أقُولُ لِعَسْكَرٍ قَدْ زَارَ لَمَّا

أقُولُ لِعَسْكَرٍ قَدْ زَارَ لَمَّا

تَرَاكَمَ عَسْكرُ الدَّاجي وأطْبَقْ

تَرَاكَمَ عَسْكرُ الدَّاجي وأطْبَقْ

I say to Askar, who visited when

I say to a lover who came visiting when

the army of dark night massed and closed in:

The cock's army massed and drew nigh:

دَعِ العُتْبَى وَواصِلْنِي فَإني

دَعِ العُتْبَى وَواصِلْنِي فَإني

أخافُ الصُّبْحُ يحسدنَا فَيَنْشَقّ

أخافُ الصُّبْحُ يحسدنَا فَيَنْشَقّ

“Set aside apologies and unite with me, for I

"Leave off pique and join me, for

fear dawn will envy us and split open.”

I fear dawn may envy us and break."