Folk Songs Have Owners When They First Emerge.
Each of our folk songs has its own story, usually reflecting an event or the inner world of a person. They have owners when they first emerge. However, over time, they have been forgotten and spread from mouth to mouth, reaching us today. They generally consist of 7, 8, and 11 syllables. There are also a few with 5 and 15 syllables. However, there may not be a standard between verses and connections.
After briefly providing information about our folk songs that reflect our culture, let us briefly tell the story of the folk song "Yüksek Yüksek Tepelere Kız Vermesinler" (May They Not Give Their Daughters to High Hills), which is on the lips of every person in every region.
It Is Sung at Every Henna Night.
This event, which took place in the Malkara region of Tekirdağ, begins with a girl named Zeynep, at the age of 16, falling in love with a young man who was a guest from another village at a wedding held in their village. The young man's name is Ali. As soon as he returned to his village, he asked for Zeynep's hand in marriage.
Zeynep's family agreed and gave her to Ali. However, Ali's village is a three-day journey away. Zeynep could not see her family for 7 years and composed this folk song out of longing for them. She constantly sang this song with her eyes looking afar. Ali, not paying attention to Zeynep's longing, began to mistreat her. Zeynep could not bear this suffering and took to her bed.
As Zeynep's illness progressed each day, the villagers could not bear her condition and pressured Ali. Ali had to send word to Zeynep's family. Her family finally came to see Zeynep. However, Zeynep's illness had worsened considerably. She had the opportunity to see her family in her last breath and satisfied her longing.
From that day on, this folk song began to be sung at every henna night for young girls.
