أم كلثوم The Archive

The Song Archive

Every song annotated: Arabic lyrics, transliteration, an original English translation, and the story of what it means.

Painted film poster of Umm Kulthum in a red embroidered vest and white headwrap, hand on hip, above a musical staff and Arabic title 'Widad'.

Salou Ku'us al-Tila (Ask the Cups of Wine) سلوا كؤوس الطلا

1938 · Maqam Huzam

Salou Ku'us al-Tila (1938): Ahmed Shawqi's wine-song portrait of Umm Kulthum's own voice, set by Riad al-Sunbati in maqam Huzam — annotated and translated.

Film poster reading 'Om Kalsoum' with a painted portrait of Umm Kulthum above an illustrated fez-wearing orchestra and Arabic title lettering.

Ana Fi Entezarak (I Am Waiting for You) أنا في انتظارك

1943 · Maqam Hijazkar

Ana Fi Entezarak (1943): full lyrics of Bayram al-Tunisi and Zakariyya Ahmad's vigil song — an absence counted second by second, with translation and notes.

Egyptian film poster titled 'Sallama' in red Arabic lettering, with a painted portrait of Umm Kulthum wearing a colorful headscarf resting her chin on her hand.

Ghanni Li Shwayya (Sing to Me, Softly) غني لي شوي شوي

1945 · Maqam Rast

Ghanni Li Shwayya (1945): full lyrics of Bayram al-Tunisi and Zakariyya Ahmad's ode to song itself, from the film Sallama — with translation and notes.

Dramatic low-key portrait of Umm Kulthum in a black dress and long jeweled earrings, her face lit from above against a dark background.

Nahj al-Burda (The Way of the Mantle) نهج البردة

1946 · Maqam Rahat al-Arwah

Nahj al-Burda (1946): Shawqi's answer to al-Busiri's Burda, set by Sunbati in maqam Rahat al-Arwah — the most exalted of Umm Kulthum's prophetic praise songs.

Black-and-white stage photograph of Umm Kulthum singing in a long white gown before a draped curtain, with oud and violin players seated behind her.

Salou Qalbi (Ask My Heart) سلوا قلبي

1946 · Maqam Rast

Salou Qalbi (1946): Ahmed Shawqi's qasida in Sunbati's maqam Rast — the song that made 'goals are never attained by wishing' the proverb of a generation.

Aged studio photograph of Umm Kulthum as a small child seated beside her father, a mustached man in a turban and traditional robe.

Wulida al-Huda (The Guide Is Born) ولد الهدى

1949 · Maqam Rast

Wulida al-Huda (1949): Shawqi's mawlid hymn in Sunbati's maqam Rast — the boldest verses on faith, justice and equality Umm Kulthum ever sang.

Colorized close-up of a smiling Umm Kulthum with dark hair and red lipstick amid a crowd of men in suits at an event.

Rubaiyat el-Khayyam (The Quatrains of Khayyam) رباعيات الخيام

1950 · Maqam Rast

Rubaiyat el-Khayyam (1950): Omar Khayyam in Ahmed Rami's Arabic, set by Riad al-Sunbati in maqam Rast — meaning and translation of Umm Kulthum's masterpiece.

Museum display of Umm Kulthum's open Egyptian passport with a photo of her in sunglasses, beside her crystal-studded glasses, labeled in Arabic and English.

Ila Arafat Allah (To the Arafat of God) إلى عرفات الله

1951 · Maqam Huzam

Ila Arafat Allah (1951): Ahmed Shawqi's Hajj qasida in Riad al-Sunbati's maqam Huzam setting — how Umm Kulthum's pilgrimage anthem came to be, with translation.

Colorized photograph of Umm Kulthum in a black dress and sunglasses standing with President Gamal Abdel Nasser, Anwar Sadat and another man.

Misr Tatahaddath An Nafsiha (Egypt Speaks of Herself) مصر تتحدث عن نفسها

1951 · Maqam Rast

Misr Tatahaddath An Nafsiha (1951): full lyrics & translation of Hafez Ibrahim's qasida in Riad al-Sunbati's maqam Rast setting — Egypt speaks in her own voice.

