"Ederlezi" is a popular traditional folk song of the Roma minority in the Balkans.
The song got its name after Ederlezi which is a Spring festival, especially celebrated by Roma people in the Balkans, Turkey and elsewhere around the world. This holiday celebrates the return of springtime. Ederlezi is the Romani name for the Bulgarian and Serbian Feast of Saint George. It's celebrated on 6 May [O.S. 23 April] (occurring approximately 40 days after the spring equinox). The various Balkan spellings (Herdeljez, Erdelezi) are variants of the Turkish Hıdırellez, a holiday signaling the beginning of spring, occurring on the same day.
The former Yugoslav rock band Bijelo Dugme released a cover version of this song in Serbo-Croatian using the same melody, but with very different lyrics. Under the title "Đurđevdan je a ja nisam s onom koju volim" which is featured on their album Ćiribiribela from 1988. There is also another song's version made by Kroke. "Ederlezi" has been used for the movie Time of the Gypsies by Emir Kusturica, in Goran Bregović's version (titled "Ederlezi (Scena Djurdjevdana Na Rijeci)"), which actually made the song famous. It was performed by the Macedonian singer Vaska Jankovska, whose unique voice contributed to its success. The song also appeared in the movie Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, although it has no connection to the authentic music of Kazakhstan, as "Ederlezi (Scena Djurdjevdana Na Rijeci)". The text in the brackets means, in Serbian: The scene of Đurđevdan on the river - that is a description of the movie scene of Đurđevdan celebration on a river in the movie Time of the Gypsies where that song was used. Sacha Baron Cohen's movie doesn't have a Đurđevdan river scene. The song title (and description) was taken from Kusturica's movie soundtrack.[1][2] In both soundtrack albums – Time of the Gypsies and Stereophonic Musical Listenings That Have Been Origin in Moving Film "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan" – it was credited to Goran Bregović, although he is not the author nor the singer of the song on these albums. However, he is the arranger of the song. Bregović also recorded a version with Polish lyrics, titled "Nie ma, nie ma ciebie", together with Polish singer Kayah. The band Beirut (band) also does a cover of Ederlezi.
A version with Greek lyrics, titled "Tou Ai Giorgi" ("Saint George's", Greek: "Του Αη Γιώργη"), was also recorded by Bregović together with Greek singer Alkistis Protopsalti [3] in 1991. The Greek lyrics are credited to Lina Nikolakopoulou.
Bulgarian group Ku-ku band with lead singer Slavi Trifonov released the song in their several albums with all Bulgarian lyrics ("Гергьовден", Gergyovden, St. George's day) , Serbo-Bulgarian lyrics ("Свети Георги", Sveti Georgi, St. George) and Roma-Serbo-Bulgarian lyrics ("Erdelezi").
Turkish singer Sezen Aksu released the song in her album named "Düğün ve Cenaze" (Wedding and Funeral) with Turkish lyrics ("Hıdrellez") in 1997. Lyrics were adapted by Sezen Aksu and Pakize Barışta.
A Yugoslavian version was released by the folk-punk musical group the No Smoking Orchestra, on their album, Time Of The Gypsies, Punk Opera, released in 2007.
| Lyrics in Romani | English translation | Bijelo Dugme's cover | English Translation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Sa me amala oro khelena Sa o Roma babo, e bakren chinen E devado babo, amenge bakro |
All my friends are dancing the oro All the Roma, dad, slaughter lambs They give, Dad, a lamb for us |
Proljeće na moje rame slijeće Drugovi odoše a ja osta Ej kome sada moja draga Evo zore evo zore Njeno ime neka se spominje |
Spring is landing on my shoulder The friends are gone, but I've stayed Hey, to whom does my darling now Here comes the dawn, Let her name be mentioned |
|
| Greek cover | English Translation | Bulgarian cover | English translation | |
|
Απ' τους ώμους να, η Άνοιξη περνά, Του ουρανού πουλιά πάρτε με αγκαλιά Το όνομα του ανθός, ευωδιάς βυθός, |
Look over the shoulders, spring passes, Birds of sky, take me in your embrace His name (is) flower, depth of perfume |
Пролетта на рамото ми кацна, Припев: Други пътища ще ни повикат, Припев: (х3) |
Spring landed on my shoulder, Chorus: Other roads will call us, Chorus: (x3) |
| Turkish cover | English Translation | |
|---|---|---|
|
Bahar oldu aman Dağ yeşil, dallar yeşil Kokuyor buram buram Ağlama hıdrellez Ne yolu var, ne izi Sevdiğim yok, eşim yok |
The spring has come, The mountain is green, the branches are green Jonquils are smelling everywhere, Don't cry hıdrellez He/She has neither a way (known) nor a trace I don't have anyone I love, I don't have a spouse |