Ibn Thabit - Lookin for Freedom

Ibn Thabit - Lookin for Freedom
ابن ثابت - يدوّر في الحريّة
Libya
Released on December 7, 2010
Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELjLtCaPib8
QuickTime version (right-click to download)
 

 Big shout-out to @TasnimQ of Majjal for her help with the translation.

*Asterisks highlight words or sections I'm not sure about. Corrections welcome!
Full Arabic lyrics and their English translation after the jump...

This mix is dedicated to all the brown-nosing snitches,
إلى القاق إلى البصّاص و الشحاحة
هذه لَكم يا التيوس

يا اخوتي اخوكم قاعد غير سبحوني على الغياب
ديما نرجع بالفنّ صحّ زيّ عمرو دياب
غير أنَّ اخوكم ابن ثابت ما يغنّيش على الحبّ
إلّا في حالة الحبيبة العصيدة بالربّ
اُصُبري عليَّ يا بلاد العيون
الفترة هذه في جرد سداد الديون
توا طبعاً تعرفوني الترهوني المجنون
اللي يغنّي على شكون ويذكر كل الشؤون
اللي مرّة مرّة لسانه ما سكت يبي الصابون
ماهو ما يقدر يقول إلا على القيدة ميبون
ربّي حيحسبني لكن خير من نقعد ساكت
أصلاً قبلي ملايين اللي قالو را ليبيا تلاقت
راهو الكلام هذا قديم. الكلام مش جديد
ومعمّر القذافي راح يموت مش بعيد
و سويسرا هذه اللي زُعِمَت عدو
بالدراهيم الحرمية تركو قولو لي وين امشو!

باهي اطلقتوهم - توا غيرهم كانهم غادي؟
وتين بتهربو هاي - عليكم من بنغازي!
يا شحاحة يا والكم من غضب الفلاحة
متملّح بنزله* على رؤوسكم زي الملّاحة
غير أنّ يزلزل الدنيا و يلقوكم في أوّل الساحة
الوقت تتركو برّا أُشربو بالماء الملحة
يحزق* الفرماط. الوطنية باعها
زي الشرير اللي يقتل أمّهَ بالبطانيّة *مدحها
قالو كلاب ضالة الكلاب المربوطة 
هم يتكتمو* بقوّاته من قول المظبوطة
تبي واحد قدّام الشعب حنشقوك* يا حمار
شني نقولك؟ نبي نلحق سيدي عمر المختار
فيهاش عار

أنا مش خايف منكم خايف أني ما ندير الشيء الخير
أنا مش خايف من الحق معمر ينطاز زي زق* الطير
مش خايف من القيدة وانت خايف من صوته
أنا نبي موت وانت خايف من موته
قاعد فجر الحرّية أنا ننستنى في الظهر
انت عادي في جامعات وقاعدين ينستنّو في شگر
زملائي بشهاداتهم يستنّوا في الشغل
هذا الواقع و الساعدي يتمنّى في البغل
بوه على الأقلّ *يعشق زي الإنتاية
اللي ما يقولش "قول" راح يكذّب في الآية
إدريس و الإبليس اذا باهي واعجبكم هكي
اللي تقوله اسم هالأغنية راح يقولك يكره الفتنة
قولو وين التريس؟ قالوا ماتوا في تشاد
من الجمعة إلّا الخميس قاعدين يدوّرو في البلاد

أيه قاعدين غير اللي يهمّ القرش و اللي يهمّ *الميلا
ما نلوم حد انا. اللوم على الدولة

ويقولك راهو البلاد تطوّرت و تغيّرت
القيدة شني تديرله؟ لا تغيّره ولا *تطيره
انت ابن ثابت راح ــــــ حياتك ضغيرة
سكّر عليَّ ما دام الخبز في الشكيرة
ماهو هذه هي نبي نقولك الدنيا ضغيرة
شني يضمن بالضبط لو كان معمّر يبي *طيره؟
واللي يبى يقول سيف ما فيش فرصة انتصار
ردّي رد الشيخ سيدي عمر المختار
اللي متملّح* مش متسلّح كان هذا راهو ارهابي
اللي يعال  بالفرماط انا شريته كان هذا جابني
ولعلمك التريس ما ينباعوش بالرخيص
هذه انا نوجّهها إلى كتيبة خميس

جو حفلات في الصحراء و *البربيس 
نعرفكم بسميكم را ما نبي نفلك* حد

And now for something a little bit different.
Still Ibn Thabit.
٢٠١١ شهر ١١

I'm a traitor to my nation and I'm looking for trouble.
They telling me be patient while my country's in rubble.
Peeling the tops off snitches like I'm shaving my stubble.
Putting numbers on the board, nothing but triple-doubles.
Advocating change, not necessarily violence -
unless I'm getting caned for breaking the silence.
In that case, the ace got a case for filing.
The souls of Abu Sleem got their faces smiling.
Their families, on the other hand, still be crying,
Trying to understand why their kids be dying.
And still, the rumors got the mill out hard.
They can kill me but they still gotta deal with God.

تقولهم ما فيش يوم الدين
ابن ثابت ٢٠١١
Still me...and I ain't scared!

