Leylim Ley -- (Sabahattin Ali)

Lyrics: Sabahattin Ali (1907 – 1948), Turkish novelist, short-story writer, poet, and journalist.
Music: O. Zulfu Livaneli. See my previous post about this master artist.

Despite his short and brutally interrupted life, Sabahattin Ali was and still is a very influential artist in modern literature of Turkey. His limited work has been carried into music, theater, and literature. This poem from Sabahattin Ali's short story "Ses" (1937), put to music by Livaneli, has been so enthusiastically embraced by people from so many different walks of life that it became one of the most recognized songs ever. It has been performed by so many musicians from such different genres that it came to mean things that vary across societal segments and generations. Whereas the song was originally adopted by many as a revolutionary and progressive love song (in parallel with the trends of the time), for later generations it became a merry tune that belonged in wedding festivities. In some performances, its romantic flavor is stressed more than others. Interestingly, the song is so much associated with some performers, for example Ibrahim Tatlises, that many, especially those from later generations, erroneously consider the piece as composed by these performers. You may find that examples of this mistake are actually quite well spread on the Internet.

• Zulfu Livaneli: www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCl9PJ1p9XQ. The original, from the 1975 album.
• Zulfu Livaneli: www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKzpmXzNmIM. An unforgettable performance. Istanbul Concert, 1984.
• Maria Farantouri (Μαρία Φαραντούρη) & Zulfu Livaneli: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lu9VwZFNtNA. Beautiful voice of Farantouri, the Greek master singing with Greek lyrics.
• Jocelyn B. Smith: www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRrlmpIMj0Y. A beautiful jazz interpretation.
• Ibrahim Tatlises: www.youtube.com/watch?v=T25UthjMGVg. A popularized version with a heavy touch of arabesque style.
• Zerrin Özer: www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOono2SiRss. One of the most powerful female voices of Turkey singing with a blend of many styles such as Anatolian rock, türkü, and arabesque, with a hint of jazz and Sufi music.
• Leman Sam: www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OgG0UUJJ00. A velvety performance.
• Zara: www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MEWZozCZ1s. A flamenco interpretation by this very talented singer. However, the vocal still seems to have been abandoned in arabesque waters.
• Hüsnü Senlendirici: www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmXmA5GW1bI. A beautiful interpretation from a master of clarinet, despite still carrying some arabesque winds.
• Saber Rebaï: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zc3Mb3P4g2U. An Arabic version from this Tunisian pop singer performing live before a very enthusiastic crowd.
• Zuleyha: www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3XCP_ZH4ew&noredirect=1. A nice performance in Persian lyrics from this young Kurdish-Turkish singer.
• Glykeria & Omer Faruk Tekbilek: www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfCAayhikLo. A duet from renowned Greek and Turkish musicians.

... well, there seems to be no end to this. Here is my attempt at translating this poem.

Original Lyrics:

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Döndüm daldan düşen kuru yaprağa 

Seher yeli dağıt beni kır beni 

Götür tozlarımı burdan uzağa 

Yarin çıplak ayağına sür beni 

Aldım sazı çıkmış (çıktım? N.C.) gurbet görmeye 

Dönüp yare geldim yüzüm sürmeye 

Ne lüzum var şuna buna sormaya 

Senden ayrı ne hal oldum gör beni 

Ayın şavkı vurur sazım üstüne 

Söz söyleyen yoktur sözüm üstüne 

Gel ey hilal kaşlım dizim üstüne 

Ay bir yandan sen bir yandan sar beni 

Yedi yıldır uğramadım yurduma 

Dert ortağı aramadım derdime 

Geleceksen bir gün düşüp ardıma 

Kula değil yüreğine sor beni

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