Amour Propre Lyrics in English by Zaho

Amour vache literally translates to "cow love", a strange and memorable image! However, this classic French idiom actually means "tough love".

It describes a type of affection that appears harsh or argumentative on the surface but comes from a place of deep care. In the song, Zaho sings "Amour vache, toujours amour sauf / Quand il s'agit d'amour propre" (Tough love, always love, except when it comes to self-love), contrasting the difficult love we show others with the even more difficult love we must learn to show ourselves.

Have you ever felt like you give so much love to others that you forget to save some for yourself? Algerian-Canadian artist Zaho gets right to the heart of that feeling in "Amour Propre." She starts by pointing out a hard truth: "ceux qui en parlent le plus / Sont ceux qui n'en ont pas beaucoup" (those who talk about it [love] the most / are those who don't have much of it). The song argues that we're taught the price of everything, but not the most important lesson: "Que la plus belle preuve d'amour / Est de s'aimer soi-même" (That the most beautiful proof of love / Is to love oneself).

This song is a powerful reminder to be your own biggest supporter. Zaho encourages you to "Donne-toi ce que les autres / Te donnent pas" (Give yourself what others / don't give you). She admits it's a difficult journey, with lines like "Parfois je mʼaime / Parfois je ne mʼaime pas" (Sometimes I love myself / Sometimes I don't love myself). It's an honest look at the struggle for self-love, or amour propre. She even offers a personal touch of comfort, singing that if you gain some perspective, the coldness will fade, like crying in the arms of Zahira—which is her real name.