“KuÅŸ Olup Uçsam Sevgilimin Diyarına” (If I were a bird and flew to the land of my beloved) is a Turkish song composed by Neveser KökdeÅŸ. The lyrics describe a lover’s yearning to be with their beloved and the lengths they would go to express their love. The song is often performed in Turkish classical music concerts and is popular among Turkish music enthusiasts. The song is in the Segah makam (mode) and Semai usul (rhythm).

Neveser Kökdeş was a female Turkish composer born in 1902 in Drama, Greece. She was born into a musical family, and all of her brothers could play the piano. After primary school, Kökdeş went to the Lycée Notre Dame de Sion Istanbul and learned to play the piano. She composed a variety of genres, including Turkish music, tango, rumba, vals, swing, marches, lullabies, and folk songs, most of which she wrote the lyrics for herself. She passed away on July 7, 1962, in Istanbul.

Turkish Lyrics

Kuş olup uçsam sevgilimin diyarına,
Saçından bir tel alsam, ah koysam canıma,
Söylesem sevgimi, kalbimi açsam ona,
Aşkımın çiçeğini taksam başına.

Sözleri ah sitemkâr, kıskanır beni yakar,
Nazlanır, yalvarır, ah bu güzel yar, ah…
Söylesem sevgimi, kalbimi açsam ona,
Aşkımın çiçeğini taksam başına.

English Translation

If I were a bird and flew to the land of my beloved,
I would take a strand of hair from her and place it in my soul.
I would tell her of my love, open my heart to her,
And place the flower of my love upon her head.

The words would be filled with sorrow and complaint, burning with jealousy,
She would coquettishly ask, plead, ah this beautiful beloved, ah…
I would tell her of my love, open my heart to her,
And place the flower of my love upon her head.