It reflects the sorrow of Ottoman soldiers from Anatolia (specifically Muş or Elazığ) who were sent to the Yemen front during World War I and never returned due to the harsh climate and intense conflict.

The song itself is a famous Turkish lament ( ağıt ) that dates back to the late Ottoman period.

The song was first officially compiled for the Ankara State Conservatory in 1944 from a local performer named Düriye Keskin. Popular Collaborations by the Duo