National Anthem

According to a presidential decree No. 143/1960, the national anthem was replaced with a new one “Walla Zaman ya Selahy” (O My Weapon), written by Salah Jahin, composed by Kamal Al-Taweel and performed by Umm Kalthoum. Before it became a national anthem, it had been a very popular song for Umm Kalthoum in 1956.

It has been a long time O my weapon
I long for you in my struggle
Speak and say I am awake,
O war it has been a long time.
It has been a long time for the soldiers,
Advancing with thunderous roar,
Swearing never to return,
Except with the epoch-making victory,
Rise and close the ranks,
With lives ready to sacrifice,
O the horror that the enemy shall suffer,
From you in the fire of the battlefield,
O glory, O glory,
That was built by us,
By toil and pain,
Never would go in vain,
Who shall protect free Egypt?,
We shall protect it with our weapons,
Land of the revolution,
Who will sacrifice for its sake?,
We will, with our souls,
The people march like the light,
The people stand still like mountains and seas