Double-team me, I'm lean, but I'll take on a couple.
Take a couple to the chin and I still won't be ruffled.
Rope-a-dope, the Ali shuffle, now I'm reaching for the duffle.
Long one to your face - I thought you wanted to scuffle?
I'm fronting about something staring at my strap finger.
That's right! I'm insignificant - another rap singer!
I camel-ride with dune crews, slash sand-niggers,
send a shiver down your spine like the last man's trigger.  

This mix is dedicated to all the brown-nosing snitches,
to the henchmen, spies, and parasites.
This is for you, fools.

My brothers, your brother is still here. Forgive me for the absence.
I always come back with more music, like Amr Diab.
However, your brother Ibn Thabit doesn't sing about love
except in the case of the beloved aseeda with date syrup [a Libyan dish].
Be patient with me, my dear country,
at this time for the sake of paying off the debts.
Now, of course, you know me, the crazy Tarhouni
who sings about anyone and raises any subject,
who from time to time has a filthy mouth that needs soap
because he can find nothing for Gaddafi but insults.
My Lord will judge me but it's better than staying silent.
In fact, before me are the millions who said that Libya has had enough!
You know this talk is ancient. This talk isn't new.
And Mu'ammar al-Gaddafi's going to die VERY soon!
And Switzerland, which was supposedly an "enemy,"
tell me where the thieves have gone with their money.

It's good that you drove them out now, but why were they there [in the first place]?
Ready to flee, watch out for Benghazi!
You scavengers, watch out for the anger of the peasants.
You'll be doused in salt like it's from a saltshaker.
Except [their anger] will shake the world and they'll find you at the first clearing.
At that time, try to say "go drink sea water!" [i.e., "Go to hell!"]
He carries a weapon. He has sold his patriotism
like a murderer who kills his mother with her own blanket.
They said, "stray dogs" [What Gaddafi called Libyan exiles he marked for assassination]. The dogs are chained.
They're stifled by his forces from telling the real truth.
You want to stand in front of the people? We'll hang you, you jackass!
What can I tell you? I want to follow Omar al-Mukhtar.
There's no shame in it.

I'm not scared of you. I'm scared of not doing what's right.
I'm not scared of the truth. Muammar stinks like bird shit.
I'm not afraid of Gaddafi and you're afraid of his voice.
I seek death and you're afraid of his death.
It's still the dawn of freedom, and I'm waiting for the afternoon.
You hang out in universities waiting for the fair beauties
while my colleagues, with their university degrees, wait [in vain] for a job.
This is reality and Saadi wants [to have sex with] a donkey. [Saadi Gaddafi owns a private zoo that he loves. The BBC's Paul Kenyon interviewed Saadi there in March]. 
His father, at least, loves women.
Whoever doesn't say "recite!" won't believe the verse [of the Qur'an].
[King] Idris or Satan, alright, if that's how you like it.
Those you tell to the name of this song will tell you, "let me avoid trouble."
They asked, "where are the men?" Others replied, "They died in Chad."
From Friday through Thursday, they're wandering the country.

Yeah, they're still here, but there's also the ones who care about pennies and petty concerns.
I don't blame anyone.
The blame falls on the state.

They'll tell you the country has developed, that it has changed.
Gaddafi, what are you going to do with him? You can't change him or remove him.
"You, Ibn Thabit, your life will be short."
"Leave me alone as long as I have bread in the bag."
Well, this is what I want to tell you: the world is small.
What guarantee does anyone have if Gaddafi wants to get rid of him?
And Saif [Gaddafi] wants to say, "Give up. There's no chance of victory."
My response is the response of Sidi Omar al-Mukhtar.
These people aren't armed, or they would become terrorists.
If you're relying on your weapon, I had to buy one or they would have taken me.
And just so you know, real men can't be bought cheaply.
I direct this [message] to the Khamis Brigade.

[Khamis] with his parties in the desert and his filth.
I know you by your names...it's just that I don't want to reveal anyone.

And now for something a little bit different.
Still Ibn Thabit.
December, 2010.

I'm a traitor to my nation and I'm looking for trouble.
They telling me be patient while my country's in rubble.
Peeling the tops off snitches like I'm shaving my stubble.
Putting numbers on the board, nothing but triple-doubles.
Advocating change, not necessarily violence,
unless I'm getting caned for breaking the silence.
In that case, the ace got a case for filing.
The souls of Abu Sleem got their faces smiling.
Their families, on the other hand, still be crying,
Trying to understand why their kids be dying.
And still, the rumors got the mill out hard.
They can kill me but they still gotta deal with God.

You told him there will be no Judgment Day.
Ibn Thabit, 2010.
Still me. And I ain't scared.

Double-team me, I'm lean, but I'll take on a couple.
Take a couple to the chin and I still won't be ruffled.
Rope-a-dope, the Ali shuffle, now I'm reaching for the duffle.
Long one to your face - I thought you wanted to scuffle?
I'm fronting about something staring at my strap finger.
That's right! I'm insignificant - another rap singer!
I camel-ride with dune crews, slash sand-niggers,
send a shiver down your spine like the last man's trigger.