“Ben bir göçmen kizi gördüm Tuna boyunda” adlı Türkünün hikayesi

Abstract

This study aims to explore the lyrics of a Turkish song named “An Immigrant Girl along the Danube River” and, in doing so, we aim to derive some information in relation to the societies settled along the Danube River and the migrations or the wars that might have happened in that region. Considering the lyrics of the song, we also intent to have some information about the orphaned girls/children and their lives in that region. The song is a Rumeli folk song compiled by Havva Karakaş on February 2, 1984 and scored by her husband Hasan Karakaş (see “Ben Bir Göçmen Kızı Gördüm”). Unfortunately, the songwriter is unknown. Yet, it is one of the well-known melancholic Rumeli folk songs and might be categorized as an elegy since the song has a mournful tone. “An Immigrant Girl along the Danube River” tells mainly the story of an orphaned girl, who tries to hold onto life by taking care of two lambs and by playing games with them along the Danube River. The Turkish song, namely “an Immigrant Girl along the Danube River” gives us a chance to have a look at the lives of the women who endure the consequences of living in a very beautiful geography by losing many males in wars since the Danube River makes the places around her more desirable. Hence, we see many wars among many different populations in order to settle around her. Not surprisingly, it usually comes at a heavy price to live in such beautiful places. Therefore, this song tells the story of a young orphaned girl (and her struggles to survive), who lives along the Danube River. Thus, in this study, the lyrics of the song and its interpretations by various singers in Türkiye will be put under the lenses with reference to the socio-cultural issues at the time and their personal histories as well.