If I were an intelligence analyst for a top secret government agency, I would be levelling forests writing memos that said one thing — Musharraf is in trouble now. Why is he in trouble, you ask? Because the opposition has an anthem, and it’s a catchy one.
Any good revolution needs a good song. It’s probably not enough to win; I’m sure there have been revolutions with great anthems that were flattened by the state. And it may not be necessary either, but I’ve gotta tell you, it really helps. A good song serves to rally people around. It provides a constant reminder of the cause, of the struggle. It sneakily undermines the authority of the state every time somebody hums a few bars and is overheard, and it gives courage to those who are wavering. In short, it’s a mistake to underestimate the importance of song when making a revolution. I mean this in a painfully earnest way, there are no smileys here.
The title of the song is “Why doesn’t uncle (i.e. Musharraf) take off his uniform and go home.”
Sung a cappella in Punjabi, it was recorded by religious students in the style of a Punjabi folk song, but its tongue-in-cheek refrains are popular from Karachi to Islamabad, whether its listeners are religious or speak Punjabi or not. [Link]
It’s a funny song, at least if you understand Punjabi, and it was stuck in my head all day. [Updated] The lyrics are quite interesting, and troubling in bits. Some of it calls for Musharraf to leave the Army and retire, but it’s hardly a liberal song. Not only is it pro-Islamicist and anti-American, it’s also anti-women in shorts and pro-Kashmiri separatist. That’s the problem with non-democratic countries, opposition movements often encompass a wide variety of different elements who might not otherwise have found common cause in an open society. The song picks up the sentiment on the street and brings together a variety of different anti-Musharraf feelings, all set to a catchy and easy to sing tune.
I’ve put the video below and the translated lyrics below the fold.
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UPDATE: I was looking at the comments and reflecting on other examples of similar songs. The defining song for the North in the US Civil War was “John Brown’s Body” which later evolved into the Battle Hymn of the Republic. The US Civil Rights Struggle had We Shall Overcome. The anti-Apartheid struggle had Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika, and there is a great movie about the use of song and dance in the struggle, called Amandla. The 2002 Kenyan elections had Unbwogable (listen here).
Can you guys suggest other great strongs of struggle? And if possible, can you give links to either the music or youtube clips? I’m sure there are lots of great songs I missed.
Here are the translated lyrics:
Uncle, lose the uniform, why don’t you?
Take your pension and leave, why don’t you?
Be a man for once, why don’t you?
Stick to your word, why don’t you?
Your time is at an end,
There’s no choice but to say goodbye
Haven’t you gobbled up enough already?
Broken the constitution with your own two hands
Go home with some dignity, why don’t you?
Uncle, lose the uniform, why don’t you?
Take your pension and leave, why don’t you?
Such high aims you have
To bring European culture right here
Our daughters and sisters run down the street
Running down the street in shorts
Drown yourself to a shameful death, why don’t you?
Uncle, lose the uniform, why don’t you?
Take your pension and leave, why don’t you?
You’re always running off to Washington,
Running off to butter up Bush,
Falling to his feet and groveling
And turning around and threatening the weak
Fight the real oppressor, why don’t you?
Uncle, lose the uniform, why don’t you?
Take your pension and leave, why don’t you?
Evil laid the chess board out
Found their pawn and made a move
You earned the brotherhood defeat
Stood fast by your friend, the Enemy
Be ashamed at your crime, why don’t you?
Uncle, lose the uniform, why don’t you?
Take your pension and leave, why don’t you?
Struck down and wounded your own people
Cut them up just like a butcher
Evil seems to egg you on
While all of Kashmir curses you
Show your power there, why don’t you?
Uncle, lose the uniform, why don’t you?
Take your pension and leave, why don’t you?
You kept murderers close to your heart
What did you get for all this oppression?
For spilling the blood of the Afghans?
For embarrassing Muslims everywhere?
Repent at what you’ve done, why don’t you?
Uncle, lose the uniform, why don’t you?
Take your pension and leave, why don’t you?
Open your eyes and see
America’s heartless terrorism
Killing people like insects
But honor does not fear power
So show some honor, why don’t you?
Uncle, lose the uniform, why don’t you?
Take your pension and leave, why don’t you?
Thieves and robbers of this nation
They’re all your friends, their bellies full
They run around with impunity
Going around raiding Mosques
Go right off to hell, why don’t you?
Uncle, lose the uniform, why don’t you?
