Life of mine, you led me astray
Life of mine, you led me astray;
What shall I do with you, my life?
You left me paralyzed this way;
What shall I do with you, my life?
You were all I was and had, all:
You were the soul within my soul.
My Sultan, I was in your thrall.
What shall I do with you, my life?
With your joys my heart used to glow,
Like mountain flowers, row on row…
I used to weep, gripped by sorrow.
What shall I do with you, my life?
After coming here, the soul flies;
Affairs of the world are all lies.
Whoever squanders his life, cries.
What shall I do with you, my life?
My deeds are written, good and bad;
Nearing my life’s end, I am sad;
The face wrecks the features it had.
What shall I do with you, my life?
I wish you would not grab and run
Nor be the nomad who moves on.
I wish you would not drink death’s wine.
What shall I do with you, my life?
I’ll be left without you some day;
Bird and beast will eat me away;
I’ll turn to dust as I decay.
What shall I do with you, my life?
Dervish Yunus, you know, don’t you,
Or don’t they come into your view?
Remember those whose lives are through?
What shall I do with you, my life?