Azalaki Awa

Azalaki awa

She was here

Pembeni na nga

right beside me

Esika akeyi

the place she's gone to

Ekaboli nga naye

has torn us apart

Ye na mobembo

she's away travelling

Nga ko mosika

and I'm far off

Distance na kati

a great distance between us

Ye na ngambo nga na ngambo

she on one side, I on the other

Tango mosusu

sometimes

Soki na kanisi

when I think

Ndenge oyo tozalaki

of how we used to be

Epesi nga kobanga

it fills me with fear

Mutu olingi

the one you love

Akoma mosika

now so far away

Na tondi na ba souvenir

I'm brimming with memories

Na motema

in my heart

Na lela na nani

to whom can I cry?

Na sala ko nini

what can I do?

Nakende pe wapi

and where can I even go?

Nakomi se kobanza ngayi moko

I'm left brooding all alone

Azalaki se awa, se awa

She was right here, right here

Cherie akeyi naye

my darling has gone

Alobaki na nga akozonga, se awa

she told me she'd come back, right here

Nga ko nazelaka ye

and I keep on waiting for her

Azalaki se awa, se awa

she was right here, right here

Cherie akeyi mosika

my darling has gone far away

Alobaki na ngayi akozonga, se awa

she told me she'd come back, right here

Suka se akoya

in the end she's sure to come

Nakolemba te

I won't grow weary

Nako zela ye

I'll wait for her

Solo nga na ko koka

truly, I can endure it

Na kanga se motema

I'll just steel my heart

Na luka na tanga

I tried to read

Mokanda naye

her letter

Makila eko panzana

my blood ran cold

Nzoto eko lenga

my body trembled

Nakomi koyoka

I began to hear

Mongongo naye

her voice

Na miso nako mona

with my eyes I'd see

Se elili na ye

only her shadow

Na kati ya ndoto

in my dreams

Mobimba cherie

all night long, darling

Azingi nga loboko

she wrapped me in her arms

Oh nazwi trouble

oh, I'm troubled

Na fongola miso

I opened my eyes

Na tala pembeni

I looked beside me

Kasi moto te

but there was no one

Nakomi ko mituna ngayi moko

I'm left questioning myself alone

Azalaki se awa, se awa

She was right here, right here

Cherie akeyi naye

my darling has gone

Alobaki na nga akozonga, se awa

she told me she'd come back, right here

Nga ko nazelaka ye

and I keep on waiting for her

Azalaki se awa, se awa

she was right here, right here

Cherie akeyi mosika

my darling has gone far away

Alobaki na ngayi akozonga, se awa

she told me she'd come back, right here

Suka se akoya

in the end she's sure to come

Lelo na ndimi

Today I believe

Ndenge ba loba

what people say

Solo maladie ya bolingo

truly, the sickness of love

Eza na kisi te

has no cure

Bolingo lokola

love is like

Elanga ya rose

a garden of roses

Ekoli o mitema

growing in the heart

Batela yango malamu

guard it well

Sima ya mikolo

in a few days

Tosala malasi

let's make a perfume of it

Partout toko kende

wherever we go

Topakola yango

we'll wear it

Kuna ozali

wherever you are

Olotoko nga

dream of me

Ata nasuka ya pongi

even at the edge of sleep

Po nabika

so that I'll be saved

Pota na motema

the wound in my heart

Ezali kosenga

is crying out

Presence nayo

for your presence

Nakomi se koyemba ngayi moko

I'm left singing all alone

Azalaki se awa, se awa

She was right here, right here

Cherie akeyi naye

my darling has gone

Alobaki na nga akozonga, se awa

she told me she'd come back, right here

Nga ko nazelaka ye

and I keep on waiting for her

Azalaki se awa, se awa

she was right here, right here

Cherie akeyi mosika

my darling has gone far away

Alobaki na ngayi akozonga, se awa

she told me she'd come back, right here

Suka se akoya

in the end she's sure to come

Nayebi akozonga, se awa

I know she'll come back, right here

Nakangi motema kasi pasi esili te

I steel my heart, but the pain won't ease

Zonga o consoler nga, se awa

come back and comfort me, right here

Nakomi kobela souci elekeli nga

I'm falling ill — the worry is too much for me