Serj Tankian new song" Artsakh "

Serj Tankian penned a new song called “Artsakh” and he’s just released a video to go along with it.

“These people have lived on those lands for thousands of years,” the singer writes in an intro at the top of the video. “They have struggle but also great beauty written on their foreheads.

The whimsical appropriation of land by an empire (Stalin) placed them under Azerbaijan. They have since gained their independence and have lived a prosperous existence for the last 20 or so years. I do not believe in wars and ultimately borders but I deeply believe in self-determination and life without oppression. Therefore it is time for the world to recognize them as the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh).”

According to the Washington Post, the war sparked in early April, with Azerbaijan’s president Ilham Aliyev calling for the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Armenian troops from the territory. But the violence worsened before a ceasefire was declared on April 5.

The English translation to Tankian’s words can be viewed below.

We’ve always lived on these lands, Reaped and Harvested these fields, Generations sprung from your rivers, Children born from your mountains,

The public mask of tradition, The struggle for liberation or death, The enemy’s gaze at your terrain, Our smiles at your bosom, At your bottomless will.

We’re going to sing with our fists With the tricolor flag of justice, Humanitarian love of peace With the holy blessing of a child’s face, We are going to prevail with culture We are going to prevail with culture We are going to prevail by being Armenian.