Original lyric (Arabic)
عمر سليمان - خطابة
خطابة خطابة جيناكم خطابة
نريد القرب منكم بشرع الله وكتابه
قهوتكم مشروبة بالعز مديورة
النا طلب عندكم جينا نخاطب نورا
خذ نورا عطية ما الها جزية
عندي اربع شروط من حق النبة
الشرط الاول تكسي شبح مي مركوبة
كيلو ذهب باذنها بيوم الخطوبة
بدنا شهر عسل بالشام وباريس
اللبس من لندن مطلوب من العريس
خطابة خطابة جيناكم خطابة
نريد القرب منكم بشرع الله وكتابه
قهوتكم مشروبة بالعز مديورة
النا طلب عندكم جينا نخاطب نورا
خذ نورا عطية ما الها جزية
عندي اربع شروط من حق النبة
الشرط الاول تكسي شبح مي مركوبة
كيلو ذهب باذنها بيوم الخطوبة
بدنا شهر عسل بالشام وباريس
اللبس من لندن مطلوب من العريس
Translation in English
Omar Souleiman - A ProposalThis chorus and the first verse are sung from the perspective of the groom's party:
A marriage proposal, a proposal, we've come to make a marriage proposal
We want to become related to you in accordance with God's law and book (ie Shari3a and the Qur'an, which means going through the traditional formalities of negotiating conditions of the marriage between the two families etc.)
We've drank your coffee and have been honored by your hospitality (this is a loose translation of the second half, but this is something you have to say to show respect to your host in Arab hospitality, who is likewise obliged to serve you coffee to express hospitality)
We have a request from you, we've come to ask for Nora's hand
The rest of the song is sung from the point of view of the father of the prospective bride:
Nora is yours without paying a tribute (sometimes when a girl is to be married is on a condition that the family of a groom pay a sizable sum of money. this is designed as a way to make sure the groom has enough money to provide for the girl, but also is often a manifestation of greed on the part of the parents who want to marry up)
However I have four conditions on behalf of the girl
The first is a Mercedes taxi that has never been ridden in before (i.e. on the wedding night, the word here for the Mercedes is "shabah شبح" which literally means a "phantom car," the term used by some European car companies to market their high end luxury cars in the Arab world. From what I've read, the word has come to refer specifically to the S Class Mercedes Benz which is very popular in the Gulf. In east Syria this word could mean a Mercedes or just a really fancy car, the point is it is a ridiculous request for people of that social class)
(We also want) a kilo of gold in her ear at the engagement party (ie 1 kilo gold earrings)
We want a honeymoon in Damascus and Paris (in east Syria, Damascus is a pretty expensive and luxurious place)
(We also want) a wedding dress made in London provided by the groom
