“Olmaz İlaç Sine-i Sad Pareme” is a Turkish song, which was composed by Hacı Arif Bey, and the lyrics are written by Namık Kemal.
Haci Arif Bey was a Turkish composer from Istanbul who was known for his compositions in the şarkı form, the most common secular form in Turkish classical music. He was a prolific composer who, on some days, composed more than 6-7 songs. He was born in 1831 in Eyüp Sultan, Istanbul, and his father was the chief clerk of the Eyüp Sharia Court. He had a beautiful voice even as a child and later became a prominent composer in the 19th century. He is considered one of the most important classical Turkish music composers of his time and is known for his compositions in the Kürdîlihicazkâr makam and Müsemmen usul. Haci Arif Bey died on June 28, 1885, in Istanbul.
Turkish Lyrics
Olmaz ilaç sine-i sad-pareme
Çare bulunmaz bilirim yâreme
Baksa tabiban-ı cihan çareme
Çare bulunmaz bilirim yareme
Kastediyor tir-i müjen canıma
Gözleri en son girecek kanıma
Şerhedemem halimi cananıma
Çare bulunmaz bilirim yareme
English Translation
There is no cure for my heart, which has been shattered into a hundred pieces.
I know that my wounds will never heal.
Even if all the doctors in the world were to examine my wounds, I know that there is no cure for my wounds.
The arrows of my beloved’s eyelashes are hurting me deeply.
In the end, those eyes will be the death of me.
I cannot explain my condition to my beloved.
I know that there is no cure for my wounds.