يا أَهلَ بابِلَ ما نَفِستُ عَلَيكُمُ

يا أَهلَ بابِلَ ما نَفِستُ عَلَيكُمُ

مِن عَيشِكُم إِلّا ثَلاثَ خِلالِ

مِن عَيشِكُم إِلّا ثَلاثَ خِلالِ

O people of Babylon, I have not envied you

O people of Babylon, I do not envy you

for anything in your life except three things:

Anything of your life except three things:

خَمرَ العِراقِ وَلَيلَ قَيظٍ بارِدٍ

خَمرَ العِراقِ وَلَيلَ قَيظٍ بارِدٍ

وَسَماعَ مُسمِعَتَينِ لابنِ هِلالِ

وَسَماعَ مُسمِعَتَينِ لابنِ هِلالِ

Iraq's wine, and a cool summer night,

Iraqi wine, a cold summer night,

and listening to Ibn Hilal's two songstresses.

And listening to a singer singing Ibn Hilal.