List of Bosnia and Herzegovina folk songs

This is a list of folk songs and traditional sevdalinka songs which originated in Bosnia and Herzegovina but are also popular in Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia.

This list of songs or music-related items is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

A

Ah, što ćemo ljubav kriti

Ah, što ćemo ljubav kriti[1]	Oh, Why Should We Hide Our Love
Ah, što ćemo ljubav kriti kad ja moram tvoja biti Srce više nije moje tebi dragi pripalo je Šta me tebi tako vuče osjećaji mene muče Il' me uzmi il' me ubi nedaj drugom da me ljubi	Oh, why should we hide our love When I have to be yours My heart is no longer my own It belongs to you, my dear What draws me to you like this The feelings torment me Either take me or kill me Do not allow another to kiss me

E

Emina

Emina was originally a poem written by Bosnian Serb poet Aleksa Šantić, first published in 1902.[2] It became a popular sevdalinka covered by many artists from the former Yugoslav republics over the course of the 20th century. The subject of the song is Šantić's teenage neighbor, a Bosniak girl named Emina Sefić. It is one of the most well-known sevdalinkas of all time.[3][4][5]

Aleksa Šantić, author of Emina

Emina

Emina[6]

Sinoć kad se vraćah iz topla hamama, prođoh pokraj bašče staroga imama. Kad tamo u bašči, u hladu jasmina s ibrikom u ruci stajaše Emina. Ja kakva je pusta! Tako mi imana, stid je ne bi bilo da je kod sultana. Pa još kada šeće i plećima kreće, ni hodžin mi zapis više pomoć' neće! Ja joj nazvah selam. Al' moga mi dina, ne šće ni da čuje lijepa Emina, već u srebrn ibrik zahvatila vode, pa niz bašču đule zaljevati ode. S grana vjetar puhnu, pa niz pleći puste rasplete joj njene pletenice guste. Zamirisa kosa, k'o zumbuli plavi, a meni se krenu bururet u glavi! Malo ne posrnuh, mojega mi dina, al' meni ne dođe lijepa Emina. Samo me je jednom pogledala mrko, niti haje, alčak, što za njome crko'!

Last night, returning from the warm hamam I passed by the garden of the old Imam And lo, in the garden, in the shade of a jasmine, There with a pitcher in her hand stood Emina. What beauty! By iman I could swear, She would not be ashamed if she were at the sultan’s! And the way she walks and her shoulders move... -- Not even an Imam’s amulet could help me! I offered her salaam, but by my dīn, Beautiful Emina would not even hear it. Instead, scooping water in her silver pitcher, Around the garden she went to water the roses. A wind blew from the branches down her lovely shoulders Unraveling those thick braids of hers. Her hair gave off a scent of blue hyacinths, Making me giddy and confused! I nearly stumbled, I swear by my faith, But beautiful Emina did not come to me. She only gave me a frowning look, Not caring, the naughty one, that I am crazy for her!

Many artists have covered the song, but the version by fellow Mostar native, Bosnian singer Himzo Polovina, remains the most popular. Upon hearing of the death of Emina Sefić, Polovina went to poet Sevda Katica's home in the village of Donja Mahala. He found her in the yard of the family home, informed her of Emina's death and she shuddered with grief and spoke the verses:

New verses	Translation
Umro stari pjesnik, umrla Emina ostala je pusta bašća od jasmina salomljen je ibrik uvelo je cvijeće pjesma o Emini, nikad umrijet neće.	The old poet has died, Emina has died The empty garden of jasmine was left behind The pitcher is broken The flowers have withered The song about Emina, will never die.

Polovina recorded the song and added Sevda's new verses.

I

Istom zora na iztoku rudi

A very old Bosnian historical poem about Muhamed (Mujo) Isabegović, son of Isa-beg Ishaković.

Istom zora na iztoku rudi

Just now dawn is making the East red

Istom zora na iztoku rudi, siv se soko pod čadorom budi. Pod čadorom nikog ne bijaše, samo Mujo rane bolovaše. Sa jastuka glavu podizaše, mrkim okom sablju pogledaše: ”Sabljo moja roditelja moga, roditelja bega Isajbega. Dosta si mi jada zadavala, dosta jada oko Biograda. Dosta si mi jada zadavala, dosta muke oko Banja Luke.”

