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Folk Dance Federation of California, South, Inc.

Croatian Song Words
Compiled by Dick Oakes


Ćiro
        A man's name

/ Kad se Ćiro oženio
Ćabar masti potrošio. /
 
        Chorus:
        / Ćaj, Ćiro, sjedi s mirom,
        U cure ne diraj! /
 
Sjedi Ćiro za odžakom
namaz'o se sa kajmakom.
 
     Chorus
 
Sedi Ćiro za trpezom
namaz'o se sa pekmezom.
 
     Chorus
 
Sjedi Ćiro navrh slame
brkovima plaši vrane.
 
     Chorus
 
  When Chiro got married
he used up a whole tub of butter.
 
        Chorus:
        Hey Chiro, sit quiet,
        leave the girls alone!
 
Chiro sat behind the chimney
and smeared himself with sour cream.
 
     Chorus
 
Chiro sat at the table
and smeared himself with jam.
 
     Chorus
 
Chiro sat atop a haystack
and scared the crows with his moustache.
 
     Chorus
 


Ja Sam Sirota
        I am an orphan

Ja sam sirota, neman nikoga,
// Oce neman, majke neman, ja sam sirota. //
 
A ja igirgigam, irotice ti, nemoj plaketi,
// Ja cu tebe poljubiti, pa ces cutati. //
 
Mene diridika, ja sam sirota, al' sam bogota
// Jer je ljubim jednog momka crno oka dva. //
 
  I am an orphan, I have no one.
No father, no mother I am an orphan.
 
You poor girl, don't weep and cry.
I shall kiss you, then you will not cry.
 
I am an orphan, but I am rich,
For I have the love of a boy with two dark eyes.
 


Kalendara Kolo
        Calendar circle dance

// Meni kažu kalendari,
da s'u kolo svi bećari. //
 
// Meni kažu stare knjige,
da s'u kolu sve nebridge. //
 
// Meni kažu star ljudi,
da s'u kolu dobo sudi. //
 
// Meni kažu stare babe,
da s'u kolu sve barabe. //
 
// Meni kažu mlade snaše,
da s'u kola šuše plaše. //
 
  Calendars tell me
That in the circle dance all men are cocky young fellows.
 
Old books tell me
That in the circle dance everyone is carefree.
 
Old men tell me
That in the circle dance one can judge well.
 
Old women tell me
That in the circle dance all are scoundrels.
 
Young wives tell me
That nerds are afraid of the circle dance.
 


Kiša Pada (Posavski Drmeš)
        Rain falls

Precveli su plavi tulipani,
/ Ženite se garavi derani, /
Precveli su plavi tulipan.
 
        Chorus:
        Ana ana ini nena evo mojega dragana.
        Ana ana ini nena evo mojega dragan.
 
Kiša pada, neven vene,
/ Zaboravi diko mene. /
Kiša pada neven ven.
 
     Chorus
 
Višnja zrije, polje se zeleni,
/ Hoće noćas dika doći meni? /
Višnja zrije, polje se zelen.
 
  The blue tulips have bloomed.
Get married, you dark guys.  

 
        Chorus:
        Here's my sweetheart.
 
 
Rain falls, the marigold wilts.
Forget me, sweetheart.
 
 
     Chorus
 
The cherry is ripe, the field is green.
Will my sweetheart come to my place tonight?
 


Kriči, Kriči, Tiček
        Chirp, chirp, little bird

/ Kriči, kriči, tičk, na suhem grmeku. /
/ Kaj je tebi, a moj tiček, kaj si tak turoben? /
 
/ Kriči, kriči, tičk, na suhem grmeku. /
/ Kaj je tebi, a moj tiček, kaj si tak turoben? /
 
/ Kaj si zgubil dragu, kaj te je lubila? /
/ Kaj je tebe a moj tiček, draga ostavila? /
 
/ Nije mene moja draga ostavila. /
/ Nije mene moja mila draga ostavila. /
 
/ Već sam zgubil krila, nem'rem poleteti. /
/ Već sam zgubil laka krila, nemrem poleteti. /
 
/ Zato tebe, draga, v jesen nem'rem zeti. /
/ Zato tebe4, mila draga, v jesen nem'rem zeti. /
 
  Chirp, chirp little bird, on the dry branch.
What's the matter, my little bird, why are you so sad?
 
