Another new song - Bu gecə

This is a lovely song that I hadn't heard before. My singing teacher thought it would suit me - and it does! There are normally three verses and one refrain. This is what my teacher has taught me to sing - leaving out a verse about mountains and clouds. I like this version below best.

Words are followed by my translation. As usual, the translation proves to be trickier than I first thought. Try popping this into Google Translate if you really want a laugh!

Bu gecə

Mus.: Emin Sabitoğlu

Söz.: Zeynal Xəlil




I - bənd

Fikrimdə aylı, ulduzlu,
asiman var bu gecə.
Könlümdə aylı, ulduzlu,
bir ümman var bu gecə.

Nəq.:
Bircə sən yoxsan əzizim
bilir aləm bu gecə.
Neyçün olmadın de: ey yar
mənə həmdəm bu gecə.

II - bənd

Şimşəyə çaxma desəm mən,
inan çaxmaz be gecə.
Araza axma desəm mən,
bil ki, axmaz bu gecə.

Nəq.: təkrar

Tonight

In my thoughts...
The sky is moonlit and full of stars.
In my heart...
Like an ocean full of moonlight and stars.

You are not here tonight but the world knows
you are my true love.
Why do you not say: Oh love,
you are my constant companion tonight.

If I told the thunder not to roll,
it would cease tonight.
If I told the river not to rush,
it would stop tonight.

Another song - Kərkük xalq mahnısı

This is apparently based on a Turkish song, but it is very popular in Azerbaijan. I really like the version by Nərminə Məmmədova and Sinan Səid.

This is what I am learning to sing. Very beautiful rhythmic song. Second stanza is tricky to translate!

I - bənd
Evlərinin dalı yonca,
Yonca qalxıb dam boyunca, dam boyunca.

Boyu uzun beli, incə,
Ninnə yarım, Ninnə,
Əsmər yarım Ninnə, Ninnə, Ninnə. (x2)




II - bənd
Evlərinin boyu Laçın,
Fələk qoymur gözüm açım, gözüm açım.

Səni alım, hara qaçım,
Ninnə yarım, Ninnə,
Əsmər yarım Ninnə, Ninnə, Ninnə. (x2)

Translation:

I -
The houses are covered in clover,
Clover grows up, all along the rooftop.
The clover is long, slim like your waist.
Ninna, my love, Ninna.
Beautiful Ninna, my love.

II -
Along the houses of Lachin,
Fate did not allow it. Let me open my eyes.
I will take you for my own, but where can we run to?
Ninna, my love, Ninna,
Beautiful Ninna, my love.

Another song - Ay işığında

A beautiful song I have just learned. It helped me to discover a wonderful singer - Nərminə Məmmədova. Listen to her sing this song.

Mus: Qənbər Hüseynli / söz: Zeynal Xəlil

Mən səni gördüm, ay işığında,
Könlümü verdim, ay işığında.
Tez gəldi hicran,
Ayrıldıq aman, ay işığında, ay işığında.


nəq:

Olmasın həsrət,
Gülsün məhəbbət,
Ay işığında.

Yenə gəl bizə,
Duraq üz-üzə,
Ay işığında.

Ay...

Translation:

I saw you in the moonlight.
I gave you my heart.
But we were soon parted.
Separation is such sweet sorrow, under the light of the moon.

Let this longing end!
Let love's laughter ring out,
Under the light of the moon.

Come again to see us,
Sit with us,
Under the moonlight.

New song - Shur tesnifi

OK, I just learned this new song - and it ain't easy to sing! Quite fast and a lot of difficult-to-pronounce words. So be kind in your comments!

Wonderful song though. Will keep working on it.

Watch it here and below.

Song - Aylı Gecələr

Aylı Gecələr

Mus.: Cahangir Cahangirov, söz.: İslam Səfərli

Moonlit Nights

Gecə sakit çay axır,

Lal sulardan Ay baxır.

