Video: 3al Jamal bi wasat Beirut – عالجمل بوسط بيروت [official clip] Michelle & Noel Keserwany from Michelle Keserwany on YouTube.
Michelle and Noel Keserwany (ميشيل ونويل كسرواني) are sisters who are singers, songwriters, and visual artists. They have become known for writing songs which cast a critical eye at Lebanese society while retaining an endearingly playful quality. Their breakthrough was “Jagal El-USEK” (2010), which was followed in early 2012 by the whimsical satire “3al Jamal bi Wasat Beirut” (“On a Camel in Downtown Beirut”).
As explained by Noel, there are two ideas behind this song. The first is the surprisingly common belief among those who know little of Lebanon that this country must be filled with camel-riding natives. The second is the reality of the Lebanese capital’s Downtown: an area of high end shopping and dining establishments, effectively excluding those of more modest means and aspirations.
For the video, the Keserwany sisters picked up two camels from Baalbek and brought them to Beirut. They then proceeded to film themselves and the reaction of those around them as they paraded around the glitzy Downtown atop their dromedaries. As explained in the notes to the official video:
“Have you ever felt when going to Downtown Beirut that you’re at the sidelines of some “power” contest where “la creme de la creme” of the population is found parading with their newest cars, trendiest clothes, tallest cigars… And that when you dare enter their perfect little world at the risk of being stared to death, you sense that you’re being deprived of enjoying the beauty of the city?? Well who said that it’s illegal to be less fortunate and go to DT? Better yet, who said it’s against the law to go there riding a camel?!?! A group of friends and us tried to see the outcome of that theory by actually entering the capital city on camels! And that was the reaction! Enjoy!!!!”
Michelle & Noel Keserwany:
https://www.facebook.com/michelleandnoel
https://www.youtube.com/user/MichelleandNoel
“3al Jamal bi Wasat Beirut (عالجَمَل بِوَسَط بَيْروت)” © 2012 by Michelle & Noel Keserwany
Lyrics and translation of “3al Jamal bi Wasat Beirut” are printed here by the Lebanese Arabic Institute with the permission of the copyright owner.
| Āanā… baddé kazdir 3aljamal | أَنا… بَدّي كَزْدِر عالجَمَل |
| biwasaT bayrūt | بِوَسَط بَيْروت |
| Ḱallé llī mā ma3uħ HaĀĀ binzīn | خَلّي لّي ما مَعُه حَقّ بِنْزين |
| ySīr 3induħ Āamal | يْصير عِنْدُه أَمَل |
| Ḱallé lĀajēnib yunbusTō | خَلّي الأَجانِب يُنْبُسْطو |
| wĀaḰīran šēfō ljamal | وَأخيراً شافو الجَمَل |
| Āanā… baddé kazdir 3aljamal | أَنا… بَدّي كَزْدِر عالجَمَل |
| biwasaT bayrūt | بِوَسَط بَيْروت |
| Ḱallé llī mā ma3uħ HaĀĀ binzīn | خَلّي لّي ما مَعُه حَقّ بِنْزين |
| ySīr 3induħ Āamal | يْصير عِنْدُه أَمَل |
| Ḱallé lĀajēnib yunbusTō | خَلّي الأَجانِب يُنْبُسْطو |
| wĀaḰīran šēfō ljamal | وَأخيراً شافو الجَمَل |
