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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

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