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.

A

Ah, što ćemo ljubav kriti

Ah, što ćemo ljubav kriti^[1]

Oh, Why Would 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 would we hide our love

When I have to be yours

My heart is no longer my own

It belonged to you, my dear

What draws me to you like that

The feelings torment me

Either take me or kill me

Do not allow to another [one/man] to kiss me

Aj, kolika je Jahorina planina

Aj, kolika je Jahorina planina^[2]

Oh, how big is Jahora's mountain

Aj, kolika je Jahorina planina, (x2)

Aj, siv je soko preletjeti ne može, (x2)

Aj, a kamoli dobar junak na konju! (x2)

Aj, djevojka je pregazila bez konja! (x2)

Aj, svi Bosanci dobre konje sedlaju, (x2)

Aj, a Bosanke ruse kose češljaju! (x2)

Oh, how big is Jahora's mountain, (x2)

Oh, the gray falcon cannot fly over it, (x2)

Oh, let alone a good hero on a horse! (x2)

Oh, the girl ran over it without a horse! (x2)

Oh, all Bosnians saddle good horses, (x2)

Oh, and Bosnian women comb their red hair! (x2)

E

Emina

Emina was originally a poem written by Bosnian Serb poet Aleksa Šantić, being first published in 1902.^[3] 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 sevdalinka songs of all time.^[4]^[5]^[6]

Emina

Emina^[7]

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 there in the garden, in the shade of a jasmine,

With a pitcher in her hand stood Emina.

What beauty she is! By iman I could swear,

She would not be ashamed if she were near a sultan.

And when she walks and moves her shoulders,

Not even a Hodja's amulet could help me!

I offered her salaam, but I could swear by my faith,

Beautiful Emina does not even want to hear it,

Instead she scooped water in a silver pitcher,

And then downway the garden she went to water the roses.

A wind blew from the branches, and then down her lovely shoulders

Unraveling those thick braids of her.

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 one frowning look,

Not even caring, she naughty person, that I am starving 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 Mostar neighborhood 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 been under the tent,

Nobody but Mujo, suffering wounds painfully.

He was lifting his head off the pillow,

Having glanced at a saber with dark look in his eye:

"Oh, my saber of parent of mine,

Oh, of parent of bey Isay-bey.

You gave me so, so much of grief,

So much of grief around of Biograd.

You gave me so, so much of grief,

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, how bright moonlight is

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, how bright moonlight is,

But Isabeg's Lady is even more beautiful!

She gave birth to nine girls

And the tenth she carries beneath her belt.

When duke was going away, duke Isay-bey,

He tells to his faithful love:

"Oh, for God's sake, my faithful love,

If you give birth even to a tenth daughter,

Near the house the poplar tree grows,

Lower of the house the Drina river flows,

Either hang yourself or jump into Drina!"

She's given birth to the tenth daughter,

And wraps in white silk,

Then throwing her into cold Drina:

"Let's go, my daughter, your mother will follow you!"

Then she goes back to the white tower,

Then she is calling for nine girls:

"When your father is back home from downtown,

And then asks you where your mother is –

'There's mother in cold Drina!'"

Once duke Isa-bey saw,

Once he saw what he had done,

His heart broke of bereavement.

K

Kad ja pođoh (na Bembašu)

Kad ja pođoh (na Bembašu)

Karanfil se na put sprema

A Bosnian traditional folk song.^[8] Although the song is much older, the first known recording was in 1935^[9] 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.^[10]^[11]

Karanfil se na put sprema^[12]

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 dear saddles his horse and weeps

Oh, karanfil, my flower from garden

Aman, aman, my flower from garden

You are departing leaving me so young

Aman, aman, leaving me so young

I am leaving you to 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 [one/man] 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 beloved [one/man], mine

Karanfilka brings his horse and weeps:

"Karanfil, my name and yours,

With whom are you leaving me crazy young?"

"I'm leaving you with your mother and mine."

"If I don't have you, bey, next to me

When I leave 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, crazy young?"

