Mahzuni Şerif critiques a society where "some feast on the backs of the nation" while "the brave are left in need of a dry onion".
Milletin sırtından doyan doyana / Yiğit muhtaç olmuş kuru soğana.
He references the historical figure Pir Sultan Abdal , a 16th-century poet who was executed for his beliefs, questioning if he too should face the gallows for speaking the truth. Lyrics Snapshot Original Turkish Lyrics Opening Mahzuni Serifmevla Gul Diyerek Iki Goz Vermis
Mevla "Gül" diyerek iki göz vermiş / Bilmem ağlasam mı, ağlamasam mı?
The opening lines, "The Lord gave two eyes saying 'Smile', I wonder if I should cry or not," reflect a deep internal conflict between religious/spiritual expectations and the harsh realities of life. Mahzuni Şerif critiques a society where "some feast
(also known as "Ağlasam Mı") is a celebrated Turkish folk song ( türkü ) written and composed by the legendary Alevi ashik and folk poet Aşık Mahzuni Şerif . Core Themes and Meaning
The song is a powerful social and philosophical commentary. It begins with a personal spiritual dilemma but quickly transitions into a sharp critique of social injustice and poverty. Lyrics Snapshot Original Turkish Lyrics Opening Mevla "Gül"
You can find various recordings of this classic on Spotify , Apple Music , and YouTube .