«مَتَى مَا خُلِي سِدْرُهْ غَنَّى»

The saying draws on the hand mill; its "chest" is the stone's hollow, not the lote tree. While grain is ground, the stone works quietly under its load, but once the flour is gone the turning stone gives off a ringing hum, its figurative "singing."

Applied to people, it holds that happiness and the urge to sing belong to those whose hearts are unburdened. Only when cares have cleared away does there seem to be room for joy.

Use it to explain why someone is cheerful or carefree: lightheartedness follows a mind free of trouble. It also fits as a gentle reminder that someone weighed down by worries cannot be expected to celebrate.