Küçələrə su səpmişəm - the full version

Ages ago I posted the first stanza of this song because of Eurovision. It occurred to me now that I am singing it again the the full version should be online. Here it is:

I.
Küçələrə su səpmişəm,
Yar gələndə toz olmasın.
Elə gəlsin, elə getsin,
Aramızda söz olmasın.

I have thrown water into the street,
My beloved is coming, so there must not be dust.
Let her come, let her go,
But let there not be words between us.

II.
Samavara od salmışam,
İstəkana qənd salmışam.
Yarım gedib, tək qalmışam,
Nə əzizdir yarın canı!
Nə şirindir yarın canı!

I lit the samovar,
I put sugar in the glasses.
My love has left, I am all alone,
Such a dear, my love!
So sweet, my love!

III.
Samavara alışdırın,
Maşa verim qarışdırın.
Yarım mənnən küsüb, gedib,
Onu mənnən barışdırın.

Light the samovar,
Let me give you this iron bar, you can mix the kindling.
My love was sulking and left,
Please help us to reconcile.

Another xalq mahnısı - Dağlara çən düşəndə

I've started singing again with a new teacher - Konul. She is really teaching me the proper way to sing xalq mahnısı. I really love singing these songs, but the meaning can be difficult to decipher. Even locals that I have asked about lyrics have confessed that they don't understand some archaic words. I have gone to the dictionary for several in this song. However, even when the words are not difficult, the meaning can be elusive.

I.

Dağlara çən düşəndə,

Sünbülə dən düşəndə.

Ruhum bədəndən oynar bala,

Yadıma sən düşəndə.

nəq.

Yaylığı aldı yarım,

Boynuma saldı yarım.

Qıyğacı baxmaq ilə bala,

Könlümu aldı yarım.

II.

Səyyada bax səyyada,

Torun qurub qayada.

Toruna tərlan düşüb bala,

Kimsəsi yox oyada.

Fog descends on the mountains,

The wheat is ready for harvest.

You come to mind,

My spirit dances.

[OK, the image of falling works in Azerbaijani, but doesn't in English.]

My love took my scarf,

He put it on my shoulder.

He looked at me with his eyes half closed,

And stole my heart.

Look at the hunter,

He tied a net to a rock.

A bird was captured in the net,

There is no one to awaken.

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 - 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 - Sarı Gəlin

Arguably the most well-known song in Azerbaijan and something of a second national anthem I believe. A beautiful song. I have long thought about attempting to translate it, but have been avoiding it because of the difficulty of some lines. I look forward to getting lots of help with this one!

The first two stanzas are the ones that I am familiar with, but there is a third stanza. It is very hard to translate. I notice that Alim Qazımov sang the first and third stanzas for Eurovision. I also noticed he replaced "gülü sulu" with "gülü qönçə" instead - flower buds. Some sources list "Nə ola bir gün görəm" as "Gün ola mən bir görəydim". But, these small changes aside, the song is pretty much as below.

You will probably notice that all lines are 7 syllables long. Online sources say this is because the poem is written in the Bayati form. I will assume then that there is room for interpretation of some lines since they are strictly limited in this way. So, here's my first go at a translation... Thanks to a posting I will alter the translation of the final stanza. Very helpful commentary!

Sarı Gəlin
Fair-haired Bride

Saçın ucun hörməzlər

Gülü sulu dərməzlər

Sarı gəlin

Saçın ucun hörməzlər

Gülü sulu dərməzlər

Sarı gəlin

Your hair should not be braided,
Tender buds should not be picked.
Fair-haired bride.

Bu sevda nə sevdadır

Səni mənə verməzlər

Neynim aman, aman

Neynim aman, aman

Sarı gəlin

Bu sevda nə sevdadır

Səni mənə verməzlər

Neynim aman, aman

Neynim aman, aman

Sarı gəlin

This love, what an intense longing,
But they will not give me your hand.
Oh, what can I do?
What can I do?
Fair-haired bride.

Bu dərənin uzunu,

Çoban, qaytar quzunu, quzunu

Bu dərənin uzunu,

Çoban, qaytar quzunu, quzunu 

Nə ola bir gün görəm

Nazlı yarın üzünü 

Neynim aman, aman

Neynim aman, aman

Sarı gəlin

Nə ola bir gün görəm

Nazlı yarın üzünü

Neynim aman, aman

Neynim aman, aman

Sarı gəlin

To this long valley,
Shepherd, return your flock,
Would that I could see
My love's beautiful face.
Oh, what can I do?
What can I do?
Fair-haired bride.

Aşıq ellər ayrısı,
Şana tellər ayrısı,
Bir gününə dözmədim,
Oldum illər ayrısı.
Neynim aman, aman, sarı gəlin.

The ashug sings, beyond compare,
Her glorious locks, nonpareil,
I cannot endure another day,
After years of separation,
Oh, what can I do,
Fair bride.

