-Moulalā: Secret Songs of Palestine

Have you ever heard a melody full of mystery, where the tune is clear but the words hide a secret? This is the magic of Al-Moulalā, a unique Palestinian folk tradition.

Al-Moulalā began as part of everyday life for women, weaving poetry, rhythm, and music. By adding repeated “L” sounds into the lyrics, singers turned ordinary verses into coded messages. Outsiders could hear the song but not its hidden meaning—only those who understood the code could catch messages of love, courage, and resistance. Over time, this art became a way for women to participate in social life and in the struggle for freedom.

A Song About a Trapped Gazelle

One well-known Al-Moulalā tells the story of a gazelle caught in a trap, symbolizing an innocent soul held captive, while the lions come to help.

Arabic Script:
يا طالعين عين للل الجبل.. يا موللل الموقدين النار..
ما بدي منكي لللكم خلعة.. ولا لا لا لا بدي زنار..
ما بدي منكي لللكم خلعة.. ولا لا لا لا بدي ملبوس..
إلا غزال للللللذي جوين.. للللكم محبوس..
إلا غزال للللللذي جوين.. اللللللكم ما يدوم..


Transliteration:
Ya ṭāliʿīn ʿalā l-jabal, ya mullil muqidin al-nār,
Mā baddi minkum khilʿa, wa-lā baddi zannār,
Mā baddi minkum khilʿa, wa-lā baddi malbūs,
Illā ghazāl illī juwwayn ʿindakum maḥbūs,
Illā ghazāl illī juwwayn ʿindakum mā yidūm.


English Translation:
O you climbing the mountain, you who light the fire,
I ask for no robe, no belt of silk,
I ask for no robe, no garment fine—
Only the gazelle within your walls,
Only the gazelle you hold in chains,
Only that he may not stay captive for long.

From Tradition to Storytelling

The story The Land of La La La was inspired by this tradition and by the courage of the women who carried it forward. It shows how even the smallest things—a mother’s lullaby, a hidden melody—can become the greatest tools for hope, resistance, and change.

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