Lyr Req: Songs Mentioning 'Afghanistan'/'Afghan'

01 Sep 21 - 08:34 AM (#4118466)
Subject: Lyr Req: Songst Mentioning 'Afghanistan'/'Afghan'
From: GUEST,DON STALLONE

Does anyone know of any songs mentioning either "Afghanistan" or "Afghan"?

don stallone

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01 Sep 21 - 08:49 AM (#4118471)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songst Mentioning 'Afghanistan'/'Afghan'
From: GerryM

Fred Smith is an Australian singer & songwriter who served as a diplomat in Afghanistan. His album, Dust of Uruzgan, is based on his experiences there.

If you specifically want a mention of Afghanistan, there's one in the 2nd stanza of the title track:

I had just turned 28, just bought a new car
When I joined the first Battalion of the Big 1 RAR
We were next up for deployment into south Afghanistan
To combat the insurgence in the Dust of Uruzgan

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01 Sep 21 - 01:22 PM (#4118515)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songst Mentioning 'Afghanistan'/'Afghan'
From: John MacKenzie

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InB0FV-XluU

Happy to drag this one out again.

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01 Sep 21 - 10:05 PM (#4118564)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songst Mentioning 'Afghanistan'/'Afghan'
From: GUEST

Also have a look at the Songs (and verse) of Rudyard Kipling, many of his verse and stories were written around the North-West Frontier (Khyber Pass) between British India and Afghanistan.

Bruce D

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02 Sep 21 - 02:29 PM (#4118617)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs Mentioning 'Afghanistan'/'Afghan'
From: BrooklynJay

To Guest Don Stallone:

I'm surprised at you!

When you were a member of the group Clam Chowder (many years ago), you folks did a parody of Moscow Nights on the album Special Order and I think it was called In Afghanistan - the album I have is an old copy on cassette that doesn't have a track list.


Jay

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02 Sep 21 - 02:48 PM (#4118618)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs Mentioning 'Afghanistan'/'Afghan'
From: GUEST,John Moulden

Go to the Bodleian Ballads website and search 'Afghan' - it'll turn up a number of songs regarding Britain's disastrous Afghan adventure of the 19th century. Ignore reference to the Indian war. The most interesting one is that printed by James Moore of Belfast which mentions MacNaughten. He tried to play off one faction against another - with fatal consequences for himself and an army of 30,000. Afghanistan - "the graveyard of Empires".

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02 Sep 21 - 06:09 PM (#4118633)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs Mentioning 'Afghanistan'/'Afghan'
From: GUEST,SB666

You could try asking on Tradsong.io - but perhaps not. They are so up their own ar$eholes they blocked aka censored a post about the recently murdered Afghan trad. singer Fawad Andarabi.

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02 Sep 21 - 06:37 PM (#4118634)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs Mentioning 'Afghanistan'/'Afghan'
From: Joe_F

Bruce D: A particularly encouraging one goes:

When you're wounded and left on Afghanistan's plains
And the women come out to cut up what remains,
Just roll to your rifle and blow out your brains
And go to your Gawd like a soldier.

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02 Sep 21 - 08:54 PM (#4118656)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs Mentioning 'Afghanistan'/'Afghan'
From: Felipa

An Afghan anthem, but I don't know the lyrics
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ncw4RISPdWU

At Wikipedia it says: ""Watan" ("Homeland") by Abdul Wahab Madadi, in Persian. Recorded in 1980, the song samples a Greek song called "Antonis" composed by Mikis Theodorakis.[4] The first line, Watan ishqe tu iftekharam, translates to "My country, my love for you is my honour". Its tone sounds very similar to a national anthem.

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02 Sep 21 - 09:21 PM (#4118658)
Subject: RE: Sarzamine Man (in Dari)
From: Felipa

A heart-breaking song

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdQP8-gHjxg sung by the composer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IXBP4xLNE0
Sarzamine Man by Darwood Sarkhosh, a song about exile - see lyrics in Dari/Persian and translation to English at https://lyricstranslate.com/en/sarzamine-man-my-land.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvV_Ke39mjY sung by a Swedish woman

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQ2VSUB_nu4Sung by a choir of young people in Germany, accompaniment has middle East tones, German translation is shown on a screen on the video

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02 Sep 21 - 10:49 PM (#4118660)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs Mentioning 'Afghanistan'/'Afghan'
From: GUEST,Don Meixner

Be A Sport Afghanistan Be a Sport, by Tom Paxton.

