Çalma Çoban

Hüseyin Turan's song 'Çalma Çoban' is a poignant exploration of heartache and longing, set against the pastoral backdrop of a shepherd's life. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a shepherd playing his flute, a sound that resonates deeply with the narrator's sorrow. The shepherd's flute, or 'kaval,' becomes a symbol of the narrator's own pain, as it seems to echo the lamentations of his heart.

The repeated plea to the shepherd, 'Çalma çoban kavalını bugünler' (Don't play your flute these days), underscores the narrator's desire to escape the reminders of his lost love. The imagery of 'gül yüzlü yarimi eller alıyor' (my rose-faced beloved is taken by others) conveys a deep sense of loss and helplessness. The shepherd's music, which might otherwise be a source of comfort, only serves to deepen the narrator's wounds, as it brings to mind the beloved who has been taken away.

The song also touches on themes of unending sorrow and the relentless passage of time. The line 'Hastadır garip gönlüm durmadan inler' (My poor heart is sick, it groans incessantly) speaks to the enduring nature of the narrator's grief. The shepherd's flute, which 'sinemi deldi' (pierced my chest), becomes a metaphor for the pain that is ever-present and inescapable. Through these evocative lyrics, Hüseyin Turan captures the universal experience of heartache, making 'Çalma Çoban' a deeply relatable and emotionally resonant piece.