Ey könül, çıx eyvana,

Eyvandan mehriban,

Nazlı yar baxır.

At night the silent river flows,

The moon shines on the smooth water,

Hey, my love, come out to the veranda,

From there you can see,

My gentle, alluring love.

Nəq.:

Mən necə dözüm,

Yaxın gəl, quzum.

Gecələr, uzun gecələr.

How can I endure,

Come close my lamb.

The nights are long.

Ulduz göydə sovuşur,

Kipriklərim qovuşur.

Gəl, gülüm, sevən qəlbim,

Gecələr, gecələr,

Tək səni soruşur.

The stars have disappeared from the sky,

My eyelids are heavy.

Come, my flower, my beloved,

The nights, the nights,

Are calling you.

Song - Bəh-Bəh

Alim and Fərqanə Qasımov famously sing this. These are the words they sing. There are other variants of this song as well, as for many xalq mahnısı.

Bəh-Bəh

xalq mahnısı

Oh, Oh

Gül açılanda yaz olur, bəh, bəh, bəh,

Dərdin o vaxtı az olur, bəh, bəh, bəh,

Gözəldə işvə-naz olur, bəh, bəh, bəh,

Gəl, gəl, gözəl yar, sevirəm səni.

Spring is here, flowers are blooming, oh, oh, oh,

Worries are few, oh, oh, oh,

Beauty is enticing, oh, oh, oh,

Come, come, my beautiful love, I love you.

Yarın bağında şirin olur üzüm,

Yarın ayrılığına necə dözüm,

Yara qurban olsun bu iki gözüm,

Gəl, gəl, gözəl yar, sevirəm səni.

In my love’s garden there are sweet grapes,

How can I endure being apart from her,

For my lover I would sacrifice both my eyes,

Come, come, beautiful love, I love you.

Bülbül bağlarda səs salır: cəh-cəh-cəh!

Güllərin ətrini alır, bəh-bəh-bəh!

Musiqi səsi ucalır: cəh-cəh-cəh!

Gəl, gəl, gözəl yar, sevirəm səni.

The nightingale pours out his song: chee, chee, chee!

He breathes in the perfume of the flowers, oh, oh, oh!

The sound of music soars: chee, chee chee!

Come, come, my beautiful love, I love you.

Song - Ceyran

I've discovered a really beautiful song sung by  Fərqanə Qazimova. However, I can't find the words and this again leads me to ask questions that are fundamental to the whole history of Azerbaijani folk music. How does it work? This song must be a composed professional work because the music is attributed to Hacı Xanməmmədov (1918-2005) in Min Bir Mahnı. So, I am assuming that Xanməmmədov Müəllim wrote the music, then chose verses from Aşıq Ələsgər (1821-1926). Or, did he just arrange music that was already associated with the words? Obviously they did not collaborate on the song because of their dates. I would really like some advice on this. Maybe the music she uses is altogether different?

A related question is - why doesn't Fərqanə Xanım sing all of Aşıq Ələskər's words? The first stanza is his except that she replaces (or someone else did?) "xəstə oldum" with "düşdüm oda". Where do the other words that she sings come from? Another aşıq? A poet? She sings "Saz ilə, saz ilə, ceyranım balasını (?), Dağlarda kəklik oxlu ???" I will try to get help with these words. In the meantime, this is the Aşıq Ələskər version.

OK, I back to this with more information. I am pleased to see a posting of a translation! Always appreciated. I have also received a very helpful email from Ted Levin who was the Executive Producer of the CD with this song on it. I will add the words from that version and then attempt a translation.

Ceyran 
Mus.: Hacı Xanməmmədov, söz.: Aşıq Ələsgər
Gazelle

Durum dolanım başına,
Qaşı-gözü qara ceyran.
Həsrətindən xəstə oldum
Eylə dərdə çara, ceyran.

Eşqində mərd dayansan,
Mən yanaram, sən də yansan,
Özün bir tülək tərlansan
Niyə uydun sara, ceyran.