Public-domain family photograph of young Umm Kulthum with her father and brother in the 1920s.

Shams el-Aseel (The Late-Afternoon Sun) شمس الأصيل

1955 · Maqam Shahnaz

Shams el-Aseel (1955): full lyrics & translation of Bayram al-Tunisi's Nile sunset idyll, set by Riad al-Sunbati in maqam Shahnaz for Umm Kulthum.

Black-and-white studio portrait of a smiling young Umm Kulthum resting her chin on her hands, wearing a satin blouse and jeweled bracelets.

Hagartak (I Left You) هجرتك

1959 · Maqam Kurd

Hagartak (1959): Ahmed Rami's paradox of forgetting, set by Riad al-Sunbati in maqam Kurd — meaning and translation of Umm Kulthum's 'I left you' explained.

Colorized portrait of Umm Kulthum in a black dress with a pearl necklace and jeweled brooch, seated on a gilded brocade sofa looking aside.

Hob Eih (What Kind of Love?) حب إيه

1960 · Maqam Bayati

Hob Eih (1960): Baligh Hamdi's first melody for Umm Kulthum — Abdel Wahab Mohamed's defiant colloquial lyric in maqam Bayati. Meaning and translation explained.

Colorized portrait of Umm Kulthum in a black dress with a pearl necklace and jeweled brooch, seated on a gilded brocade sofa looking aside.

Howwa Sahih el-Hawa Ghallab (Is It True Love Conquers All?) هو صحيح الهوى غلاب

1960 · Maqam Saba

Howwa Sahih el-Hawa Ghallab (1960): full lyrics & translation of Bayram al-Tunisi's last song for Umm Kulthum — Zakariyya Ahmad's maqam Saba farewell.

Black-and-white photograph of Umm Kulthum seen from behind in a dark cloak, talking with a smiling suited Mahmoud Zulfikar amid other men outdoors.

Lissa Faker (Do You Still Believe?) لسه فاكر

1960 · Maqam Ajam

Lissa Faker (1960): Riad al-Sunbati sets Abdel Fattah Mustafa's proud refusal for Umm Kulthum — 'that was long ago.' Annotated excerpts and essay.

Sepia magazine photograph of a smiling Umm Kulthum leaning on a railing in a puff-sleeved dress, resting her folded arms.

Hayyart Albi Maak (You Bewildered My Heart) حيرت قلبي معاك

1961

Hayyart Albi Maak (1961): Ahmed Rami and Riad al-Sunbati's late collaboration with Umm Kulthum — a study in longing, concealment, and live tarab practice.

Colorized portrait of Umm Kulthum in a black dress with a pearl necklace and jeweled brooch, seated on a gilded brocade sofa looking aside.

Enta Omri (You Are My Life) إنت عمري

1964 · Maqam Kurd

Enta Omri (1964): Umm Kulthum meets Mohammed Abdel Wahab in the 'meeting of the clouds' — history, maqam Kurd, and the meaning of her most famous love song.

Colorized photograph of Umm Kulthum in a headscarf, sunglasses and fur-trimmed coat walking through a crowd with companions and photographers.

Sirat El Hob (The Story of Love) سيرة الحب

1964

Sirat El Hob (1964): Umm Kulthum's confession of a lifetime spent fearing love — Morsi Gamil Aziz's lyric, Baligh Hamdi's setting, meaning & translation.

Color concert photograph of Umm Kulthum in a magenta gown holding a scarf and singing on a darkened stage, backed by her orchestra.

Amal Hayati (Hope of My Life) أمل حياتي

1965 · Maqam Kurd

Amal Hayati (1965): Ahmad Shafiq Kamel's plea to stay inside love's dream, set by Abdel Wahab in maqam Kurd — meaning, translation & the story of its premiere.

Black-and-white stage photograph of Umm Kulthum singing in a long white gown before a draped curtain, with oud and violin players seated behind her.

