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PHOTO CREDIT: Above photo by John Rickman Photography, San Jose, California. |
Aah Ya Zaalem
(O Oppressor)
This page contains a translation into English of the lyrics to the song "Ah Ya Zalem", which was recorded by Gawaher. Also included is a transliteration of the Arabic lyrics into the Roman alphabet so you can sing along if you like.
Lyrics
Arabic Lyrics |
English Translation |
| Ah ya zaalem. Ah. | Ah, O Oppressor. Ah. |
| Ah ya jaani. Ah. | Ah, O Criminal. Ah. |
| Ah ya khaayen. Ah. | Ah, O Betrayal. Ah. |
| Ya anaani. Ah. | O Selfish. Ah. |
| Ah ya zaalem. Ah ya zaalem. | Ah, O Oppressor. Ah, O Oppressor. |
| Ah ya jaani. Ah ya jaani. | Ah, O Criminal. Ah, O Criminal. |
| Ah ya khaayen. Ah. | Ah, O Betrayal. Ah. |
| Ya anaani. Ah. | O Selfish. Ah. |
| Zayyi naadem a’al hawa, a’ayizna nirjaaa’ sawa. | It is like me, you are sorry about the love and you want us to come back together. |
| Zayyi naadem a’al hawa, a’ayizna nirjaaa’ sawa. | It is like me, you are sorry about the love and you want us to come back together. |
| La a’aini shift-ha raydaak, la qalbi saayeb hawak. | I did not see that my eye wants you nor my heart is correct about your love. |
| La a’aini shift-ha raydaak, la qalbi saayeb hawak. | I did not see that my eye wants you nor my heart is correct about your love. |
| Illi yijrah aalbi marah, la wallah ma aablo taani. | He who wounds my heart once, I swear by God that I will not meet with him. |
| Ah ya zaalem. Ah ah. | Ah, O Oppressor. Ah ah. |
| Ah ya jaani. Ah ya jaani. | Ah, O Criminal. Ah, O Criminal. |
| Ah ya khaayen. Lih ya khaayen. | Ah, O Betrayal. Why O Betrayal? |
| Ya anaani. Ah. | O Selfish. Ah. |
| Tool a’omrak ghadaar iw jaani wi ia’yonak zalmeen. | All your life you are unfaithful and criminal with oppressing eyes. |
| Tool a’omrak ghadaar iw jaani wi ia’yonak zalmeen. | All your life you are unfaithful and criminal with oppressing eyes. |
| Baa’di ma hobak dhayaaa’ wakti, jayyli iw rajaia’ dilwakti. | After your love wasted my time, now you're coming back to me. |
| Baa’di ma hobak dhayaaa’ wakti, jayyli iw rajaia’ dilwakti. | After your love wasted my time, now you're coming back to me. |
| Mihtaaj ildawa. | You need the medicine. |
| Zayyi naadem a’al hawa, a’ayizna nirjaaa’ sawa. | Like me you are sorry about the love and you want us back together. |
| Zayyi naadem a’al hawa, a’ayizna nirjaaa’ sawa. | Like me you are sorry about the love and you want us back together. |
| La a’aini shift-ha raydaak, la qalbi saayeb hawak. | I did not see that my eye wants you nor my heart is correct about your love. |
| La a’aini shift-ha raydaak, la qalbi saayeb hawak. | I did not see that my eye wants you nor my heart is correct about your love. |
| Illi yijrah aalbi marrah, La wallah ma aablo taani. | He who wounds my heart once, I swear to God I will not meet with him. |
| Ah ya zaalem. Ah ya zaalem. | Ah, O Oppressor. Ah, O Oppressor. |
| Ah ya jaani. Ah. | Ah, O Criminal. Ah. |
| Ah ya khaayen. Ah ya khaayen. | Ah, O Betrayal. Ah, O Betrayal. |
| Ya anaani. Ah. | O Selfish. Ah. |
| Kam marrah itjarrahni iwtirjaa’, wi itkassem aa’saab. | How many times you wounded me and came back to divide my nerves. |
| Kolli ma qalbi yisamhak, tirjaa’ wi tila’ab bilnaar. | Every time my heart forgives you, you return and play with fire. |
| Kifayak ya habebi ikhdaaa’ak, ana qalbi niseek wi baaa’ak. | My darling, I've had enough of your evasion. My heart already forgot you and sold you. |
| Kifayak ya habebi ikhdaaa’ak, ana qalbi niseek wi baaa’ak. | My darling, I've had enough of your evasion. My heart already forgot you and sold you. |
| A’la boa’dak nawa, zayyi naadem a’al hawa, a’aayizna nirjaa’ sawa. | I aim at you being far away. It is like me, you are sorry about the love and you want us to come back together. |
| Laa a’aini shift-ha raydaak, la qalbi sayeb hawaak. | I did not see that my eye wants you nor my heart is correct about your love. |
| Laa a’aini shift-ha raydaak, la qalbi sayeb hawaak. | I did not see that my eye wants you nor my heart is correct about your love. |
| Illi yijrah aalbi marrah, La wallah ma aablo taani. | He who wounds my heart once, I swear to God I will not meet with him. |
| Ah ya zaalem. Ah ya zaalem. | Ah, O Oppressor. Ah, O Oppressor. |
| Ah ya jaani. Ah ya jaani. | Ah, O Criminal. Ah, O Criminal. |
| Ah ya khaayen. Lih ya khaayen? | Ah, O Betrayal. Why, O Betrayal? |
| Ya anaani. Ah. | O Selfish. Ah. |
| Ah ya zaalem. Ah. | Ah, O Oppressor. Ah. |
| Ah ya jaani. Ah. | Ah, O Criminal. Ah. |
| Lih ya khaayen. Ah. | Why, O Betrayal. Ah. |
| Ya anaani. | O Selfish. |
Translations of
Gawaher's Songs on This Site
About the Translator
More than 80 song translations that appear on this web site, including this one, were created by Tahseen Alkoudsi. Together with his wife Kathe, Tahseen owned an import business in Lawrence, Kansas known as Cartouche.
Sadly, Tahseen died on Sunday, October 15, 2006. See this link for his obituary.
To me, Tahseen was so much more than a contributor to my web site. Even though we lived far apart, I saw Tahseen and Kathe several times over the years. I always appreciated their warmth and generosity. I first "met" Tahseen online back in 1997 on the med-dance list on the Internet, where he periodically posted messages. I knew he was in Lawrence, Kansas, so when a business trip arose requiring me to travel to the Kansas City area, I emailed him to say I'd be in the neighborhood. He and Kathe came to Kansas City for an evening get-together at Tasso's restaurant, and they invited several local dancers to join us. I saw them on follow-up visits to Kansas City. They vended at Rakkasah for several years, and it was always a pleasure to greet them there in the anteroom off to the left of the main stage. I also enjoyed encountering them in Egypt at the Ahlan wa Sahlan festival. Tahseen will be missed by many. |
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