This hasn't been uncommon theme in the folk music of the Middle East, that is, songs about asking a doctor or in this case a pharmacist for a cure from the disease of love. Popular culture says that in Arabic, unlike other languages as it is claimed, love is a sickness. Thus, this motif has appeared many a time in Arabic poetry and song, as well as in songs of other languages such as
this song performed by Turkish singer Candan Erçetin.
This song was also mentioned by Syrian author Mohamed al-Maghout in his satirical play "I Will Betray My Country (سأخون وطني)" when an Arab citizen goes to a doctor complaining of various ailments, which are metaphors for political and social problems, and says the only thing he can hear out of his ear is "Saydali ya saydali," a clever reference to this song which was immensely popular at that time. As a side note, the song is also featured in al-Maghout's film starring Durayd Lahham entited "The Borders (الحدود)"
Azar Habib - Mr. Pharmacist
Mr. Pharmacist, oh pharmacist
Oh pharmacist
I need a cure for her and I need a cure for me
Her heart is becoming a flame
And my heart is boiling
It's boiling, it's boiling
Hurry Mr. Pharmacist
It's boiling, it's boiling
My heart, Mr. Pharmacist |  |
We came so you could heal us
They directed us to you, be kind to us
I want you to give me a pill
That brings my heart and hers together
And will light my path for me and solve my problem
Everyone who sees us doesn't even recognize us
They think we are specters passing by
We'd like you to help us
Bring us together and don't split us apart
It's enough what we've been through and the pain (literally, "boiling") we've endured
عازار حبيب - صيدلي يا صيدلي
صيدلي ياصيدلي ياصيدلي
بدي دوا الها وبدي دوا الي
قلبها صاير صاير صاير شعلة نار
وقلبي قلبي قلبي عم يغلي غلي
عم يغلي عم يغلي عجل ياصيدلي
عم يغلي عم يغلي قلبي ياصيدلي
نحن جينا جينا لتداوينا
دلونا لعندك توصى فينا
بدي منك حبه
تجمع قلبا وقلبي
وتنورلي دربي وتحل المسألة
عم يغلي عم يغلي عجل ياصيدلي
عم يغلي عم يغلي قلبي ياصيدلي
كل اللي شافونا ماعرفونا
خيالات و عمتمرق فكرونا
ساعدنا بتسعدنا
اجمعنا ولاتشرِّدنا
بيكفي شو نوَعَدْنَا وشو حمِلنا غلي
عم يغلي عم يغلي عجل ياصيدلي
عم يغلي عم يغلي قلبي ياصيدلي
صيدلي ياصيدلي ياصيدلي
بدي دوا الها وبدي دوا الي
قلبها صاير صاير صاير شعلة نار
وقلبي قلبي قلبي عم يغلي غلي
عم يغلي عم يغلي عجل ياصيدلي
عم يغلي عم يغلي قلبي ياصيدلي