While performing his mandatory military service, the young man contracts tuberculosis (verem), a devastating disease at the time.
Today, the song is considered a classic of the makam and is a staple in the repertoire of Turkish folk music, often cited as one of the most emotional "ağıt" examples. zara_hastane_onunde_incir_agaci
He is granted leave to return to Yozgat for "change of air" (convalescence). However, when he returns, his fiancée's family—fearing the contagious nature of the disease—prevents him from seeing the girl he loves. While performing his mandatory military service, the young
The young man eventually passes away in the hospital, and his words were later compiled and turned into the folk song known today. In some versions of the story, it is said that the lyrics were written by a classmate of a young man named Nedret, who was studying at the Pazarören Village Institute and died of the same illness. when he returns