Dedicated to Iran’s political prisoners.
This piece was written to bring awareness to the dire state of the prisoners of conscience in Iran, who languish under many a “dark night” under the most medieval forms of abuse, torture, rape, and routinely baseless executions. I cannot imagine the physical and emotional distress experienced by these brave beings and their loved ones for days, weeks, and sometimes years without end—and the courage they possess in looking for the light and freedom (“azadi”) at the end of the tunnel.
–Ahou

Chorus:
O Dark Night (Shabe siah)
Let me be
Set me Free
Release me

O sunrise
What’s on the other side
Your light comes bursting (Nooret meederakhsheh)
And I am free (Azadi)

Verse
I entered
The forest battleground
And saw
My ghost lying there

I nudged her
And said awaken
Freedom’s saints
Will resurrect from here

Chorus
O Dark Night (Shabe siah)
Let me be
Set me Free
Release me

O sunrise
What’s on the other side
Your light comes bursting (Nooret meederakhsheh)
And I walk free (Azadi)

Verse
This place
Is cold and foreign
Let’s leave these
Windows of wars

Outside
A shrine is built
Glories of which
Our instincts told
Chorus
O Dark Night (Shabe siah)
Let me be
Set me Free
Release me

O sunrise
What’s on the other side
Your light comes bursting (Nooret meederakhsheh)
My soul is free (Azadi)

Verse
I’m white
I’m cold
Sacred and scared
To unfold

I’m dark
I’m bold
I’ll beat my wings
And break these walls

(Azadi breakdown)

Chorus:
O Dark Night (Shabe siah)
I’ll break free
I will flee
From walls of tyranny (een zanjir hara pareh meekonam)

It’s a New Day
I stand on the other side
I dance in the sun’s rays
I’m finally free