Chirp, chirp little bird, on the dry branch.
What's the matter, my little bird, why are you so sad?
 
Did you lose your sweetheart who loved you?
Did your sweetheart leave you, my little bird?
 
My dear sweetheart did not leave me.
My dear sweetheart did not leave me.
 
I have lost my wings, I can no longer fly.
I have lost my light wings, I can no longer fly.
 
That's why, darling, I can't marry you this fall.
That's why, darling, I can't marry you this fall.
 


Lepa Moja Milena (Zenil si me Sirotek)
        My beautiful Milena

Kupol sem joj čimice
Da bi bolša bila,
Čimice je ponosila
Još je gorša bila.
 
/ Ne kupuj, ne trošuj
Tvoja neću biti. /
 
/ Trninaj, trninaj,
Trninica moja. /
  I bought her little boots
So she'd be nicer.
She wore the little boots
And was even worse.
 
Don't buy, don't spend the money,
I will not be yours.
 
Blackthorn bush, blackthorn bush,
My little blackthorn bush.

Second and third verse, substitute
lajbešec (vest) and pantlešec
(ribbon) for
šizmice.


Lepa Anka Kolo Vodi
        Pretty Anka leads the circle dance

//// Lepa Anka kolo vodi ////
//// Kolo vodi i govori ////
//// Alaj su mi oči ćarne ////
//// Oći ćarne usne male ////
 
  Pretty Anka leads the circle dance,
Leads the circle dance and says:
"Oh, what dark eyes I have,
Dark eyes and fine lips."


Ličko Kolo
        Circle dance from Lika

/ Pjevaj mi, pjevaj, sokole, /
Šalaj sokole.
 
/ K'o što si sinoć pjevao, /
Šalaj pjevao.
 
/ Pod moje drage pendžerom, /
Šalaj pendžerom.
 
/ Moja je draga zaspala, /
Šalaj zaspala.
 
/ Studan joj kamen pod glavom, /
Šalaj pod glavom.
 
/ Ja sam joj kamen izmak'o, /
Šalaj izmak'o.
 
/ A svoju ruku podmak'o, /
Šalaj podmak'o.
 
/ Neka se raga naspava, /
Šalaj naspava.
 
/ I nek se mene nasanja /
Šalaj nasanja.
 
  Sing to me, sing, oh falcon

 
As you sang last night,

 
Under my sweetheart's window.

 
My sweetheart fell asleep,

 
Cold was the stone under her head.

 
I took away the stone

 
And put my arm there.

 
May my sweetheart have a good sleep

 
And dream of me!
 


Moja Diridika
        My sweetheart

Moja diridika
/ jore na vol vol volove, /
jore na volove. /
 
A ja igirgigam
/ i pjevam za njirgirgime, /
i pivam za njime. /
 
Mene diridika
/ zove večeralgalgati, /
zove večerati. /
 
Fala, diridiko,
/ ja sam včeralgalgala, /
ja sam večerala. /
 
Bela, bela 'leba,
/ i žuta pasuljgugulja, /
i žuta pasulja, /
 
Pa me, pa me nešto
/ po trbuvu žuljgugulja, /
po trbuvu žulja ... /
 
Dva krumpirgirgira,
/ za lukom maširgirgira, /
za lukom mašira. /
 
  My sweetheart
is plowing with oxen,
is plowing with oxen.
 
And I dance
and sing after him,
and sing after him.
 
Sweetheart
invites me to dinner
invites me to dinner.
 
Thank you, sweetheart,
I have eaten,
I have eaten.
 
White bread
and brown beans,
and brown beans,
 
But something
in my belly pinches,
in my belly pinches ...
 
Two potatoes
and a scallion,
and a scallion.
 


