The song "Yarim İstanbul'u Meskenmi Tuttun" by Ebru Yaşar tells the story of a lost love and the pain of being separated from someone beloved. The lyrics convey the narrator's longing for their lover who left Istanbul and the sadness they feel at being left behind. The phrase "Yarim İstanbul'u meskenmi tuttun" means "My beloved, why did you settle in Istanbul?" The narrator wonders why their lover chose to make a home in Istanbul, leaving them behind. The lyrics also express the narrator's feelings of being forgotten and replaced by others. The line "Buldun güzelleri beni unuttun aman" translates to "You found others, you forgot about me." The narrator is hurt and feels that their lover has moved on, leaving them behind. The song further depicts the narrator's longing to return to their homeland, referred to as "sıla." They question whether their lover made a promise to return and whether they will keep their word. The line "Sılaya dönmeye yemin mi ettin amman" means "Did you promise to return to our homeland?" The repeated phrase "Gayri dayanacak özüm kalmadı amman" translates to "I cannot bear it anymore." The narrator expresses that they have reached the limit of their endurance and cannot go on without their beloved. Ultimately, the lyrics convey a sense of desperation and resignation. The narrator declares that they have no more words to write in letters, as there seems to be no hope of reconciliation or reconnecting with their lost love. The line "Mektuba yazacak sözüm kalmadı amma" means "I have no more words to write in a letter." Overall, the song portrays the emotional turmoil and heartache of a lost love, highlighting the longing, pain, and longing for connection that the narrator experiences.
