“De Mardin” - The Soulful Anthem of Uzak Sehir Serie

Few opening themes grip viewers as completely as “De Mardin”, written by Turkish pop legend Sezen Aksu and performed with powerhouse vocalists Tuba Önal and Sibel Gürsoy. More than a soundtrack, this modern ağit (lament) gives voice to the hidden struggles of women in Mardin while setting the emotional pulse of Kanal D’s breakout drama Uzak Şehir.

Behind the Song

Lyrics: Sezen Aksu
Vocals: Tuba Önal & Sibel Gürsoy
Composer Reference: Inspired by a guitar concerto by Joaquín Rodrigo
Arrangement: Atakan Ilgazdağ
Mix & Mastering: Murat Bulut

Listen The Song

Listen on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ez6VNqyT8VE

Full Lyrics

Be Mardin, Nemrut’un çileli yıldızı
(Hey Mardin, the suffering star of Nimrod,)

Kadınlarının daha kızken ağarırmış kan kınası gür saçları
(Your women’s thick, henna-red hair turns white while they are still young girls)

Aklarmış bütün günahları
(Pain absolves every sin.)

De haydi Mardin
(Come on, Mardin,)

Ey imtiyazsız, en yok, en kayıt dışı
(You, the unprivileged, the poorest, the undocumented.)

Kaç cefa var, kaç tevekkül, daha kaç çıbanın başı
(How many sorrows, how much forbearance, how many more festering wounds?)

Anlatmalı esasını hadi
(Let the truth be told)

Yoktur rızam, kurudu gözümün yaşı
(I do not consent; my tears have long run dry.)

De Mardin ben susturulduğun söz hakkınım
(Oh Mardin, I am the right to speak that was taken from you.)

Kaydet ki şahidiyim o koparılan kadınların kanı
(Record this: I bear witness to the blood of those women torn away,)

Canını canından kaç defa doğuran o kül Zümrüt-ü Anka’nın.
(To the Phoenix of ashes who has birthed life from her own soul time and again.)

What the Song Reveals

A portrait of premature sacrifice: Hair “turning white” before womanhood evokes burdens shouldered too early.

Invisible oppression: “En kayıt dışı” (“the undocumented”) hints at suffering left off the record.

Refusal & witness: The narrator pledges not to stay silent, becoming the “right to speak” for muted voices.

Phoenix metaphor: Alluding to Zümrüt-ü Anka underscores regeneration—women who rise from ashes repeatedly.

Why It Elevates Uzak Şehir

What makes De Mardin such a powerful addition to Uzak Şehir is its deep emotional and cultural resonance. Far from being a generic theme song, it serves as a spiritual and narrative compass for the entire series. From the very first notes, the orchestral arrangement—adapted from Joaquín Rodrigo’s classical concerto—grounds the audience in a melancholic, almost sacred atmosphere that mirrors the emotional landscape of the show.

The song does more than set the tone; it mirrors the struggles and silence embedded in the storyline. As the main character navigates the challenges of returning to a deeply patriarchal and traditional society, the lyrics of De Mardin echo her unspoken pain and inner strength. The refrain “I am the right to speak that was taken from you” feels like a direct cry from every silenced woman portrayed in the series.

In doing so, De Mardin becomes a narrative device in itself. It foreshadows conflict, reinforces the themes of resilience and identity, and binds the viewer emotionally to the setting—Mardin, a city both beautiful and burdened. Its poetic Turkish lyrics, enriched with metaphor and cultural depth, act as both an anchor for domestic viewers and a bridge for international audiences, especially when accompanied by faithful translations.

Ultimately, De Mardin elevates Uzak Şehir by transforming each episode into more than just a televised story—it becomes an emotional journey, rooted in cultural memory, social commentary, and a yearning for justice.

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