Me Alli We Oltelu

He Did Not Tell Me And I Did Not Tell Him

This page contains a translation into English of the lyrics to Me Alli We Oltelu, which is also sometimes spelled Ma Kalli W-Kiltillouh or Ma Alli Oltellu. This song was made popular by the Egyptian movie star, vocalist, and composer, Farid Al-Atrache. In the 1930's and 1940's, Egypt's thriving movie industry made Farid a major star throughout the Arabic world. Thanks to the support this star showed for raqs sharqi (the Arabic name for Oriental dance) in his work, he made a major contribution to legitimizing it as a valid form of entertainment that respectable people could go to see. Many of his movies featured performances by Oriental dancers of his time that are now considered legends in our field. His songs remain popular today, and continue to be used by many raqs sharqi performers throughout the world.

Also included on this page is a transliteration of the Arabic lyrics into the Roman alphabet so you can sing along if you like.

Listen To A Clip Of This Song

<==Click on this icon if you want to hear a 27-second RealAudio clip of this song as sung by the male vocalist who made it popular, Farid Al-Atrache.

Lyrics

Arabic Lyrics

English Translation

Ma Kalli w-kiltillouh He did not tell me and I did not tell him either.

W-malli w-miltillouh He didn't like me and I didn't like him either!

Ma Kalli w-kiltillouh He did not tell me and I did not tell him either.

W-malli w-miltillouh He didn't like me and I didn't like him either!

Wjaani w-rihtillouh Aah! He came to me and I went to him. Aah!

Ya a'awazel falfilou, ma kalli w-kiltillouh. Oh you separator, get nervous. He did not tell me and I did not tell him either.

Ya a'awazel falfilou, ma kalli w-kiltillouh Oh you separator, get nervous. He did not tell me and I did not tell him either.

Yaah, Ya a'awazel falfilou. Oh, you separators? get nervous.

Ma Kalli w-kiltillouh He did not tell me and I did not tell him either.

W-malli w-miltillouh He didn't like me and I didn't like him either!

Ma Kalli w-kiltillouh He did not tell me and I did not tell him either.

W-malli w-miltillouh He didn't like me and I didn't like him either!

Wjaani w-rihtillouh Aah! He came to me and I went to him. Aah!

Ya a'awazel falfilou, ma kalli w-kiltillouh. Oh you separator, get nervous. He did not tell me and I did not tell him either.

Ya a'awazel falfilou, ma kalli w-kiltillouh. Oh you separator, get nervous. He did not tell me and I did not tell him either.

Yaah, Ya a'awazel falfilou. Oh, you separators? get nervous.

Kalouli kalaam, w-kaloulo kalaam, w-kan bayni w-baynouh khisaam. They told me something and they told him something else and there was a quarrel between him and me.

Kalouli kalaam, w-kaloulo kalaam, w-kan bayni w-baynouh khisaam. They told me something and they told him something else and there was a quarrel between him and me.

Kalamhoum zaad gharami gharaam. Their gossip increased my passion for him.

Kalamhoum zaad gharami gharaam. Their gossip increased my passion for him.

W-fadh el-shouk baa'atli salaam In addition to his yearning he sends me his greetings.

Kalamhoum zaad gharami gharaam. Their gossip increased my passion for him.

Kalamhoum zaad gharami gharaam. Their gossip increased my passion for him.

W-fadh el-shouk baa'atli salaam In addition to his yearning he sends me his greetings.

W-salamouh frihtillouh, w-kabilni dhhiktillouh I was very happy with his greetings... He met me and I smiled at him.

W-salamouh frihtillouh, w-kabilni dhhiktillouh I was very happy with his greetings... He met me and I smiled at him.

W-salamouh frihtillouh, w-kabilni dhhiktillouh I was very happy with his greetings... He met me and I smiled at him.

W-kalli w-kiltillou, w-jaani w-rihtillou He told me and I told him. He came to visit me and I went to see him.

W-kalli w-kiltillou, w-jaani w-rihtillou He told me and I told him. He came to visit me and I went to see him.

Yaah, yaa A'awazel falfilou. Oooh, Ooh you separator, get nervous.

Bi-kourbou yzeed hanini illaih, w-houwa bia'eid, ya khoufi a'alaih In his closeness, I miss him more and when he is far away I get afraid about him.

Bi-kourbou yzeed hanini illaih, w-houwa bia'eid, ya khoufi a'alaih In his closeness, I miss him more and when he is far away I get afraid about him.

Bi-kourbou yzeed hanini illaih, w-houwa bia'eid, ya khoufi a'alaih In his closeness, I miss him more and when he is far away I get afraid about him.

