Mostar Sevdah Reunion - Zapjevala sojka ptica
English Translation of the
Song and more
Info here!
- Song preformed by
Mostar Sevdah Reunion - "Zapjevala sojka ptica"
-
Beautiful picture in the video is made by a talented artist,
Mohamed from
Egypt -
http://negm933.deviantart.com/art/Rays-Of-Hope-136887573
English translation:
A Jay bird started singing, thinking its dawn already,
Aman, aman, thinking its dawn already.
Wake up Fatima, wake up love, start preparing your gifts,
Aman, aman, start preparing your gifts.
"I am young and poor, I have no gifts to give,
Aman, aman, no gifts to give."
"If you are so young and poor, why are you getting married,
Aman, aman, why are you getting married?
My old mather had me married, I didn't even know,
Aman, aman I didn't even want to.
When they sold me my dress, I thought it was Eid (*a holiday*) already,
Aman, aman, I thought it was Eid already.
*
Note: Sevdalinka (Sevdah - "
Love") is a traditional genre of folk music from
Bosnia and Herzegovina. The songs are old, and their authors are mostly unknown.
This particular song talks about an unfortunate girl whose mother arranged her marriage, without her even knowing. This tradition is of course no longer practiced in modern
Bosnia.
The reason why I love this song is because it tried to show the absurdity of this obsolete tradition, and was very mature for it's time.
Word "Aman" which is used here has no meaning and it's only purpose is to fill out musical bar. "Eid" is a
Muslim holiday. Nickname "
Fata" is short for Fatima.
Bosnian Lyrics:
Zapjevala sojka ptica misli zora je,
aman, aman, misli zora je.
Ustaj Fato, ustaj zlato, spremaj darove,
aman, aman, spremaj darove.
Ja sam mlada i sirota, nemam darova,
aman, aman, nemam darova.
Kad si mlada i sirota sto se udajes,
aman, aman, sto se udaješ.
Udala me stara majka nisam ni znala,
aman, aman, nisam ni htjela.
Kad mi ruho prodavaše mišljah bajram je,
aman, aman, mišljah bajram je.
Original song here by a Bosnian artist
Silvana Armenulić: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCPEERe8seE