The distribution of the “Khomeini, O Imam” anthem

Translated by Mandana Karimi

2025-3-6

I wrote the “Khomeini, O Imam” anthem before the victory of the revolution, meaning when Imam left Najaf for Paris. At that time Imam’s announcements were sent to Iran. If you remember, when the announcements came, they were distributed like a nightly newspaper. Fellows threw them inside the nearby houses at night. Speeches were recorded on cassette tapes and were going from hand to hand. Anyhow, these announcements and speeches were recorded on one side of the tape and the other side was empty. The fellows who distributed these tapes came and said: “rhyme something to record on the other side of the tape, so Imam’s sayings are covered.” I gave them a couple of anthems “Rise With the Remembrance of Ashoora ” and “Khomeini, O Imam”, which I do not remember the lyrics of “Rise With the Remembrance of Ashoora” right now.

Now I have forgot its lyrics. This anthem was recorded and distributed secretly by some of the trusted fellows and their friends and families. This was continued almost until the Imam’s arrival. I figured that if Imam comes, the first place he will go to is Behesht-e Zahra. Because of the currents before the revolution and the massacre they committed against the people, we had a lot of martyrs. The anthem I wrote and recorded on tape for Imam, was in people’s hands. They played the tape in their cars and those who got into the car would hear it and that’s how it was distributed. Also, it was not just “Khomeini, O Imam” that I wrote, there was another one I wrote for the prisoners. I do not remember exactly but the anthem started with the word “prisoner”, which we mostly had Ayatollah Taleghani in mind. I could not memorize these for a reason, because I was really afraid that they would break into our house at any moment and cause trouble. If these tapes were gone, maybe Mr.Shamsayi has them because he was the one recording them. The last recording of “Khomeini, O Imam” was when Imam wanted to come to Iran. Iran’s situation was chaotic and everyone was waiting for Imam’s arrival. Tehran was about to explode. The royal family were about to runaway and we were doing the last recording of “Khomeini, O Imam” for them to sing there and then “Rise up, O martyrs of the path of God”.

Source: Mostafa Feyz, Haal-e Ahle-e Dard (Moroori Bar Khaterat Va Ash’ar-e Hamid Sabzevari), The Feeling of People of Pain (The Memoirs and Poetries of Hamid Sabzevari). Tehran, Islamic Revolution Documents Center, 2007. Pp 176-179.

I wrote the “Khomeini, O Imam” anthem before the victory of the revolution, meaning when Imam left Najaf for Paris. At that time Imam’s announcements were sent to Iran. If you remember, when the announcements came, they were distributed like a nightly newspaper. Fellows threw them inside the nearby houses at night. Speeches were recorded on cassette tapes and were going from hand to hand. Anyhow, these announcements and speeches were recorded on one side of the tape and the other side was empty. The fellows who distributed these tapes came and said: “rhyme something to record on the other side of the tape, so Imam’s sayings are covered.” I gave them a couple of anthems “Rise With the Remembrance of Ashoora ” and “Khomeini, O Imam”, which I do not remember the lyrics of “Rise With the Remembrance of Ashoora” right now.

Now I have forgot its lyrics. This anthem was recorded and distributed secretly by some of the trusted fellows and their friends and families. This was continued almost until the Imam’s arrival. I figured that if Imam comes, the first place he will go to is Behesht-e Zahra. Because of the currents before the revolution and the massacre they committed against the people, we had a lot of martyrs. The anthem I wrote and recorded on tape for Imam, was in people’s hands. They played the tape in their cars and those who got into the car would hear it and that’s how it was distributed. Also, it was not just “Khomeini, O Imam” that I wrote, there was another one I wrote for the prisoners. I do not remember exactly but the anthem started with the word “prisoner”, which we mostly had Ayatollah Taleghani in mind. I could not memorize these for a reason, because I was really afraid that they would break into our house at any moment and cause trouble. If these tapes were gone, maybe Mr.Shamsayi has them because he was the one recording them. The last recording of “Khomeini, O Imam” was when Imam wanted to come to Iran. Iran’s situation was chaotic and everyone was waiting for Imam’s arrival. Tehran was about to explode. The royal family were about to runaway and we were doing the last recording of “Khomeini, O Imam” for them to sing there and then “Rise up, O martyrs of the path of God”.

Source: Mostafa Feyz, Haal-e Ahle-e Dard (Moroori Bar Khaterat Va Ash’ar-e Hamid Sabzevari), The Feeling of People of Pain (The Memoirs and Poetries of Hamid Sabzevari). Tehran, Islamic Revolution Documents Center, 2007. Pp 176-179.