Insha’Allah

Insha'Allah, I shall see you when the dates are on the trees

Insha'Allah, till then only in my dreams, habibti

I shall see you if he wills it and, Insha'Allah, he brings us peace

If he wills it, Insha'Allah

Insha'Allah, I shall see you when the fighting finally ceases

Insha'Allah, till then only in my dreams, habibti

I shall see you if he's wills it and, Insha'Allah we are made free

And peace upon him be

If he wills it, Insha'Allah

How I long to make the trek back home across the arid desert to my son

For now he must be old enough to ride and read and fire the British gun

But will he know his father when he sees in me the things that I have done?

Insha'Allah, I shall see you when from service we're released

Insha'Allah, till then only in my dreams, habibti

I shall see you if he wills it and when the Turk, he tastes defeat

If he wills it, Insha'Allah

I could help you carry water and to start an honest business we could run

I could worry about the olives as I worked the presses, healthy in the sun

But then who would fight the Ottoman and win the freedom Lawrence says will come?

Insha'Allah, I shall see you when dates are on the trees

Insha'Allah, till then only in my dreams, habibti

I shall see you if he wills it

Till then our desert ponies leap

And peace upon him be

If he wills it, Insha'Allah