
Timeless Songs
Lyrics
Ä°lk Bahar
(Ben Onu SevmiÅŸtim/I Loved Her)
Azerbayjan Folksong
I loved her one spring
She left me in a storm
Every wound heals,
when its forgotten
This wound doesn’t heal
Alas, dawning spring!
I remember her always
My love a burning fire
She opened a deep wound
in my heart
Shall it end so?
Alas, dawning spring
Waterwheel/Dertli Dolap
Yunus Emre
English lyrics Nyofu Tyson
Waterwheel why do you moan
In sorrow do I moan
To Mevlana I’ve given my soul
In sorrow do I moan
I’m a waterwheel called weeping
My waters flow sparkling
Thus has willed my destiny
That’s the reason that I moan
In the mountains I was a tree
They chopped me down and cut up me
A fine waterwheel I should be
In sorrow do I moan
From The mountains I was brought down
Never again to see my own ground
Ceaselessly I utter this sound
That’s the reason that I moan
I bring the water up from below
Round and round and round it goes
An ocean of water thru me flows
In sorrow do I moan
YUNUS, know that one does not smile
Unfulfilled in his hearts desire
In this world does no one remain
That’s the reason that I moan
Leylim Ley
Sabahattin Ali,
Music by Zülfü Livaneli
English lyric by Nyofu
Like the dry leaves falling down from the tree, Leylim ley
Morning wind break me up and scatter me, Leylim ley
Carry my dust from here afar, Leylim ley
Wipe me on the bare feet of my love, Leylim ley
Leylim ley, Leylim ley
A ray of moonlight falls upon my saz, Leylim ley
Not a voice to be heard but my song, Leylim ley
Eyebrows like the new moon come sit on my knee, Leylim ley,
The moon on one side you on one side embrace me, Leylim ley
Leylim ley, Leylim ley
Seven years I haven’t seen my country, Leylim ley
Seven years I sought no one to comfort me, Leylim ley
If you want to come along with me some day, Leylim ley
Ask no one let your heart show you the way, Leylim ley
Leylim ley, Leylim ley
​
Day and Night
(Gunduz Gece)
Ashik Veysel
English lyrics by Nyofu
On a long narrow road am I
I’m going day and night
I don’t know what state I’m in
I’m just going day and night
Night and day, day and night
Ever since the day I was born
I’ve been going on and on
My home is a two door tavern
At the side of the road
And I’m going on, day and night
Night and day, day and night
Even in my dreams I walk along
Looking for a reason to stay on
See the people come and gone
So I just go on, day and night
Night and day, day and night
Got to reach my destination
So I just go on, day and night
Night and day, day and night
Burnin’ Burnin’
(Ötme Bülbül Ötme)
Pir Sultan Abdal
English lyrics by Nyofu
Don’t sing nightingale there’s no joy in my garden
My friend I’m burnin’ from the pain that you caused me
My wick is burnt out there’s no oil left in my lamp
My friend I’m burnin from the pain that you caused me
Burnin burnin burnin look what you done to me
Dost senin derdinden ben yana yana
I’m like the river to the sea returning
I’m like the ashes in the fire burning
I’m like the rose that bloomed before its time
My friend I’m burnin from the pain that you caused me
Burnin burnin burnin look what you done to me
Dost senin derdinden ben yana yana
You’ll hear tales about me among the brave ones
Dress my wounds in the blood of the martyrs for freedom
Forty years I wandered with the wild deer in the mountains
My friend I’m burnin from the pain that you caused me
Burnin burnin burnin look what you done to me
Dost senin derdinden ben yana yana
Pir Sultan is my name, I waxed and I waned
Without food or water I await my final day
Because I loved truth too much I must hang
My friend I’m burnin from the pain that you caused me
Burnin burnin burnin look what you done to me
Dost senin derdinden ben yana yana
Come See What Love Has Done To Me
(Gel Gor Beni Ask Neyleydi)
Yunus Emre
Burrning burning I drift and tread
Spattered is my body with blood
I’m not in my senses nor mad
Come see what love has done to me
Now and then like the winds I blow
Now and then like the roads I go
Now and then like the floods I flow
Come see what love has done to me
Hold my hand lead me from this place
Or take me into your embrace
You make me weep, make me rejoice
Come see what love has done to me
Yearning I roam from land to land
In each tongue I ask for the the Friend
Ever a stranger, no one understands
Come see what love has done to me
Beechwood Snowy White
(Karlı Kayın Ormanında)
Sabahattin Ali
Music by Zülfü Livaneli
English lyrics by Nyofu
In a beechwood snowy white
I’m walking in the night
Afraid am I, afraid I am
Give me your hand
Where is your hand?
Is it my land, is it the stars?
Is it my youth, so far, so far?
Between the beech trees I see
A window glowing so warm at me
If only as I’m passing by
Someone called to me “Come, come inside”
If only I could greet them
Sit by the fire with a friend
In my hometown with seven hills
I left my budding rose to wilt
For fear of death there is no shame
Or in the thought of partings pain
Cannakale
(Early 20th century folksong)
English lyrics by Nyofu
Down in Cannakale, looking over the sea
Mama I’m going against the enemy
Oh I’m just a youth, eyvah!
Down in Cannakale, a tall cypress tree
We must leave our loved ones and our families
Oh I’m just a youth, eyvah!
Down in Cannakale, they shot me down
Before I died they buried me in the ground
Oh I was just a youth, eyvah!
The Dark Earth
(Kara Toprak)
Ashik Veysel
English lyrics by Nyofu
I embraced so many, many
In friendships name
My faithful love is the dark earth
I grew weary searching, wandering in vain
My faithful love is the dark earth, the dark earth
I fell in love with many
Many pretty face, many pretty face
What was the use, not one did stay
Everything that I did need, the earth gave
My faithful love is the dark earth, the dark earth
He who understands this mysery
Will leave the world an undying legacy
Soon we will be one the dark earth and me
My faithful love is the dark earth, the dark earth
Yellow Saffron (Sarı ÇiÄŸdem)
Pir Sultan Abdal
English lyrics by Nyofu
Yellow Saffron I’d like to know
When the winter comes where do you go?
Whatcha askin’ dervish brother
I go down into the earth
Yellow Saffron can you tell me
Under the earth what do you eat?
Whatcha asking’ dervish brother
I eat the power of nature
Yellow Saffron can you tell me
Who might your mamma and papa be?
Whatcha asking’ dervish brother
My papa is the rain my mamma the earth
Yellow Saffron I must confess
Your stem is a rod of righteousness
From your lips come the words of truth
Saffron you’re a dervish too