Zarthír Laó

"Wake Up, My Son" (Armenian: Զարթի՛ր, Լաո) is an Armenian revolutionary folk song composed in the 1890s, lauding the Armenian fedayi leader Arabo. It was meant as an anti-Turkish propaganda song, as millions of Armenians have endured hardships during the Ottoman Empire.

Lyrics

There are many variations to this song, but below is the most common variant.

Armenian original

Armenian script	Latin script	IPA transcription
Խուժան ասկյար զօրք է ժողուեր Եկեր Մըշոյ դաշտն է պատեր։ Սուլթան կ՚ուզէ ջընջել մըզի. Զարթի՛ր, լաօ, մըռնիմ քըզի։ Խեղճ մըշեցին մեռաւ լալով, Օտար երկիրներ ման գալով Մեռաւ թուրքի հարկը տալով. Զարթի՛ր, լաօ, մըռնիմ քըզի։ Ի՞նչ անիծեմ թուրք ասկյարին, Որ սըպաննեց ջոջ Աբոյին։ Մեր յոյս թողեց օրօրոցին. Զարթի՛ր, լաօ, մըռնիմ քըզի։	Khuzhán askyár zorq e zhoghuyér Yekér Mshóy dashtn e patér. Sulthán quzé jnjél mzí. Zarthír, laó, mrrním qzí. Kheghc mshetsín merráv lalóv, Otár yerkirnér man galóv Merráv thurqí hárke talóv. Zarthír, laó, mrrním qzí. Inch anitzém thurq askyarín, Vor spannéts joj Aboyín. Mer yoys thvoghéts ororotsín. Zarthír, laó, mrrním qzí.	[χu.ˈʒɑn ɑs.ˈkjɑɾ zɔɾkʰ‿ɛ ʒɔ.ʁu.ˈjɛɾ] [jɛ.ˈkɛɾ mə.ˈʃɔj ˈdɑʃt.n‿ɛ pɑ.ˈtɛɾ] [sul.ˈtʰɑn kʰu.ˈzɛ d͡ʒən.ˈd͡ʒɛl mə.ˈzi] [zɑɾ.ˈtʰiɾ lɑ.ˈɔ mər.ˈnim kʰə.ˈzi] [χɛʁt͡ʃ mə.ʃɛ.ˈt͡sin mɛ.ˈrɑv lɑ.ˈlɔv] [ɔ.ˈtɑɾ jɛɾ.kiɾ.ˈnɛɾ mɑn gɑ.ˈlɔv] [mɛ.ˈrɑv tʰuɾ.ˈkʰi ˈhɑɾ.kə tɑ.ˈlɔv] [zɑɾ.ˈtʰiɾ lɑ.ˈɔ mər.ˈnim kʰə.ˈzi]   [int͡ʃ ɑ.ni.ˈt͡sɛm tʰuɾkʰ ɑs.kjɑ.ˈɾin] [vɔɾ sə.pɑn.ˈnɛt͡sʰ d͡ʒɔd͡ʒ ɑ.bɔ.ˈjin] [mɛɾ jɔjs tʰvɔ.ˈʁɛt͡sʰ ɔ.ɾɔ.ɾɔ.ˈt͡sʰin] [zɑɾ.ˈtʰiɾ lɑ.ˈɔ mər.ˈnim kʰə.ˈzi]

English translation

Mobs of soldiers have gathered
And surrounded the plain of Moush.
The sultan wants to wipe us out;
Awake, my son, I die for you.

Poor Moushetsi died drowned in tears,
Walking through foreign lands
Died paying taxes to the Turk;
Awake, my son, I die for you.
 
What shall I say to curse the Turk soldier,
Who killed our own chief Arabo.
And left our hopes in the cradle;
Awake, my son, I die for you.

Trivia

• During the 2013 Armenian anti-government protests opposition MP Zaruhi Postanjyan sang the song in front of the Presidential Palace in Armenia's capital Yerevan.
• It appears in the 1967 film Triangle directed by Henrik Malyan.
  • The song is used as a wake up call to fight against Nazi Germany.