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02 Sep 21 - 11:31 PM (#4118661)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs Mentioning 'Afghanistan'/'Afghan'
From: Felipa

Don Meixner, Tom Paxtons "Be a Sport ..." is the song John MacKenzie gave a youtube link for, but he should have written the title down as well.

If you do a search for Afghan at https://www.antiwarsongs.org/ you will be rewarded with several lyrics, including Fred Smith's "The Dust of Uruzgan"

among those, I rather like James Vernon Taylor's - FAR AFGHANISTAN https://www.antiwarsongs.org/canzone.php?id=61792 (video on page}

Back home [in]Indiana
We just learn to get along
Civilized and socialized
They teach you right from wrong
How to hold your liquor
and how to hold your tongue
How to hold a woman
or a baby or a gun

But nothing will prepare you
for the far Afghanistan
You can listen to their stories
and pick up what you can
You listen to their stories
maybe read a book or two
Until they send you out there,
man you haven't got a clue

Oh, the Hindu Kush,
the Band-e Amir, the Hazara..

They tell you a tradition
in the hills of Kandahar
They say young boys are taken
to the wilderness out there
Taken to the mountain
alone and in the night
If he makes it home alive
they teach him how to fight

They fought against the Russians,
they fought against the Brits
They fought old Alexander,
talking 'bout him ever since
And after 9/11
here comes your Uncle Sam
Another painful lesson
in the far Afghanistan..

I was ready to be terrified
and ready to be mad
I was ready to be homesick,
the worst I've ever had
I expected to be hated
and insulted to my face
But nothing could prepare me for
the beauty of the place

No matter what they tell you
all soldiers talk to God
It's a private conversation
written in your blood
The enemy's no different,
badass holy wind
That crazy bastard talks to God
and his God talks back to him

;;;;;;;
and Dominik Plangger's "Mein Freund, der Afghane" (My Friend the Afghan); a song in German about the prejudice that an immigrant faces.
https://www.antiwarsongs.org/canzone.php?id=51981

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02 Sep 21 - 11:47 PM (#4118662)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs Mentioning 'Afghanistan'/'Afghan'
From: Felipa

John Baily, ethnomusicologist, talking in 2018 about "The Place of Music in Afghanistan" (with additional audialvisual clips)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdnAxZbMPLc

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03 Sep 21 - 08:01 AM (#4118692)
Subject: Lyr Add: My Land (Sarzanine Man) trans from Dari
From: Felipa

MY LAND (translated from Dari, an Afghan variant of Persian Farsi languge)

I wander around aimlessly homeless, from one home to another, I move and move.
Without you, sorrow accompany me in my wanderings, shoulder to shoulder with sadness
My only love, my existence, you are the symbol of belonging.
Without you, meaningless are my poetry and song.

My land, so tired of persecution,
My land, anonymous and silenced,
My land, in pain suffering without a cure,
My land

My land, who sings of your sorrow?
My land, who opened your doors?
My land, who has shown you loyalty?
My land

My moon and my star, my new path
There is no place I can live, if living is without you
They have plundered your treasures to enrich themselves
Your heart they have broken, everyone, one by one in turn

My land, so tired of persecution,
My land, anonymous and silenced,
My land, in pain suffering without a cure,
My land

My land, like the eyes of a star
My land, like the wilderness
My land, like a broken heart
My land

I wander around aimlessly homeless, from one home to another, I move and move.
Without you, sorrow accompany me in my wanderings, shoulder to shoulder with sadness
My only love, my existence you are the symbol of belonging.
Without you, meaningless are my poetry and song.

My land, so tired of persecution,
My land, anonymous and silenced,
My land, in pain suffering without a cure,
My land

My land, like the eyes of a star
My land, like the wilderness
My land, like a broken heart
My land

Translation source:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TToHdF9lceI
https://lyricstranslate.com/en/sarzamine-man-my-land.html-2

I'm not sure if the words are by Dawood (aka Daud) Sarkhosh or only recorded by him. I have read that Dawood Sarkosh is also a poet and writes most of his songs himself, so I think he is the author of Sarzanine Man. That title is a transliteration from Dari, not a translation, btw.

The video linked above includes translation and transliteration on screen. I gave some other links in a post yesterday. The recording I particularly enjoy listening to is sung by Iranian singer Gissoo Shakeri

I will ask Monique if she can post the Dari script.

