The two faces of Gülyarkhan

 If this blog isn't bad enough of a cultural mess, have some Uyghur music.

I've known this one for years, but only recently started... listening to it again. It's been on repeat. Something's going on inside.

I have two versions, and it's a bit odd because they seem kind of contradictory with each other with certain verses.

"Oh my Gülyar, a blossom so divine,
In my beloved hometown of Kucha, you shine

Those who scorn us, have they not seen
how their own world crumbles, while ours stays serene?
Oh Gülyarkhan, your form is so divine,

as elegant as a melody in line

Men in Söser-tumaq seek love's embrace,
yet my heart aches when visits slip away

Oh Gülyarkhan, your form is so divine,

as elegant as a melody in line

My dutar sings its own melody,
Last night's tea stirs old memory

Oh Gülyarkhan, your form is so divine,

as elegant as a melody in line
Last night's tea lingers in thought,
Gülyarkhan, your figure is graceful as a melody

Wearing a doppa, a peach branch in hand,
My childhood sweetheart, where do you stand?
Oh Gülyarkhan, in every land,
Your radiance is the finest, so grand. 

At dawn's first light, a rabbit dashes out
Yet your sigh's sweeter still, Gülyarkhan...
Oh Gülyarkhan, with beauty untold,
In your presence, life's colours unfold."

Sounds rather simple, right?

Then I found this version, and oh.

Sounds totally different. Or perhaps the first's translation is the wrong version?

Mostly though, it's sort of the same.

"Isn't my flower's name Gülyar?

My garden's full of flowers, isn't it?

Those who scorn us, have they not seen
how their own world crumbles, while ours stays serene?

Yet you, Gülyarkhan, your beauty remains peaceful, oh my!

Men in Söser-tumaq, they're the ones to choose and love
But leaving me for months on end, they've broken my heart

Yet you, Gülyarkhan, your beauty remains peaceful, oh my!

I will not be, I will not be with you,

I will stay single and play around, instead of being with you

Gülyarkhan, your beauty remains peaceful, oh my!"

No part about the dutar or the peach blossom, but what got me curious is that for once I don't end up on some heartbreak song but a song where in one of the versions, the narrator obviously loves Gülyar, but apparently he's totally going to remain out of it just to play around?

If this were my song, it would probably sound like:

"I will not be with you, I will not be

My heart's been burned, I don't know if you will do the same as all of them

If you are not, come anytime,

Let a lunar cycle come full circle,

But Gülyarkhan, your beauty remains peaceful, oh my"

You'd be surprised to realize how many parts of the world I've actually dug throughout the years. If there's a Mrs. Worldwide around here, it's probably me.