Mint of the Garden .. نعناع الجنينة

This is a song from Egyptian Nubian folklore. Its most famouse version is the one sung by "The King" Mohamed Mounir though in reality it's an excerpt from the much longer original. This translation attempt is only of the Mounir rendition.

She said to me I want you, oh walad-ammi(1)
Come taste the nectar, seeping from my mouth

Be gentle with me, for I can't bear the strength of your embrace
Be gentle with me, for I am my parents' sole possession

(chorus) Mint of the garden, laying well-watered in its bins
(chorus) Banana trees have fruited, and shaded their trunks

In the love of girls, I've beaten Napoleon
My car stalled, even-though its wheels are brand new

I submitted my complaint, to the governor of Khartoum(2)
He postponed my court-date, till the end of days!

(chorus)

I asked what is her name, girls said "Neimat"(3)
The one with two fingers like over-ripened dates(4), and the rest like fresh ones

The day they beckoned to us, with her soft hands
I said 2 yesses or 3, or 4 or 5 yesses!

(chorus)

Your green is like a garden, that fruited sweet figs
Your silhouette as you walk, makes soft curves

Your bones are malleable, matching your curves
1 curve and 2 and 3, and 4 and 5 curves

(chorus)

You with two golden chains, 33 links each
No eyes have ever seen such, neither a virgin has ever worn

The day she glanced at us, everyone dropped drunken to the ground
If she'd fell into milk, the milk wouldn't be fouled!(5)

(chorus)

--==END==--

1. literally "cousin", it's a term of endearment used in older societies in Egypt by women when speaking to their husband (as in, so dear it's like being blood-relatives).
2. Khartoum is the capital of Sudan.
3. Neimat is a classical Egyptian female name that literally means gifts from God.
4. This is a reference to the common practice in southern Egypt to draw henna art on women's bodies (in the west it is known more as Mehendi from Indian culture). In this case, two of her fingertips are painted dark brown with henna.
5. As in, her skins is so clear and white she wouldn't even be visible if she'd been dropped into milk.