The title of my piece belongs to the aphorism of famous Danish author Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875). Andersen said long time ago “where words fail, music speaks.” I completely agree with this quotation, and I think many of us think similarly about the fascinating and powerful role of music in life.
In this piece, I will try to compile English lyrics to Turkish songs which tell a story about the people of a specific region in Turkey or illustrate some specific places in Turkey. These are some of the songs that tell our stories.
Sezen Aksu – İstanbul İstanbul Olalı (Since Istanbul Became Istanbul)
Sezen Aksu is known as the ‘queen’ of Turkish pop music. For more than 30 years she has been touching our hearts with her magical songs.
Lying on a stone
In the middle of Kanlıca
I make the tears of my eyes
Float to the fortress
There is nothing to do
He wanted to go, he went
I understand
Very painful
It finished one-sided
I need a wind now
And paddles and a boat
Several bottles of ruby in the stash
Ground and sky are red
I curse to the past
Shame if it is shame
A star falls over me
Coming from the evening
Since Istanbul became Istanbul
It has never seen such a grief
I’m dying from your love
There is nothing left from pride
How a big pain
One is defeated by oneself
No cure to infidelity
The heart is a big black hole
There is nothing to do
This is heart and we loved
A new skin, a new excitement
I know we wanted
I need a wind now
And paddles and a boat
Several bottles of ruby in the stash
Ground and sky are red
I curse to the past
Shame if it is shame
A star falls over me
Coming from the evening
Oh since Istanbul became Istanbul
It has never seen such grief
I’m dying from your love
There is nothing left from pride
Sıla – Egeli Lodos (The Aegean Winds)
Sıla Gençoğlu (1980) has been one of the most successful singers and composers in Turkey. Her musical journey began as a backing vocalist.
My sleep turned to the left
The murderer has come to an end
My life is calm
There was a lot of adventure
I used to storm around
My fire has turned to the candle without a wick
While your coldness is processing inside of me
I am the Aegean winds
I don’t submit to foreigner winds
Don’t be rude
My gentle heart is fragile
Lean on my chest, come on
You are destined not to become wine
Despite being a grape
You are destined not see me
Although I am your eyes
While your coldness is processing inside of me
I am the Aegean winds
I don’t submit to foreigner winds
Don’t be rude
My gentle heart is fragile
Lean on my chest come on
You are destined not to become wine
Despite being a grape
You are destined not see me
Although I am your eyes
Bergüzar Korel – İzmir’in Kızları (The Girls of İzmir)
Bergüzar Korel (1982) is an actress who also released a music album with a cover format of old Turkish songs, of which this one belongs to Sezen Aksu.
The girls of Izmir
With the tweezers in their hands
When they go to the Kordon Boyu with their silk socks
They are feminine and they are mothers
They are cute naysayers
Their feminine postures are real both in war and in love
No heel clicks can play so invitingly
They raze with an eye shot
There can be no such a thing
No heel clicks can play so invitingly
They raze with an eye shot
There can be no such a thing
The bay, the star, and sharp salt of the gulf
Are in their taste
Their fragrance is the breeze
The jasmines are in their balconies
The bay, star, and sharp salt of the gulf
Are in their taste
Their fragrance is the breeze
The jasmines are in their balconies
The Girls of Izmir
No fear in their books
Play the music in an Aegean style
The girls of Izmir
(It’s a shame to say it, it is between us)
They can die while they love, and if needed while they fight
No heel clicks can play so invitingly
They raze with an eye shot
There can be no such a thing
No heel clicks can play so invitingly
They raze with an eye shot
There can be no such a thing.
Eylem Aktaş – Ada Sahilleri (The Island Beaches)
Eylem Aktaş is best known for having created songs for TV series. This song was written by Ahmet Kaya, a renowned Kurdish folk music singer who passed away in 2000. In Istanbul, there are five islands (Büyükada, Kınalıada, Burgazada, Sedefadası, Heybeliada) and this song reminds us of them. Şadiye refers to the name of the lover in the song while Modas is the plural form of the district Moda in Kadıköy.
I am waiting in the island beaches
I always watch your way
I want you darling every moment
Make me happy, my Şadiye please.
Always you are a liar and I believe
Always an obstacle in the middle
You are always far away
I have a dream of you in every advance
There is a go from Islands to Modas
The poison is drunk if it comes from your hands
In this world what is meant to be is seen
Make me happy, my Şadiye please.
