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آه ياظالم
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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.
Song lyrics are provided for educational purposes. If you like the song, please purchase either the album or a download from an authorized source. About GawaherGawaher is a Sudanese singer and songwriter who has been based in Cairo since 1995. Her musical style includes mixing Nubian and shaabi musical styles with south-of-the-Sahara melodies to create a distinctive sound. As a child, Gawaher felt drawn to music. But with Sudan's music industry being limited, she moved to Egypt to pursue her dream. She started at a hotel in Aswan, both singing and belly dancing for tourists. She recorded her first album in 1995 in the Sudanese dialect of Arabic, incorporating a strong traditional Nubian flavor with African instrumentation. Although this album was not commercially successful, it launched her career by bringing her talent to the attention of lyricists, producers, and publishers. This was followed by her second album in 1996, and others soon followed. From 2004 to 2008, Gawaher took a hiatus from her career for personal reasons. Her album Enday marked her return in 2008, but it proved to be her final album. |
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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
Songs by Gawaher that have translations available on this web site include:
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About the Translator
More than 100 song translations that appear on this web site, including this one, were created by Dr. Tahseen Alkoudsi. Together with his wife Kathe, Tahseen owned an import business in Lawrence, Kansas known as Cartouche.
Dr. Alkoudsi's imports business was his second career. His first career was in the service of the United Nations. Born in Damascus, Syria, he came to the U.S. for his M.A. and Ph.D. in economics, and worked in San Francisco. He joined the United Nations in Yemen, and worked in Saudi Arabia. He then joined the UNESCO Regonal Office for Arab States. He visited most of the Arab States in the course of his work, responsible for introducing computer sciences into educational facilities. For a time, he was stationed in Cairo, Egypt. He retired from that work in 1995.
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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