Yassassin
| "Yassassin" | |
|---|---|
| Song | |
| B-side | "Repetition" |
"Yassassin" (Bowie's pronunciation /jɑːˈsɑːsɪn/) (also known as "Yassassin (Turkish for: Long Live)", and released in Turkey as "Yassassin (Yaşasın)") is a song written by David Bowie for the 1979 album Lodger. "Yassassin" is an incongruous reggae song with a Turkish flavour, and the third single to be released from Lodger, but only in the Netherlands and Turkey.
The song's title is derived from the Turkish verb used to wish someone a long life, spelled yaşasın (pronounced [jaʃaˈsɯn]), from the verbal root yaşa- 'live' with the third-person imperative ending; therefore yaşasın literally means 'May he or she live'.
Track listing
- "Yassassin" (Bowie) – 4:13
- "Repetition" (Bowie) – 2:59
Production credits
- Producers
- Musicians
- David Bowie - vocals, organ
- Dennis Davis - drums
- George Murray - bass
- Carlos Alomar - rhythm guitar
- Tony Visconti - lead guitar
- Simon House - violin
- Everyone - background vocals
Cover versions
- Litfiba - 12-inch single (1984)