Ələsgərəm, yardan oldum,
Eşqin girdabına qaldım,
Küsdürmüşdüm, könlün aldım,
Yalvara-yalvara, ceyran.

Ceyran

Geraili – Aşıq Ələsgər (1821-1926)

Gəzəl – Seyid Hacı Rza Sərraf (d. 1907)

Durum dolanım başına,

Qaşın, gözün qara Ceyran

Həsrətindən düşdüm oda

Eylə dərdə çarə, Ceyran

Let me surround you with care,

Your dark eyes, Ceyran

I am burning with desire

Deliver me from this suffering, Ceyran.

Saz ilə, saz ilə ceyranın balasını

Dağlarda kəklik oxlasın

Aşkar dolana bilməsəm

Pünhan başına dolanım

            Ay yar, dolanım

With the saz, with the saz, my fawn,

Let the partridges in the mountains murmur,

If I could not care for you openly,

Then let me care in secret,

Oh my love, let me care for you.

Ələsgərəm, aşıq ollam,

Eşqin dəryasına dallam qallam.

Küşdürmüşəm, könlün allam

Yalvara-yalvara, Ceyran

I am Ələsgər, let me love,

Let me sink into the vast ocean of love.

I have caused offense, but I will win your favor

By imploring you, Ceyran. 

Xədəngə-naz ilə könlüm quşun şikar elədin,

Könüldə gizlin olan sirri aşikar elədin.

Nə qədr sən yoxdudun, bilməzidim eşq nədir,

Bətayi-eşqə məni sən gözəl duçar elədin.

Rədifü qafiyəvi  səc’u bəhri bilməz idim,

Fünuni-şe’ri bu Sərrafa sən şuar elədin.

Song - Mehriban Olaq

This song has become quite well known in the English-speaking world because of the recording by Alim Qasimov and Fərqanə Qasimova. And with good reason. I love their treatment of this song - very punchy, lively, and joyful. I'm finally getting around to a proper translation. There are a few unusual words here, but they aren't the problem. Rather, it is how to translate the normal words without the English sounding completely bland and the sentiments trite. Not easy. If I had to find one word to describe most Azerbaijani people that I've met, I would say "kind" would be the word. So, I want to get this right!

Mehriban Olaq
Mus: Şəfiqə Axundova, söz: İsgəndər Coşğun
An Ode to Kindness

Duyğularım dilə gəldi yenə,
Ey insanlar, qulaq asın mənə.

My tongue is inspired,
People, open your ears!


Nəq.:
Min könüldə bir can olaq,
Daha da mehriban olaq.
Mehriban, qayğıkeş bir insan olaq,
Mehriban olaq, mehriban olaq.

May a thousand hearts unite as one soul,
Full of kindness,
Care and compassion.

Təmiz eşqi, məhəbbəti tutaq,
Deyək, gülək qəm-qüssədən uzaq.

Hold fast to love and affection,
Laugh, banish sorrow.

İllər ötür biz doluruq yaşa.
Məhəbbətlə vuraq ömrü başa.

The years pass, we live our lives.
Let us live with love to the end of our days.

Song - Dəli Ceyran

This is listed as a xalq mahnısı in Min Bir Mahnı. However, it credits Əlağa Vahid with the words. This is something that I don't understand. Isn't it part of the definition of a xalq mahnısı that the author is unknown? Or can folk songs be given new lyrics? Or are there tunes out there whose words have been lost? Never had words?

Also, I read today that the oldest of the xalq mahnısı come from country work songs, much like some Scottish tunes do - for example waulking songs (raising the nap on tweed). This is exactly what it said: "Ən qədim mahnılar Çoban avazı, Tutu nənəm, Sağım mahnısı, Çiçək şumla yeri, Şum nəğməsidir."  I read this as shepherd songs, grandmothers'  songs?? (songs for children?), milking songs, threshing?? songs, and ploughing songs. Please correct me if I am misunderstanding this.

