Bircên Diyarbekir by Ciwan Haco
Bircên Diyarbekir is a classic Kurdish song about Amed (Diyarbakir), the capital of the Kurds. It is an emotional and patriotic song with references to objects and people that define Kurdish culture and history. The title of the song is a reference to the city’s ancient and iconic City Walls. The flute, tembûr, dahol and zurna are traditional Kurdish instruments that are deeply rooted in Kurdish culture and society. The tembûr is a musical instrument used in Ahl-e Haqq rituals, and practitioners venerate the tembûr as a sacred object. Ahl-e Haqq is a unique Kurdish religion. Adherents of this religion are also known as Yarsan and Kaka’i Kurds. ‘Ahl-e Haqq’ means ‘People of the Truth’. The religion is very musical and poetic in nature.
Sheikh Seîd was a Kurdish revolutionary who resisted Turkish fascism in the early 1920’s. He was executed in Diyarbakir; his memory lives on in the conscience of Kurds around the world. The last couplet is about the Peshmerga. Peshmerga are Kurdish freedom fighters. The literal translation of ‘Peshmerga’ is ‘Those who face death’, for Peshmerga who took to the mountains were not expected to return. A famous Kurdish phrase is ‘Şehîd Namirin’ which means ‘Martyrs Never Die’ – you may be killed in battle, but your memory will live on forever.
Lyrics of and Translation for "Bircên Diyarbekir"
(Kurmançi) Kurdish Lyrics for “Bircên Diyarbekir”
Min navê xwe kola li bircên Diyarbekir
Gava ku stêrk li esmana stûxwar
Gava ku ney, bilûr û tembûr
Dahol û zirne sar bûn, sar bûn
Min navê xwe kola li bircên Diyarbekir
Gava ku stêrk li esmana stûxwar
Bi giyanek pola, min navê xwe kola
Min navê xwe kola li bircen Diyarbekir
Ez welatparêz im, ez mirovperwer im
Ez bavê tûjo me lo, şoreşger im şoreşger
Min navê xwe kola li bircên Diyarbekir
Gava ku stêrk li esmana stûxwar
Min navê xwe kola li bircên Diyarbekir
Ez Şêx Seîde kal, bijîşk Fuad im
Pêşmergekî bê nav û bê nîşan im
Ez duh şehîd bûm, îro nû hatim
Min navê xwe kola li bircên Diyarbekir
Gava ku stêrk li esmana stûxwar
Lyrics by Rojen Barnas
English Translation of “Bircên Diyarbekir” (Towers of Diyarbakir)
I scraped my name into the towers of Diyarbakir
Once a star in the sorrowful sky
Once the ney, flute, and tembûr
The dahol and zurna were cold, were cold
I scraped my name into the towers of Diyarbakir
Once a star in the sorrowful sky
With a spirit of steel, I scraped my name
I scraped my name into the towers of Diyarbakir
I’m a patriot, I’m a humanist
I am the father of pain, I am a revolutionary a revolutionary
I scraped my name into the towers of Diyarbakir
Once a star in the sorrowful sky
I scraped my name into the towers of Diyarbakir
I am Sheikh Seîd the old, Doctor Fuad
I am a Peshmerga without name and sign
I was martyred yesterday, reborn today
I scraped my name into the towers of Diyarbakir
Once a star in the sorrowful sky
Translation by Kazjin
META DATA
| Publication Date | 2019-09-25 |
| Last Update | 2022-04-07 |
| Song Title | Bircên Diyarbekir |
| Lead Musician | Ciwan Haco |
| Other Musicians | Udo Herbst |
| Album | Bircên Diyarbekir |
| Genre | Folk |
| Language | Kurdish |
| Year | 1983 |