Take your pension and leave, why don’t you?… [Link]
I get the feeling that Lal Masjid is going to be Mushie’s undoing. I hope I’m wrong.
There was an article I read (here? Salon? some progressive blog? aaargh, need more coffee) about how Mushie should have done just that: lost the uniform before sending in the troops.
Can’t listen to the song at work (and competing memes are already scampering around across the lobes of my brain), but I’ll have to check this out.
Ah, Pakistani political songs. They do bring their A game. Back in the days, Jiye Bhutto Benazir was the most requested song at my neighbourhood Ganpati festival.
The Punjabis and the Pathans are mad that a Muhajir has taken over the reins of power in Pakistan. Why the hate 🙂
I think there are plenty of other reasons for them to be mad 🙂
Ennis, thanks for the translation. I was sitting here going “pinchon”? Pension. Got it. 🙂
I recognize some of those satirical minature paintings in the video – didn’t SM write about the artist who made them? I thought she was American or European of South Asian descent.
Too bad the song is agains women’s athletics and women wearing shorts. Women in shorts is right up there with spilling blood.
Ah, yes, you are correct! Hasta siempre comandante, anyone?
artist is Saira Wasim, trained at the National College of Art, in Lahore. http://www.sairawasim.com/
I completely agree with how powerful a song can be to a movement. I think of Jagowala Jatha and the song Dulah Nahi Khoon Sadah Janah (Realplayer version, WEB version). Songs like this did a lot to remind people of the negatives associated with the other side, and to keep them focused.
I also think about Victor Jara, and his songs discussing the plight of Chilean farmers.
So yeah, songs are powerful, and Musharraf is in a bit of trouble. Oh and thanks for the translation, there were crucial words here and there that I didn’t understand!
There’s a REMIX!
Thanks espe. I love her paintings.
Aren’t Pakistani moderates & America in a pickle? Majority of the people who want him gone are no friends of any of us.
If this is really an anthem for Chaudhary and it is popular then it is a chilling song for me though to realize that how common and popular are the anti-US and pro-Taliban sentiments are in Pakistan. I really believed all the Fareeds about how minuscule is the pro-Taliban/anti-West sentiment.
Love the title of the song…punjabi at its best.There has been a long tradition in punjab to comment on current topics through folk songs. There are numerous folk songs describing the struggle against the Moghuls and later on the British. As much as I dislike dictators, I think the struggle against extremism in Pakistan will get bogged down in bureaucracy without him.
I am no fan of Musharraf, but I do have to say that the song has a strong islamist streak in it –
[quote] Such high aims you have To bring European culture right here Our daughters and sisters run down the street Running down the street in shorts [\quote]
[quote] While all of Kashmir curses you Show your power there, why don’t you? [\quote]
The only thing missing is cursing the yahood ya’ hinood, but maybe that could be revived once Musharraf is out of the picture.
I haven’t been able to watch the youtube video for some reason. Musharraf might be in trouble, but the idea that his retiring from the Army will radically change things in Pakistan is not credible as things stand. Pakistan will still be an army with a country, not a country with an army.
He has two 4-star generals below him, Generals Ehsan and Ahsan (‘ehsan’ means ‘favor’ and ‘ahsan’ means ‘ace’ in Urdu). If Musharraf does an ‘ehsan’ to everyone and retires, it will be an ehsan to General Ehsan also, who will most likely take over as COAS, and then do any number of ‘ehsans’ for Musharraf. Of course, Musharraf will also have an Ahsan in the game, just in case. So people will have their fall guy, but don’t bet on anything changing.
bureaucracy?? more like car bombs & executions.
I don’t like him myself but is there any reason to believe that another General would have dealt Lal Masjid fiasco any differently?
We’ve posted on surveys of anti-West sentiment before, they’re the best gauge of this. I will say that some of the anti-US sentiment here is oppositional – to the extent to which Musharraf is seen as doing America’s bidding and is propped up by America, anti-Musharraf groups will also attract anti-Americans as well.
Being who I am I don’t understand a word of it. What is the refrain when they flash pictures of the lovely Benazir Bhutto? Do they recall her fondly?
The “secular” opposition to Mushie should take note of what happened to the progressive Iranian students who allied themselves with the fundamentalists to overthrow the Shah.
I don’t think the images are part of the original song, but this is the version I found on youtube so I posted it. The lyrics don’t make reference to Bhenazir.
i remember a documentary made several years ago called muktir gaan, which was about musical troupes traveling through bangladesh and west bengal to raise support for the bangladeshi freedom movement and war, if i recall correctly. not about any particular song, but about music in general during revolution.
