Sakiz Hanim ve Mahur Bey
Sezen Aksu Lyrics

The song Sakız Hanim ve Mahur Bey by Sezen Aksu tells the story of an old neighbourhood where the singer's childhood passed. There was a house made of wood and lime, where Sakiz Hanım and Mahur Bey lived. They were a couple who played music together. Sakiz Hanım had white hair and fair skin, and her demeanor was so serene that everyone called her Sakiz Hanım, meaning Mrs. Chewing Gum. She played the kemençe, a traditional string instrument, with her cottony hands, while Mahur Bey accompanied her on the kanun, a plucked zither-like instrument. In the summer evenings, they would open the curtains and enjoy the music while the melodies flowed from their tired hands.

However, their peaceful life came to an end after two years, and their beautiful melodies stopped. First, the kanun became silent, and a few months later, the kemençe also stopped playing. The curtains of the wood house, painted in red with the special aşı technique, remained closed forever after that. When the rumours began circling that the house would be sold, the singer of the song went to see them. She felt hesitant to disturb the atmosphere of the house but looked around anyway. It was then she saw a kanun leaning sadly on an old chair with a kemençe resting on its chest; they were sitting quietly, asking not to be disturbed. The curtains were drawn, and the old couple's music had stopped forever.

The song tells the story of an older couple who played music together and how their music stopped forever after some time. It is a melancholic representation of the passage of time, ageing, and loss. The songwriter uses simple and poetic language that evokes the imagery of the old neighbourhood, making it easy to connect with the emotions of the song. The song reminds us of the ephemeral nature of life, and how precious the moments we share with someone are.