Taking a short break. I leave you with the video recording of “O Iran” (Ey Iran) performed by the Tehran Symphony Orchestra at Azadi Square following Iran’s victory over Israel. Includes brief history of the song and its composer and lyricist.
History of the Song
“O Iran” is a patriotic song that has served as Iran’s de facto national anthem since 1944. Music by Ruhullah Khaleqi, with lyrics by Husayn Gul-i Gulab (based on his poem). Khaleqi and Gul-i Gulab were inspired to write “O Iran” following Britain’s invasion of neutral Iran in August 1941, overthrow of Reza Shah Pahlavi (r. 1925–41), and the installation of puppet shah, Muhammad Reza Pahlavi (r. 1941–79). The song is widely-performed today.
The Anglo-Soviet Occupation of Iran (UK, 1941–45; USSR, 1941–46; US, 1942–45) was a horrible period in Iranian history, one that witnessed the plunder of Iran’s oil wealth and agricultural produce by the Allies. “An estimated three million Iranians (possibly 4 mil., if we include births after 1940) died between 1940 and 1944” (ibid.).
Lyrics
O Iran, the land of gems abound,
O the wellspring of arts is your ground.
Far from you may the thoughts of evil be,
Long may you last and eternal be.
O enemy, if you are of rock, I am of iron,
May my life be sacrificed for my homeland’s pure soil.
[Refrain] Since your love became my calling,
Never far are my thoughts from you.
In your cause, when do our lives have value?
Eternal may the land of Iran be.
The stones of your peaks are jewels and pearls,
Greater than gold are your valleys’ soils.
When would I ever doff your ardor?
Tell me what I’d do without your fervor?
As long as the earth revolves and the sky cycles,
The light of the Divine will always guide us.
[Refrain] Since your love became my calling,
Never far are my thoughts from you.
In your cause, when do our lives have value?
Eternal may the land of Iran be.
Iran, O my gorgeous paradise,
Bright is my destiny because to you.
Even if fire on my body rains,
I’ll cherish naught but my love for you.
I am made of your love, your waters and your earth,
If your love leaves my heart, empty it will become.
[Refrain] Since your love became my calling,
Never far are my thoughts from you.
In your cause, when do our lives have value?
Eternal may the land of Iran be.
Perspectives 
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