He was born in Binghamton, New York, and raised in Raleigh, North Carolina. He dropped out of Kent State University in 1977, and ten years later graduated from the Art Institute of Chicago. In his teens and twenties, he dabbled in visual and performance art. His lack of success was described in several of his essays. Sedaris has obsessive-compulsive disorder, which he chronicles in his short story "A Plague of Tics."
His first book, Barrel Fever (1994) was a collection of essays and short fiction. Several compilations of his essays have been published in books such as Naked (1996), and Me Talk Pretty One Day (2000). Several of his books, including Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim (2004) have hit #1 on the New York Times Best Seller list for Nonfiction. He is a frequent contributor to the PRI/Chicago Public Radio show This American Life, and Esquire and The New Yorker magazines. In 2001, he was named "Humorist of the Year" by Time magazine and he received the Thurber Prize for American Humor. Although Wayne Wang optioned his book Me Talk Pretty One Day for a movie, Sedaris declined to proceed with the project out of concern for his family and how they might be portrayed in a movie.
He is also a playwright, having authored along with his sister, actor Amy Sedaris, several plays under the name "The Talent Family." These include: Stump the Host (1993), Stitches (1994), One Woman Shoe (1995), The Little Frieda Mysteries (1997), and The Book of Liz. He also co-authored Incident at Kobblers Knob which was presented and produced by David Rockwell at the Lincoln Center Festival.
I'll Eat What He's Wearing Part 2
David Sedaris Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dinleyun dertlerumi
Yarde iman kalmadi hoy nayino
Bilmeyi hallarumi
Nayinoma Kurbanis oy
Nayinoma nayino nayinoma kurbani
Çatma kaşlarunida al vereyim bu cani
Derdumi yazacağumda
Komar yapraklarina
Okurken aksun yaşlarda nayino
Duşsun yanaklaruna
Nayinoma kurbanis oy
Nayinoma nayino nayinoma kurbani
Çatma kaşlaruni da al vereyim bu cani
Sevdaluk ince marazda
Yakayi canumuzi
Vazgeçersak eyersada nayino
Döksünler kanumuzi
Nayinoma kurbanis oy
Nayinoma nayino nayinoma kurbani
Çatma kaşlaruni da al vereyim bu can
"Gece gökte yildizlarda, Dinleyun dertlerumi" translates to "At night, in the stars, listen to my troubles." These lines convey the singer's desire to seek solace in the stars and share their grief. "Yarde iman kalmadi hoy nayino, Bilmeyi hallarumi" translates to "I am left with no faith, my friend, and I do not know what to do." These lines suggest that the singer has lost faith in the face of their troubles and is struggling to find a way forward.
In the chorus, "Nayinoma nayino nayinoma kurbani" translates to "My dear, my friend, my dear sacrifice." The singer is repeatedly calling out to their friend or lover, perhaps seeking comfort or reassurance. "Çatma kaşlarunida al vereyim bu cani" roughly translates to "Do not furrow your brows, take my life instead," which could suggest a willingness to sacrifice their own life for the sake of their loved one.
In the third verse, "Sevdaluk ince marazda, Yakayi canumuzi" translates to "In the delicate illness of love, they are taking our lives." These lines suggest that love can be dangerous and even deadly, and that the singer and their loved one are suffering because of it. "Vazgeçersak eyersada nayino, Döksünler kanumuzi" translates to "If we give up, they will still spill our blood." Here, the singer seems resigned to their fate and perhaps suggesting that even if they give up on love, they will still suffer.
Overall, the lyrics convey a sense of despair and helplessness, with the singer turning to the stars and their loved one for comfort and hoping for a way out of their troubles.
Line by Line Meaning
Gece gökte yildizlarda
The night sky is full of stars
Dinleyun dertlerumi
I listen to my troubles
Yarde iman kalmadi hoy nayino
My faith is gone, my friend
Bilmeyi hallarumi
I don't know what to do
Nayinoma Kurbanis oy
Oh, sacrifice of mine
Nayinoma nayino nayinoma kurbani
Oh, sacrifice of mine
Çatma kaşlarunida al vereyim bu cani
Don't raise your eyebrows, let me give my soul
Derdumi yazacağumda
When I write my problems down
Komar yapraklarina
I write them on the leaves
Okurken aksun yaşlarda nayino
So when people read them, they may shed tears
Duşsun yanaklaruna
And drops fall on their cheeks
Sevdaluk ince marazda
Love comes with a subtle illness
Yakayi canumuzi
It burns our souls
Vazgeçersak eyersada nayino
If we give up, they will still spill our blood
Döksünler kanumuzi
Let them spill our blood
Nayinoma kurbanis oy
Oh, sacrifice of mine
Çatma kaşlaruni da al vereyim bu cani
Don't raise your eyebrows, let me give my soul
Contributed by Sadie O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.