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In a video clip posted on the Internet, Hisham Fageeh sings "No Women, No Drive," a satirical adaptation of Bob Marley's hit, in which the Saudi comedian protests the ban on women driving in Saudi Arabia. The video clip was posted on October 26, to coincide with the Saudi women's campaign to drive through the streets of Riyadh.
Fageeh sings: "Ova-ovaries all safe and well, so you can make lots and lots of babies," in a reference to Saudi cleric Saleh Bin Saad Al-Lohaidan's statement that driving made the pelvis bounce, leading to pressure on the ovaries (see MEMRI TV clip 4011 at www.memritv.org).
It was written and produced in collaboration with Saudi stand-up comedian Fahad Albutairi and with Alaa Wardi, a Saudi of Iranian origin. For a previous protest song by Wardi, titled "Bored in Saudi Arabia," see MEMRI TV clip 2880.
Following is a transcript:
Hisham Fageeh: Hello, my name is Hisham Fageeh. I am an artist and social activist. I don't really listen to music, but while studying in the U.S. I heard this song by a Jamaican guy [Bob Marley] that caught my attention. I decided to do my own rendition with lyrics relevant to my culture but without musical instruments. And now, with the help of some of my talented friends, I sing:
No woman, no drive.
No woman, no drive.
No woman, no drive.
No woman, no drive.
Say, say,
Say, I remember when you used to sit,
In the family car, but backseat.
Ova-ovaries all safe and well,
So you can make lots and lots of babies.
Good friends we've had and good friends we've lost,
On the highway.
In this bright future,
You can't forget your past,
So put your car key away.
No woman, no drive.
No woman, no drive.
Hey little sister, don't touch that wheel,
No woman, no drive.
I remember when you used to sit,
In the family car, but backseat.
Of course, the driver can take you everywhere,
Because the queens don't drive.
But you can cook for me my dinner,
Of which I'd share with you.
Your feet are your only carriage,
But only inside the house – and when I say it, I mean it.
Everything is going to be alright,
Everything is going to be alright,
Everything is going to be alright,
Everything is going to be alright,
No woman, no drive.
No woman, no drive.
Hey little sister, don't touch that wheel,
No woman, no drive.
Titles: "Written and Produced by:
Hisham Fageeh
Fahad Albutairi
Alaa Wardi
Behind the Camera:
Alaa Yoosef
Meshal Aljaser
Abdulaziz Alshaikh
[...]
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