Following a 21-year performing ban imposed by the conservative government of Iran (where she continued to live following the 1979 Islamic revolution), Googoosh finally left the country in 2000 to undertake a world tour, re-establishing her status as the most successful Iranian artist of all time.
The phenomenal success of these concerts was testament not only to her lasting quality as an artist, but a tribute to generations of Iranians who, despite over two decades of silence, demonstrated their continuing love and loyalty to an enduring star of a bygone era. In turn she rewarded their devotion with proof that she continues to remain relevant to today's audiences, showing that she is a star not only of the past, but of the present and the future.
Parastesh
Googoosh Lyrics
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نه تو بیداری نه تو خواب نه تو قصه و كتابه
برای دونستن تو همه ی دنیا رو گشتم
از میون آتش و باد خشكی و دریا گذشتم
تو رو پرسیدم و خواستم از همه عالم و آدم
بی جواب اومدم اما حالا از خودت می پرسم
تو رو باید از كدوم شب از كدوم ستاره پرسید
از كدوم فال و كدوم شعر پرسید و دوباره پرسید
تو رو باید با كدوم اسب از كدوم قبیله دزدید
غایب همیشه حاضر تو رو باید از چی پرسید
از ته دره ی ظلمت یا نوك قله ی خورشید
اون ور اینجا و اونجا اون ور امروز و فردا
عمق روح آبی آب ته ذهن سبز صحرا
مثه زندگی مثه عشق تو همیشه جاری هستی
تو صراحت طلوع و نفس هر بیداری هستی
مثه خورشید مثه دریا روشنی و با صراحت
تو صمیمیت آبی واسه شستن جراحت
غایب همیشه حاضر تو رو باید از چی پرسید
از ته دره ی ظلمت یا نوك قله ی خورشید
تو رو از صدای قلبم لحظه به لحظه شنیدم
تو رو حس كردم تو نبضم من تو رو نفس كشیدم
مثه حس كردن گرما یا حضور یك صدایی
به تو اما نرسیدم ندونستم تو كجایی
تو رو باید از كی پرسید تو رو باید با چی سنجید
تو رو حس می كنم اما كاشكی چشمام تو رو می دید
غایب همیشه حاضر تو رو باید از چی پرسید
از ته دره ی ظلمت یا نوك قله ی خورشید
غایب همیشه حاضر تو رو باید از چی پرسید
از ته دره ی ظلمت یا نوك قله ی خورشید
The lyrics of Googoosh's song "Parastesh" are a deep reflection on the nature of existence and the search for answers about oneself. The singer describes the subject of the song as the biggest unanswered question of their life. Despite searching through fire, wind, dryness, and sea, the answer remains elusive. The singer has asked everyone and everything, but to no avail. They are now turning to the subject, and asking when they should have asked, which flower or horse they should have smelled or stolen from which tribe. The subject is always present, and the singer wonders where and how to look for them. They feel the subject's presence through the beat of their heart and in their breath, but they have never seen them.
Throughout the song, the singer describes the enigmatic nature of the subject and how their search is similar to searching for meaning in life and love. The subject is always present but never revealing. The metaphor of sun and the sea is particularly poetic as the singer describes the subject as being as bright and candid as the sun and deep and calming as the sea. The lyrics suggest that the subject has been always present, yet the singer has not been successful in reaching them.
In conclusion, the song is about the search for answers about oneself when one has searched long enough outside themselves. The subject may represent a spiritual guide, a romantic partner, or a representation of one's self that one hasn't yet faced. The song is a reminder to look inwards and ask ourselves the right questions to find the answers we seek.
Line by Line Meaning
تو بزرگ ترین سوالی كه تا امروز بی جوابه
You are the biggest mystery that remains unanswered till this day
نه تو بیداری نه تو خواب نه تو قصه و كتابه
You are not in wake, you are not in sleep, you are not in story nor in book
برای دونستن تو همه ی دنیا رو گشتم
To know more about you, I searched the whole world
از میون آتش و باد خشكی و دریا گذشتم
I passed through the midst of fire, wind, desert and sea
تو رو پرسیدم و خواستم از همه عالم و آدم
I asked about you from all people and world
بی جواب اومدم اما حالا از خودت می پرسم
I got no answer, but now I ask you directly
تو رو باید از كدوم شب از كدوم ستاره پرسید
From which night, from which star should I ask about you
از كدوم فال و كدوم شعر پرسید و دوباره پرسید
Which poem, which fortune should I ask and ask again
تو رو باید از كدوم گل از كدوم گلخونه بویید
Which flower, from which garden should I smell to find you
تو رو باید با كدوم اسب از كدوم قبیله دزدید
Which horse, from which tribe should I steal to reach you
غایب همیشه حاضر تو رو باید از چی پرسید
You, always absent, what should I ask about you
از ته دره ی ظلمت یا نوك قله ی خورشید
From the depths of darkness, or the peak of sunlight
اون ور اینجا و اونجا اون ور امروز و فردا
On this side, on that side, on this day, on that day
عمق روح آبی آب ته ذهن سبز صحرا
The depth of soul blue like water, green like desert in my mind
مثه زندگی مثه عشق تو همیشه جاری هستی
You are always flowing like life, like love
تو صراحت طلوع و نفس هر بیداری هستی
You are the clarity of dawn, the breath of every awakening
مثه خورشید مثه دریا روشنی و با صراحت
Like the sun, like the sea, you are bright and clear
تو صمیمیت آبی واسه شستن جراحت
Your intimacy is blue, for washing away the wounds
تو رو از صدای قلبم لحظه به لحظه شنیدم
I heard about you from the sound of my heart, moment by moment
تو رو حس كردم تو نبضم من تو رو نفس كشیدم
I felt you, in my pulse, I took a breath from you
مثه حس كردن گرما یا حضور یك صدایی
Like feeling warmth, or the presence of a sound
به تو اما نرسیدم ندونستم تو كجایی
But I didn't reach you, I didn't know where you are
تو رو باید از کی پرسید تو رو باید با چی سنجید
From whom should I ask about you, with what should I measure you
تو رو حس می كنم اما كاشكی چشمام تو رو می دید
I feel you, but if only my eyes could see you
غایب همیشه حاضر تو رو باید از چی پرسید
You, always absent, what should I ask about you
از ته دره ی ظلمت یا نوك قله ی خورشید
From the depths of darkness, or the peak of sunlight
غایب همیشه حاضر تو رو باید از چی پرسید
You, always absent, what should I ask about you
از ته دره ی ظلمت یا نوك قله ی خورشید
From the depths of darkness, or the peak of sunlight
Contributed by Alex H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.