Balada o magarcu

Dalmatian donkey.

Dalmatian urban song.

The donkey as a hardy animal was so important in the harsh Dalmatian environment that it even appears in songs.

This song is a typical example of parody, which clearly hints at a human analogy.

BALADA O MAGARCU	THE BALLAD OF THE DONKEY

Magarac je volija magaricu mladu,	The donkey loved a young female donkey,
oni su se volili samo za paradu.	but their love was only for show.
Nije, nije, nije pa nije,	It isn’t true, it isn’t, it isn’t,
nije to, majko, istina.	Mother, it isn’t true.

Magarca su upregli u teške samare¹,	They harnessed the donkey under heavy loads,
magaricu pustili da po polju pase.	The female donkey was left to graze in the field.
Nije, nije, nije pa nije,	It isn’t true, it isn’t, it isn’t,
nije to, majko, istina.	Mother, it isn’t true.

Magarac je krepa od silnih ubaca,	The donkey died from too many blows,
magarica našla je drugoga magarca.	The female donkey found herself another mate.
Nije, nije, nije pa nije,	It isn’t true, it isn’t, it isn’t,
nije to, majko, istina.	Mother, it isn’t true.

¹samar = sedlo za prenošenje tereta

Dalmatian culture website. Created in 1997 and maintained since then with minimal intervention. Contact.