Two Keklik Folk Songs

“İki Keklik” is a lament belonging to Türkiye’s anonymous people literary tradition, particularly associated with the village of Güre, located in the Edremit district of Balıkesir. The song is renowned for its expressions of maternal love and the pain of losing a child. It has gained widespread recognition in oral culture and over time has been performed across various regions of Türkiye, becoming a staple of the national folk music repertoire.

^{The Story of the Two Turtle Doves (Generated by Artificial Intelligence)}

The origins of the song are tied to the life story of a woman named Şöhret Hanım from the village of Güre. Her son Zekeriya enlisted in the army under Enver Pasha and was sent to Sarıkamış. While marching through harsh winter conditions, he fell into a snow-covered well and was martyred. His mother received the news while listening to the calls of turtle doves in the mountains. The intertwining of the birds’ cries with the news of her son’s death forms the thematic and emotional core of the song.

Balıkesir – Edremit (Güre village). However, different performance styles of the song also exist in the regions of Elazığ and East Anatolia.

The song is generally performed in the form of a lament, particularly in terms of vocal delivery. Its melodic structure may vary from region to region. Artists have sung it both freely and in measured rhythm.

Two turtle doves sing on a rock

Do not sing, turtle dove, my sorrow is enough

(Oh oh, it is enough)

He is going to his mother

His shoes are embroidered and painted

(My love oh oh my love)

Nights are long, my love, wrap around my neck

(Oh oh, wrap around me)

Two turtle doves drink from a stream

The sorrowful dove brings sorrow to the carefree

(Oh oh, it brings sorrow)

They call this black love, it passes quickly

His shoes are embroidered and painted

(My love oh oh my love)

Long are the nights, my love, wrap around my neck

(Oh oh, wrap around me)

Two turtle doves rest against a rock

Their wings grow rusty in the cold

One becomes mad, the other regains reason

(Regains reason oh oh regains reason)

His shoes are embroidered and painted

Long are the nights, my love, wrap around my neck

(Oh oh, wrap around me)

Two Partridge Ballads

The song has been performed by artists such as Orhan Hakalmaz, Zara, Kubat, Nurettin Rençber and Halil Sezai like in various periods, gaining popularity. It is frequently featured in TRT’s repertoire and folk music programs.