Title: Ezilmiş Çocuklar (Crushed Children) Artist: Hidra Year: 2014 "Ezilmiş Çocuklar" is a rap song by Turkish artist Hidra. The lyrics reflect the experiences and struggles of the marginalized and oppressed individuals in society, particularly the children. Hidra addresses various issues such as political corruption, societal divisions, war, injustice, and inequality. The song begins by depicting the anger and frustration of the crushed children, who bear the scars of a damaged generation. The lyrics criticize the political system, highlighting the indifference of politicians towards the suffering of the people. Hidra references the political climate, drawing parallels between the year 2014 and the authoritarian rule of the 1980 military coup in Turkey. The song also touches upon banned books and the failure of economic games and calculations. It criticizes liberal democrats who prioritize capital accumulation while the consequences of their actions, represented as a bomb dropped by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, impact the nation. The lyrics describe the victims of torture and their helplessness, with some resorting to suicide, while others make outrageous claims in their desperation. The suffering is not limited to a specific age or gender; old, young, children, and women all face the same struggle. Hidra emphasizes that they represent the generation of crushed children. Hidra questions the societal divisions within Turkish and Kurdish communities, which often result in conflict. He laments the fact that they did not wish for war and wonders why 70 million people are treated like slaves. The Soma mining disaster, in which 301 miners died, is also mentioned, criticizing the government's disregard for the victims and their families. The lyrics express a feeling of revenge, highlighting the broken psychology of individuals that cannot be fixed, even with the help of therapists. Hidra criticizes the continuous arguments between right-wing and Kemalist individuals, emphasizing the need for action. Hidra emphasizes the need for change and reflects on the current state of society, with pages torn and fragmented calendars symbolizing the darkness surrounding them. He addresses the societal issue of people claiming to be anarchists or activists solely through the use of social media, emphasizing the need for real action rather than online appearances. Hidra expresses frustration with the limitations of music to spread their message effectively and criticizes the perception that rap music is only for children. The song lengthily discusses the issues and mentions the profits made through wars and the poverty of soldiers who fight on behalf of the rich. Hidra also mentions the hypocrisy of media outlets and calls for resistance, condemning the celebrities who refuse to take a stand against the government. The lyrics state that this cursed world will never see the return of Jesus, and no war-stricken child will experience mercy from those who discriminate against them based on politics or religion. The lyrics criticize the media and politicians who contribute to the social divide, reminding the listeners that whether it be the Gezi Park protests or the plight of Gaza, every individual is a human being deserving of empathy and compassion. Hidra criticizes the fetishization of material possessions and the social divide, urging the system to change and pointing out that hierarchies belong to the past. The lyrics emphasize the importance of finding freedom within oneself and remaining aware of one's feelings and emotions. The song concludes by acknowledging the audience's complicity in the problems discussed, pleading for change and an end to the cycle of exploitation. Hidra expresses his gratitude to the Prime Minister for inspiring him to write the song, as the lyrics were a result of his anger and frustration. Overall, "Ezilmiş Çocuklar" is a powerful critique of societal issues and serves as a call to action for listeners to challenge the status quo and work towards a more inclusive and just society.