Akhaaf la-elnaas y-hibou a'inaih. I am afraid that people will love his eyes.

Akhaaf la-elnaas y-hibou a'inaih. I am afraid that people will love his eyes.

W-yitmannou ybousou eydaih. They wish to kiss his hands.

W-yitmannou ybousou eydaih. They wish to kiss his hands.

W-yitmannou ybousou eydaih. They wish to kiss his hands.

F-eidaih koull elhanaa. Ah, Ah, wa'inaih hiyya el-mouna. Aah, Aah. All the happiness is in his hands. Ah, Ah. and his eyes are my desire. Aah, Aah.

F-eidaih koull elhanaa. Ah, Ah, wa'inaih hiyya el-mouna. Aah, Aah. All the happiness is in his hands. Ah, Ah. and his eyes are my desire. Aah, Aah.

F-eidaih koull elhanaa. Ah, Ah, wa'inaih hiyya el-mouna. Aah, Aah. All the happiness is in his hands. Ah, Ah. and his eyes are my desire. Aah, Aah.

W-halafli bhoubbina, w-ana bardhou halaftillou. He swore to me by our love and I swore back to him.

W-halafli bhoubbina, w-ana bardhou halaftillou. He swore to me by our love and I swore back to him.

Yaa ... Ya a'awazel falfilou. Yaa, oh you seperator, get nervous.

Ma kalli w-kiltoulouh, W-malli w-miltillouh He did not tell me and I did not tell him either. He didn't like me and I didn't like him either!

Ma kalli w-kiltoulouh, W-malli w-miltillouh He did not tell me and I did not tell him either. He didn't like me and I didn't like him either!

Wjaani w-rihtillouh Aah. Ya a'awazel falfilou, ma kalli w-kiltillouh. Ya a'awazel falfilou, ma kalli w-kiltillouh. He came to me and I went to him. Aah. Oh you separator get nervous. He did not tell me and I did not tell him either. Did not tell me and I did not tell him either.

Wjaani w-rihtillouh Aah. Ya a'awazel falfilou, ma kalli w-kiltillouh. Ya a'awazel falfilou, ma kalli w-kiltillouh. He came to me and I went to him. Aah. Oh you separator get nervous. He did not tell me and I did not tell him either. Did not tell me and I did not tell him either.

Yaah, Ya a'awazel falfilou. Oh, you separators? get nervous.

Where To Get Recordings Of This Song

The vocalist that made this song famous was Farid Al-Atrache. The song appears on a CD titled Farid El Atrache. This should be available from most vendors that specialize in selling Arabic music.

<==Click on this icon if you want to hear a brief clip of Me Alli We Oltelu sung by Farid Al-Atrache, the vocalist who originally made it famous.

Acknowledgements

Many thanks to Tahseen Alkoudsi of Cartouche for providing this translation! Cartouche offers many belly dance music selections, costuming items, and accessories for sale. To request a catalog or inquire about what items they have available:

Cartouche, Inc.
1344 Massachusetts Street
Lawrence, KS 66044
Tel: (+1) (785) 843-7815 or (+1) (785) 865-5242
Fax: (+1) (785) 843-5228

Email: alkoudsi@sunflower.com

Arabic Lyrics	English Translation
Ma Kalli w-kiltillouh	He did not tell me and I did not tell him either.
W-malli w-miltillouh	He didn't like me and I didn't like him either!
Ma Kalli w-kiltillouh	He did not tell me and I did not tell him either.
W-malli w-miltillouh	He didn't like me and I didn't like him either!
Wjaani w-rihtillouh Aah!	He came to me and I went to him. Aah!
Ya a'awazel falfilou, ma kalli w-kiltillouh.	Oh you separator, get nervous. He did not tell me and I did not tell him either.
Ya a'awazel falfilou, ma kalli w-kiltillouh	Oh you separator, get nervous. He did not tell me and I did not tell him either.
Yaah, Ya a'awazel falfilou.	Oh, you separators? get nervous.

Ma Kalli w-kiltillouh	He did not tell me and I did not tell him either.
W-malli w-miltillouh	He didn't like me and I didn't like him either!
Ma Kalli w-kiltillouh	He did not tell me and I did not tell him either.
W-malli w-miltillouh	He didn't like me and I didn't like him either!
Wjaani w-rihtillouh Aah!	He came to me and I went to him. Aah!
Ya a'awazel falfilou, ma kalli w-kiltillouh.	Oh you separator, get nervous. He did not tell me and I did not tell him either.
Ya a'awazel falfilou, ma kalli w-kiltillouh.	Oh you separator, get nervous. He did not tell me and I did not tell him either.
Yaah, Ya a'awazel falfilou.	Oh, you separators? get nervous.

