Gibi Gibi

Barış Manço's song 'Gibi Gibi' is a poetic exploration of the complexities and contradictions inherent in romantic relationships. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a love that is both tender and tumultuous, filled with mixed signals and unspoken emotions. The protagonist describes himself as a 'wounded wolf' and his lover as a 'hennaed lamb,' suggesting a dynamic where vulnerability and innocence are intertwined. This metaphor sets the stage for a relationship where love is seasoned with a bit of spice and playfulness, as indicated by the line 'a little coquetry is the pepper and salt of love.'

The recurring theme in the song is the lover's contradictory behavior. While she verbally tells him to leave, her eyes betray her true feelings, suggesting she wants him to stay. This duality is captured in the lines 'You tell me to go, but your eyes say stay.' The imagery of 'barley and wheat side by side needing no sickle' and 'a dark horse that doesn't heed stops once it rears' further emphasizes the natural, unstoppable force of their connection, despite the outward appearances of reluctance.

The song also delves into the emotional toll of this push-and-pull dynamic. The protagonist pleads for mercy, expressing that he has endured enough. The metaphor of 'poison's cure being milk and fig' and 'hands in handcuffs, heart in chains' illustrates the paradox of finding healing in the very source of pain. The song concludes with a declaration of unique love, stating that no one can love her like he does, and that someone like Barış comes once in forty years. This final assertion underscores the depth and rarity of his feelings, despite the lover's coy resistance.