For many Kurds, the song is a "trauma" that triggers deep grief while simultaneously serving as a tool for political awakening and cultural survival. Artistic Elements
The lyrics confront the themes of suffering, oppression, and the silence of the international community.
Perwer's performance is known for its "gut-wrenching" intensity. He uses traditional Kurdish vocal styles (like the lawjê or long-air style) to evoke the sense of a funeral dirge.
Perwer often prefaces the song with a spoken-word introduction, comparing the tragedy of Halabja to other world atrocities like Hiroshima and Nagasaki to highlight its scale and inhumanity.
You can find the track and its lyrics on several major platforms: : Listen to the high-quality recording.
: Watch archival performances or reaction videos that explain the story.
The song serves as both a historical record and a deeply emotional lament for the approximately 5,000 victims who died in the gas attack.
: Read full English, Italian, and French translations of the lyrics. Helebçe - song and lyrics by Sivan Perwer - Spotify