The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Þhad var i naeturlestinni i Kairo
Þhar sem eg hitti arabadreng
Sem sidan aldrei ur huga mer hverfur
Ég elska hann
Hann sagdi sogur af ulfalda sinum
Og Song um vatnid i vinjum og am
Hann bra upp myndum med tofrandi linum
ég elska hann
Thad var vor og sol
Dagin eftir for
Ég ad hitta hann
Við forum nidr' ad nil
Við þurftum engan bíl
Aðeins úlfaldann
Hann for og syndi mer pyramida
Rett vid jadar Sahara sands
Og aug'ans lystu vid steinana hvita
Ég elska Hann
A nilarbokkum vid gendum og sungum
Um lifsins gledi, fegurd og ast
Ég fylltist anda ur framandi tungum
Ég elska Hann
Thad var vor og sol
Fuglar sungu i kor
Ég ad hitta hann
Vid forum nidr' ad nil
Vvið þurftum engan bíl
Aðeins úlfaldann
Hann kvaddi med med tarvotum augum
A lestarstodinni daginn thann
Er ástin brann svo heitt i minum taugum
Ég vissi eg sæi aldrei aftur hann
Mig dreymir oft um drenginn minn frida
Og tha er lifid ljuft i nalægd hans
Hann hefur stækkad, thvi árin thau lida
Ég elska hann
Her uppa Islandi græt eg i leynum
Og leita' ad merkjum sem minna a hann
Ég se hans andlit i stokkum og steinum
Ég elska Hann
Thad var vor og sol
Dagin eftir for
Ég ad hitta hann
Vid forum nidr' ad nil
Vid purftum engan bil
Adeins Ulfaldann
Hann kvaddi med med tarvotum augum
A lestarstodinni daginn thann
Er ástin brann svo heitt i minum taugum
Ég vissi eg sæi aldrei aftur hann
Mig dreymir oft um drenginn minn frida
Og thá er lifid ljuft i nalægd hans
Hann hefur stækkad, thvi árin thau lida
Ég elska hann
Her uppa Islandi græt eg i leynum
Og leita' ad merkjum sem minna a hann
Ég se hans andlit i stokkum og steinum
Ég elska Hann
Thad var vor og sol
Dagin eftir for
Ed ad hitta hann
Vid forum nidr' ad nil
Vid purftum engan bil
Adeins Ulfaldann
Þhar sem eg hitti arabadreng
Sem sidan aldrei ur huga mer hverfur
Ég elska hann
Hann sagdi sogur af ulfalda sinum
Og Song um vatnid i vinjum og am
Hann bra upp myndum med tofrandi linum
ég elska hann
Thad var vor og sol
Dagin eftir for
Ég ad hitta hann
Við forum nidr' ad nil
Við þurftum engan bíl
Aðeins úlfaldann
Hann for og syndi mer pyramida
Rett vid jadar Sahara sands
Og aug'ans lystu vid steinana hvita
Ég elska Hann
A nilarbokkum vid gendum og sungum
Um lifsins gledi, fegurd og ast
Ég fylltist anda ur framandi tungum
Ég elska Hann
Thad var vor og sol
Fuglar sungu i kor
Ég ad hitta hann
Vid forum nidr' ad nil
Vvið þurftum engan bíl
Aðeins úlfaldann
Hann kvaddi med med tarvotum augum
A lestarstodinni daginn thann
Er ástin brann svo heitt i minum taugum
Ég vissi eg sæi aldrei aftur hann
Mig dreymir oft um drenginn minn frida
Og tha er lifid ljuft i nalægd hans
Hann hefur stækkad, thvi árin thau lida
Ég elska hann
Her uppa Islandi græt eg i leynum
Og leita' ad merkjum sem minna a hann
Ég se hans andlit i stokkum og steinum
Ég elska Hann
Thad var vor og sol
Dagin eftir for
Ég ad hitta hann
Vid forum nidr' ad nil
Vid purftum engan bil
Adeins Ulfaldann
Hann kvaddi med med tarvotum augum
A lestarstodinni daginn thann
Er ástin brann svo heitt i minum taugum
Ég vissi eg sæi aldrei aftur hann
Mig dreymir oft um drenginn minn frida
Og thá er lifid ljuft i nalægd hans
Hann hefur stækkad, thvi árin thau lida
Ég elska hann
Her uppa Islandi græt eg i leynum
Og leita' ad merkjum sem minna a hann
Ég se hans andlit i stokkum og steinum
Ég elska Hann
Thad var vor og sol
Dagin eftir for
Ed ad hitta hann
Vid forum nidr' ad nil
Vid purftum engan bil
Adeins Ulfaldann
Lyrics submitted by bjorkellina
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TRANSLATION:
The Arabian Boy
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We went down the Nile We didn't need a car Just a dromedary
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Here back in Iceland i cried in lonliness And searched for marks to remind me of him I see his face in sticks and stones I love him
There was spring and sun The next day went I to look for him ...
We went down the Nile We didn't need a car Just a dromedary
He left me with tears in his eyes On the railway station that day When I was burning of love I knew I would never see him again
I often dream of my fair boy And life is sweet in his presence He has grown, because the years go by I love him
Here back in Iceland i cried in lonliness And searched for marks to remind me of him I see his face in sticks and stones I love him
There was spring and sun The next day went I to look for him ...
We went down the Nile We didn't need a car Just a dromedary