حالَ الزَّمانُ فَبَدلَ الآمالا

وكسا المشيبُ مَفارِقاً وقَذالا

The times have changed and hopes are lost,

Grey hair covers the head that youth had crossed,

غَنِيتْ غَواني الحيِّ عنكَ ورُبَّما

طَلعتْ عَليْك أَكِلَّةً وحِجالا

My singing thrilled the living, maybe you,

But to you now it’s just an annoying call.

أَضْحَى عليكَ حَلالُهُنَّ مُحَرَّماً

ولقد يكونُ حَرامُهُنَّ حَلالا

What was unlawful becomes lawful to you,

What was lawful may now be against the law.

إنَّ الكواعِبَ إنْ رأَيْنكَ طاوِياً

وصْلَ الشبابِ طَويْنَ عنكَ وِصالا

If the flirts see you bent down with age

They turn away the union you once had.

وإذا دعَوْنَكَ عمَّهُنَّ فإنَّهُ

نَسَبٌ يَزيدُكَ عِنْدَهُنَّ خَيالا

And if their uncle calls you it’s but to gain

A genealogy that builds castles in Spain.