Aheb Aisht Al Huriya

Album: difrent (2011)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • With an English translation to "I Love the Life of Freedom," this is an Egyptian civil rights song. The music was written in the 1930s by the Egyptian composer, Mohamed Abdel Wahab, and the words were later written by the Egyptian poet-laureate, Ahmed Shawki. The Arab American musician-come-political activist, Stephan Said, recorded the song on his sixth album, difrent. Said told us his father taught him the song.
  • "Aheb Aisht Al Huriya" is the lead single from Stephan Said's sixth album, difrent. The album was released on September 21st 2011 - the same day as the United Nations' International Day of Peace. The LP shares its name with Said's activism website, difrent.org, which describes itself as a "global broadcasting platform for music for social change, a one-stop where artists, activists, and organizations come together to advance local initiatives around the world on a constant basis through music and video releases." Said gave the song away as a free download to "all those who are non-violently working to build the international movement for a more just society."
  • Both the MP3 and official video of "Aheb Aisht Al Huriya" came complete with a spoken message from Stephan Said, during which he expressed hope in moving towards a free and more equal society, adding: "This is our moment, this is the moment in history when each of us must summon our highest, most poetic selves to courageously step forward into the brilliance of the next world, a world that is already in the making."
  • In the official video for the song, Said holds a notebook on which he has written the English translation of the lyrics. Throughout the video, Said flips between the notebook's pages, echoing Bob Dylan's iconic video, "Subterranean Homesick Blues."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Yoko Ono

Yoko OnoSongwriter Interviews

At 80 years old, Yoko has 10 #1 Dance hits. She discusses some of her songs and explains what inspired John Lennon's return to music in 1980.

Holly Knight ("The Best," "Love Is A Battlefield")

Holly Knight ("The Best," "Love Is A Battlefield")Songwriter Interviews

Holly Knight talks about some of the hit songs she wrote, including "The Warrior," "Never" and "The Best," and explains some songwriting philosophy, including how to think of a bridge.

Laura Nyro

Laura NyroSongwriting Legends

Laura Nyro talks about her complex, emotionally rich songwriting and how she supports women's culture through her art.

Sarah Brightman

Sarah BrightmanSongwriter Interviews

One of the most popular classical vocalists in the land is lining up a trip to space, which is the inspiration for many of her songs.

Supertramp founder Roger Hodgson

Supertramp founder Roger HodgsonSongwriter Interviews

Roger tells the stories behind some of his biggest hits, including "Give a Little Bit," "Take the Long Way Home" and "The Logical Song."

U2 Lyrics

U2 LyricsMusic Quiz

How well do you know the lyrics of U2?