Gungormemisler
Sezen Aksu Lyrics

The lyrics to Sezen Aksu's song "Gungormemisler" reference a sense of disillusionment and fatigue in the face of political upheaval and social unrest. The opening line, "Tedavülden kalktı aşk" roughly translates to "Love has risen from the pharmaceuticals," suggesting a sense of artificiality or emptiness in the concept of love. The following lines, "Üç ihtilal üç kuşak / Fiiliyattan geçtim / Düşünmek bile yasak," allude to the three coups d'état that occurred in Turkey between 1960-80 and the subsequent generations who have grown up in their wake. The singer implies that they have moved beyond mere words or thoughts and into action, yet even thinking about their actions feels forbidden.

The chorus of the song serves as a sort of warning to the listener, urging them not to get involved with these topics and to leave them in the past. The lines "Girmeyelim bu konulara / Bizden geçti şiş, susak" roughly translate to "Let's not get into these topics / We've missed our chance, let's just stay quiet." Despite the singer's call for calm, the final line of the chorus ("Önümüz deprem, yan basak") suggests that danger still looms ahead.

The second half of the song reflects on the struggles and disappointments that the singer and their peers have faced. They express frustration with the portrayal of powerful words (symbolized by "Kelimeler fistan giymiş / Salınıyor ağır aksak") and the distance between their current state and the happiness or prosperity they were promised ("Saadet bizden uzak"). The lines "Atı alan Üsküdar'ı geçmiş / Çarşıya evdeki hesap" reference the proverbial phrase "The horse has already left Üsküdar," which essentially means that it's too late to fix things. The final chorus emphasizes the feeling of being trapped in a mediocre existence ("Yuvarlanıp gidiyoruz / Halimiz eh işte vasat"), but also expresses a desire for future generations to fare better.