Oj 'Rastiću Šušnjati (Slavonsko Kolo)
        Oh rustling oak tree

/ Oj 'rastiću šušnati,
Zaigramo veselo, hajd'u kolo sve selo. /
/ Ja b' se hćela udati
A još nezam igrati. /
 
/ Ajde malo korova,
Deder malo korova. /
/ Ded' posviraj korova
Da Igramo korova. /
 
/ Čaj, čaj, čapove,
tavanica 'rastove, /
/ jelove grede.
Na me momci glede! /
 
Koga ćemo da šta ćemo?
Te, te, nevolje.
Koga toga dok toroga?
Te te novolje.
 
Gledala sam stare babe
gde se ljube uz tarabe.
A ja svoga đuvegiju
pritisnula uz kapiju.
 
Sviraj mista, čiča Rista.
Ako nećeš izgorećeš.
Ovako se kupus gazi.
Ako ne znaš, a ti pazi.
 
Sviraj, svirko, makar crko!
Zašto si me 'vamo vrko?
Sada sviraj do zore.
Mene noge ne bole.
 
  Oh rustling oak tree,
teach me to dance.
I want to get married
but I still don't know how to dance.
 
Hey, a little weed dance,
let's have a little weed dance.
Well, play weed dance music
so we can dance weed dance.
 
Hey, hey laths,
oak ceilings,
pine fences!
The boys look at me!
 
Whom shall we and what shall we?
Oh woe, oh woe.
This one or that one or that one?
Oh woe, oh woe.
 
I have seen old women
getting kissed by the fence.
But I hugged my bridegroom
by the doorway.
 
Play Mista, old man Rista.
If you don't, you'll burn up.
This is how to walk on cabbage.
If you don't know it, then watch out!
 
Play musician, even if you die!
Why did you drag me back here?
Now play till dawn.
My feet don't hurt!
 


Opšaj Diri
        Lie down

Ajd' u kolo sve selo, zaigrajmo veselo,
Zaigramo (zapjevajmo) veselo, ajd' u kolo sve selo.
 
        Chorus:
        / Opšaj diri, diri diri di, opšaj dara, dara dara dar. /
 
Moj je dragi grane list, ljepši nego runolist,
Ljepši nego runolist, moj je dragi gore list.
 
     Chorus
 
Od kad imam dragana, ne dam više tavana,
Ne dam više tavana, od kad imam dragana.
 
     Chorus
 
Oteli mi dragana, sva im duša garava,
Sva im duša garava, oteli mi dragana.
 
     Chorus
  Let's dance all around the village, singing cheerfully.
We'll sing happily, all around the village.
 
        Chorus:
        / Opšaj diri, diri diri di, opšaj dara, dara dara dar. /
 
My love is a leaf from a tree, but more beautiful than edelweiss.
Nicer than edelweiss, my love is a leaf from a tree.
 
     Chorus
 
Since I have a sweetheart, do not give more loft.
Do not give more loft, since I have a sweetheart.
 
     Chorus
 
They grabbed my love, all their souls are black.
All their souls are black because they grabbed my sweetheart.
 
     Chorus


Rokoko Kolo
        Fancy girl's circle dance

Oj, divojko rokoko,
Ne ljubi te makar ko?
Ne ljubi te makar ko,
Oj, divojko rokoko?
 
Oj, divojko rokoko,
Ne ljubi te makar ko?
Mene ljubi momak mlad,
Crna oka, golobrad.
 
Oj, divojko rokoko,
Ljubi l' tebe još i ko?
Mene ljubi oficir,
Provog reda granatir.
 
Oj, divojko rokoko,
Poljubi me u oko,
Ja ću tebe u čelo,
Pa će biti veselo.
 
Turčin šerbet da pije,
Srbin piue rakije,
A švabica gracerbir,
Pa ti kaže: "Gib mir hir!"
  Hey, fancy girl,
Does anybody love you?
Does anybody love you,
Hey, fancy girl?
 
Hey, fancy girl,
Does anybody love you?
A young fellow loves me,
He has dark eyes and no beard.
 
Hey, fancy girl,
Does anybody else love you?
An officer loves me,
He's a first-class grenadier.
 
