In 1994 he was offered admission to study Music at University of Tehran. Since the music program at the university would not start for another year, he took two theater classes at the University of The Arts. Namjoo always recalls the two theater classes and that one year period of time to be the time which shaped many parts of his work and his life. At Tehran University he was a student of Alireza Mashayekhi and Azin Movahed and other masters. In 1997, Namjoo quit the music program in University of Tehran, later explaining that he had some conflicts with certain faculty in the music department because they wanted to put him through more years of traditional Iranian music practice which were the repetition of what he had already learned in the earlier years of his life.
Tango
Mohsen Namjoo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
که سه واژهاش را هنوز بیشتر نسروده ام
قبل از این نسروده ام
میخواهد بگوید که هوا برای زندگی کافی نیست
و نور نیز لازم
و این میرساند
که اگر رسانا باشد شعر
آنکه میسراید میتواند مرده باشد
و این میرساند
که آنکه میرساند
عاشق است
که کور میتواند باشد مرده
پس هوا را از او بگیر
خندهات را نه
هوا را از او بگیر
گریهات را نه
که موی گندیدهٔ به چشم نامدت هم
مزاد بر مصرف من است
من همان هشتاد برگه برجسته یک خطم
و تو زیبا نفس ناسلامت معنی هم اکنون
اصلا تو خورشیدی
از این شعر تکراری تر ممکن است؟
اصلا تو شراره ای
نه!
همان خورشیدی
که پشت ابر نماندهای و نمیمانی و نخواهی ماند و نامای خواه
سیها سال میگذرد که بتوانم تشدید بر سلامتم بگذارم
اگر تو بخواهی
و تو! اآی تو! ناسلمت کرده مرا و سلامت میکنم
هوا را از من بگیر
خندهات را نه
هوا را فضا از من بگیر
غذا را و فضا و غذا را از من بگیر
که حظّها را از من بگیر
خندهات را نه
نور را از من بگیر
شعله ات را نه
وفا را از من بگیر
گریه ات را نه
حالا لختم و پختم از دستت دیگر
مردهام فکر کنم
اما... خندهات را نه
بعید است زنده باشم
مرده ام
سعید است دستی که پاره میکند
سعید است... امامیست
سعید امامیست
من قتلهای اخیر زنجیرهٔ توام
من همجیرهٔ تو
این جیر را شیره را از من بگیر
باغ پر خندهات را نه
کشته اند مرا لبانت و دندانانت
و همهٔ آن رسوها بر جنت
که خندهات را نه
کشتهام و جسدم در جای پنهان است
تویی که میشناسمتای آینه بردار
ای سردار عین
ای نظر میکنی بر آینه
چون نظر کردی بر آینه جسدم بر تو پنهان است
لابه روبیده است بر کفنم
کشتهام و زیر لالهٔ گوشت انداختم
لالهٔ گوشت
همان هالهٔ لالهٔ گوشت که ابتدا آغاز تمام جهان بود
جهان را از من بگیر
امان را خزان را باد رزان را
ای باد وزند از اوج
پرتابم کن که بیفتد این شاعر
تمام این شعرها را سروده
که بیفتد مرد مردهٔ زیر لاله
سیها سال چهلها سال میگذرد
که آن زیر پنهان است این شاعر
هوا را از او بگیر
هوای وزنده
بعد وزنده را از من که خودمم هم یک شعر تکراری میسرایم
من که ریشه ام
هشتاد برگه برجسته یک خط، دختر و دها خط هم که بسرایم
آزاد نمیشود عشقم
عشق یعنی مغز بیست هزار تخمهٔ آفتاب گردان را میانه قوطی کبریت ریختن
عشق یعنی از یک دگر آویختن
وقتی تمام جهان در راه است و به دست و رهاست
رها را از من بگیر
خنده ات را نه
خطا را از من بگیر
گریه ات را نه
وفا را صفا را نگاه را نه
زود
نگاه را... نگاه را... نه
زود
آرا نه
زود
آرا زود
آرا زود
تمام این شعر قبل از آنکه بسرایمش
میخواست همین را بگوید
The song "Tango" by Mohsen Namjoo is a highly symbolic and abstract piece of poetry that reflects on the nature of life, death, love, and human existence. The lyrics consist of a series of fragmented thoughts and images that together create a rich and complex tapestry of meaning. The central theme of the song is the idea that life is incomplete without love and light, and that those who are able to communicate this message are true artists, even if they are blind or dead.
Namjoo uses a range of metaphors and allegories to explore these themes. For example, he describes himself as a chain of recent murders, implying perhaps a sense of guilt or responsibility for the violence around him. He also references the idea of the sun as a symbol of illumination and hope, suggesting that even in the darkness of death and despair, there is still the possibility of finding meaning and purpose. Meanwhile, the repeated calls to "take away the air" and "take away the food" suggest a desire for release from the burdens of existence, while the references to laughter and tears highlight the importance of emotion and connection in life.
