Note: Georgian writer, performance artist, peace and human rights activist, Irakli Kakabadze has shared the lyrics and notes about the construction of two of his songs, "Condominium of Free Will" and "Brain Drain in Mississippi." YouTube links to each song have also been provided.

Condominium of Free Will

About this poem:

When it was written sometime ago, the intention was that people are free to chose their own identity. They can be free in any circumstances. We can always choose our own identity. That is why one of my friends has declared that he is AN ORTHODOX LESBIAN. But why? Yes, he has determined that he believes that he is the follower of Saint George Iverieli, who was martyred in 1770 for returning to his faith on the Island of Lesbos. According to different sources, Giorgi Gurji (or Iverieli) refers to his Georgian origins, as "Iverieli" means "from Iveria" (Georgia). This saint is celebrated as a martyr who endured persecution for his Christian faith during a period of Ottoman or Muslim rule in the region. His martyrdom in 1770 signifies his steadfastness in faith despite the risks. His feast day is observed with reverence, and he is considered a protector and patron saint for many believers. While Saint George Gurji is primarily associated with Georgia and the Greek Orthodox Church, his veneration extends beyond regional boundaries, especially among communities with historical ties to Orthodoxy. So, our friend chose to follow his path and become ORTHODOX LESBIAN.

But Mr. Buckwheat Disagreed.[1] 

Very strongly disagreed.

He and his propaganda machine have declared: YOU CANNOT BE ORTHODOX AND LESBIAN AT THE SAME TIME. And the persecution started. He was banned and banned and banned. Not only him—many others.

But why?

Since the beginning of Christianity there were and are and will be many Orthodox Christians on the Island of Lesbos. And in general, there are many Orthodox Lesbians. 

So:

There is a freedom in every condominium. Even is every cell. And this is a celebration of Freedom of Soul.

Lyrics: 

I choose, I choose, I choose,
To read Washington Post in the Morning,
Even though it is not full,
And it does not have an angry skull!

I choose, I choose, I choose,
To get up with Decaffeinated dreams every morning,
Then to chew up The Journal of Commerce,
And make an aphrodisiac comment!

I choose, I choose, I choose,
To go up the stairs of pot,
To eat the breakfast of forgotten streets,
To see that soon I will be killed by the coming thunder!

მინესოტაში მიყვარდა ჯინა, (I loved Gina in Minnesota,)
არიზონაში მიყვარდა დინა. (I loved Dina in Arizona.)
ნეტავი გამაგებინა: (I wish she would tell me:)
სად უნდა დავიდო ბინა?! (Where should I put my apartment?!)

I choose, I choose, I choose
To threaten the powers to be!
Even though sometimes I don’t even know about it,
When walking in Metropolitan Desert!

I choose, I choose, I choose,
To be with you and for you, my dear,
To see the streets of non-profit hope,
And admire honorable humanity in the congress!

Condominium of free will,
Is a good place that is not on Park Avenue,
There Bob Dylan will come and sing us a ballad,
And we will understand at last, we are not born to kill!

ერთხელ, დიდი ხნის წინათ (Once, long ago)
რკინა მომეჩვენა მინად. (Iron seemed like glass.)
და როცა ერთად დავფრინავთ: (And when we fly together:)
მაშინ ჩვენ არასდროს ვქშინავთ.. (Then we never fear..)

Condominium of free will,
Is a wonderful place in the palace of disorders,
In a penniless idea that not every disturbance is revolution,
And we shall contribute to the wildlife fusion!

Condominium of free will,
Mortgage is not so high over here,
And post existential paper clips,
Are distributed with your orange pens!

Condominium of free will,
When you are used to going up the hill,
And you can never-ever be still,
Not thinking about your next heating bill!

როცა კაცობრიობა ხვრინავს: (When humanity snores:)
და ღამე ეჩვენება დილად; (And the night seems like morning;)
და ჯერ ვერავინ დააკნინა, (And no one has yet abated it,)
ვერც დინა და ვეღარც ჯინა.. (Can neither rise nor fall..)

Brain Drain in Mississippi

About this poem:

In 1995, my friend Bud told me: there is a brain drain in Mississippi. I guess this was true back then. I don’t know if this is still true. I hope he is still doing well. In any case, lots of things have drained since. 

Who is radical? They ask now. The whole world is getting ready to kill. They compare the armies and fleet. They bomb each other. The news is scary. 

I am still a quarter hippie, I guess. I do not believe in violence. Even with overpopulation. Violence is not good. Quarter Hippie has his bias—does not want to join the liars. 

Which means: if you do not believe in violence today, you are a radical. I guess it is radical to be nonviolent today. To have a goofy image today is to believe in some sort of violence. It is impossible for him to do it. Still. 

Quarter Hippie still does not eat mustard. He still has his bias. Does not want to join the liars. 

In Georgian, "drain" sounds like გაჟონვა (leak).

By all means.

Lyrics:

გაჟონვა (Leakage).

Brain-drain in Mississippi, 
I am just a Quarter Hippie! 
And tornado in Kentucky, 
Hi, my name is blunt Irakli! 
I could go to Greenwich Village, 
And could have a goofy image! 
But the power admiration, 
Does not help imagination! 
And the way that we are taught, 
Doesn’t really fit my thought! 
And I refuse to adopt so long 
To the class division song!​​​ 

Brain-drain in Mississippi,
I am just a Quarter Hippie!​​​
​​​And the power admiration ​​

This is song of Quarter Hippie,

Does not help imagination!

Old ideas are worth of shipping, 
I can end my cognac zipping, 
And start just another tripping! 
I can see the old town gentry, 
They don’t want a gracious entry, 
They just want to be a rent-free, 
And extinguish poor more gently! 
I would never dial the number, 
Which would bring me power-hunger! 
I would never ever wonder, 
Whether I should kiss from under!​​ 

Brain-drain in Mississippi,
I am just a Quarter Hippie!​​​
I would never dial the number,​​

I would like to see lies ripping,​​

That would bring me power-hunger!

I would like to see truth striping! 
Brain-drain in Mississippi, 
I am just a Quarter Hippie! 
There’s a wind in Alabama, 
Bring me truth from Dalai Lama! 
Naked truth might be a drama, 
But I would go to face it, Mama! 
This old car has just four tires, 
California has big fires; 
Quarter Hippie has his bias, 
Doesn’t want to join the liars!​​ 

Brain-drain in Mississippi,
I am just a Quarter Hippie!​​​​
Quarter Hippie has his bias,
​​​​​Doesn’t want to join the liars!

Notes

[1] Mr. Buckwheat is extreme right wing media personality in Georgia, who leads government propaganda now.