يَقولُ الناسُ إِنَّ الخَمرَ تُؤَدّي

يَقولُ الناسُ إِنَّ الخَمرَ تُؤَدّي

بِما في الصَدرِ مِن هَمٍّ قَديمِ

بِما في الصَدرِ مِن هَمٍّ قَديمِ

People say that wine does away

People say that wine dispels

With the old sorrow within the breast.

The sadness long held in my chest.

وَلَولا أَنَّها بِاللُبِّ تودي

وَلَولا أَنَّها بِاللُبِّ تودي

لَكُنتُ أَخا المُدامَةِ وَالنَديمِ

لَكُنتُ أَخا المُدامَةِ وَالنَديمِ

And were it not that it destroys the mind,

And were it not for addling my mind,

I would be a brother to wine and the drinking companion.

I would be a wine-pourer’s closest friend.