| Ḱallé kill ĀaSHāb lmaHallēt | خَلّي كِلّ أَصْحاب المَحَلّات |
| yi3imlō panique | يِعِمْلو بانيك |
| wikyēs š-shopping tūĀā3 | وِكْياس الشّوبِنج توقَع |
| min Āīd l3ālam š-chic | مِن إيد العالَم الشّيك |
| wilmonsieur lfaḰāmeŧ | والمِسْيو الفَخامِة |
| yiflut min timmuħ s-cigar | يِفْلُت مِن تِمُّه السّيجار |
| “māmī! māmī! HSān!” | ‘‘!مامي! مامي! حْصان’’ |
| ySarḰō liwlēd SSğār | يْصَرْخو الِوْلاد الصّغار |
| Āanā baddé kazdir 3aljamal | أَنا بَدّي كَزْدِر عالْجَمَل |
| biwasaT bayrūt | بِوَسَط بَيْروت |
| wḰallé kill nnēs tğār | وخَلّي كِلّ النّاس تْغار |
| I want to go cruising on a camel in Downtown Beirut | |
| Let those who don’t have the amount for gas have hope | |
| Let the foreigners be happy that finally they saw a camel | |
| Make all the shopkeepers go into a panic | |
| and shopping bags fall from the hands of the stylish people | |
| and the cigar fall from the mouth of the eminent monsieur | |
| “Mommy! Mommy! A horse!” The little children scream | |
| I want to go cruising on a camel in Downtown Beirut | |
| and make everyone jealous | |
| wasaT bayrūt, bijamalé baddé fūt | وَسَط بَيْروت، بِجَمَلي بَدّي فوت |
| wbén ssiyyārāt jamalé ykazdir mabsūT | وبين السِّيّارات جَمَلي يْكَزْدِر مَبْسوط |
| wasaT bayrūt, bijamalé baddé fūt | وَسَط بَيْروت، بِجَمَلي بَدّي فوت |
| wbén ssiyyārāt jamalé ykazdir mabsūT | وبين السِّيّارات جَمَلي يْكَزْدِر مَبْسوط |
| wasaT bayrūt | وَسَط بَيْروت |
| Downtown Beirut, on my camel I want to go | |
| And between the cars my camel to cruise happily | |
| Downtown Beirut, on my camel I want to go | |
| And between the cars my camel to cruise happily | |
| Downtown Beirut | |
| winzilt kazdir bibayrūt 3aDahr ljamal | وِنْزِلت كَزْدِر بِبَيْروت عَضَهْرِ الجَمَل |
| bšūf waiter 3am biHuTT salad | بْشوف ويتَر عَم بِحُطّ سَلاد |
| biĀafḰam maT3am bibayrūt | بِأَفْخَم مَطْعَم بَيْروت |
| miš 3ārif hōnīk bizzēt | مِش عارِف هونيك بالذّات |
| bijamalé baddé fūt | بِجَمَلي بَدّي فوت |
| wjamalé m3attar ta3bēn | وجَمَلي مْعَتَّر تَعْبان |
| Dārib bibaTnuħ ljū3 | ضارِب بِبَطْنُه الجوع |
| mā huwwe jamal | ما هوّ جَمَل |
| mā fīk tĀilluħ 3an walā šī mamnū3 | ما فيك تْقِلُّه عَن ولا شي مَمْنوع |
| winnēs t3ayyiT witSarriḰ | والنّاس تْعَيِّط وِتْصَرِّخ |
| tirkuD wbiba3Dħā tfūt | تِرْكُض وبِبَعْضها تْفوت |
| wjamalé la3was s-salad 3amahluħ mabsūT | وجَمَلي لَعْوَس السّلاد عَمَهْلُه مَبْسوط |
| Āanā 3aljamal nzilt kazdir wbiwasaT bayrūt | أنا عالجَمَل نْزِلت كَزْدِر وبِوَسَط بَيْروت |
| So I went for a cruise in Beirut atop the camel | |
| And I see a waiter placing a salad in the most eminent restaurant of Beirut | |
| Unaware that that’s exactly where I want to go with my camel | |
| And my poor camel is tired and famished | |
| And he’s a camel – you can’t tell him something’s not allowed | |
| And people shout and scream, run and bump into one another | |
| As my camel was chewing his salad, taking his time contentedly | |