While I am on questions, here are a few more...

Muğam Radio has two beautiful audio recordings by Alim Gasimov. I cannot find the words anywhere. I don't even know if they are modern compositions or xalq mahnısı or what. Here's the link:

http://www.mugamradio.az/az/audios/alim-qas%C4%B1mov--24

The songs are Bağışla Məni (Azizim) and Gəl Gəl (Ceyranım).

Also, how do we know which xalq mahnısı are really old? How old is old? When did they stop? Are they still appearing (anonymously) from the countryside? Is there a definitive list? Some have 7 syllable lines, some 11 or 12. Are these different poetic forms? I also read that all xalq mahnısı are based on muğams. How? And how can you tell? So many questions. I think I may be dəli one of these days!

In the meantime, I will turn to this xalq mahnısı... I am basing the lyrics on an audio recording of Şövkət Ələkbarova from Muğam Radio and Min Bir Mahnı, though it seems Şövkət Xanım sings a few extra lines... The final line here has been completely flummoxed.

Dəli Ceyran
Xalq mahnısı, söz.: Əlağa Vahid

Wild Gazelle

Gözəlim, aşiqini salma nəzərdan,
Həsrətindən ölürəm, gəl  bizə hərdən.
Sənə çoxdan vurulub bu dəli könlüm,
Neyləyim ki, xəbərin yoxdu xəbərdən.

My beautiful one, be attentive to your lover,
I am dying of longing, come to us now and then.
Long ago my mad heart fell for you,
What can I do, if you don't know.

Nəq.:
Gəl, mənə naz eyləmə, ay dəli ceyran,
O qara gözlərinə olmuşam heyran.
Gəl, mənə naz eyləmə, ay dəli ceyran,
O xumar gözlərinə olmuşam heyran.

Come, don't tease me, oh, wild gazelle,
I am thunder-struck by your dark eyes.
Come, don't be capricious, oh, untamed gazelle,
I am dumbfounded by your captivating eyes.

Bir dönüb baxmaq ilə canımı aldın,
Məni Məcnun eyləyib çöllərə saldın.
Mən sənə inanıb, öz könlümü verdim,
Sənsə məni atıb, əğyar ilə qaldın.

She won my heart with a single glance,
I have become mad with love like Majnun, wandering aimlessly.
I trusted you, I gave you my heart,
You left me for someone else.

Song - Sevgi Valsı

Time to try translating a few modern classics.  Sure is easier than translating xalq mahnısı! However, I rarely get things completely right the first time, so please advise! Thanks for the help with "baş acıq" - I'm translating it as carefree.

This song by Tofiq Quliyev is sung by Rashid Behbudov in the film Baxtiyar. He has encountered his childhood friend, Sasha, at a dance and falls in love.

Sevgi Valsı
Love Waltz

Bir vaxt uşaq idik, dost idin mənə,
Baş acıq, ayaq yalın gəzərdik bağları.
Səni gördüm, dostum, yad etdim yenə
Bir şirin yuxu kimi ötən o çağları.

Once we were kids, you were my friend,
We would run barefoot and carefree through the orchards.
I saw you now, my friend, and those times came back to me
Like a sweet dream.

Nəqərat:
Ah niyə,
Nə üçün
Mən beləyəm bəs bu gün,
Ah niyə
Sənin mən
Tuta bilmirəm əllərindən,
Nə qəşəngsən, nə gözəlsən
Bu axşam sən əziz dost.

Refrain:
Oh why,
Why am I like this today,
I can't hold your hand,
How lovely, how beautiful you are
This evening, my dear friend.

Ah, bu gözəlliyi bəs mən o zaman
Nə üçün hiss etmədim, dostum, bu günki tək.
Bu gün nə olsa da, əzizim, inan,
Öz sözün deyər sənə daha sevən ürək.

Oh, it's strange that I didn't notice then
This beauty that I see today.
And whatever happens today, my darling, trust me,
My heart will speak words of love.