Ultimately, the message of "Tango" is a deeply humanistic one, celebrating the resilience and creativity of the human spirit even in the face of adversity and tragedy. Through its poetic language and evocative imagery, the song invites listeners to reflect on the meaning of life and the role of art in helping us to make sense of our experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
تمام این شعر
This entire poem
که سه واژهاش را هنوز بیشتر نسروده ام
That I haven't yet sung its three words more
قبل از این نسروده ام
I haven't sung it before this
میخواهد بگوید که هوا برای زندگی کافی نیست
It wants to say that air is not enough for life
و نور نیز لازم
And light is necessary too
و این میرساند
And this conveys
که اگر رسانا باشد شعر
If the poem is meaningful
آنکه میسراید میتواند مرده باشد
The one who sings it can be dead
و میتواند کور
And can be blind
و این میرساند
And this conveys
که آنکه میرساند
That the one who delivers
عاشق است
Is in love
که کور میتواند باشد مرده
That a blind person can be dead
پس هوا را از او بگیر
So take the air from him
خندهات را نه
But not your laughter
هوا را از او بگیر
Take the air from him
گریهات را نه
But not your tears
که موی گندیدهٔ به چشم نامدت هم
Because even your dirty hair wouldn't come to your eyes
مزاد بر مصرف من است
It's additional to my consumption
من همان هشتاد برگه برجسته یک خطم
I'm that highlighted line of eighty pages
و تو زیبا نفس ناسلامت معنی هم اکنون
And you beautifully breathe the unhealthy meaning right now
اصلا تو خورشیدی
You're not the sun at all
از این شعر تکراری تر ممکن است؟
Is it possible to have a more repetitive poem than this?
اصلا تو شراره ای
You're not a spark at all
نه!
No!
همان خورشیدی
You're the same sun
که پشت ابر نماندهای و نمیمانی و نخواهی ماند و نامای خواه
That you haven't remained behind clouds and you won't and you won't be seen
سیها سال میگذرد که بتوانم تشدید بر سلامتم بگذارم
Many years have passed for me to intensify my well-being
اگر تو بخواهی
If you want
و تو! اآی تو! ناسلمت کرده مرا و سلامت میکنم
And you! Oh, you! Making me silent and making me healthy
هوا را از من بگیر
Take the air from me
خندهات را نه
But not my laughter
هوا را فضا از من بگیر
Take the air and space from me
غذا را و فضا و غذا را از من بگیر
Take the food and space and food from me
که حظّها را از من بگیر
Take the moments from me
خندهات را نه
But not my laughter
نور را از من بگیر
Take the light from me
شعله ات را نه
But not your flame
وفا را از من بگیر
Take the faithfulness from me
گریه ات را نه
But not your tears
حالا لختم و پختم از دستت دیگر
Now I'm naked and cooked from your hand no more
مردهام فکر کنم
I think I'm dead
اما... خندهات را نه
But... not your laughter
بعید است زنده باشم
It's unlikely that I'm alive
مرده ام
I'm dead
سعید است دستی که پاره میکند
Saeed is the hand that tears apart
سعید است... امامیست
Saeed is... an imam
سعید امامیست
Saeed is an imam
من قتلهای اخیر زنجیرهٔ توام
I am the recent killings, I am your chain
من همجیرهٔ تو
I am your chain
این جیر را شیره را از من بگیر
Take this chain, this syrup from me
باغ پر خندهات را نه
But not your laughter-filled garden
کشته اند مرا لبانت و دندانانت
Your lips and teeth have killed me
و همهٔ آن رسوها بر جنت
And all those filthiness on paradise
که خندهات را نه
Because not your laughter
کشتهام و جسدم در جای پنهان است
My killer and my corpse are hidden
تویی که میشناسمتای آینه بردار
You are the one I recognize, the mirror holder
ای سردار عین
Oh, exact commander
ای نظر میکنی بر آینه
Oh, you're looking at the mirror
چون نظر کردی بر آینه جسدم بر تو پنهان است
As you look at the mirror, my body is hidden on you
لابه روبیده است بر کفنم
You are trampling on my shroud
کشتهام و زیر لالهٔ گوشت انداختم
I have laid my killing and flesh lily to rest
لالهٔ گوشت
The flesh lily
همان هالهٔ لالهٔ گوشت که ابتدا آغاز تمام جهان بود
The same halo of the flesh lily that was the beginning of the whole world
جهان را از من بگیر
Take the world from me
امان را خزان را باد رزان را
Take the peace, autumn, wind, and rose from me
ای باد وزند از اوج
Oh, wind blowing from the peak
پرتابم کن که بیفتد این شاعر
Throw me so this poet falls
تمام این شعرها را سروده
He has sung all these poems
که بیفتد مرد مردهٔ زیر لاله
So that the dead man falls beneath the lily
سیها سال چهلها سال میگذرد
Many years, many decades have passed
که آن زیر پنهان است این شاعر
That the one beneath is hidden, this poet
هوا را از او بگیر
Take the air from him
هوای وزنده
The air of the living