Just now dawn is making the East red, The grey hawk beneath the tent is waking up. Nobody's under the tent, Nobody but Mujo, who treats wounds painfully. He lifted his head off the pillow, Staring at his saber with dark look in his eyes: "Oh, my saber, my parent's saber, Oh, of my parent duke Isa-bey. You gave me so, so much trouble, So much pain around of Biograd. You gave me so, so much trouble, A lot of anguish around Banja Luka."

J

Ja kakva je sjajna mjesečina

Very old Bosnian traditional folk ballad.

Ja kakva je sjajna mjesečina

Oh, what a beautiful, bright moonlight

Ja kakva je sjajna mjesečina, Još je ljepša Isajbegovica! Ona rodi devet divojaka I desetu pod pojasom nosi. Kada pojde beže Isaj-beže, On govori svojoj vjernoj ljubi: “Oj, Boga ti, moja vjerna ljubo, Ako rodiš i desetu šćerku, Viš’ kuće ti jablan-drvo raste, Niže kuće Drina voda teče, Il’ se vješaj, il’ u Drinu skoči!” Ona rodi i desetu šćerku, I povija u bijelu svilu, Pa je baca u studenu Drinu: “Hajde, šćeri, majka će za tobom!” Pa se vraća u bijelu kulu, Pa doziva devet djevojaka: “Kad vam babo iz čaršije dojde, Pa vas pita gdje je vaša majka – ‘Eno majke u studenoj Drini!’” Kada vidje beže Isa-beže, Kada vidje šta je učinio, Od žalosti srce mu je puklo.

Oh, what a beautiful, bright moonlight, But Lady Isabegovic is even more beautiful! She gave birth to nine girls And the tenth she carries beneath her belt. When duke was going away, duke Isa-bey, He told to his faithful love: "Oh, for God's sake, my faithful dear lady, If you give birth to a daughter once again, your tenth daughter, Near the house the poplar tree grows, By the house the Drina river flows, Hang yourself or jump into the river Drina!" And so she bore her tenth daughter, Wrapped her baby in white silk, Then cast her into the frozen river Drina: "Farewell, my daughter, your mother will follow you!" So she went back to the white tower, She is calling for her nine girls: "When yours father gets back home, And asks you where your mother is – "There's she is in the icy river Drina" Once Duke Isa-bey saw what had happened, When he saw what he had done, All that grief broke his heart and his body.

K

Kad ja pođoh (na Bembašu)

• Kad ja pođoh (na Bembašu)

Karanfil se na put sprema

A Bosnian traditional folk song.[7] Although the song is much older, the first known recording was in 1935[8] in Gacko to the voice of a Bosniak peasant singer in her 60s named Halima Hrvo (née Đemo) from the village of Tjentište near Foča.[9][10]

Karanfil se na put sprema[11]

Karanfil Prepares for a Journey

Karanfil se na put sprema i pjeva aman, aman na put sprema i pjeva a draga mu konja sedla i plače Karanfile, cvijeće moje iz bašče, aman, aman, cvijeće moje iz bašče Ti odlaziš mene mladu ostavljaš aman, aman, mene mladu ostavljaš ostavljam te tvojoj majci i svojoj aman, aman, tvojoj majci i svojoj Šta će meni moja majka i tvoja aman, aman, moja majka i tvoja kad ja nemam svog dilbera kraj sebe

Karanfil prepares for a journey and sings aman, aman, prepares for a journey and sings while his bride saddles his horse and weeps Karanfil, my flower from my garden aman, aman, flower from my garden -"You are departing and leaving me, so young aman, aman, leaving me so young." -"I am leaving you with your mother and mine aman, aman, your mother and mine." -"What do I care for my mother and yours aman, aman, my mother and yours if I don't have my beloved next to me."

Halima Hrvo version; Bosnian

Halima Hrvo version; English

Karanfil se na put sprema, ej sprema E sprema, moj dilbere, moj Karanfilka konja vada i plače "Karanfile, ime moje, i tvoje, S kim ti mene ludu mladu ostavljaš?" "Ostavljam te s tvojom majkom i mojom." "Kad mi nema tebe bega kraj mene Kad ja pođem u ložnicu da spavam Men’ se čini ta ložnica tamnica." Karanfil se na put sprema, ej sprema Karanfilka konja vada i plače "Karanfile, ime moje i pleme! S kim ti mene ludu mladu ostavljaš?" "Ostavljam te s mojom majkom i tvojom." "Što će meni tvoja majka i moja Da m' ostavljaš jadnu mladu žalosnu?" Kad mi nejma tebe bega kraj mene Kad ja pođem u ložnicu da spavam Men’ se čini ta ložnica tamnica."

