سِر قَليلاً وَلا تَلُمني خَليلي

سِر قَليلاً وَلا تَلُمني خَليلي

لِوَداعِ الرَبابِ قَبلَ الرَحيلِ

لِوَداعِ الرَبابِ قَبلَ الرَحيلِ

Walk a little, and do not blame me, my friend,

Be patient with me a little, my friend,

to bid farewell to al-Rabab before departure.

At bidding farewell to the lute before parting.

إِنَّ في النَفسِ حاجَةً ما تَقَضّى

إِنَّ في النَفسِ حاجَةً ما تَقَضّى

ما دَعا في الغُصونِ داعي هَديلٍ

ما دَعا في الغُصونِ داعي هَديلٍ

Indeed, in my soul is a longing that will not end,

For in the soul there is a need that is not fulfilled

as long as a cooing bird calls among the boughs.

By what the rustling branches summon in the gloaming.

إِنَّ طَرفي دَلَّ الفُؤادَ عَلَيها

إِنَّ طَرفي دَلَّ الفُؤادَ عَلَيها

فَفُؤادي كَالهائِمِ المَقتولِ

فَفُؤادي كَالهائِمِ المَقتولِ

Indeed, my gaze has led my heart to her,

My eyes have guided my heart to it,

so my heart is like a lovesick wanderer slain.

So my heart is like one slain, wandering astray.