Feyrouz: Jerusalem Laments Exiled Palestinians

Feyrouz' song Kifak Inta كيفك إنت is discussed in two Facebook links here and here.



One commenter writes:

I find it subversive in the context of Arabic songs... She tells him you are halali- a religiously and culturally loaded word- even though they are not married... regardless the children and what people would say...

I point out:

I am not sure how subversive the song is. Poetry of this sort has existed for more than a millennium in Arabic.

It may act as a sort of social release valve or it can be reinterpreted metaphorically to contain religious symbolism.

The tendency is not specific just to Arabic Islamic cultures. Just look at all the Christian and Jewish commentaries on the Song of Songs.

 Another commenter puts Kifak Inta in its historical political context:

I like this song too. This is a very common style in Arabic music and as you pointed out poetry.

I personally think it is meant to be a philosophical look at the political turmoil and change which both Lebanon and Palestine (two places very dear to Fairuz, a Christian Arab herself) underwent. The antagonist could well symbolize Lebanon/Beirut or even Jerusalem lamenting the forced departure of their indigenous people. 

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