Marcel Khalife - Passport. [Full translation/subtitles/ lyrics]

Marcel Khalife (Arabic: مرسيل خليفة‎; b. June 10, 1950, Amchit, Mount Lebanon Governorate, Lebanon) is a Lebanese composer, singer and oud player. (see more bellow)

Summary:
Probably one of the best lyrical retakes of the the 1948 Palestinian refugee exodus yet it's still applicable to anyone who feels detached from a literal or figurative home. Marcel tells of how deep his connection is to the land and yet how he is denied the sense of belonging because of his passport. He ends the song with a declaration that his nationality is now dependent on the kindness of others and that his passport is meaningless.

Analysis:
Palestinians are a people with no country. Most of them don't have a real passport, they have a "travel document" that attaches them to a whichever country has given them temporary residency status. Very few are actually allowed to travel into the self governing parts of Palestine. Having no place to legally call home in this world is one of the few things that I've seen that are worst then poverty.

This song illustrates how for many Palestinians their passports no longer reflect who they are. Despite how rooted in the land the song describes the refugee he is still removed from it by the passport. He appeals to his superiors "gentlemen" but ends the song with no resolution, just like refugee situation remains today.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1948_Pal...

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  Music

[BaladiAkka1948]

This is another poem by the Palestinian national poet Mahmoud Darwish. In fact Marcel Khalife composed music to many of Mahmoud Darwish' poems, some sung by Omaima al-Khalil.

[BentElJaza2er]

This poem touches my heart so much. Darwich's hands were absolutly magical & Marcel's voice is wonderful ...

Love from Algeria.

[biglk22]

To DanHadan

Thank you very much, poem and song both is simply great and because of your kindniss, i am now able to not only feel, but realy understand its deepness and also how much trouth is dilvered in this song

tyvm

biglk