بنت الخندق [Bint Elkhandaq] [English translation]

Here you have your life,

and you have all your habits

And you grew up as though you were born with this loneliness

Your skin no longer fits you,

nor your dreams.

You’re scared of sleeping for years

and waking up still your father’s daughter.1

What, betraying him?

Hasn’t he betrayed you his whole life?2

What, selling him out?

Hasn’t he sold you out his whole life?

When the soil is salty, why are we planting promises?

Come on, sister,3 drive with us to far-off places, we don’t need to return.

Tomorrow, we’ll return.

Your mum told you it’s normal

Someday you’ll get used to it, she said.

And you talk to the people around you but still, you’re alone.

And truth be told, you’ve tried,

but not once did you flee.

And you remained in the trench,

in the deep trench, you battled.

What, betraying him?

Hasn’t he betrayed you his whole life?

What, selling him out?

Hasn’t he sold you out his whole life?

When the soil is salty, why are we planting promises?

Come on, sister, drive with us to far-off places, we don’t need to return.

When the soil is salty, why are we planting promises?

Come on, sister, drive with us to far-off places, we don’t need to return.

Tomorrow, we'll return.

We don't need to return.

Tomorrow, we'll return.

We don't need to return.

1. similar to english, 'father's daughter' is seen as a compliment, and it's usually directed at women that are seen as honourable/living up to their family name.2. 'He' presumably being her father.3. 'sister' can be used for strangers