Karanfil prepares for a journey, hey prepares, Hey, prepares, my darling, mine Karanfilka brings his horse and weeps: "Karanfil, my name and yours, With whom are you leaving me, your innocent young bride? "I’m leaving you with your mother and mine." "If I don’t have you, my lord, next to me When I go into the bedchamber to sleep That bedchamber seems a prison to me." Karanfil prepares for a journey, hey prepares, Karanfilka brings his horse and weeps: "Karanfil, my name and family! With whom are you leaving me, your innocent young bride?" "I’m leaving you with my mother and with yours." "What do I care for your mother and mine If you leave me, a poor miserable bride? If I don’t have you, my lord, next to me When I go into the bedchamber to sleep, That bedchamber becomes a prison to me."

Kraj potoka bistre vode

Kraj potoka bistre vode[12]	By a Stream of Crystal Clear Water
Kraj potoka Bistre vode Šuma zelena Nevesela, zabrinuta Sjedi djevojka. Potok teče i protiče, Tiho žubori A djevojka, uplakana, Kroz plač govori: Vrati mi se, mlad junače, Dragi, mlađani, Da na tvojim grud'ma umrem Grud'ma vatrenim.	By the stream, With its clear waters, Where the forest is green, Unhappy and worried A girl is sitting. The stream is flowing and flowing away, Quietly gurgling And the girl, crying, Through her tears says: Come back to me, young hero, My dear sweet young hero, So I can die on your chest, Your fiery chest.

Kraj tanana šadrvana

Kraj tanana šadrvana was translated into Bosnian in 1923 by Aleksa Šantić from a poem called Der Asra (The Azra) by the German poet Heinrich Heine.[13][14]

Kraj tanana šadrvana

Near a Little Fountain

Kraj tanahna šadrvana, Gdje žubori voda živa, Šetala se svakog dana, Sultanova kćerka mila. Svakog dana jedno ropce, Stajalo kraj šadrvana, Kako vr'jeme prolazilo, Sve je blijeđe, blijeđe bilo. Jednog dana zapita ga, Sultanova kćerka draga: "Kazuj, robe, odakle si, iz plemena kojega si?" "Ja se zovem El-Muhammed, iz plemena starih Azra, što za ljubav život gube, i umiru kada ljube!"

Near a little fountain. where water vividly gurgles. The dear Sultan's daughter. walked by every day. Every day a lad was standing near the fountain. As time went on the lad became paler and paler. One day the Sultan's daughter asked him: "Tell us, boy, where do you come from? To which tribe do you belong?" "My name is Al Muhammad and I am from the Azra tribe who lose their heads for love and die when they love."

M

Moj dilbere

Moj dilbere has been in Bosnia since Ottoman times. The exact authors are unknown and Moj dilbere is considered to be a traditional song.

Moj dilbere[15]	My Darling[16]
Moj dilbere, kud’ se šećeš? Aj, što i mene ne povedeš? Povedi me u čaršiju, Aj, pa me prodaj bazardžiji Uzmi za me oku zlata Aj, pa pozlati dvoru vrata	My darling, where do you betake yourself? Oh, why don't you lead me there too? Lead me to the čaršija Oh, then sell me to the bazaar merchant. Take for me an oka of gold! Oh, then gild the door for the palace!

O

• Oj Užice, Mali Carigrade

Omer-beže na kuli sjeđaše

Omer-beže na kuli sjeđaše[17][18][19][20][21][22][23]

Bey Omer Sits on the Tower

Omer-beže na kuli sjeđaše. Čuj, Omere, dilbere, haj, željo moja, aman, na kuli sjeđaše! Vjernu ljubu na krilu držaše. Čuj, Omere, dilbere, haj, srećo moja, aman, na krilu držaše! "Vjerna ljubo, ženiću se drugom!" Čuj, Omere, dilbere, haj, željo moja, aman, ženiću se drugom! Žen' se ago, i meni je drago. Čuj, Omere, dilbere, haj, željo moja, aman, i ja se udajem.

Bey Omer sits on the tower. Hear, Omer, my darling, my desire, aman, on the tower he sits! His faithful love he kept on his lap. Hear, Omer, my darling, my happiness, aman, on his lap he kept! "My faithful love, I will marry another!" Hear, Omer, my darling, my desire, aman, I will marry another! Get married my Agha, I'm glad too. Hear, Omer, my darling, my desire, aman, I too, am getting married.