بعد وزنده را از من که خودمم هم یک شعر تکراری میسرایم
Take the afterlife from me, as I myself also sing a repetitive poem
من که ریشه ام
I am the root
هشتاد برگه برجسته یک خط، دختر و دها خط هم که بسرایم
Eighty highlighted pages, one line, a daughter, and ten more lines that I sing
آزاد نمیشود عشقم
My love cannot be set free
عشق یعنی مغز بیست هزار تخمهٔ آفتاب گردان را میانه قوطی کبریت ریختن
Love means pouring the core of twenty thousand sesame seeds into the middle of a matchbox
عشق یعنی از یک دگر آویختن
Love means being hanged from one another
وقتی تمام جهان در راه است و به دست و رهاست
When the whole world is on the move and it's in hand and released
رها را از من بگیر
Take the release from me
خنده ات را نه
But not your laughter
خطا را از من بگیر
Take the mistake from me
گریه ات را نه
But not your tears
وفا را صفا را نگاه را نه
And not loyalty, purity, or the gaze
زود
Quickly
نگاه را... نگاه را... نه
The gaze... the gaze... no
زود
Quickly
آرا نه
Not the opinions
زود
Quickly
آرا زود
Opinions quickly
آرا زود
Opinions quickly
تمام این شعر قبل از آنکه بسرایمش
All of this poem before I sing it
میخواست همین را بگوید
Wanted to say just this
Contributed by Sarah T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ahmed
on Chashmi-O-Sad-Nam
The lyrics of "Chashmi-O-Sad-Nam" by Mohsen Namjoo are about celebrating life and being grateful for the opportunities and blessings that come one's way. The opening verses are full of joyful exclamations and expressions of thanks to a loving and caring universe. The two middle verses, however, take a more solemn turn, as they speak of separation and grief. The final verses bring the mood back to a more uplifting tone, with a return to expressions of gratitude for the pleasures of life.
Most notably, this song is about a personal relationship to God (chashmi o sad nam: a hundred names), that could not be understood by those set in their old traditional ways (pirane jahel: old bigots). It speaks of the pain of being separated from God, and the love he feels for him.
The song features a mix of traditional Persian music elements, such as the use of the tar and the santur, with more contemporary touches, such as electronic beats and distortion effects. This fusion of styles is typical of Namjoo's work and has made him one of the most prominent figures in the contemporary Iranian music scene.
One of the most interesting things about "Chashmi-O-Sad-Nam" is the use of a poem by the famous Persian poet Hafez in the lyrics. The lines "Jana che gooyam sharhe feraqat/cAshmi va sad nam jani va sad ah" are taken from one of Hafez's ghazals and mean "Oh dear, how can I describe the pain of separation? A hundred tears and a hundred sighs." This intertextuality with classical poetry is a common feature of Namjoo's music.
Another interesting fact about the song is that it was recorded live in front of an audience. This is typical of Namjoo's approach to music-making, as he often performs in small venues and tries to create an intimate connection with his listeners.
"Chashmi-O-Sad-Nam" has been covered by several other artists, both in Iran and abroad. Some of these covers have given the song a more rock-oriented sound, while others have focused on the traditional Persian elements.
The song's title, "Chashmi-O-Sad-Nam," translates roughly to "A hundred tears and a hundred names." This title reinforces the theme of separation and the idea that grief can be expressed in many different ways.
The lyrics of the song have been interpreted in various ways, with some seeing it as an expression of hope in the face of adversity, and others as a celebration of life's joys and pleasures.
The music video for "Chashmi-O-Sad-Nam" features Namjoo performing the song in a dark, moody setting with images of clocks and skulls flashing on the screen. This imagery suggests the fleeting nature of time and the inevitability of death.
Despite its popularity in Iran and among Persian speakers around the world, "Chashmi-O-Sad-Nam" has not received much mainstream attention in the West. However, some Western musicians, such as the American guitarist Marc Ribot, have praised Namjoo's work and collaborated with him on projects.
Chords: The chords for this song are not publicly available. However, guitarists can use Dm, G, C, and Am chords to play the main melody of the song.
Ali
on Tarsam Ke
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