بأبي مَنْ كانَ لا يرحمني

بأبي مَنْ كانَ لا يرحمني

ثمَّ لما غابَ عني رحما

ثمَّ لما غابَ عني رحما

May my father be ransom for him who used to show me no mercy.

I could not betray my father, though he left me no mercy

Then, when he went away from me, he showed mercy.

Then when he was gone from me, had mercy

خافَ إن غابَ طويلاً تَلَفي

خافَ إن غابَ طويلاً تَلَفي

ثمَّ ما ودَّعَ حتى سلَّما

ثمَّ ما ودَّعَ حتى سلَّما

He feared I would perish if he stayed away too long.

He feared if he was gone too long I would perish

Then he had scarcely said farewell before he greeted me again.

Then he left without a farewell or peace