Je T'aime À L'algérienne Lyrics in English Zaho

Below, I translated the lyrics of the song Je T'aime À L'algérienne by Zaho from French to English.
There's sorrows we can't write
Words we don't know how to say
I try but I love you in silence
Out of modesty
Or pride in my feelings
But yeah, I sail against the tide
My heart hurts
A pain that flares up
That even drunkenness won't heal
Baby, I got the blues
I miss you, yeah it hurts
But I won't even call you back
And time goes by
Yeah, time goes by
And I don't talk
And life without you
Left me voiceless
So I won't even tell you
Cause I love you, I love you
Algerian style
I love you, I love you
Without saying I love you
Yeah, I love you, I love you
Algerian style
I love you, I love you
Without saying I love you
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la-la-la
If there's only proof of love
I'd wage war for you
To live in peace in your arms
I never shout for help
For that I'm too proud
Even if it drags me away from you
When it's time to talk love
I set sail
Like a message in a bottle
Don't think my heart's deaf
When you're hurting
I hurt with you, 3iniya
And time goes by
Yeah, time goes by
And I don't talk
And life without you
Left me voiceless
So I won't even tell you
Cause I love you, I love you
Algerian style
I love you, I love you
Without saying I love you
Yeah, I love you, I love you
Algerian style
I love you, I love you
Without saying I love you
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la-la-la
Lyrics and Translations Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
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SONG MEANING

Imagine loving someone so fiercely that the words get trapped behind pride and tradition. That is the heartbeat of Zaho’s "Je T'aime À L'algérienne." The Algerian-Canadian singer paints a picture of silent devotion: her heart aches, time slips away, yet she never lets the phrase "je t’aime" leave her lips. Instead, she shows a uniquely Algerian way of loving – guarded, dignified, and proven through actions rather than declarations. Even when loneliness burns and nothing, not even “l’ivresse,” can numb the pain, she chooses to navigate against the current, refusing to call or plead for help.

Why does she stay silent? The lyrics reveal two powerful forces at play:

  • Pudeur (modesty) – cultural reserve keeps her from blurting out her feelings.
  • Fierté (pride) – she would “make war” for her lover but will not cry out “au secours.”

By repeating “Je t’aime… sans te dire je t’aime,” Zaho turns withheld words into a chorus, reminding us that love is sometimes loudest in its quiet moments. The song is both a confession and a cultural snapshot, showing how Algerian love can be fiery, loyal, and unspoken all at once.

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