Song - Bülbüllər Oxur

Vacation at last! Time for music and language. I've picked a xalq mahnısı that you hear played a lot in Baku. I got the words from my little green book, Min Bir Mahnı. I found a couple of recordings online. You can listen to Səvavet Məmmədov or Elmira Rehimova. They are both wonderful renditions. The incomparable Şövkət Ələkbərova has audio on the Muğam Radio site. However, as always, I have many questions that need answering. Şövkət Xanım's version is exactly as below. The other two differ in that Səvavet says "gözəl" instead of oğlan and he leaves out the middle stanza. Elmira Xanım changes a few lines - "Ləbin qoy" for "Üzün qoy" and a few others. All sing a bit of mugham before the final verse. Is this Segah? They all sing different verses from what I can tell. It would be nice to find the words written out somewhere.

Apart from the differences in the recordings, it is hard to interpret the song. It seems clear to me that the singer/speaker is a woman, but my online expert, Alef, says that these songs are never written from a woman's point-of-view. Hard to know what to do with all of those üstəs as well! I need to go help a friend who is moving tomorrow, so will return to type up my translation this afternoon. In the meantime, all advice will be gratefully received!... I'm back and the translation is complete. Thanks to the anonymous poster of an early translation - lovely to work together with others who share a passion for this music. Look forward to more comments.

Bülbüllər Oxur
Xalq mahnısı

Bülbüllər oxur,
Cəh-cəh vurur, bağda gül üstə.
Ay oğlan, boyu bəstə,
Gəl, əyləş çəmən üstə,
Sən məndən könül istə,
Mən deyim: gözüm üstə.

Nightingales Sing

Nightingales sing,
Warbling on flowers in the garden.
Hey, my slender boy,
Come, sit on the greensward,
Ask for my heart,
And I will tell you it is yours.

Bəh-bəh, nə gözəl
Candır, məgər sərvi-rəvandır,
Oğlan, getmə amandır,
Məni başına dolandır,
Üzün qoy üzüm üstə,
Əcəb yaxşı zamandır.

Hey, what a beautiful form,
Is he not like the smooth cypress,
Ah, don't go,
Stay with me,
Put your face next to mine,
The time is right.

Altında boz at,
Çiynində tüfəng, belində qatarı,
Ay oğlan, sən Tanrı, dolan gəl bizə sarı.
Gələrsən qadan allam,
Gədərsən yola sallam.

Riding a grey steed,
Rifle on your shoulder, bandolier around your waist,
Hey my slender boy, for the love of God, turn and come our way.
If you come, I will welcome you,
If you go, I will bid you farewell.

Song - Ağacda alma

Another xalq mahnısı that I promised Nigar I would translate. So, here goes.

Ağacda alma

The apples in the tree

Ağacda alma, dərrəm sataram,
Bir saçı burma hardan taparam?

I will pick apples that I can sell,
Where will I find a ringlet of hair?





Nəq.:
Ay haray, yar əlindən, o qara tellərindən,
Əqər izin versən, öpərəm gözlərindən.

Oh, my love, from your hand, your dark locks,
If you permit me, I would place a chaste kiss on your brow.

Bağlarda çicək, dərrəm, sataram,
Bir üzü göyçək hardan taparam?

In the garden I pick blossoms to sell,
Where will I find a beautiful face?

Bazarda püstə allam sataram,
Bir boyu bəstə hardan taparam.

In the bazaar I find pistachios to sell,
Where will I find a slender girl?

Rashid Behbudov sings it here.

Song - Yaxan düymələ

Here is a song that my friend Nigar wants me to translate. It too is a xalq mahnısı. Oddly enough, it mentions "süsən sünbül" like the previous song I translated. The first word, sallanıban, is a real puzzle. It certainly is not in the dictionary. It is also hard to know what the title means. Hide your beauty? Come outside? I really need some help with this one...

Yaxan düymələ

Sallanıban gələn dilbər,
Yaxan düymələ, düymələ.
Məni dərdə salan dilbər,
Yaxan düymələ, düymələ.

Köynəyinin gülü yaşıl,
Süsən sünbülü dolaşır.
Gözəlik sənə yaraşır,
Yaxan düymələ, düymələ.

Kərəm* sənə nələr demiş,
O dil-dodağını yemiş.
Kətan köynək bəndi gümüş,
Yaxan düymələ, düymələ.

Your beauty shone forth,
Button up your collar.
It has made me agitated,
Button it up.

The green flowers of your chemise,
Ears of wheat entwine.
Beauty suits you,
Button your collar.

What things did Kərəm say to you?
He was at a loss for words.
Linen blouse and silver clasp,
Button up your collar.

*The name of a famous ashig.

Here is a link to a version by the young Alim Gasimov.

Song - Süsən Sünbül

Another xalq mahnısı. This is a tune that I haven't heard before but I am going to learn on the kamancha. Strangely I can't find a recording on the Internet. Too bad. Anyway, here are the words. I hope I will learn the tune soon...

