Hüseyin Ay performs ‘Gafil Gezme Şaşkın,’ a timeless folk song with anonymous roots. The lyrics, penned by Anonim, mix profound reflections on mortality with a poetic tone. The melody, also composed by Anonim, carries a haunting, traditional vibe.
Released: February 4, 2026
Gafil Gezme Şaşkın
Hüseyin Ay
Gafil Gezme Şaşkın Lyrics Translation – Hüseyin Ay
The wordsmith behind ‘Gafil Gezme Şaşkın’ uses stark imagery to remind listeners of life’s impermanence. One line stands out: ‘Even with a voice as sweet as a nightingale’s, what good would it be?’ The repetition of ‘Leyli leyli’ adds a rhythmic, almost hypnotic layer to the song.
Gafil Gezme Şaşkın Bir Gün Ölürsün Hey Can ÖlürsünDon’t wander heedlessly, you fool, one day you’ll die, oh my soul, you’ll die.
Dünya Kadar MalınEven if you have a world’s worth of riches,
Leyli Leyli Leyli LeyliLeyli leyli leyli leyli.
Leyli Leyli Leyli LeyliLeyli leyli leyli leyli.
Olsa Ne FaydaWhat’s the use?
Söyleyen Dillerin Söylemez Olur Söylemez OlurThe tongues that now speak will one day fall silent, they’ll fall silent.
Bülbül Gibi DilinEven if your tongue is like a nightingale’s,
Olsa Ne Fayda Olsa Ne Faydawhat’s the use? what’s the use?
Söyleyen Dillerin Söylemez Olur Söylemez OlurThe very tongues that speak today won’t utter a sound, they won’t utter a sound.
Bülbül Gibi DilinEven with a voice as sweet as a nightingale’s,
Olsa Ne Fayda Olsa Ne Faydawhat good would it be? what good would it be?
Sen Söylersin Söz İçinde Sözün Var Hey Can Sözün VarYou speak so cleverly, with words within words, oh my soul, you have your say.
Çalarsın ÇırparsınYou scheme and you seize,
Leyli Leyli Leyli LeyliLeyli leyli leyli leyli.
Leyli Leyli Leyli LeyliLeyli leyli leyli leyli.
Oğlun Kızın VarYou have sons and daughters.
Şu Dünyada Üç Beş Arşın Bezin Var Arşın Bezin VarIn this world, all you’ll have is a few ‘arşın’ of cloth, just a few ‘arşın’ of cloth.
Tüm Bedesten SeninEven if the entire ‘bedesten’ market were yours,
Olsa Ne Fayda Olsa Ne Faydawhat’s the use? what’s the use?
Şu Dünyada Üç Beş Arşın Bezin Var Hey Can Bezin VarIn this world, you’ve got just a few yards of cloth, oh my soul, just that cloth.
Tüm Bedesten SeninEven if you owned every covered ‘bedesten’ market,
Olsa Ne Fayda Olsa Ne Faydawhat good would it do? what good would it do?
Kul Himmet Üstadım Gelse OtursaIf my master, Kul Himmet, were to come and sit,
Hey Can Otursaoh my soul, if he sat.
Hakkın KelamınıAnd the word of God,
Leyli Leyli Leyli LeyliLeyli leyli leyli leyli.
Leyli Leyli Leyli LeyliLeyli leyli leyli leyli.
Bile Getirsehe even brought with him,
Dünya Benim Deyi Zapta Geçirse Hey Can GeçirseEven if you declared, ‘The world is mine!’ and seized it all, oh my soul, seized it all.
Karun Kadar MalınAnd had as much wealth as ‘Karun’ (the rich king Croesus),
Olsa Ne Fayda Olsa Ne Faydawhat’s the use? what’s the use?
Dünya Benim Deyi Zapta Geçirse Hey Can GeçirseEven if you claim the world and take it by force, oh my soul, take it by force.
Karun Kadar MalınWith all the riches of ‘Karun’ (Croesus),
Olsa Ne Fayda Olsa Ne Faydawhat good would it be? what good would it be?
Dünya Benim Deyi Zapta Geçirse Zapta GeçirseEven if you say ‘the world is mine’ and you seize it, just seize it.
Karun Kadar MalınWith as much wealth as ‘Karun’,
Olsa Ne Fayda Olsa Ne Faydawhat would be the point? what would be the point?
Olsa Ne Fayda Olsa Ne FaydaIt would all be for nothing, all for nothing.
Gafil Gezme Şaşkın Music Video
The English lyrics of ‘Gafil Gezme Şaşkın’ reflect on the futility of material wealth, while Hüseyin Ay’s voice brings depth to this Turkish folk classic.