While the melody is now synonymous with celebrations and halay dances, the lyrics reflect Hastave's protective love for his "dark-skinned" daughter:
: One hot summer day, nine-year-old Sultan woke up from a nap and saw a street vendor selling fresh black grapes . She desperately wanted some, but Hastave checked his pockets and found he didn't have a single kuruş (cent) to buy them.
: The song was written by Mehmet Durak Şerbetçi , known locally by the nickname "Hastave" . He was a simple peddler who lived in a horse-drawn carriage with his young daughter, Sultan.
: "A single black grape seed; my heart doesn't love everyone." This line is said to refer to how he held his daughter dear above all others.