"I'm leaving you with my mother and with yours."

"What do I care for your mother and mine

If you leave me miserable young sad?"

"If I don’t have you, bey, next to me

When I leave into the bedchamber to sleep

That bedchamber seems a prison to me."

Kraj potoka bistre vode

Kraj potoka bistre vode^[13]	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 a stream Of crystal clear water Forest green Unhappy, 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, young, So I can die on your chest 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.^[14]^[15]

Kraj tanana šadrvana

Near a Poor Fountain

Kraj tanahna šadrvana,

Gdje žubori voda živa,

Šetala se svakog dana,

Sultanova kćerka mila.

Svakog dana jedno ropče,

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 poor fountain,

Where vivid water 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,

From the tribe of old Azras,

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^[16]

My Darling^[17]

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 beloved [one/man], where do you betake yourself?

Oh, why don't you lead even me there?

Lead me to downtown

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^[18]^[19]^[20]^[21]^[22]^[23]^[24]

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 beloved [one/man],

Hey, my desire,

Aman, on the tower he sits!

His faithful love he kept on his lap.

Hear, Omer, my beloved,

Hey, my happiness,

Aman, on his lap he kept!

"My faithful love, I will marry another [woman]!"

Hear, Omer, my beloved,

Hey, my desire,

Aman, I will marry another!

Get married my agha, I'm glad too.

Hear, Omer, my beloved,

Hey, my desire,

Aman, I too am getting married.

R

Razbolje se lijepa Hajrija (Beautiful Hajrija Became Ill)
Razbolje se Sultan Sulejman (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.^[25] 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, respectively.

Sejdefu majka buđaše^[26]

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 young age I'm parting with my soul

Call to me 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 (River Flowed Through the Stream and Divide)
Teško meni jadnoj u Saraj’vu samoj (It's Difficult for Me, a Poor [Woman] Alone in Saraj'vo)

Z

Zapjevala sojka ptica (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)

References

^ "Čar crne žuči". Blic. 23 November 2010. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
^ "Vajta i pjesma "Aj, kolika je Jahorina planina"" [Vajta and the song "Aj, kolika je Jahorina planina"]. Radio Sarajevo. 19 January 2018. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
^ "Il volto di Šantić". Balcancaucaso. 1 August 2013. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
^ "Bolje da ne pevaš". dw.de. 12 July 2013. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
^ "Un sentimento bosniaco". Girodivite. 31 October 2008. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
^ "Zaboravljeni junaci jednog vremena". doznajemo. 22 November 2012. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
^ Aleksa Šantić (1902). "Emina - Aleksa Šantić - English translation". SpiritofBosnia. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
^ "Stjepko Gut: Izraslo je badem drvo". Novosti. 29 May 2011. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
^ "from Configurations in Darkness". bowed. 24 August 2002. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
^ "On the Composition of Women's Songs" (PDF). Journal.oraltradition. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
^ "Troglav Arapin i Mujin Halil. PN6417". ted.lib.harvard. 26 April 1935. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
^ "Ispraćaj". Vreme. 27 March 2003. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
^ "Kraj potoka bistre vode tekst". Kamioniavioni. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
^ "Der Asra by Heinrich Heine". PoemHunter. 20 April 2010. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
^ "Sjećanje na pjesnika "starih Azra"". dw.de. 13 December 2009. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
^ "Original text - Bosnian - moj dilbere". 25 May 2008. Archived from the original on 17 August 2010. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
^ "* My Sweetheart *". Retrieved 13 August 2013.
^ "Amira, "Amulette"". FoxyDigitalis. 28 November 2011. Archived from the original on 13 August 2013. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
^ "Sevdah je izašao iz bosanskih granica". Novossti. 6 August 2011. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
^ "Josipa Lisac – Omer beže / Niz polje idu babo". Discogs. 5 February 1974. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
^ "Josipa Lisac - glamurozna rokerica na glumačkoj sceni". Nacional. 24 August 2010. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
^ "Nada Mamula – Omer beže na kuli sjeđaše". Discogs. 1964. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
^ "Zaboravljena junaci jednog vremena". Doznajemo. 28 April 2013. Archived from the original on 9 August 2013. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
^ "Zdravko Čolić: Sve mogu sa pesmom". Novosti. 31 December 2010. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
^ "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.
^ "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.

