'Kele Lao': Let’s go home

Longing for the lost lands of Western Armenia is a common motif in Armenian music. Our folk tradition is rife with references—both literal and figurative—of the villages and towns where Armenians prospered for centuries but have almost ceased to exist. The song, "Kele Lao," (meaning “Come Hither, Child” in the Sasuntsi dialect) is one example. The singer calls for his/her child, so that they may return together to mr erkir (“our homeland”) of Sasun.

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• New York-based artist, Hooshere, performs a more electro-ballad rendition of "Kele Lao." Take a listen below. 

Full Translation (by us)

*A fruit found in the lush fields of Mush and mountains of Sasun.

** Birds native to the Armenian Highlands.