Kalouli kalaam, w-kaloulo kalaam, w-kan bayni w-baynouh khisaam.	They told me something and they told him something else and there was a quarrel between him and me.
Kalouli kalaam, w-kaloulo kalaam, w-kan bayni w-baynouh khisaam.	They told me something and they told him something else and there was a quarrel between him and me.
Kalamhoum zaad gharami gharaam.	Their gossip increased my passion for him.
Kalamhoum zaad gharami gharaam.	Their gossip increased my passion for him.
W-fadh el-shouk baa'atli salaam	In addition to his yearning he sends me his greetings.
Kalamhoum zaad gharami gharaam.	Their gossip increased my passion for him.
Kalamhoum zaad gharami gharaam.	Their gossip increased my passion for him.
W-fadh el-shouk baa'atli salaam	In addition to his yearning he sends me his greetings.

W-salamouh frihtillouh, w-kabilni dhhiktillouh	I was very happy with his greetings... He met me and I smiled at him.
W-salamouh frihtillouh, w-kabilni dhhiktillouh	I was very happy with his greetings... He met me and I smiled at him.
W-salamouh frihtillouh, w-kabilni dhhiktillouh	I was very happy with his greetings... He met me and I smiled at him.

W-kalli w-kiltillou, w-jaani w-rihtillou	He told me and I told him. He came to visit me and I went to see him.
W-kalli w-kiltillou, w-jaani w-rihtillou	He told me and I told him. He came to visit me and I went to see him.
Yaah, yaa A'awazel falfilou.	Oooh, Ooh you separator, get nervous.

Bi-kourbou yzeed hanini illaih, w-houwa bia'eid, ya khoufi a'alaih	In his closeness, I miss him more and when he is far away I get afraid about him.
Bi-kourbou yzeed hanini illaih, w-houwa bia'eid, ya khoufi a'alaih	In his closeness, I miss him more and when he is far away I get afraid about him.
Bi-kourbou yzeed hanini illaih, w-houwa bia'eid, ya khoufi a'alaih	In his closeness, I miss him more and when he is far away I get afraid about him.

Akhaaf la-elnaas y-hibou a'inaih.	I am afraid that people will love his eyes.
Akhaaf la-elnaas y-hibou a'inaih.	I am afraid that people will love his eyes.
W-yitmannou ybousou eydaih.	They wish to kiss his hands.
W-yitmannou ybousou eydaih.	They wish to kiss his hands.
W-yitmannou ybousou eydaih.	They wish to kiss his hands.

F-eidaih koull elhanaa. Ah, Ah, wa'inaih hiyya el-mouna. Aah, Aah.	All the happiness is in his hands. Ah, Ah. and his eyes are my desire. Aah, Aah.
F-eidaih koull elhanaa. Ah, Ah, wa'inaih hiyya el-mouna. Aah, Aah.	All the happiness is in his hands. Ah, Ah. and his eyes are my desire. Aah, Aah.
F-eidaih koull elhanaa. Ah, Ah, wa'inaih hiyya el-mouna. Aah, Aah.	All the happiness is in his hands. Ah, Ah. and his eyes are my desire. Aah, Aah.

W-halafli bhoubbina, w-ana bardhou halaftillou.	He swore to me by our love and I swore back to him.
W-halafli bhoubbina, w-ana bardhou halaftillou.	He swore to me by our love and I swore back to him.
Yaa ... Ya a'awazel falfilou.	Yaa, oh you seperator, get nervous.

Ma kalli w-kiltoulouh, W-malli w-miltillouh	He did not tell me and I did not tell him either. He didn't like me and I didn't like him either!
Ma kalli w-kiltoulouh, W-malli w-miltillouh	He did not tell me and I did not tell him either. He didn't like me and I didn't like him either!

Wjaani w-rihtillouh Aah. Ya a'awazel falfilou, ma kalli w-kiltillouh. Ya a'awazel falfilou, ma kalli w-kiltillouh.	He came to me and I went to him. Aah. Oh you separator get nervous. He did not tell me and I did not tell him either. Did not tell me and I did not tell him either.
Wjaani w-rihtillouh Aah. Ya a'awazel falfilou, ma kalli w-kiltillouh. Ya a'awazel falfilou, ma kalli w-kiltillouh.	He came to me and I went to him. Aah. Oh you separator get nervous. He did not tell me and I did not tell him either. Did not tell me and I did not tell him either.
Yaah, Ya a'awazel falfilou.	Oh, you separators? get nervous.