Hey, fancy girl,
Kiss me on the eye,
I'll kiss you on the forehead,
And we'll have a good time.
 
The Turk drinks sherbet,
The Serb drinks rakija [brandy],
The German girl drinks beer from Graz [Austria],
And tells you, "Give me that! [German for "Give me here!]"


Slavonsko Kolo
        Slavonia's circle dance

Hej ni momka kad naših seljaka
/ nit curica kad naših šokica. /
 
Bolji me nego vi.
Vi ste malo šašavi
Vidi vam se po nogama
da ne znate složit s nama!
Bolji naši nego baši;
naš vaše nadigraš!
 
Hej kad zaigra pusta Slavonija,
/ pod njima se zemlica uvija. /
 
Uze baba vriću maka
pa metnula kraj didaka.
Kad se kikod probudio
vriću maka zagrlio.
Tud su ruke, tud je glava,
kom je vragu noge dala?
 
Hej gospodine, čitaj sad novine.
/ Da gradimo prugu omladine. /
 
Hop, jore, na vijore,
ljubio bi sam' da more.
Ljubio bi i gajdaš,
samo seko da se daš!
 
Hej, majka piše brigadiru sinu
/ da izgradi novu domovinu. /
 
Hop, čiću, poskočiću,
pridrž'te me, odletiýu
il' u vriću il' u džak
il' sa dragim u budžak!
 
  Hey, there are no finer lads than our village lads,
and no girls finer than our Slavonian girls.
 
We are better than you are.
You are a little crazy.
One can see by your feet
that you can't keep in step with us.
Our dancers are better than yours;
ours have out-danced yours.
 
Hey, when great Slavonia starts to dance,
the earth moves beneath them.
 
Grandma took a bag of poppyseed
and put it next to grandpa.
When grandpa woke up
he hugged the bag of poppyseed.
Here are the arms, here's the head,
what the devil has she done with her legs?
 
Hey, mister, read the newspapers.
We are building the youth railway.
 
Hey, running around like crazy,
that guy would steal a kiss if he could.
The bagpipe player would steal one, too,
if only you would give them out, girl!
 
Hey, a mother writes to her son in the work brigade
that he should build a new homeland.
 
Hey, chee-choo, I'm going to jump.
Hold me down, I'm going to take off
into a sack or into a bag
or into a corner with my sweetheart!
 


Sukačica (Sukačko Kolo)
        The cook (The cook's circle dance)

/ Sukačica gledi strica
Zgorela joj gibanica. /
 
        Chorus:
        / Dunaj, Dunaj, Dunaj ve,
        Dunaj vodo ladna. /
 
/ Sukačica, domarice,
Zgorele vam gibanice. /
 
     Chorus
 
/ Zgorele vam gibanice;
Prismudile i purice. /
 
     Chorus
 
/ Sukičica, pile peče
Iz pileta voda teče. /
 
     Chorus
 
/ Tancale su celu noćku
Pojele su s'perjem kvočku. /
 
     Chorus
 
  The sukačica was watching the old man
And her pastries burned.
 
        Chorus:
        Danube, Danube river, oh,
        Danube, cool water.
 
Hey, mussus sukačica,
Your pastries have burned!
 
     Chorus
 
Your pastries have burned;
And your turkeys are scorched.
 
     Chorus
 
The sukačica roasted a chicken,
And water ran out of it!
 
     Chorus
 
They danced the whole night through,
and ate up a hen, feathers and all!
 
     Chorus
 
(A sukačica is a woman who takes care
of cooking and baking at a wedding.)


Žita Kolo
        The grain's circle dance

/ Deder, Diko, pogodi,
Zašto žite ne rodi. /
/ Žito ne rodi,
Jer je svila u modi. /
 
/ Volim sunce i misec,
Volim zlatnu jabuku. /
/ Sunce i misedc,
Volim zlatnu jabuku. /
 
  Say, sweetheart, can you guess
Why the grain's not bearing?
The grain's not bearing
For silk's in style.
 
I love the sun and moon,
I love a golden apple.
The sun an the moon,
I love a golden apple.