دوهة يا دوهة (Doha ya doha)
"This is a very traditional song from the Hijazi Folklore (Western Saudi Arabia from Jedda, Mecca and Medina)." -Fadi
دوهة يا دوهة (Doha ya doha)
Doha ya doha
Lullaby
Lullaby
(Arabic)
(English)
دوهة يا دوهة
والكعبه بنوها
و بالزمزم رشوها
بابا سافر مكه
جابلي زنبيل كعكه
والكعكه في المخزن
و المخزن يحتاج مفتاح
والمفتاح عند النجار
النجار يبقا الفلوس
الفلوس عند العروس
العروس تبقا ولد
الولد يبقا الحليب
الحليب عند البقره
و البقره تبقا الحشيش
و الحشيش فوق الجبل
و الجبل يبقا المطر
يا مطر حطي حطي
علي قراعة بنت اختي
بنت اختي جابت ولد
و سمو عبدالصمد
دوهة يا دوهة
والكعبه بنوها
Doha ya doha
And they built the Ka'aba (1)
And with Zamzam (2) water they sprayed it
My father traveled to Mecca
He got me some cake
The cake is in the closet
And the closet needs a key
And the key is with the carpenter
And the carpenter wants money
And the money is with the bride
And the bride wants to have a baby boy
And the baby boy wants milk
And the milk is with the cow
And the cow wants the grass
And the grass is on top of the mountain
And the mountain wants rain
Come rain, come
On my sister's daughter's bald head,
My sister's daughter gave birth to a son
And she named him Abdalsamad
Doha ya doha
And they built the Ka'aba.
 - Saudi Arabian Children's Songs - Saudi Arabia - Mama Lisa's World: Children's Songs and Rhymes from Around the World
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Notes
(1) The Kaaba or Ka'aba ("The Cube"), is a cuboid building at the center of Islam's most sacred mosque called Al-Masjid al-Haram, located in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It's the most sacred site in Islam.
"The city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia is considered by Muslims to be the holiest city of Islam. Muslims do the Haj in Mecca. The Haj is the great pilgrimage to Mecca which all Muslims are expected to make at least once if they can afford to do so." -Fatima
(2) "Zamzam is the sacred well near the Kaaba at Mecca. According to Arab tradition, this is the well that was shown by Gabriel to Hagar when the baby Ishmael was perishing of thirst. Its water is believed to be more health-giving than any other." -Fatima
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Pronunciation:
Doha ya doha
wa al-ka'aba banooha
wa bi al-zamzam rashooha
baba safar makka
jablee zanbeel ka'aka
wa al-ka'aka fi al-makhzan
wa al-makhzan yih'taj muftah
wa al-muftah 'ind al-najar
wa al-najar yibgh'a al-filoos
wa al-filoos 'ind al-aroos
wa al-aroos tibgh'a walad
wa al-walad yibgh'a al-haleeb
wa alhaleeb 'ind al-bagara
wa al-bagara tibgh'a al-hasheesh
wa al-hasheesh foog al-jabal
wa al-jabal yibgh'a al-matar
ya matara hutee hutee
qura'at bint ukhtee
bint ukhtee jabat walad
wa samatoo 'abd al-samad
doha ya doha
wa al-kaaba banooha.
Comments
"The version I know says, 'wa Zamzam shiriboha' meaning, 'and Zamzam water, they did drink'." -Lamees
You can find more translations of Doha Ya Doha on Mama Lisa's Blog.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Thanks and Acknowledgements
Many thanks to Fatima Baji, Rashid and Ridha for the translation! Thanks to Fadi for commenting on the song.
Image: Temple in Mecca with detailed explanation (1718), drawn by Jan Goeree.
Shukran!
