AboutTal Expertise I can answer mostly any question about lyrics, albums and biographies. If I am not cable of answering a question, I have trustworthy resources.
Experience I am a great fan that read almost all web pages about Queen.
Expert: Tal Date: 4/4/2008 Subject: Lyrics : Mustapha
Question Alright, so I don't know how active this place is, but I've been trolling everywhere else on the net and I can't find an answer. Maybe you can help.
So I'm a big Queen fan, younger and less knowledgeable, but huge nonetheless. I'm starting to really seriously get into their music, and I've been listening to them on loop while doing menial things, downloaded almost every album. Anyway, I came across the song Mustapha, which is catchy and great, but has either jibberish, or what is more likely Arabic. I CANNOT find the literal translations of the song anywhere on the internet. I was hoping maybe you had them lying around somewhere and could help me out. Your time and answer are much appreciated. Danke.
Answer Dear Jacob,
Undoubted, this is one of Queen's best songs, This song is arguably, written in three languages; English, Arabic, and Parsi, which is the language commonly spoken in Iran.
After deeply scrutinizing the song, I deduced that Mustapha Ibrahim is a common Middle Eastern/Arabian name. Being from Israel, and fluently speaking Hebrew, I was able to decipher that: "al havra kris vanin" means approximately: "All friends gather and shout" Allah is the god of Muslim religion, although Freddie himself was Zoroastrian, and not Muslim.
Achtar es na sholei ~~ Now is the time
Mochamut dei ya low eshelei Is probably a part of a prayer aimed at Mohammed, who is believed to have established the Muslim religion.
ai ai ai ai ahelei Is a Zionist folk song, in which ahelei means "my god".
Ist avil ahiln avil ahiln adhim Mustapha, Salaam Aleikum! Is a short prayer, which is used as a greeting to one another.
achbar ish navin ~~ A smart man will understand.
Vontap ist ahiln avil ahiln adhim Mustapha,
Aleikum Salaam hey! ~~ is probably a prayer of farewell.
