The song's history dates back to World War II in Iran.[3] In September 1941, the Allied Forces occupied the country following the Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran. The idea of this poem inspired the poet when he saw the Allied flags waving from the military barracks and the deplorable situation of the country.[4] One day when visiting Khaleqi, Gol-e-Golab witnessed a clash between two Iranian and British soldiers. When Gol-e-Golab recounted the incident, he wanted to write a poem to keep Iran and the Iranian spirit alive in it. Khaleqi decided to compose the song and Banan would sing the poem.[5]
Gol-e-Golab was inspired to write this song by his patriotism. He was quoted as saying:
In 1944, the footsteps of the invading armies in the streets were enough to rattle any patriot and inspired me to write this anthem. Professor Ruhollah Khaleqi wrote the music and despite all the political opposition, it found its way into the heart and soul of the people.[6]
Its first performance was held for two consecutive nights on 27 October 1944 in the military primary school, performed by Banan on Istanbul Street. "Ey Irân" garnered a lot of popularity that listeners demanded its repetition; thus, it was renewed three times. The reception and impact of this anthem caused the then minister of culture to invite the musicians to the Sound Broadcasting Center to record a page of it and broadcast it daily on Radio Tehran.
After the Revolution of 1979, several people were imprisoned for collaborating in the preparation of this anthem, and singing it was considered a crime, but after a while, it was used to inspire soldiers in the Iran–Iraq War.[7]
In 1990, Golnoush Khaleghi, the daughter of Ruhollah Khaleqi, who was in Tehran for the 25th anniversary of her father's death, re-arranged the anthem for orchestra, solo and group singing, which was released on the album May Nab by Sorush Publications. The monologue in this version is performed by Rashid Vatandust.[8]
ای ایران ای مرز پرگهر
ای خاکت سرچشمه هنر
دور از تو اندیشه بدان
پاینده مانی تو جاودان
ای دشمن ار تو سنگ خاره‌ای من آهنم
جان من فدای خاک پاک میهنم
:برگردان
مهر تو چون شد پیشه‌ام
دور از تو نیست اندیشه‌ام
در راه تو کی ارزشی دارد این جان ما
پاینده باد خاک ایران ما
سنگ کوهت در و گوهر است
خاک دشتت بهتر از زر است
مهرت از دل کی برون کنم
برگو بی‌مهر تو چون کنم
تا گردش جهان و دور آسمان به پاست
نور ایزدی همیشه رهنمای ماست
برگردان
ایران ای خرم بهشت من
روشن از تو سرنوشت من
گر آتش بارد به پیکرم
جز مهرت در دل نپرورم
از آب و خاک و مهر تو سرشته شد گلم
مهر اگر برون رود تهی شود دلم
Ey Irân ey marze por gohar
Ey xâkat sarčešmeye honar
Dur az to andišeye badân
Pâyandeh mâni to jâvedân
Ey došman ar to sange xâreyi, man âhanam
Jâne man fadâye xâke pâke mihanam
Bargardân:
Mehre to čon šod pišeam
Dur az to nist andišeam
Dar râhe to key arzeši dârad in jâne mâ
Pâyandeh bâd xâke Irâne mâ
Sange kuhat dorr o gowhar ast
Xâke daštat behtar az zar ast
Mehrat az del key borun konam
Bargu bimehre to čon konam
Tâ gardeše jahân o dowre âsemân be pâst
Nure izadi hamišeh rahnamâye mâst
Bargardân
Irân ey xorram behešte man
Rowšan az to sarnevešte man
Gar âtaš bârad be peykaram
Joz mehrat dar del naparvaram
Az âb o xâk o mehre to serešteh šod gelam
Mehr agar borun ravad tohi šavad delam
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