Araka 'Asiyy al-Dam' (I See You Withholding Your Tears) أراك عصي الدمع

1965 · Maqam Kurd

Araka 'Asiyy al-Dam' (1965): Abu Firas al-Hamdani's captivity qasida in Riad al-Sunbati's maqam Kurd setting — annotated lyrics, translation, and its story.

Faded black-and-white photograph of Umm Kulthum in sunglasses and a dark dress seated beside a smiling mustached man in a white shirt in a furnished room.

Baeed Anak (Far From You) بعيد عنك

1965 · Maqam Bayati

Baeed Anak (1965): Baligh Hamdi's maqam Bayati hit for Umm Kulthum — 'far from you, my life is torment.' Annotated excerpts, translation, and the song's story.

Umm Kulthum in a dark coat and sunglasses stands beside men in suits before a Paris billboard advertising her 1967 Olympia galas.

Al-Atlal (The Ruins) الأطلال

1966 · Maqam Huzam

Al-Atlal (1966): full lyrics of Ibrahim Nagi's qasida in Sunbati's maqam Huzam — with the seven spliced verses of 'Al-Wada'', translation and line notes.

Black-and-white backstage photograph of Umm Kulthum in sunglasses seated beside composer Mohammed Abdel Wahab holding a tambourine, with a young man standing.

Fakkarouni (They Reminded Me) فكروني

1966 · Maqam Rast

Fakkarouni (1966): a chance remark rekindles a buried love — Abdel Wahab's maqam Rast setting, the famous one-word hook, meaning & translation of Umm Kulthum's classic.

Black-and-white photograph of Umm Kulthum in a floral dress and sunglasses standing beside Sheikh Zayed in white robes and other men.

Hadhihi Laylati (This Is My Night) هذه ليلتي

1968 · Maqam Bayati

Hadhihi Laylati (1968): George Jardaq's qasida set by Abdel Wahab in maqam Bayati — the night Umm Kulthum returned to the Cairo stage after 1967. Meaning & translation.

Alf Leila wa Leila (One Thousand and One Nights) ألف ليلة وليلة

1969 · Maqam Farahfaza

Alf Leila wa Leila (1969): Baligh Hamdi's nocturne for Umm Kulthum — maqam Farahfaza, the night-long refrain, and why one night outweighs a thousand and one.

Warmly toned photograph of a smiling Umm Kulthum in glasses embracing and clasping hands with President Anwar Sadat in military uniform.

Daret El Ayyam (The Days Turned) دارت الأيام

1970 · Maqam Rahat al-Arwah

Daret El Ayyam (1970): Mamoun al-Shinnawi and Mohammed Abdel Wahab's late masterpiece for Umm Kulthum — quarrel, reunion, and dawn after estrangement.

Color photograph of Umm Kulthum in a blue coat and sunglasses seated facing composer Riad al-Sunbati, who holds an oud, in conversation.

Aghadan Alqak (Will I Meet You Tomorrow?) أغدًا ألقاك

1971 · Maqam Ajam

Aghadan Alqak (1971): al-Hadi Adam's poem of fearful anticipation, set by Abdel Wahab in maqam Ajam — one of Umm Kulthum's last great premieres. Meaning & translation.

Color concert photograph of Umm Kulthum in a magenta gown holding a scarf and singing on a darkened stage, backed by her orchestra.

El Hob Kollo (All the Love) الحب كله

1971

El Hob Kollo (1971): Umm Kulthum returns after mourning Nasser — Ahmad Shafiq Kamel's lyric, Baligh Hamdi's score. Meaning and translation of 'all the love'.

Colorized close-up of a smiling Umm Kulthum with dark hair and red lipstick amid a crowd of men in suits at an event.

Ya Msaharni (You Who Keep Me Sleepless) يا مسهرني

1972 · Maqam Rast

Ya Msaharni (1972): Sayed Mekawy's only melody for Umm Kulthum and Ahmed Rami's last lyric — a sleepless reproach in maqam Rast. Excerpts and commentary.