Translation of the song Bavê'm artist Rewşan Çeliker
Bavê'm
My father
Dema bavê min hîn sax bû
When my father was still alive,
Şevek ez çûm cem, dil bi pirs bû
One night I went to him, with a heart full of questions.
Min got bavo xelk dibên hûn mihacir in
I said “Father, others say that we are immigrants,
Bê ax û qad û bê mal in
And that we are without a land, soil and nest.”
Ka metên me, pismamên me
Where are our aunts, our cousins?
Ka rez û dehl û darên me
Where are our yards, our branches?
Radimûsim herdû destên te
I’ll kiss both your hands,
Qey tune bû sêv û gêlasên me
Didn’t we have our apples and cherries?
Bavê min got wer keçkoka min
My father said “Come here my dear daughter.
Ez kalekî heftê û heşt sal im
I’m an old man of 78 years.
Got kê dîtiye kalê bi guhar
Who’s ever seen an man with an earring.
Kê dîtiye pîra bi xirxal
Who’s ever seen an old lady with an anklet?”
Emir diçe weke par û pêrar
Life goes on just like yesteryears.
Em teyrên xerîb koç dikin hercar
We the emigrant birds, we immigrate as always.
Min got bavo qet neçûme welat
I said father “I’ve never been to my homeland.
Nedîtime qet berfa sibat
I’ve never seen the snow of February,
Şevên dirêj, çîrokên civat
The long nights, the fairy tale tales.
Nelîstim pêncok û xar û kaf
I’ve never played five stones and marbles.”
Ber derê xelqê weke xerîb
Like strangers in the presence of others,
Bê dost û yar û bê hebîb
Without a friend, a loved one or a lover.
Rojek bê tirs û bê pirsan
Not a day without any fear or questions,
Nebûm mêvana ap û xalan
Did I become the guest of anyone.
Destê min girt, xist destên xwe
He took my hands into his hands,
Got yê koçber , feqir û jar e
And said “He whom is an immigrant, he is both poor and woeful.
Got kê dîtiye kalê bi guhar
Who’s ever seen an man with an earring.
Kê dîtiye pîra bi xirxal
Who’s ever seen an old lady with an anklet?”
Emir diçe weke par û pêrar
Life goes on just like yesteryears.
Em teyrên xerîb koç dikin hercar
We the emigrant birds, we immigrate as always.