A Platform for Ethnically and Culturally Inspired Music
About "Turna / Τουρνα / Crane"
TURNA / ΤΟΫΡΝΑ - Trad.
recorded live in Athens for A Thousand Cranes, 2016
Musical Arrangement: Nikolaos Baimpas
Guest Singer: Matoula Zamani


Hey ağalar böyle m'olur
Hali yardan ayrılanın
İner ummana dökülür
Seli yardan ayrılanın

Gökten turnalar çekilir
İner yerlere dökülür
Onbeş yaşında bükülür
Beli yardan ayrılanın

Με διαβατάρικα πουλιά
έρωτες να μην πιάνεις,
τούρνα τούρνα τούρνα έρωτες να μην πιάνεις.
γιατί ‘ναι διαβατάρικα
και γρήγορα τα χάνεις,
τούρνα τούρνα τούρνα και γρήγορα τα χάνεις.

Karacaoğlan geçmez dilek
Ataş aldı yandı yürek
Sağ yanında hazır gerek
Salı yardan ayrılanın


CRANE
Tell me aghas*, is this how
the parted from beloved are;
Their stream flown into the sea
ah heartbroken crane

Cranes forsake the sky
they fall to the ground.
at the age of fifteen
arches the parted’s back

Don’t fall in love with
Migrating birds
Tourna, don’t fall in love
Because they migrate
And soon you will lose them.
Tourna, soon you will lose them.

Karacaoglan**, one never waives their wish
heart’s caught fire, ash
on hand must the parted
have their coffin ready

* A title of honour usually implies respect for age and status, used in Turkey. The poet addresses a group of men here.
** Karacoğlan is the writer’s pseudonym. It was a tradition to include one’s pseudonym on the last verse of a poem. Karacaoglan was a 17th century folk poet.