Transliteration #2 (of 3 at Lyrics Translate website)

Be aschiana gaschtam, khana ba khana gaschtam
Be tu hamescha baa gam schaana ba schaana gaschtam
Eshqe yagaana e man, az tu neschaana e man
Be tu namack nadarad scheer o taraana e man

Sarzamin e man khasta khasta az jafaa e
Sarzamin e man be sorud o be sadaa e
Sarzamin e man dardmand be dawa e
Sarzamin e man

Sarzamin e man ki gam e tu ra soruda
Sarzamin e man ki rah e tu ra goschuda
Sarzamin e man ki ba tu wafa namuda
Sarzamin e man

Maah o sitaara e man, rah e dubaara e man
Dar hama gaa nameshod be tu gosaara e man
Ganj e tu ra rabudam, az pay e haschrat e khod
Qalbe tu ra schekastand, har ki ba nobat e khod

Sarzamin e man khasta khasta az jafaa e
Sarzamin e man be sorud o be sadaa e
Sarzamin e man dardmand be dawa e
Sarzamin e man

Sarzamine man misle chashme intizari
Sarzamine man mesle dashte pur ghobari
Sarzamine man mesle qalbe daghdar e
Sarzamine e man

Be aschiana gaschtam, khana ba khana gaschtam
Be tu hamescha baa gam schaana ba schaana gaschtam
Eshqe yagaana e man, az tu neschaana e man
Be tu namack nadarad scheer o taraana e man

Sarzamin e man khasta khasta az jafaa e
Sarzamin e man be sorud o be sadaa e
Sarzamin e man dardmand be dawa e
Sarzamin e man

Sarzamine man misle chashme intizari
Sarzamine man mesle dashte pur ghobari
Sarzamine man mesle qalbe daghdar e
Sarzamine e man

https://lyricstranslate.com/en/sarzamine-man-my-land.html-1
by the way, a Turkish translation of this song is also available at lyricstranslate.com

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03 Sep 21 - 08:28 AM (#4118693)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs Mentioning 'Afghanistan'/'Afghan'
From: Monique

Here they are:(I'm sorry, I couldn't get them right-aligned)

سرزمین من

بی‌آشیانه گشته‌م
خانه‌به‌‌خانه گشته‌م
بی تو همیشه با غم
شانه‌به‌شانه گشته‌م

عشق یگانه‌ی من، از تو نشانه‌ی من
بی‌تو نمک ندارد شعر و ترانه‌ی من

سرزمین من
خسته ‌خسته از جفایی
سرزمین من
بی‌سرود و بی‌صدایی
سرزمین من
دردمند بی‌دوایی
سرزمین من

سرزمین من
کی غم تو را سروده؟
سرزمین من
کی ره تو را گشوده؟
سرزمین من
کی به تو وفا نموده؟
سرزمین من

ماه و ستاره‌ی من، راه دوباره‌ی من
در همه جا نمی‌شه بی تو گزاره‌ی من
گنج تو را ربودند ازبر عشرت خود
قلب تو را شکسته هر که به نوبت خود

سرزمین من
خسته خسته از جفایی
سرزمین من
بی‌سرود و بی‌صدایی
سرزمین من
دردمند بی‌دوایی
سرزمین من

سرزمین من
مثل چشمِ انتظاری
سرزمین من
مثل دشت پرغباری
سرزمین من
مثل قلبِ داغداری
سرزمین من

بی‌آشیانه گشته‌م
خانه ‌به‌ خانه گشته‌م
بی تو همیشه با غم
شانه‌به ‌شانه گشته‌م

عشق یگانه‌ی من، از تو نشانه‌ی من
بی‌تو نمک ندارد شعر و ترانه‌ی من

سرزمین من
خسته خسته از جفایی
سرزمین من
بی‌سرود و بی‌صدایی
سرزمین من
دردمند بی‌دوایی
سرزمین من

سرزمین من
مثل چشم انتظاری
سرزمین من
مثل دشت پُرغباری
سرزمین من
مثل قلبِ داغداری
سرزمین من

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03 Sep 21 - 08:24 PM (#4118769)
Subject: RE: Sarzamine Man (in Dari)
From: Felipa

I have seen several commentators to some of the various recordings of Saramine Man on youtube saying the original lyrics were written by Amir Jan Sabori. The recording by Daoud Sarkhosh made the song famous. One person says the song was originally Turkish and Sabori made an Afghan version. Another person thanks Sabori for the lyrics and Turks for the composition (whether the tune or the whole original is not clear)

