoui repeats, a plea for support.
Shamaa tdhoub taffi el youm waqt ghoroubA candle melts, snuffing out the day at sunset,
Talaa lel tayara wa ntfakkara waqt ghoroubboarding the plane, memories flooding back as the sun goes down.
Yessal fia el diwani qotlo rayeh l’IstanbulThe customs officer questions me, I told him I’m off to Istanbul,
Mashi l’ghadi zyara ghir khallili el bab mahlouljust visiting over there, but keep the door unlocked for me.
Hall el telephone essal weld el khala MuradCheck the phone, ask cousin Murad.
Ma hajati bel Atrak toul tayara l’BelgradeI’ve got no business with the Turks, I’m flying straight to Belgrade,
Toul tayara lel asrab mokh el hadra harb aasaba direct flight to the flocks, where the mindset is a war of nerves.
Wastahedh ala el flous yji el waqt tqoul ma sabHold tight to your money, or a time will come when you’ll say, ‘If only’.
Ysonni el telephone tlabni sahbi men lebladThe phone rings, my friend from back home called me,
Qali rak khallit blassa kol youm wahshi lik yezdadhe said, ‘You’ve left a void, and my longing for you grows every day.’
El houma dharabha lkassad zid fakkarni el ayyamatThe neighborhood’s dead and stagnant, reminding me of how things used to be.
Hallit el Facebook nelqa tsawri fi el storiatI opened Facebook and saw my pictures all over the stories.
Lmima ma tabkeesh baghi daawa waqt el shiddaMom, please don’t cry, I just need your prayers when things get hard.
Nadhifli ya rouhi sariri wa khallili lmakhaddaClean my bed for me, my soul, and keep my pillow safe,
Nbaad alik modda wa narjaa maa el ayyamI’ll be gone for a while, but I’ll return as the days pass,
Wa ki narjaa wallah bwedda nhaqqaqlek el ahlamand when I’m back, I swear with all my love, I’ll make your dreams come true.
Aad yahki fi Belgrade shoft ajab ma yasrashHe kept talking about Belgrade, seeing wonders that defy belief,
Wa ki sar qoddam ayniya wa haqq allah la ma rashand when it happened right before my eyes, I swear to God, he didn’t even blink.
Taffi el dhow wa ma tabtash hak wallit taaraf IblisKill the lights and don’t be rash, you’re dealing with the Devil now.
Aakset bia lflous baathli qaribi men ParisMy money ran out, so my relative sent me some from Paris.
Ma akhibha dmoui waqteli ma aandi el moneyHow bitter my tears taste when I don’t have the money,
Ma akhibha el dhahka ki tikhrej manish baleanihow ugly the laughter feels when I force it out,
Ma akhibha el donia ki taati leli dhalamounihow cruel the world seems when it rewards those who wronged me.
Wallah ya rabbi saha fi el ghorba khallouniI swear, oh Lord, grant me health in this exile where they’ve left me.
Ma akhibha dmoui waqteli ma aandi el moneyHow bitter my tears taste when I don’t have the money,
Ma akhibha el dhahka ki tikhrej manish baleanihow ugly the laughter feels when I force it out,
Ma akhibha el donia ki taati leli dhalamounihow cruel the world seems when it rewards those who wronged me.
Wallah ya rabbi saha fi el ghorba khallouniI swear, oh Lord, grant me health in this exile where they’ve left me.
Ebaath flousi lel KazaouiSend my money to El Kazaoui,
Yzayini men rakshat lqahawiI’m done wasting time sitting in coffee shops.
Taw el herba hadha shnawiNow is the escape, this is what I’ve set my mind to,
Hadhi molakhass lehkawithis is the summary of all the stories.
Ebaath flousi lel KazaouiSend my money to El Kazaoui,
Yzayini men rakshat lqahawiI’m done wasting time sitting in coffee shops.
Taw el herba hadha shnawiNow is the escape, this is what I’ve set my mind to,
Hadhi molakhass lehkawithis is the summary of all the stories.
Sghiri khouya taadda loqma l’shitanMy little brother became a morsel for the Devil,
Loqma ma tjib flous qaadna naabou fi el kissana bite that brings no money, while we just kept pouring drinks.
Shfiha kan qal filamanWhat does it matter if he said goodbye?
Shfiha kan tar mshaWhat does it matter if he flew away and left?
Shfiha kan shofna nour torna qbel ma yetlashaWhat does it matter if we saw the light of our turn before it faded?
Aad qali bqit nlowej waqteli tah bia el lilHe told me, “I kept searching when the night closed in on me,”
Addit’ha khamsa ayyam blayaliha fi el otil“I spent five days and nights stuck in that hotel,”
Hatta lqina el Kazaoui hat flousak l’mkhabin“until we found El Kazaoui, put your hidden cash on the table.”
Wastanna el dour yjik taw taish kima el ayishin“Wait for your turn to come, and you’ll live just like everyone else.”
Hadia awel marra nhessou fiha ghiyab el khouThis is the first time we’ve truly felt a brother’s absence,
Fi triq saaba toul hadhi qbel hatta ma njouon this long, hard road, before we’ve even arrived.
Wallah mima ma nansou shedina triq el karI swear, Mom, we won’t forget, we took the bus route,
Mashi lel houdoud herba khouya jahar baharheading to the borders, an escape, brother, out in the open.
Netfarrej men el shibbak nqoul hadhi hia el jannaWatching from the window, thinking, “This must be paradise.”
Malla hkaya fik ya Vienna la suisse mallaWhat a story you hold, oh Vienna, oh Switzerland,
Hani jit wa ma narjaa l’bled el hennahere I am, I’ve arrived, and I won’t go back to the land of misery.
Kan bel att wa hadhaya khouya shnetmannaIf only through grit… this is what I’m wishing for.
Hani jit wa nshkor la manghir ma nsammiHere I am, giving thanks without needing to name names,
Wahed men el nass waqafli fi el ghorba ben ammione person stood by me in this foreign land, my own cousin.
Ma ahlaha el waqfa waqteli tjini men dammiHow sweet is that support when it comes from your own blood,
Wa ma akhibha el ghadra ki naqsam maak el li fi fommiand how ugly is betrayal when I’ve shared the food from my mouth with you.
Taw el mostaqbal baad thniyet el KazaouiNow the future lies beyond El Kazaoui’s path.
Wallah mandri wa laash jit wa laash nawiI swear I don’t know why I came or what I’m planning,
Tahya lmima el li wastni fi el balawibut long live Mom, who guided me through the disasters.
Tahya el baba el li rabba bel tayo el kawiLong live Dad, who raised me with a strong hand.
Ebaath flousi lel KazaouiSend my money to El Kazaoui,
Yzayini men rakshat lqahawiI’m done wasting time sitting in coffee shops.
Taw el herba hadha shnawiNow is the escape, this is what I’ve set my mind to,
Hadhi molakhass lehkawithis is the summary of all the stories.
Ebaath flousi lel KazaouiSend my money to El Kazaoui,
Yzayini men rakshat lqahawiI’m done wasting time sitting in coffee shops.
Taw el herba hadha shnawiNow is the escape, this is what I’ve set my mind to,
Hadhi molakhass lehkawithis is the summary of all the stories.
Hadhi molakhass lehkawiThis is the summary of all the stories.
Hadhi molakhass lehkawiThis is the summary of all the stories.
El Kazaoui Music Video
What does El Kazaoui mean? The lyrics explore exile and hope. Tati G13 delivers a raw journey through borders and longing.