Dağlara Küstüm Ali - Turkish Song

Music & lyrics by Zülfü Livaneli, vocals & instrumentation by Farya Faraji. This is a song written in the 70s by Zülfü Livaneli, an important artist in modern Turkey known for his work as a musician, author, and politician, as well as a Goodwill Ambassador of UNESCO. The song, whilst modern, showcases very clear stylistic features of Anatolian Turkish devotional Islamic music on the bağlama, leaning strongly towards Alevi aesthetics in its themes, with references to the Imam Ali. I play the melody on the long neck bağlama, and chords on the modern kopuz, equipped with three strings specifically to allow the implementation of tonal harmony onto the makamic framework of Turkish music. One thing of note is the application of dissonant chords during microtonal moments in the melody, something Turks like to do alot in their music; emphasising the dissonance of makam microtones sounded with Western harmony, rather than shying away from it. Lyrics: Tozlu yollarına düştüm de geldim Haramiler kesmiş suyun başını Yolların bac'ını verdim de geldim Bilmem kim silecek gözüm yaşını Kendime kastım Ali Dağlara küstüm Ali Dar günde dostum Ali Kınama hallerimi Bağlama kollarımı Açık et yollarımı Zalimin elinden kapına geldim Kan gölü içinde bunaldım kaldım Yetiş ya Erenler canımdan oldum Bilmem kim saracak yaralarımı Kendime kastım Ali Dağlara küstüm Ali Dar günde dostum Ali Kınama hallerimi Bağlama kollarımı Açık et yollarımı Translation: I have wandered down your dusty roads and come, The bandits have cut off the water at its source. I have paid the toll of the roads and come, I do not know who will wipe the tears from my eyes. I have turned against myself, Ali, I have grown bitter toward the mountains, Ali, My friend in times of hardship, Ali. Do not condemn the state I am in, Do not bind my arms, Open my roads before me. I have fled the tyrant and come to your door, I am overwhelmed, stranded in a lake of blood. Come to my aid, O Holy Ones—I have lost my life. I do not know who will bind up my wounds. I have turned against myself, Ali, I have grown bitter toward the mountains, Ali, My friend in times of hardship, Ali. Do not condemn the state I am in, Do not bind my arms, Open my roads before me.