Ennis, there was also this nice post from Amardeep, back in May, which told us about the Faiz poem that was rapidly becoming a rallying anthem for the opposition in Pakistan. I had this comment on it back then.
Lal Masjid = Boston Massacre ??
What a great song. Can anybody figure out the original (Punjabi) lyrics? I can make out a few words here and there, but there must be a link to the original somewhere. Latin script please, don’t understand no gurmukhi/shahmukhi , no more!
Chahaji, You riff on generals reminds me of the adventures of Raddi, Phisadi and Bekaar from Shame.
My father sings and plays this on guitar and/or accordian when he gets to drinking.
Beware…Marxist propaganda…
Hasta siempre comandante
Aprendimos a quererte desde la histórica altura donde el sol de tu bravura le puso cerco a la muerte.
Estribillo:
Aquàse queda la clara, la entrañable transparencia, de tu querida presencia Comandante Che Guevara.
Tu mano gloriosa y fuerte sobre la historia dispara cuando todo Santa Clara se despierta para verte.
Estribillo
Vienes quemando la brisa con soles de primavera para plantar la bandera con la luz de tu sonrisa.
Estribillo
Tu amor revolucionario te conduce a nueva empresa donde esperan la firmeza de tu brazo libertario.
Estribillo
Seguiremos adelante como junto a ti seguimos y con Fidel te decimos: !Hasta siempre, Comandante!
Estribillo
Until Always We learned to love you from the heights of history with the sun of your bravery you laid siege to death
Chorus:
The deep (or beloved) transparency of your presence became clear here Commandante Che Guevara
Your glorious and strong hand fires at history when all of Santa Clara awakens to see you
Chorus
You come burning the winds with spring suns to plant the flag with the light of your smile
Chorus
Your revolutionary love leads you to a new undertaking where they are awaiting the firmness of your liberating arm
Chorus
We will carry on as we did along with you and with Fidel we say to you: Until Always, Commandante!
Chorus
I must say that the Islamist streak doesn’t really surprise me. I doubt that the intention of the song is to rally the progressive section of Pakistani society. Its aimed more towards the fundamentalist crowd. The references to Afghans, Kashmirs and American actions in the region are clearly meant to rally the crowds in the name of Islam. Its amazing to see the place that Kashmir occupies in Pakistani fundamentalist’s psyche. Its one of those handy political tools that can be used as a rallying cry for pretty much any cause.
Regarding the Lal Masjid incident, I was reading an article on BBC (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6293268.stm) about people’s comments on the incident and there were balanced views on whether the army actions were justified. I don’t mean to point out the bad apple but the following comment bothered me.
“The government should have carried out a peaceful operation. This is not war with India. If they were fighting with non-Muslims then they should bomb like this… they want to finish madrassas in Pakistan.”
I think the song is meant to appeal to these types of people. As somebody mentioned in an earlier comment regarding Iranian revolution, its just careless to align one with fundamentalists even if its against a dictator.
By the way, impeccable translation of the song. And sorry about not posting the links and comments properly. I am new to the blogosphere. Love what you guys are doing with this site.
Then why isn’t there a reference to all the thuggery committed by pro-Taliban/Islamists/Mullahs who were supported by Musharraf initially? The song only contains references to how Musharraf kowtows to US (and not how he kowtowed to radicals/Taliban pre-9/11), America’s ‘atrocities’ and Musharraf’s paltry modernization attempts of Pakistani society.
Except for the constitution part the whole song is troubling both for the things that are in it and that aren’t in it.
There are lot of things that are wrong with Musharraf’s regime but these lyrics aren’t them.
I just read this from Pervez Hoodbhoy.
you asked for other exampes of a “song of struggle”: a very recent rallying song was “Razom Nas Bagota” in Ukraine. it became the rallying point for the Orange Revolution and was apparently played all the time in Ukraine, and was definitely played CONSTANTLY by Ukrainians abroad, as evidenced in Chicago, where i was staying at the time. youtube: http://youtube.com/watch?v=DeOU0oVyqGE interesting video …
anyway hope that wasn’t off topic
Bob Marley’s “Zimbabwe” was better known by Zimbabweans upon their independence than was their new national anthem. You can see why when listening to it. I’m not sure that a song of excoriation is the same as a song of struggle, though, and the Musharaaf song is more of the former.