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03 Sep 21 - 09:48 PM (#4118772)
Subject: origins: Saramine Man
From: Felipa

another youtube comment re origins of Saramine Man:
"Ibrahim Tatlises sang the music with the original title in 1994 under the Turkish title Haydi Söyle (Now tell me).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C4%B0brahim_Tatl%C4%B1ses
Amir Jan Sabori from Herat from Afghanistan writes the Persian poem for the music of the Kurdish Singer Tatalises
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFEg2PVNZ1c " [Turkish lyrics given at video page]

It's a different issue from Afghanistan but there is much sorrow in Ibrahim Tatlises' life as well. He even survived an assasination attempt. I picked out this paragraph re language:

"In the 1980s the Turkish government had banned the use of Kurdish; at a concert in Sweden in December 1986, he had sung folk songs in Kurdish and was thus prosecuted for separatist propaganda, but found not guilty in 1987.[21] The charge was dismissed after he showed regret.[22] In 1988, he was asked by businessman Mehmet Yilmaz at a cultural festival in Usak to sing a Kurdish folk song, but refused, saying 'I am a Kurd, but the laws ban me for singing in Kurdish.'"[21][23] For this, he was indicted on September 19, 1988."
= accessed 4 Sept 2021

wikipedia footnotes 21-23
Lois Whitman; Thomas Froncek (1989). Paying the Price: Freedom of Expression in Turkey. Human Rights Watch. pp. 102–. ISBN 978-0-929692-15-9.
Lois Whitman; Jeri Laber (1987). State of Flux: Human Rights in Turkey: December 1987 Update. Human Rights Watch. pp. 93–. ISBN 978-0-938579-68-7.
Kurdish Times. 3–4. Cultural Survival, Incorporated. 1989. p. 11.

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04 Sep 21 - 03:06 AM (#4118782)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs Mentioning 'Afghanistan'/'Afghan'
From: Thompson

There will, no doubt, be songs about the DNA, fingerprint and family-networks database the Americans left behind, which the Taliban are now using in Bamian etc to hunt down the people who helped them, actually using the "DNA machines" the Americans left.

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04 Sep 21 - 03:31 AM (#4118784)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs Mentioning 'Afghanistan'/'Afghan'
From: Daniel Kelly

I wrote this a few weeks ago.

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04 Sep 21 - 03:48 AM (#4118785)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs Mentioning 'Afghanistan'/'Afghan'
From: Thompson

Gorgeous!

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04 Sep 21 - 07:44 AM (#4118802)
Subject: Lyr Req: "Once Again" by Daniel Kelly
From: Felipa

Thank you, Daniel Kelly. Perhaps you would post lyrics here? (please do)

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04 Sep 21 - 08:34 AM (#4118806)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs Mentioning 'Afghanistan'/'Afghan'
From: Daniel Kelly

Hi Felipa, here are the lyrics:

There were women, on the streets of Kabul
With their hair uncovered, dancing in the breeze,
They were learning, driving cars,
And reaching for the stars,
In Afghanistan, in 1970

Once again, once again,
We will be there once again,
No matter how deep the darkness seems
Once again, once again,
I’ll meet with you then,
When the women and the country both are free.

There were women, singing there in Kabul,
Watch Hangama, there on the TV,
Sharing the stage with men,
We’ll see that once again,
In Afghanistan, inevitably.

When the women, flew out of Kabul,
They weren’t fleeing, violence and hate,
They were the pilots and the crew,
Of Kam Air, in February 22,
In Afghanistan, say it’s not too late

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04 Sep 21 - 12:18 PM (#4118823)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs Mentioning 'Afghanistan'/'Afghan'
From: GUEST,DonMeixner

Thanks Filipa, I wasn't the Don looking but thanks anyway.

D

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04 Sep 21 - 12:28 PM (#4118824)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs Mentioning 'Afghanistan'/'Afghan'
From: Felipa

thanks so much, Daniel. I saw in a news item that some very brave women have been out protesting in Kabul for their rights.

Thanks to John Moulden for the lead to lyrics about wars of yesteryear, I've looked up some broadsheets. I haven't typed out any lyrics, not yet anyway.
A New Song on the Afghanistan War

A New Song on the Afghan War

The Late India War (broadsheet published in Belfast)

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19 Apr 22 - 09:59 AM (#4139550)
Subject: RE: Sarzamine Man (My Land)
From: Felipa

I am listening now to other recording of Sarzamine Man
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnptjcJtLxk singer Madina
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKYSTN6JxmI singer Arvana Sayeed

I'd love to sing it myself, but I suppose I am going to have to get or make a translation to English or to Irish Gaelic (or even French) as I don't have the Dari or Farsi pronunciationa right, let alone the Eastern vocal techniques which some of the singers have.

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