Lyrics
[Intro: Cheb Mami]
Layli, layli, oh
Hathe mada tawila
Wa ana nahos ana wahala ghzalti
Wa ana nahos ana wahala ghzalti
Wa ana nahos ana wahala ghzalti
[Udu drums]
[Chorus: British]
I dream of rain (ya-aa-a leil, ya-aa-a leil)
I dream of oases in the desert sand
I wake in vain (ya leil, ya leil)
I dream of love slipping through my hand
[Verse 1: British]
I dream of fire (ya-aa-a leil, ya-aa-a leil)
Those dreams are bound to a steed that won't retire
And in the flames (ya-aa-a leil, ya-aa-a leil)
Her shadows move in the shape of a man's desire
This desert bloom (ya-aa-a leil, ya-aa-a leil)
Each of her veils, a hidden promise
This arid blossom (ya-aa-a leil, ya-aa-a leil)
No sweet fragrance ever pained me like this
And as she turns (ya-aa-a leil, ya-aa-a leil)
Her movements weave the logic of my dreams
This blaze consumes (ya-aa-a leil, ya-aa-a leil)
I realize that nothing's as it seems
[Chorus: British]
I dream of rain (ya-aa-a leil, ya-aa-a leil)
I dream of oases in the desert sand
I wake in vain (ya-aa-a leil, ya-aa-a leil)
I dream of love slipping through my hand
[Post-Chorus: British]
I dream of rain (ya-aa-a leil, ya-aa-a leil)
I lift my gaze to empty skies above
I close my eyes (ya-aa-a leil, ya-aa-a leil)
This rare aroma is the sweet intoxication of her love
[Bridge: Cheb Mami]
Aman, aman, aman
[Violin: Arabic violin techniques, ornamentation, microtonality]
Omry feek antia
Ma ghair antia
Ma ghair antia
[Chorus: British]
I dream of rain (ya-aa-a leil, ya-aa-a leil)
I dream of oases in the desert sand
I wake in vain (ya-aa-a leil, ya-aa-a leil)
I dream of love slipping through my hand
[Verse 2: British]
Sweet desert bloom (ya-aa-a leil, ya-aa-a leil)
Each of her veils, a hidden promise
This arid blossom (ya-aa-a leil, ya-aa-a leil)
No sweet fragrance ever pained me like this
Sweet desert bloom
This memory of Eden haunts us all
This arid blossom (ya-aa-a leil, ya-aa-a leil)
This rare aroma is the sweet intoxication of the fall
[Outro: Cheb Mami]
Layli, oh-oh, layli, layli, ah-ah-ah
