Lalo, Lalo, Farida Mahwash; Afghan Lullaby

Heard on BBC Radio 3 this morning:

Lalo, Lalo by Farida Mahwash

From Ghazals afghans (Poèmes d'amour séculiers et sacrés)

Another version:

Ustad Mahwash - Lalo lalo (Afghan lullaby )

YouTube translation:

Ha Lalo, Ay Kodak-e Afghan Lalo (Ha lullaby, you the Afghan little child)

Ha Lalo, Ay Kodak-e Afghan Lalo 

The little child with no healing and healer

Bare feet in deserts and valleys, --lalo 

Everywhere is terror, and you in wonder –lalo 

Everyone in sleep, and you in worry – lalo 

Ha Lalo, Ay Kodak-e Afghan Lalo 

The place is cold, where is your bed? 

Ha Lalo, Ay Kodak-e Afghan Lalo 

Where is the hand stroke of your father? 

Where is the Judge for your sufferings and pain? 

Where is the neat and clean home for you? 

The life’s slap mark on your face,

Ha lalo Ha Lalo, Ay Kodak-e Afghan Lalo 

You did have a small, simple home, you did 

You did have a father’s stroking hand on your head 

You did have decent clothes to wear, you did 

You were not this miserable, Khodawand (God) knows 

Oo the young wonderer in life, 

-- lalo Ha Lalo, Ay Kodak-e Afghan Lalo 

Oo my little one, the pouring rain is coming 

The harsh winter turn has arrived 

Yet another suffering beside the lack of food 

For children yet another misery is adding 

Oo the little child without winter clothes, 

--lalo Ha Lalo, Ay Kodak-e Afghan Lalo 

But if you survive all this hardship

You will be the heir of this noble nation 

If you someday achieve knowledge 

If you survive desperation, and will be strong Oo little one

Do not be cruel to people, then Be patient, as Khoda(God) is just!

Khoda is the real judge and the healer 

Who knows the misery of mine and your 

There is response to a deed, remember 

This story now comes to an end, 

-- lalo Ha Lalo, Ay Kodak-e Afghan Lalo 

Ay lalo, ay lalo Ha lalo… Ha lalo…

******


The sad, soulful voice of Farida Mahwash reminds me of Marika Papagika singing

Τι σε μέλλει εσένανε από πού είμαι εγώ; What does it matter to you where I come from?

https://corfublues.blogspot.com/2016/06/marika-papagika.html