Thanks Circus. I just read that article on 3QD…it’s amazing to me that Pakistanis still view the Taliban as a necessary counterweight to Indian influence in the region. What’s particularly striking to me is that even a brave man like Dr. Hoodbhoy does not seem to challenge this assumption, I guess it would be tantamount to questioning Pakistan’s raison d’ etre
Ah, Jiye Bhutto Benazir and Ganapati festivals in Mumbai! The song can be found here. It was very popular in Mumbai in the late 1980s especially when ‘Daughter of the East’ became a bestseller.
Speaking of which, here is another huge Pakistani hit (in India), from the late 1980s. Hawa Hawa, by Hassan Jahangir. Check out the way cool-corny video. 🙂
Thanks for the link Quizman. There’s a crap Bollywood rip-off as well (Tu hai meri something). The one we played had fierce drums — bits of which can be heard on your youtube link. Since we are getting nostalgic, I am sure you remember Dhoop Kinaray.
Quizman, thanks for the slice of 80s cheese, with that wonderful dancing and synth music.
Quizman, Hassan Jehangir was a rip-off artist w/ lousy voice. Here’s Kourosh Yaghmaie’s original from ’70s.
That was precisely on target! I was thinking of the Orange Revolution when I wrote earlier, precisely because I didn’t know if there was a song associated.
Glad to see the Punjabi language alive and well (at least in this demographic) of Pakistan.
The song itself is nothing but fundamentalists venting.
Here’s another song of struggle from Pakistan…it’s in Sindhi so I can’t translate it, but it’s in praise of Sindh (it says “Sindhudesh Mahan”, I know that much) and if you know a little about the struggle of the Sindhi people in Pakistan, it’s not hard to imagine the gist of it. Of course maybe they should have thought of all this before kicking all the non-Muslim Sindhis out in 1947.
Sarfaroshi ki tamanna ab hamarey dil mein hai .. Dekhna hai zore kitna bazue qatil mein hai ..
Vande Matram (original not AR Rehman version) during Indian independence struggle.
Amitabh, the tune of that song is very similar to a song I’ve heard in India: Aao bacchon tumhe dekhayen jhanki Hindustan ki Is mitti se tilak karo Yeh dharti hai balidan ki. Vande Mataram..mmmm..Vande Mataram..
I don’t know which song came first, or whether they are both derived from some other common root.
what a disaster! dictator he may be, but Musharraf is the best thing that has happened to pakistan since it’s inception. since when did mullahs get such public relations skills? i’m thoroughly disgusted.
Heres a link to Vande Matram. Most on you Tube are the A R Rehman version.
http://mama.indstate.edu/users/deepa/vande%20mataram.mp3
Here is a great song (ignore the dancing) about Dhulla Bhatti, a rajput (albeit a muslim one) who fought the Mughals. This is a much less “Urdufied” style of Punjabi than in the Pakistani song about Musharaf.
Another CLASSIC SONG about Dhulla Bhatti. Also with a far less Urdu-influenced vocabulary.
The French resistance had La Marseillaise – and Paul Henreid to lead in the singing of it! Glory!
As do I. I’ve also wondered what his music would sound like, desified.
Victor Jara – El Nino Yuntero (DJ Drrrty Poonjabi Remix)
Oooo, one of my favorite “revolutionary” musicians is Silvio Rodriguez, who has played extensively post-Cuban Revolution. I think he was a little young for the revolution itself, but a lot of his music has been considered emblematic of the left in Latin America (Cuba, specifically).
Maybe I am naive, but I didn’t read/hear the song as intrinsically fundamentalist? I interpreted it as a staunch rejection of Musharraf, which includes a rejection of his puppet-like adherence to Bush’s foreign policy. I am not surprised to hear it framed as being anti “American” policy — that’s what it is! I don’t think you have to be a “fundamentalist” to come to that conclusion. And while there is the section on girls in shorts, this is hardly the focal point. I think the overall message was that Musharraf has rejected the needs/ideals of his own people in favor of sucking up to Bush/America. I can see where that would be unpopular.
DJ Drrrty Poonjabi,
Interesting remix.. I’ll have to listen to the original, but I think its a keeper!
How about Seeger’s Guanatanamera? A simple song for peace.
Awesome post.
thanks to everyone for posting all those links. Does any one have the link to Vande Matarm from the b&w movie Annand Math. The tune there is very different. Quizman, i am looking at you, you seem to have a talent for digging up these things.