| I, on a camel, went for a cruise, and in Downtown Beirut! | |
| wasaT bayrūt, bijamalé baddé fūt | وَسَط بَيْروت، بِجَمَلي بَدّي فوت |
| wbén ssiyyārāt jamalé ykazdir mabsūT | وبين السِّيّارات جَمَلي يْكَزْدِر مَبْسوط |
| wasaT bayrūt, bijamalé baddé fūt | وَسَط بَيْروت، بِجَمَلي بَدّي فوت |
| wbén ssiyyārāt jamalé ykazdir mabsūT | وبين السِّيّارات جَمَلي يْكَزْدِر مَبْسوط |
| wasaT bayrūt | وَسَط بَيْروت |
| Downtown Beirut, on my camel I want to go | |
| And between the cars my camel to cruise happily | |
| Downtown Beirut, on my camel I want to go | |
| And between the cars my camel to cruise happily | |
| Downtown Beirut | |
| fajĀaŧ bišūfné daraké wbiwaĀĀifné 3alyamīn | فَجْأة بِشوفْني دَرَكي وبِوَقِّفني عاليَمين |
| biĀillé: “3aljamal biwasaT bayrūt | بِقِلّي: ’’عالجَمَل بِوَسَط بَيْروت |
| mfakraŧ Hālik mīn!” | مْفَكْرَة حالِك مين!‘‘ |
| Āiltilluħ, “yā HaDrit ddaraké | قِلْتِلُّه: ’’يا حَضْرِة الدَّرَكي |
| sma3né šū baddé Āūl | سْمَعْني شو بَدّي قول |
| Āanā bi3rif HaDirtak | أنا بِعْرِف حَضِرْتَك |
| 3an Āamin lmuwāTin masĀūl | عَن أَمِن المُواطِن مَسْؤول |
| bass, mā Āanā kamēn muwāTneŧ | بَسّ، ما أنا كَمان مُواطْنِة |
| wHaĀĀé fūt 3ahalmadīneŧ | وحَقي فوت عَهالمَدينِة |
| wĀanā min 3ayleŧ mitwāD3aŧ | وأنا مِن عَيْلِة مِتْواضْعَة |
| wbalā haljamal mā fīné | وبَلا هالجَمَل ما فيني |
| wjamalé muwāTin SāliH | وجَمَلي مُواطِن صالِح |
| wbiwaĀĀif 3alĀišāraŧ | وبِوَقِّف عالإشارَة |
| mā bidawbil wmā bizammir | ما بِدَوْبِل وما بِزَمِّر |
| wbiĀaTTi3 lmarāŧ lḰityāraŧ | وبِقَطِّع المَراة الخِتْيارَة |
| wjamalé biḰaffif 3aTTabbeŧ | وجَمَلي بِخَفِّف عالطَّبِّة |
| wmā byisri3 fōĀ l3išrīn | وما بْيِسْرِع فوق العِشْرين |
| wrakkabtilluħ numraŧ | ورَكَّبْتِلُّه نُمْرَة |
| wĀaSlan mā byuSruf binzīn” | ‘‘وأَصْلاً ما بْيُصْرُف بِنْزين |
| Suddenly a policeman sees me and makes me pull over to the right | |
| He says to me: “On a camel in Downtown Beirut? Who do you think you are?” | |
| I told him: “Mister Policeman, listen to what I have to say | |
| I know that you are responsible for the safety of the citizen | |
| But am I not also a citizen, and entitled to enter this city | |
| And I am from a humble family and without this camel I cannot | |
| ِAnd my camel is an upright citizen, and stops at traffic lights | |
| He doesn’t overtake, doesn’t honk, and lets old women cross | |
| And my camel slows down on bumps, and doesn’t go over 20 | |
| And I got him a license plate [lit. “number”] and in fact he doesn’t use gas” | |
| tTalla3 fiyyé ddaraké | تْطَلَّع فيّي الدَّرَكي |
| wmā Habb jamalé min lĀasēs | وما حَبّ جَمَلي مِن الأَساس |
| “bass miš HāTTaŧ s-ceinture” | ’’بَسّ مِش حاطَّة السّينْتور‘‘ |
| jēwabné biHamēs | جاوَبْني بِحَماس |
| “jamalik raH yēkul Zabit wmā tjarbé tiĀna3īné” | ‘‘جَمَلِك رَح ياكُل ظَبِط وما تْجَرْبي تِقْنَعيني’’ |
| Āallé bišwērbuħ ssūd wbiDuHiktuħ llaĀīmeŧ | قَلّي بِشْوارْبُه السّود وبِضُحِكْتُه اللَّئيمِة |
