Mamudo Kurban Lyrics {English Translation} | Gökhan Namlı
Gökhan Namlı brings a powerful new voice to Mamudo Kurban. The song revives the poetic words of Aşık Mahzuni Şerif, a legendary Turkish folk poet. Yiğit Mahzuni produces the stark, traditional melody that carries this heavy story.
Released: April 3, 2026
Mamudo Kurban
Gökhan Namlı
Lyricist
Aşık Mahzuni Şerif
Composer
Yiğit Mahzuni
Mamudo Kurban Lyrics Translation – Gökhan Namlı
Aşık Mahzuni Şerif writes a heartbreaking address to a man named Mamudo. The poet lists all the reasons for his despair, from poverty to political neglect, questioning the very point of his existence. He asks, ‘why were you even born, Mamudo my dear?’ (Mamudo kurban niye doğdun), highlighting a life of relentless hardship where even the dead find more peace.
Madem dünyaya dargınsınSince you’re resentful toward the world,
Mamudo kurban niye doğdunwhy were you even born, Mamudo my dear?
Kader yolunda yorgunsunYou’re exhausted on the path of fate,
Mamudo kurban niye doğdun?so why were you even born, Mamudo my dear?
Kader yolunda yorgunsunYou’re exhausted on the path of fate,
Mamudo kurban niye doğdun?so why were you even born, Mamudo my dear?
Kurban gelir payın yokturWhen the feast of sacrifice comes, you get no share.
Haftan yoktur ayın yokturYou’ve got no steady weeks or months to call your own.
Ankara\’da dayın yokturYou don’t have an influential ‘uncle’ in Ankara,
Mamudo kurban niye doğdun?so why were you even born, Mamudo my dear?
Ankara\’da dayın yokturYou don’t have an influential ‘uncle’ in Ankara,
Mamudo kurban niye doğdun?so why were you even born, Mamudo my dear?
Kim okuyup yazar seniWho will ever read or write about you?
Rüzgar değse bozar seniEven a gentle breeze would break your spirit.
Ölsen kovar mezar seniEven the grave would cast you out if you died,
Mamudo kurban niye doğdun?so why were you even born, Mamudo my dear?
Ölsen kovar mezar seniEven the grave would cast you out if you died,
Mamudo kurban niye doğdun?so why were you even born, Mamudo my dear?
Adam olmasaydın neydinWhat would you have been if you weren’t such a good man?
Gelir miydin hiç bilseydinWould you have ever come if you’d known what was in store?
Keşke doğmadan ölseydinI wish you’d passed away before you were born,
Mamudo kurban niye doğdun?so why were you even born, Mamudo my dear?
Mamudo kurban niye doğdunWhy were you even born, Mamudo my dear?
Keşke doğmadan ölseydinI wish you’d passed away before you were born.
Mamudo kurban niye doğdun?Why were you even born, Mamudo my dear?
Akar yaşın şakır şakırYour tears are streaming down incessantly,
Tahta döşek takır takıras you lie on a hard, rattling wooden bed.
Ölüler senden rahattırEven the dead are more at peace than you.
Mamudo kurban niye doğdun?Why were you even born, Mamudo my dear?
Ölüler senden rahattırEven the dead are more at peace than you,
Mamudo kurban niye doğdun?so why were you even born, Mamudo my dear?
Mahzuni işin doğrusuMahzuni says the truth of the matter is,
Öter zalimin borusuthat the tyrant’s voice is the only one heard.
Dayımın öksüz yavrusuYou’re my uncle’s orphaned child,
Mamudo kurban niye doğdun?so why were you even born, Mamudo my dear?
Dayımın öksüz yavrusuyou’re my uncle’s orphaned child.
Mamudo kurban niye doğdun?Why were you even born, Mamudo my dear?
Dayımın öksüz yavrusuYou’re my uncle’s orphaned child,
Mamudo kurban niye doğdun?so why were you even born, Mamudo my dear?
Dayımın öksüz yavrusuyou’re my uncle’s orphaned child.
Mamudo kurban niye doğdun?Why were you even born, Mamudo my dear?
Dayımın öksüz yavrusuYou’re my uncle’s orphaned child,
Mamudo kurban niye doğdun?so why were you even born, Mamudo my dear?
‘Mamudo Kurban’ lyrics are about a profound confrontation with a life of suffering. This Turkish folk song is a devastating tribute to the forgotten and oppressed.
