Reserved Locale -- Mahsus Mahal (Ruhi Su)

Lyrics and music: Ruhi Su (1912 – 1985), the legendary Turkish opera and folk singer, composer, and bağlama virtuoso of his time.

Here are some performances:

• Ruhi Su: www.mahsusmahal.com/images/Mahsus_mahal.mp3, a classic. Just in case that this site is down, here is the alternative: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekm4H71GNYI.
• Ahmet Kaya: www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHR1aIZ6t8Q, the great artist, musician, composer, activist of Turkey.
• Emre Saltik: www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNbuCfQFYNs, nice performance.
• Serap Yagiz: www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKAZDEb9nWs, a rock+turku blend trial. I liked it.
• Esin Avsar: www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXqdtBw10F0, a personal favorite. Esin Avsar was a great singer, writer, translator, and actress.
• I also tried it for the first time, almost: www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2gLlm29Ltc.

It is said that this piece was dedicated by Ruhi Su to his wife, Sidika Su, whom he married while in prison in 1957 (see, this Turkish Wikipedi article). I believe, he was trying to show that the two objects of his affection, one human one not, are reconcilable. It was also a sad cry in protest of then-current affairs, a rebellion against oppressors, an expression of hope in future. Well, it didn't materialize the way he wished. He died as an exile in his own country, banned from going abroad for seeking a cure for his illness. The days belonged to the military regime of 1980s' Turkey. (By the way, is it happening again? Go Taksim Square protesters, go!)

Nevertheless, he had a tremendous impact on musical development in Turkey. Many of that era, including myself, are greatly influenced by what he pioneered: an operatic interpretation of the Turkish folk music, which had been considered as almost ridiculous until then.

The Kum and Han rivers are in Korea. They had been the symbols of important operating theaters in the Korean war. For Ruhi Su, the forces of evil (Capitalism) and the forces of good (Socialism) had their showdown there, just as it had been hundreds of years ago in Karaburun, Turkey (see, Seyh Beddreddin, 15 c.). The poet is alluding to the events that happened in his time and hundreds of years ago, in an attempt to point at the similarities or at the continuing struggle against oppressors.

Here are the originals (as I confirmed from the original recordings):
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Mahsus mahal derler kaldığım zindanda,
Kalırım, kalırım, dostlar yandadır.
İki elleri kızıl kandadır kanda,
Aman, ölürüm, ölürüm kardeş, aklım sendedir.

Artar eksilmeyiz zindanlarında.
Kolay değil derdin ucu derinde,
Kum-Han ırmağında, Karaburun'da,
Aman, bulurum, bulurum kardeş, öfkem kındadır.

Dirliğim, düzenim; dermanım, canım,
Solum, sol tarafım; imanım, dinim,
Benim beyaz unum, ak güvercinim,
Aman, bilirim, bilirim kardeş, gelen gündedir.
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