Not Forgotten: Songs for Afghanistan is a compilation CD that was produced in 1999 – 2000 and released for the sole purpose of raising awareness about the plight of the Afghan people under the Taliban regime in the late 1990s. Nearly 24 years after the CD was released, the message of the album is sadly still relevant today.

In January 1999, I approached my good friend, George Winston, about a fundraising project for the women and children of Afghanistan. George had always been interested in Afghanistan, my father’s birthplace, and he asked me to send him my first song idea. “One Last Glance” was originally composed in 1985 for the Afghan refugees fleeing from the Soviet Occupation which lasted for 10 years, during which time 1.5 million Afghans perished.

George agreed to collaborate on a small fundraising project with me, and it evolved into an album of original songs, traditional Afghan songs sung by my father and cousin, and new interpretations of Afghan folk songs. Not Forgotten: Songs for Afghanistan was a true labor of love, recorded over two years at Different Fur studios in San Francisco, CA.

Khorshied Nusratty

We created the album to raise awareness about the inhumane conditions and oppression under Taliban rule in Afghanistan, and to raise funds to help Afghan women, children and people in their struggle to live with dignity under those terrible conditions. 

Twenty-four years later, the situation in Afghanistan is dire, the Taliban have returned to power, and the people are struggling to survive in one of the worst humanitarian disasters on the planet. Hundreds of thousands of Afghan refugees have fled and once again Afghan women and girls find themselves living in a nightmare without basic human rights, their freedom and dreams shattered under the weight of barbaric tyranny.

The Artists

This album is dedicated to the memory of my father, Hasan Nusratty, my cousin, Fatana Kohzad, and my good friend, George Winston, who all passed away too soon from the ravages of cancer.

Khorshied Machalle

Khorshied Machalle is a singer, songwriter, women’s rights activist and former actress. She wrote the words and music and sings on “One Last Glance,” “Don’t Turn Your Faces Away,” and “Stillness.” Khorshied produced this album with Howard Johnston in 1999 – 2000.

George Winston (1949 – 2023)

George Winston was a multi-talented pianist, composer and harmonica player, who is frequently credited with being at the forefront of New Age music. George was a multiple Grammy Award winner and sold over 15 million albums. George appears courtesy of RCA Records/Dancing Cat.

M. Hasan Nusratty (1933 – 2009)

Khorshied’s father, M. Hasan Nusratty was born in Kabul, Afghanistan and emigrated to the U.S. in 1955. Hasan could sing and recall hundreds of songs and poems by heart from his Afghan heritage, and inspired his children to appreciate music, culture and the art of the world. In fact, all three of his children lived and worked in Afghanistan because of their love for Hasan and their Afghan heritage. It is with great pride that Hasan appears on the album, singing “Amade Budi” and “Delberrah.”

Fatana Kohzad (1958 – 2023)

Khorshied’s cousin, Fatana Kohzad was born in Kabul, Afghanistan, and lived in the U.S. starting in 1973. A self-taught singer, Fatana sung songs in English, Farsi, French and Italian. Her amazing voice and great love of singing inspired her cousins and those around her for many years, and she appears on the album singing “Ai Sarabon” and “Mai Han.”

Sakhi Karimi

Sakhi Karimi is a harmonium and keyboard player and singer from Kabul, Afghanistan. He is married to Khorshied’s cousin, Qadria, and lives with her in Southern California. Sakhi plays harmonium on “Amade Budi” and “Ai Sarabon.”

Jawad

Jawad is from Afghanistan, was a freedom fighter during the Soviet occupation and was a political refugee from that war. It is common in Afghanistan to use only one name. Jawad plays harmonium on “Amade Budi” and “Ai Sarabon.”

Toryali Hashimy

Toryali Hashimy was living in refugee camps in Pakistan for over a year before he was granted refugee status in the United States in 1998. Toryali plays tabla on “Amade Budi” “Delbarrah,” “Ai Sarabon,” and “Mai Han.”

