Raag: Kafi Commentary: This song, which has been popular in the Indian subcontinent for centuries, is based on a poem by the Chisti Sufi and musical genius, Amir Khusro, which was later modified by the great Panjabi Sufi poet Bulleh Shah. The song’s lyrics honor and revere (but do not worship) ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib, to whom virtually all Sufi orders trace their lineage, as well as the famous 12th century Sufi saint of Sindh, Lal Shahbaz Qalandar.
*A Qalandar is a type of wandering Sufi or dervish who would often live in the wilderness and wear tattered clothes. Lal Shahbaz Qalandar was one such Sufi.
**Drunkenness here refers not to intoxication from alcohol, but to the ecstatic state of remembrance of God. As the famous verse of the Egyptian Sufi poet Ibn al-Farid says: “In remembrance of the beloved, we drank wine; we were drunk with it even before the creation of the vine.”
To learn more about this piece download the full album and 27 page digital booklet from here:
CREDITS
Words: Amir Khusro & Bulleh Shah Music: Traditional Islamic (Sufi Qawali) with additions by Sami Yusuf
• Main Vocal & Tonbak: Sami Yusuf • Tanbour, Divan & Daf: Seyed Ali Jaberi • Tanbour & Divan: Jon Lawton • Divan, Santoor and Tanbour: Hossein Tavvan • Daf and Bendir: Seyyed Mohammad Jaberi • Dohol and Bendir: Seyyed Pourya Jaberi
Performed live on 02 May 2016 at The Phoenix Theatre (London, UK)
Performed and arranged by Sami Yusuf Recorded at Andante Studios Mixed & Mastered by Vishnu Rajan @ Andante Studios Video editing and post production @ Andante Studios
Published by Resonance Music FZE Administered by Fairwood Music (UK) Ltd for the World
LYRICS
Dam mast Qalandar mast mast The drunk Qalandar*, in his drunken state**
Iko vird hai dam dam Ali Ali (Has) Only one chant – Ali, in every breath
Sakhi Lal Qalandar mast mast The generous red-robed Qalandar, in his drunken state (a reference to the 12thcentury sufi saint Lal Shahbaz Qalandar)
