Eastern Lady

Oh, Pure Golden Eastern Lady
Enough with you going through inequality,
Who said I am more than you?
Who said you are less than me?
You are the shame of my story, my silence.
Your dawning was never without reason,
I share the crime of your suffering,
In the form of your friend and lover.
You who is wounded in the Garden of Eden,
You, my companion, my completion.
Scream your majestic name with pride,
My dear, who hates the fetters of the cage,
Your presence was not in silence.
My soul mate, you who walk the same road as I,
Your place was not behind the walls of oblivion.
Leave the story of Eve to the wind,
Let the wind carry this myth.
Although the lifeless wind,
Will not be deceived by this fib.
You are the one that was awakened,
When the wind took my voice away.
Who said that in the night’s skirt
My share of the sun is more than yours?
I finished the words of your sentences,
Now it is your turn my lady,
This voice and this song is yours,
Don’t forgive me,
Talk of my vices.

Eastern Lady sung by Ebi
Translated by Dr. Mahnaz Badihian

“Hey Lady, come here, respect the laws, cover yourself.”
“Okay, okay.”
“Are you twelve years old?”
“Eleven.”

“Cover yourself with a chador, you must pray, you must recite the Koran from now on.”
“What kind of Hejab is this?  What are you wearing?  All your hair is out.”
“We didn’t have a revolution to regress.”

+ Woman’s protest against compulsory Hejab announced by Khomeini in 1981.