"Eledim Eledim Höllük Eledim" is a folk song emerged as a result of a bitter event experienced in Erzurum and has become known to a wide audience over time, becoming a folk song in its present form.

The Story of the Folk Song

At the center of the story is a couple who could not have children for a long time. Despite the despair they experienced during this process, the couple did not give up their desire to have a child and adopted a baby boy as a last resort. However, another loss awaited the family during this period. The young father dies before seeing his adopted child grow up. The remaining mother and adopted child try to continue their lives amidst difficulties. As years pass, the adopted child grows into a young man and is sent to the front lines during a time when everyone who could hold a weapon was conscripted. Shortly after, the news of his martyrdom arrives. The deep pain experienced by the mother after this news led to the creation of the lament "Eledim Eledim Höllük Eledim". This lament, as an expression of the losses and the pain of losing a child, has been passed down from generation to generation and maintains its popularity today.

^{Mother Longing for Her Son (Generated with Artificial Intelligence.)}

Lyrics of the Folk Song

I sifted, I sifted, I sifted the fine earth,

In a mirrored cradle, I swaddled my beloved baby.

I raised him, I nurtured him, I made him a soldier,

He went and did not return, my beloved, what can be done about this?

My liver burned, my beloved, what can be done about this?

A beautiful face that captured my mind,

Wrapped the passion of love around my heart, my beloved.

May those who are religious not condemn us.

He went and did not return, my beloved, what can be done about this?

My liver burned, my beloved, what can be done about this?

The Folk Song's Impact in Different Geographies

Although the folk song "Eledim Eledim Höllük Eledim" originated in Erzurum, it has gained recognition in different regions of Türkiye. The universal language of pain and the emotional structure of the lament have caused people to feel a closeness to this folk song in various cultural contexts. This folk song has gained a broader meaning, especially among migrating families, communities who lost loved ones during wartime, and in geographies where the culture of mourning is strong. Variations added to the folk song in different regions have enriched it with local musical motifs, becoming a part of cultural transmission. Thus, the folk song has transcended the borders of Erzurum, establishing itself as a common symbol of mourning and remembrance.

Interpretation of the Folk Song with Different Musical Instruments in Various Geographies

The folk song has been performed with various musical instruments according to the changing musical traditions in different geographies. While it is generally sung with stringed instruments such as bağlama and cura, it has been performed with kemençe in the Black Sea region, and with instruments like zurna and drums in the Aegean region. Each region adding its own musical structure has contributed to the folk song's adoption in different cultural contexts and the expansion of its meaning. This diversity has made it possible for the emotional depth of the lament to be felt in various musical styles. 

^{Eledim Eledim Folk Song (Aysun Gültekin - Konu)}