Omar Naim

Omar Naim was born in Kabul, Afghanistan, is a gifted singer and songwriter of Afghan-American songs and plays harmonium on “Mai Han”.

The Songs

One Last Glance

(8:13)
(by Khorshied Machalle)
Khorshied Machalle: Vocals
George Winston: Piano

 

Yesterday I had a home
In one dark moment I’m forced to roam
A refugee for eternity
Where, oh where, have my people flown

 

Why must I cry these heated tears?
How can I go on throughout the years?
Endlessly searching to quell my fears
For one last glance of the refugee

 

Last night I dreamed of Afghanistan
Fighting for freedom in a troubled land
The people were singing some ancient song
Where are they now, where do they belong?

 

Why must I cry these heated tears?
How can I go on throughout the years?
Endlessly searching to quell my fears
For one last glance of the refugee

 

The women are draped in their shrouded veils
Hiding in terror, you can hear their wails
Their dreams have been shattered, their sweetness robbed
It’s time to cry out, this madness must be stopped

 

Why must I cry these heated tears?
How can I go on throughout the years?
Endlessly searching to quell my fears
For one last glance of the refugee

 

For one last glance of Afghanistan…

 

© 1985/2002
 

Amade Bude

(6:00)
(Traditional, arranged by M. Hasan Nusratty, Sakhi Karimi, and Khorshied Machalle)
M. Hasan Nusratty: Vocals
Sakhi Karimi: Harmonium
Jawad: Harmonium
Toryali Hashimy: Tabla

 

The translation to this traditional Afghan song is as follows:

 

Kind and gracious, you appeared on the rooftop the eve before. Surprised was I, your face shining brighter than a full moon ever before.

 

Oblivious to the wonderment of the crowd gazing at me – ecstatic, absorbed at your grace. Knew not I what spectacle you had coyly come to face.

 

For people wishing to see your beauty brightening night’s darkness as a candle’s flame. Like rays of dawn emerging out of night’s darkness, gracefully you came.

 

Ai Sarabon

(O Caravan Leader) (5:07)
(Traditional, arranged by Fatana Kohzad and Sakhi Karimi)
Fatana Kohzad: Vocals
Sakhi Karimi: Harmonium
Jawad: Harmonium
Toryali Hashimy: Tabla

 

Move but slow – O Caravan leader (Cameleer)!
For the peace of my soul is among the riders

 

The heart I had within me
Departs with the one to whom I lost it

 

Hold the Caravan, O cameleer
Make no haste – I plead with you

 

For my soul mate, the graceful walking Cyprus (euphemism for beloved)
Departs along with your Caravan

 

Legend and tales abound
As to how the soul departs from body

 

Simple! For I witnessed with my own eyes,
How my soul departed with the Caravan

 

Don’t Turn Your Faces Away

(7:05)
(by Khorshied Machalle)
Khorshied Machalle: Vocals
George Winston: Piano

 

In the far away land of Afghanistan
In mysterious places unknown
Where beauty is hidden like treasure
In the silence of windowless homes

 

I long to dance in the moonlight
I long to walk in the breeze
I once stood free in the sunlight
Not once did I beg on my knees

 

In my dreams I remember warm summer days
The flat roofs of old Kandahar
Where we ate pomegranate with perfumed tea
And laughed in a river of stars

 

I long to run in the open wind
Feel rain as it cools on my skin
I long to hold my beloved
And never be treated as sin

 

What did we do to be treated this way?
When will this nightmare be over?
Proud, fierce, and noble ones
Don’t turn your faces away…

 

Still I trust in the kindness of family
See sadness in my father’s eyes
Pray daily for freedom’s sweet promise
Don’t listen to their heartless lies

 

I long to walk with my head up high
Smiling without any tears
I long to kiss in the open air
Never to tremble in fear

 

What did we do to be treated this way?
When will this nightmare be over?
Proud, strong, and noble ones
Don’t turn your faces away…

 

© 1999/2002

 

Attan Meli

(3:21)
(Traditional, arranged by George Winston)
George Winston: Solo Harmonica

 

