‘If we go away… but if you stay’ – a duet by the Egyptian army and people

By Khaled Diab

In a classic political duet, General Sisi sings ‘If we go away', while the Egyptian people respond with ‘If you stay'.

Saturday 13 July 2013

Sisi

‘If we go away', by General Sisi

If we go away, on this day

Then we'll take all your sunshine away

Yes, if you stray, we'll make you pay

Like no people have paid, or will pay again

But if we stay, we'll make you a day

Like no day has been or will be again

If we go away, don't make us go away, we will stay

‘If you stay', by the Egyptian people

But if you stay, on this Arab Spring day

You'll turn it to winter, all miserable and grey

But if you go, we'll make our own way

Like free people have, and will do again

We'll bask in the sun, and endure the rain

We'll forge our own fate, with our own hands

Don't leave it too late, before you understand

The and people are not a ‘single hand'

If you stay, we'll tell you, go away, go away, go away

Author

  • Khaled Diab

    Khaled Diab is an award-winning journalist, blogger and writer who has been based in Tunis, Jerusalem, Brussels, Geneva and Cairo. Khaled also gives talks and is regularly interviewed by the print and audiovisual media. Khaled Diab is the author of two books: Islam for the Politically Incorrect (2017) and Intimate Enemies: Living with Israelis and Palestinians in the Holy Land (2014). In 2014, the Anna Lindh Foundation awarded Khaled its Mediterranean Journalist Award in the press category. This website, The Chronikler, won the 2012 Best of the Blogs (BOBs) for the best English-language blog. Khaled was longlisted for the Orwell journalism prize in 2020. In addition, Khaled works as communications director for an environmental NGO based in Brussels. He has also worked as a communications consultant to intergovernmental organisations, such as the EU and the UN, as well as civil . Khaled lives with his beautiful and brilliant wife, Katleen, who works in humanitarian aid. The foursome is completed by Iskander, their smart, creative and artistic son, and Sky, their mischievous and footballing cat. Egyptian by birth, Khaled's life has been divided between the Middle East and Europe. He grew up in and the UK, and has lived in Belgium, on and off, since 2001. He holds dual Egyptian-Belgian nationality.

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