ذَكَّروا ذا الكلبَ في مُراكشٍ

ذَكَّروا ذا الكلبَ في مُراكشٍ

وهو جِروٌ كَان فيما يَتَّجِر

وهو جِروٌ كَان فيما يَتَّجِر

They reminded this dog in Marrakesh

They reminded the dog in Marrakesh

of what he used to trade in when he was a pup.

While he was a merchant in his trading

ذَكِّرُوهُ وهو في فاسيٍ فَقَد

ذَكِّرُوهُ وهو في فاسيٍ فَقَد

نَسِىَ الماضي فهل مِن مُدَّكِر

نَسِىَ الماضي فهل مِن مُدَّكِر

Remind him while he is in Fez, for

Remind him while he is in Fez, for he

he has forgotten the past—is there anyone who takes heed?

Has forgotten the past, is there anyone to remind?

وَيلَهُ مِن سيِّدٍ إن لم يَكُن

وَيلَهُ مِن سيِّدٍ إن لم يَكُن

بغلةَ السّيِّدِ يوماً يَنتظِر

بغلةَ السّيِّدِ يوماً يَنتظِر

Woe to him as a master, if he was not

Woe to him from a master, if he doesn’t

once waiting for the master's mule.

Await to be the master’s mule someday

يدهُ في ذَنَبٍ مَلفوفةٌ

يدهُ في ذَنَبٍ مَلفوفةٌ

كيفما طارت به مَعها يَطِر

كيفما طارت به مَعها يَطِر

His hand was wrapped around a tail;

His hand tied in a tail rolled up

however she flew off with him, he would fly with her.

However it flies with it he flutters

بعدَ ذا حُكِّمَ في مُراكِشٍ

بعدَ ذا حُكِّمَ في مُراكِشٍ

انفَطِر يا قلبُ أو لا تنفَطِر

انفَطِر يا قلبُ أو لا تنفَطِر

After that, he was given authority in Marrakesh.

After this he was judged in Marrakesh

Break, O heart, or do not break.

Break, O heart, or do not break

لا رَعاها اللهُ أياماً مَضت

لا رَعاها اللهُ أياماً مَضت

وردَ الناسُ بها الماءَ العَكِر

وردَ الناسُ بها الماءَ العَكِر

May God not watch over those days gone by,

May Allah not let pass the days gone by

when the people came to drink the murky water.

And the people make the water muddy with it