As usual I start off thinking, "Oh, this doesn't look so difficult...", and then the simplest of sentences can have me scratching my head. For instance, "Ömrü başa yetirmişəm." Is the baş in this case referring to the head of the wheat, to the guy's head or to some metaphorical head? I have chosen to interpret it as the wheat. Please correct me if you know better. I am assuming that the song is essentially about a fellow who has prepared everything for his imminent wedding but whose lover has flown.

Süsən Sünbül

Süsən-sünbül bitirmişəm,
Mən yarımı itirmişəm,
Ömrü başa yetirmişəm.
Aman, Gülgəz, yarım hanı?

The wheat is high that I have grown,
But I have lost my love,
My life is over.
Oh, where is Gulgaz, my love?

O məh camalın, ağ üzdə xalın,
Öldürdü məni, nədir xəyalın?
Yar əlindən badə içdim,
Mətləbimə mən yetişdim.
Kəcavəsin bəzəmişdim,
Aman, Gülgəz, gülüm hanı?

Your face, so white, with its single beauty mark,
It has destroyed me, what are you hoping for?
Love, I have drunk wine from your hands,
I have brought all my desires to fruition.
I have adorned your palanquin,
But where are you, Gulgaz, my flower?

Mələkxanım Əyyubova sings it here.

Laçın (xalq mahnısı)

I only know this song because I play it on the kamancha, but I don't have a recording of it being sung. It is a beautiful and melancholy tune. I decided to look for the words. It seems to me that the words are sad as well.

First stop was a lovely little book I found in a used bookstore -  Min Bir Mahnı. However, some of the words didn't make sense, so I looked on az.wikisource.org and found these lyrics, which I have attempted to translate. The wiki lyrics had the word göncə, which I assume should have been qönçə.

As usual with trying to translate folk songs, I have run into difficulties. Not sure what "barı" refers to. Fruit? Wish? Anyway, here is my translation. All help appreciated!

Araz axar su ilə,
Dəstə-dəstə gül ilə,
Mən yarımı sevirəm
Şirin-şirin dil ilə

The Araz flows with water,
With bunches of flowers,
I love my dear love
With sweet language

Ay Laçın, can Laçın,
Mən sənə qurban Laçın...

Oh Lachin, dear Lachin
I would be a sacrifice for you...

Bağçaların barı gül,
Yarı qönçə, yarı gül,
Gec açıldın, tez soldun,
Açmayaydın barı gül,

The gardens have fruit flowers,
Half bud, half flower,
You were opened late, you faded quickly,
Would that you had not opened!

Ay Laçın, can Laçın,
Mən sənə qurban Laçın...

Oh Lachin, dear Lachin
I would be a sacrifice for you...

Yeri-yeri küsən yar,
Yeni eşqə düşən yar,
Elçiləri qırılmış...
Özü elçi düşən yar!

Here my love is discontented,
My dear one who has just fallen in love,
The envoys have been cut down...
The go-between has fallen himself my love!

Ay Laçın, can Laçın,
Mən sənə qurban Laçın...

Oh Lachin, dear Lachin
I would be a sacrifice for you...

Girdim yarın bağçasına

Girdim yarın bağçasına - I entered the garden of my beloved

Xalq mahnısı - Folk song
This is one of my favorite xalq mahnısı.

Girdim yarın bağçasına, çiçəklər açmış. - I entered the garden of my beloved, the blossoms had opened.
O yar mənim ürəyimə, yaralar sancmış. - My darling, she has wounded by heart.

Gəl, gəl, gəl, gözəlim gəl, sevirəm səni. - Come, come, come, my beautiful one, I love you.
Əgər qismətim olarsa, alaram səni. - If it is to be my fate, I will take you.

Girdim yarın dəryasına, gəmim dolmadı. - I went to the well of my beloved, my ship was not full.
Gənc yaşım da bir qız sevdim, mənim olmadı. - When I was young I loved a girl, but she did not love me.



Gəl, gəl, gəl, gözəlim gəl, sevirəm səni. - Come, come, come, my beautiful one, I love you.

Əgər qismətim olarsa, alaram səni. - If it is to be my fate, I will take you.

Aldatdı məni

Aldatdı məni – She deceived me

Xalq mahnısı – Folk song

Azər Zeynalov does a great job of this song. Remarkably cheerful music for such a sad theme!

Aman aman ay aman aman – Oh, oh, …

Qonşuluqda bir yar vardır – In the neighborhood, there is a girl that I love

Gözəllikdə ilk bahardır – Her beauty is in its first bloom.

Anasından gizli mənə - Without her mother's knowledge

Söz verib aldatdı məni məni məni balam – She made me a promise, but now she has deceived me (my darling)

Yar yaman aldatdı məni məni məni balam – Darling have pity, she deceived me

Ağlatdıb aldatdı məni məni niyə balam – She made me cry, she deceived me, oh why my darling?

Yaylığını aldım ondan – I took her veil,

Ayrılığı saldım ondan – To ensure we would not be parted.

Dedim gələr qaytararam – I thought she would come to claim it

Gəlmədi aldatdı məni məni məni balam – But she didn’t come, she deceived me, darling!