Dandini dandini dastana
There are many versions of this lullaby. Often just the order of the verses differ.
Dandini dandini dastana
Dandini Dandini Dastana
Lullaby
Lullaby
(Turkish)
(English)
Dandini dandini danalı bebek
Mini mini elleri kınalı bebek
Annesi babası çok sever
Uyur büyür nazlı bebek
Huuu huuu huuu hu
Dandini dandini dastana
Danalar girmiş bostana
Kov bostancı danayı
Yemesin lahanayı
Huuu huuu huuu hu
Dandini dandini danadan
Bir ay doğmuş anadan
Kaçınmamış yaradan
Mevlam korusun nazardan
Huuu huuu huuu hu
Dandini dandini danali baby
Baby with tiny little henna hands (1)
His parents love him (2)
The coy baby sleeps and grows.
Hee eee eee hee eee eee
Dandini dandini dastana
The cattle entered the garden
Gardener, banish the cattle
Do not let them eat all the cabbages.
Hee eee eee hee eee eee
Dandini dandini danadan
A moon was born from a mother's womb (3)
Spared from all harm
Protected from the evil eye.
Hee eee eee hee eee eee
Notes
(1) "In the old days, it was very common for Turkish people to apply henna on the hands of a baby as a way of blessing the child." -The Lullabies of Europe
(2) There's no grammatical gender in Turkish, so this lullaby may be addressed to a baby boy or a baby girl.
(3) Meaning that a baby as beautiful as the moon was born from a mother's womb.
*****
Another Verse:
Uyusun da büyüsün nenni
Tıpış tıpış yürüsün nenni
Okula da gitsin ninni
Kısmetin açık olsun ninni
Loose Translation:
Let my baby sleep, let her grow up, lullaby
Toddle, let her walk, lullaby
You'll go to school, lullaby
Have good kismet, lullaby.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Thanks and Acknowledgements
Thanks to Ayse Jolly for correcting our French translation.
