Translation of the song بالورقة و القلم artist Reham Abd Elhakim

بالورقة والقلم

Strictly by the book1,

خدتينى 100 ألم

You dealt me a 100 blows

انا شفت فيكى مرمطة

I've lived through suffering in you

وعرفت مين اللى اتظلم

And found out who was treated unjustly

ليه اللى جايلك اجنبى

Why is it that when a foreigner comes to you,

عارفة عليه تطبطبى؟

you know very well how to embrace them?

وتركبى الوش الخشب

And you put up a callous face

وعلى اللى منك تقلبى

And turn against your people

عارفة سواد العسل

Do you know the darkness of [black] honey?

اهو ده اللى حالك ليه وصل

This is exactly the state that you have reached..

ازاى قوليلى مكملة؟

Tell me.. how is it that you can go on..

وكل ده فيكى حصل

When all of this has happened to you

يا بلد معاندة نفسها

You are a country that is being stubborn with itself

يا كل حاجة وعكسها

You are everything and its opposite

ازاى وانا صبرى انتهى

How is it possible, when my patience has run out,

لسة بشوف فيكى امل؟

That I still see hope in you?2

طرداك وهى بتحضنك

She kicks you out while embracing you

وهو ده اللى يجننك

And this is what drives you crazy

بلد ماتعرف لو ساكنها

It is a country that you don't know whether you reside in

والا هى بتسكنك

or whether she resides in you

بتسرقك وتسلفك

She robs you and lends you money

ظلماك وبرضه بتنصفك

She's unjust to you and yet comes to your aid

ازاى فى حضنك ملمومين

How is it that we are united in your embrace

وانتى على حالك كده

When you are in such a state like this...?