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English translation of the text is by Ani Toroyan (Անի Թորոյան). Armenian folk song “Hay Merik“ (Oh, Mother) performed by Sassoun Ensemble. In Armenian (հայերեն): This is the song of a young foreigner which seems to be a letter to his family. Being far away from his motherland, family and relatives, especially parents, he suffers from nostalgia and longing, and dreams of returning to them. In the foreign country he doesn’t have a place where after hard work he can lie and rest. Being far away from his parents, he thinks of himself as a basil stem devoid of leaves, and being little he can not go back alone, he pins hope to adults who will one day take him back. And he was ill in this foreign land for a long time when he needed maternal care most of all. Though he has earned enough money he considers himself a fruitless garden. In the old times young people were sent to foreign lands. It was possible to earn much money in big cities. After that they returned to their villages and could cover their marriage expenses. So is the case with the hero of this song. His hope is his beloved girl, he is looking forward to the end of his stay and his father taking him home, so that after so much hard work and suffering he could marry her. Lyrics: Yes gharib im, toun chounim, Hay, merik, merik, Gishernere qoun chounim, Barov darnanq hayreniq. Rehan im, terev chounim, Hoy, merik, merik, Yes pztik im, tshar chounim, Barov darnanq hayreniq. Hay, merik, merik, merik, Hay, merik, merik, Hay, merik, merik, merik, Barov darnanq hayreniq. Hivand im, herik chounim, Hay, merik, merik, Gharib im, merik chounim, Barov darnanq hayreniq. Bakhcha ounim, bar chounim, Hay, merik, merik, Arants qezi qoun chounim, Barov darnanq hayreniq. Yes mi khorot yar ounim, Hay, merik, merik, Anter glkhis tshar ounim, Barov darnanq hayreniq.