[1] "Čar crne žuči". Blic. 23 November 2010. Retrieved 13 August 2013.

[2] "Vajta i pjesma "Aj, kolika je Jahorina planina"" [Vajta and the song "Aj, kolika je Jahorina planina"]. Radio Sarajevo. 19 January 2018. Retrieved 17 July 2022.

[3] "Il volto di Šantić". Balcancaucaso. 1 August 2013. Retrieved 13 August 2013.

[4] "Bolje da ne pevaš". dw.de. 12 July 2013. Retrieved 13 August 2013.

[5] "Un sentimento bosniaco". Girodivite. 31 October 2008. Retrieved 13 August 2013.

[6] "Zaboravljeni junaci jednog vremena". doznajemo. 22 November 2012. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013. Retrieved 13 August 2013.

[7] Aleksa Šantić (1902). "Emina - Aleksa Šantić - English translation". SpiritofBosnia. Retrieved 13 August 2013.

[8] "Stjepko Gut: Izraslo je badem drvo". Novosti. 29 May 2011. Retrieved 13 August 2013.

[9] "from Configurations in Darkness". bowed. 24 August 2002. Retrieved 15 August 2013.

[10] "On the Composition of Women's Songs" (PDF). Journal.oraltradition. Retrieved 15 August 2013.

[11] "Troglav Arapin i Mujin Halil. PN6417". ted.lib.harvard. 26 April 1935. Retrieved 15 August 2013.

[12] "Ispraćaj". Vreme. 27 March 2003. Retrieved 13 August 2013.

[13] "Kraj potoka bistre vode tekst". Kamioniavioni. Retrieved 13 August 2013.

[14] "Der Asra by Heinrich Heine". PoemHunter. 20 April 2010. Retrieved 13 August 2013.

[15] "Sjećanje na pjesnika "starih Azra"". dw.de. 13 December 2009. Retrieved 13 August 2013.

[16] "Original text - Bosnian - moj dilbere". 25 May 2008. Archived from the original on 17 August 2010. Retrieved 13 August 2013.

[17] "* My Sweetheart *". Retrieved 13 August 2013.

[18] "Amira, "Amulette"". FoxyDigitalis. 28 November 2011. Archived from the original on 13 August 2013. Retrieved 13 August 2013.

[19] "Sevdah je izašao iz bosanskih granica". Novossti. 6 August 2011. Retrieved 13 August 2013.

[20] "Josipa Lisac – Omer beže / Niz polje idu babo". Discogs. 5 February 1974. Retrieved 13 August 2013.

[21] "Josipa Lisac - glamurozna rokerica na glumačkoj sceni". Nacional. 24 August 2010. Retrieved 13 August 2013.

[22] "Nada Mamula – Omer beže na kuli sjeđaše". Discogs. 1964. Retrieved 13 August 2013.

[23] "Zaboravljena junaci jednog vremena". Doznajemo. 28 April 2013. Archived from the original on 9 August 2013. Retrieved 13 August 2013.

[24] "Zdravko Čolić: Sve mogu sa pesmom". Novosti. 31 December 2010. Retrieved 13 August 2013.

[25] "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.

[26] "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.

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[26]

List of Bosnia and Herzegovina folk songs

A

Ah, što ćemo ljubav kriti

E

Emina

I

Istom zora na iztoku rudi

J

Ja kakva je sjajna mjesečina

K

Kad ja pođoh (na Bembašu)

Karanfil se na put sprema

Kraj potoka bistre vode

Kraj tanana šadrvana

M

Moj dilbere

O

Omer-beže na kuli sjeđaše

R

S

Sejdefu majka buđaše

T

Z

See also

References

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