| Āiltilluħ, “HaDrit ddaraké llī bitĀūluħ 3arrās | قِلْتِلُّه: ’’حَضْرِة الدَّرَكي لّي بِتْقولُه عالرّاس |
| ĀaSlan mīn byistarjé yĀillak laĀ | أصْلاً مين بْيِسْتَرْجي يْقِلَّك لأ |
| mā 3ajanbak fī rSāS” | ما عَجَنْبَك في رْصاص‘‘ |
| wi3Tīt ZZabit llajamal | وعطيت الظَّبِت لَلجَمَل |
| šēfuħ warĀaŧ, mā fihim šū hiyye | شافُه وَرْقَة، ما فِهِم شو هِيِّ |
| Āām la3wasuħ 3amahluħ | قام لَعْوَسُه عَمَهْلُه |
| wbala3uħ bikill šahiyyeŧ | وبَلَعُه بِكِلّ شَهِيِّة |
| Āiltilluħ, “HaDrit ddaraké | قِلْتِلُّه: ’’حَضْرِة الدَّرَكي |
| mitil mā HaDirtak Talabt | مِتِل ما حَضِرْتَك طَلَبْت |
| jamalé naffaz lĀawēmir wĀakaluħ laZZabit | جَمَلي نَفَّذ الأَوامِر وأَكَلُه لَلظَّبِط |
| hallaĀ, kint bHibb Dall ma3ak Āaktar | هَلأ، كِنْت بْحِب ضَلّ مَعَك أَكْتر |
| bass waĀté maDğūT | بَس وَقْتي مَضْغوط |
| baddé Āinzal kazdir wbiljamal | بَدّي إنْزَل كَزْدِر وبالجَمَل |
| wbiwasaT bayrūt!” | وبِوَسَط بَيْروت!‘‘ |
| The policeman looked at me and he did not like my camel at all | |
| “But you didn’t put on your seatbelt” he answered excitedly | |
| “Your camel is going to get [lit. “eat”] a ticket and don’t try to argue” | |
| He said to me with his black mustache and his mean laugh | |
| I said to him: “Mister policeman, whatever you say must be done | |
| I mean, who would dare say no to you when you have a gun at your side? | |
| I gave my camel the ticket, he saw it as a paper, he didn’t understand what it was | |
| He went and chewed it leisurely and swallowed it with great relish | |
| I said to him: “Mister Policeman, just as you requested | |
| My camel carried out the orders and ate the ticket | |
| Now, I would love to stay with you longer but I am pressed for time | |
| I want to go for a cruise, and on a camel, | |
| and in Downtown Beirut!” | |
| wasaT bayrūt, bijamalé baddé fūt | وَسَط بَيْروت، بِجَمَلي بَدّي فوت |
| wbén ssiyyārāt jamalé ykazdir mabsūT | وبين السِّيّارات جَمَلي يْكَزْدِر مَبْسوط |
| wasaT bayrūt, bijamalé baddé fūt | وَسَط بَيْروت، بِجَمَلي بَدّي فوت |
| wbén ssiyyārāt jamalé ykazdir mabsūT | وبين السِّيّارات جَمَلي يْكَزْدِر مَبْسوط |
| wasaT bayrūt | وَسَط بَيْروت |
| Downtown Beirut, on my camel I want to go | |
| And between the cars my camel to cruise happily | |
| Downtown Beirut, on my camel I want to go | |
| And between the cars my camel to cruise happily | |
| Downtown Beirut | |
Here are Michelle & Noel Keserwany performing “3al Jamal bi Wasat Beirut” at the Oshtoora 2015 Music Festival:
Video: Michelle & Noel Keserwany | Wasat Beirut | Oshtoora 2015 – ميشيل ونويل كسرواني | وسط بيروت | ٢٠١٥ from Oshtoora – اُشطورة on YouTube.
Arabic learners (especially those at an intermediate level) may also be interested to check out this post by “Team Nisreen”, which analyzes various aspects of the grammar and vocabulary of “3al Jamal bi Wasat Beirut”.
Michelle & Noel Keserwany:
https://www.facebook.com/michelleandnoel
https://www.youtube.com/user/MichelleandNoel