Special thanks to M. Hasan Nusratty, Khorshied Machalle, and the Bruno Morris Dance Band (from their recording CAPER DIEM) for teaching George this wonderful song. Inspired by the great Afghan harmonium players. Played on a Lee Oskar Diatonic key of C harmonica, playing in the key of G. There is a definite relationship in style to Greek traditional music that can be traced to the times when Alexander occupied Afghanistan (known as Bactria) in 325 BC. Alexander established the cities of Kandahar, Herat and Balk, and encouraged his generals to intermarry with the peoples of this region. Many of the priceless artifacts and art that the Taliban destroyed in the Kabul museum could be traced to this ancient time, clearly showing the strength of Greek influence in this part of the world.

 

Mai Han

(Country) (3:24)
(Traditional, arranged by Fatana Kohzad and Sakhi Karimi)
Fatana Kohzad: Vocals
Omar Naim: Harmonium
Toryali Hashimy: Tabla

 

Homeland, O sweet homeland!
Memories of your love intertwined with the very fabric of my being

 

My whole body abounds with your love, O sweet homeland!
You brought me into being from nonexistence

 

And cherished me with love and kindness
I give my being and non-being for your sake, O homeland.

 

At every forum, every solitude and every joy and sorrow
I turn to you for worship, homeland, O sweet homeland.

 

Delberrah

(O Winner of my Heart) (4:15)
(Traditional, arranged by M. Hasan Nusratty, Khorshied Machalle)
M. Hasan Nusratty: Vocals
Toryali Hashimy: Tabla

 

O heart within me! Be not without the one who won it
My heart-winner better than a hundred hearts within me

 

Neither the heart within me, Oh!
Nor my heart-winner in my embrace

 

Send back my heart, enliven me!
Or send my heart-winner and give me new life.

 

Where were you the eve before?
Away you were from me the eve before!

 

Whom were you with and where?
So disloyal! Beauteous lover you were

 

I shed tears all night long because of your separation
Only I know that and He who created me

 

O soul mate, sweet lover come to me one fateful eve
I plead! And plead with you – come to me one fateful eve.

 

Stillness

(by Khorshied Machalle) (5:58)
Khorshied Machalle: Vocals
George Winston: Piano

 

Stillness
Stillness of the night
When I hold you in my sight
Glowing embers smolder bright
In the stillness of the night

 

Stillness
All around us holding tight
Like an angel taking flight
And we love with all our might
In the stillness of the night

 

Suspended in emotion
Set free into the night
Adrift in our own ocean
Lost in candlelight

 

Stillness
Stillness all around
Speaking words without a sound
Spinning softly to the ground
In the stillness all around
All around…

 

Stillness
All around us holding tight
Like an angel taking flight
And we love with all our might
In the stillness of the night

 

Suspended in emotion
Set free into the night
Adrift in our own ocean
Lost in candlelight

 

© 1999/2002

Credits

Not Forgotten: Songs for Afghanistan was recorded at Different Fur Studios in San Francisco, CA from January 1999 until December 2000. The album was produced by Khorshied Machalle and Howard Johnston. Howard Johnston handled the engineering with additional engineering by Justin Lieberman. The CD was mastered by Bernie Grundman at Bernie Grundman Mastering in Los Angeles, CA. 

Photo credits:
Steve McCurry – Afghan Mother and Child, Ghazni, Afghanistan (cover photo)
Harriet Logan – Kabul through a Burqa, Woman under the Burqa 
Luke Powell – Afghanistan landscapes, Afghan Women in Burqa 
Robert Mizono – Khorshied Machalle (portrait)

Video Credits:
Masoud Nawabi, Creative Director at TOLO Music, produced the One Last Glance video.
With special thanks to Saad Mohseni, Moby Group, for his support. 

Website Credits:
Tulio Cardozo designed and built the Artists for Afghanistan Foundation website (www.forafghanistan.org), and provided essential guidance throughout the process. 

Special thanks to my good friends Beverly Parenti and Chris Redlitz for their friendship, guidance and support for this project. (www.thelastmile.org