Where are those lilacs
When the earth becomes a house to me
Leaves turn into yellow fading
Make me happy, my Şadiye please.
Aslı Güngör – İzmir Bilir Ya (İzmir Knows)
Aslı Güngör (1979) has released three music albums so far and has been making music since 2007. The lyrics of “İzmir Knows” belong to Sezen Aksu.
Even if my face doesn’t show my sadness
Even if this pain doesn’t make me fall down
Even if it is seen in nowhere but only in my eyes
Who is saying that I’m happy, I’m burned out
Your love is dying your dreams don’t come true
And I’m burned out, I’m all burned out
Your affection is dying, your dreams don’t come true
And I’m burned out, I’m all burned out
And I’m burned out, I’m all burned out
Izmir knows it
The fortune telling doesn’t come out right
Nobody knows a thing
And I’m all burned out
MFÖ – Bodrum Bodrum
Mazhar Fuat Özkan, known as MFÖ, is a Turkish pop and rock band. It consists of Mazhar Alanson, Fuat Güner, and Özkan Uğur. The band started their musical journey in 1984. Bodrum is one of the districts of Muğla. Bodrum is a famous tourism center not only for people in Turkey but also for the foreigners.
How can I tell, where do I start, mmmm ….
Bodrum Bodrum, Bodrum Bodrum
Emotion, some emotion
That was all I wanted
A little sea, a little sleep
That was all I wanted
Bodrum Bodrum, Bodrum Bodrum
How do I tell, where do I start?
Look, how many people were we then
How many people are left now?
Bodrum Bodrum
I once fell in love
But now I forgot what her name is
Bodrum Bodrum, Bodrum Bodrum
Emotion, some emotion
That was all I wanted
A little sea, a little sleep
That was all I wanted
Bodrum Bodrum, Bodrum Bodrum
I once fell in love
But now I forgot what her name is
Bodrum Bodrum, Bodrum Bodrum
Sezen Aksu – Kalbim Ege’de Kaldı (My Heart’s Got Stuck in the Aegean)
The song Kalbim Ege’de Kaldı belongs to Aksu’s album released in 1993. Written by Sezen Aksu, Şehrazat, and Yelda Karataş, the song never gets old.
I rolled my cigarette for the opposite shore
I burned pains on its tip
I cast nets, they are filled with the memories
The coasts of my longing cry
I rubbed moonshine in my wound instead of salt
One witness of mine was the moon
Oh my Lord!
Laurel on my one hand
Your love on the other
My heart’s got stuck in Aegean
I hit my glass for the opposite shore
Swashbucklers rose up to say “Cheers!”
I threw my love away, the friends caught
We lamented for the fate
I rubbed moonshine in my wound instead of salt
One witness of mine was the moon
Oh my Lord!
Laurel on my one hand
Your love on the other
Oh sir!
Being apart is worse than death
My love sir!
Enough of this longing, it is enough
Oh sir!
Send me a “hello”
My love sir!
Edip Akbayram – Bekle Bizi İstanbul (Wait for Us, Istanbul)
Edip Akbayram (1950) with his ever smiling face has been one of the important names of Turkish music. Akbayram first sang this song in 1994. The song Bekle Bizi İstanbul was written by Vedat Türkali.
Wait for us, Istanbul
When the dawn winds blow in clusters
With your ships that tear out the blue cambrics
I think of you, from far away
Istanbul
The evenings at your Golden Horn with its endless posts
The spring in your islands, the sun in your Süleymaniye
You are a beautiful the city, the city of our cause
Istanbul
This so much pain wasn’t suffered in vain
Wait with your grand and quiet Süleymaniye
With your parks, bridges, squares
Wait for us, Istanbul
In the dark streets of Tophane
Wait for us, with your children cuddling up
Wait for our passing by with victory songs
Istanbul
We are going to tear down the reign of the bandits
Wait for those days to come, Istanbul
We deserve you, and you deserve us, Istanbul
Istanbul
This much pain wasn’t suffered in vain
Wait with your grand and quiet Süleymaniye
With your parks, bridges, squares
Wait for us, Istanbul
Any other songs that fit the theme? Please let us know in the comments!
This article was originally published on June 29, 2020, by Begüm Burak.