R

• Razbolje se lijepa Hajrija (Beautiful Hajrija Became Ill)
• Razbolje se Sultan Sulejman (The Sultan Suleiman Became Ill)

S

Sejdefu majka buđaše

Sejdefu majka buđaše is a folk song that is believed to have originated in Sarajevo centuries ago, while the region of Bosnia was a part of the Ottoman Empire.[24] The exact author is unknown.

Over the centuries, the song spread amongst the Bosniak populations in Podgorica and the Sandžak regions of Montenegro and Serbia.

Sejdefu majka buđaše[25]	Seydefa's Mother Wakes Her
Sejdefu majka buđaše ustani kćeri moja, Sejdefo Zar misliš majko da ja s'pim ja ti se mlada s dušom dijelim zovi mi majko komšije i prvo moje gledanje što smo se majko gledali u šajku lađu na more	Seydefa's mother wakes her Rise, my daughter Seydefa! Do you think, mother that I'm asleep? At this young age, I'm parting with my soul. Call the neighbors, mother And my first love. The one whose eyes met mine On a boat out at sea.

T

• Tekla rijeka potokom i jazom (The River Flowed Through the Stream and Divide)
• Teško meni jadnoj u Saraj'vu samoj (It's Difficult for Me, a Poor Girl Alone in Sarajevo)

Z

• Zapjevala sojka ptica (The Blue Jay Bird Sang)
• Zaplakala šećer Đula (The Sweet Rose Wept)
• Zaplakala stara majka (The Elderly Mother Wept)
• Zmaj od Bosne (Dragon of Bosnia)
• Zvijezda tjera mjeseca (The Star Chases the Moon)

See also

• List of Bosnia and Herzegovina patriotic songs
• Music of Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Sevdalinka

References

1. "Čar crne žuči". Blic. 23 November 2010. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
2. "Il volto di Šantić". Balcancaucaso. 1 August 2013. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
3. "Bolje da ne pevaš". dw.de. 12 July 2013. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
4. "Un sentimento bosniaco". Girodivite. 31 October 2008. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
5. "Zaboravljeni junaci jednog vremena". doznajemo. 22 November 2012. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
6. Aleksa Šantić (1902). "Emina - Aleksa Šantić - English translation". SpiritofBosnia. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
7. "Stjepko Gut: Izraslo je badem drvo". Novosti. 29 May 2011. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
8. "from Configurations in Darkness". bowed. 24 August 2002. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
9. "On the Composition of Women's Songs" (PDF). Journal.oraltradition. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
10. "Troglav Arapin i Mujin Halil. PN6417". ted.lib.harvard. 26 April 1935. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
11. "Ispraćaj". Vreme. 27 March 2003. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
12. "Kraj potoka bistre vode tekst". Kamioniavioni. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
13. "Der Asra by Heinrich Heine". PoemHunter. 20 April 2010. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
14. "Sjećanje na pjesnika "starih Azra"". dw.de. 13 December 2009. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
15. "Original text - Bosnian - moj dilbere". 25 May 2008. Archived from the original on 17 August 2010. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
16. "* My Sweetheart *". Retrieved 13 August 2013.
17. "Amira, "Amulette"". FoxyDigitalis. 28 November 2011. Archived from the original on 13 August 2013. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
18. "Sevdah je izašao iz bosanskih granica". Novossti. 6 August 2011. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
19. "Josipa Lisac – Omer beže / Niz polje idu babo". Discogs. 5 February 1974. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
20. "Josipa Lisac - glamurozna rokerica na glumačkoj sceni". Nacional. 24 August 2010. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
21. "Nada Mamula – Omer beže na kuli sjeđaše". Discogs. 1964. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
22. "Zaboravljena junaci jednog vremena". Doznajemo. 28 April 2013. Archived from the original on 9 August 2013. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
23. "Zdravko Čolić: Sve mogu sa pesmom". Novosti. 31 December 2010. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
24. "Stručnjaci tvrde: "Sejdefa" ne može biti dio srpskog muzičkog nasljeđa". 2 November 2012. Archived from the original on 5 December 2012. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
25. "Turkinja sa Kosova zapevala na srpskom u Sulejmanu Veličanstvenom!". Medio. 1 November 2012. Archived from the original on 5 December 2012. Retrieved 13 August 2013.