# Ederlezi (song)

"Ederlezi" is a popular traditional folk song of the Romani people in the Balkans.
The song got its name from Ederlezi, which is a festival celebrating the return of springtime, especially by the Romani people of the Balkans, and elsewhere around the world. Ederlezi is the Romani name for the Feast of Saint George. It is 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.

## Versions

The song is featured on Bijelo Dugme's 1988 album Ćiribiribela under the title "Đurđevdan" ("St. George's Day"). Goran Bregović, the frontman of Bijelo Dugme, wrote the Serbo-Croatian lyrics. Bregović also recorded a version with Greek lyrics, titled "Του Αη Γιώργη" ("Tou Ai Giorgi", "Saint George's"), with Greek singer Alkistis Protopsalti in 1991. The Greek lyrics are credited to Lina Nikolakopoulou. Bregović also worked with Turkish singer Sezen Aksu on her album titled Düğün ve Cenaze (A Wedding and a Funeral) featuring a version with Turkish lyrics, titled ("Hıdrellez") in 1997. The lyrics were adapted by Aksu and Pakize Barışta. Finally, together with Polish singer Kayah he also recorded a version with Polish lyrics, titled "Nie ma, nie ma ciebie".
Bulgarian group Ku-Ku Band, with lead singer Slavi Trifonov, released the song on several albums with Bulgarian lyrics, titled "Гергьовден" ("Gergyovden", "St. George's Day"); Serbo-Bulgarian lyrics, titled "Свети Георги" ("Sveti Georgi", "St. George"); and Romani-Serbo-Bulgarian lyrics, titled "Erdelezi". The band Beirut, Italian saxophonist Daniele Sepe, and the Boston-based band Bury Me Standing also do covers of "Ederlezi". The Gypsy Rebels of Toronto, Ontario also cover the song, featuring the vocals of Micheal T. Butch and his band. Kroke released a version of the song as well.
A Bosnian version was released by the folk-punk musical group No Smoking Orchestra on their 2007 album Time of the Gypsies, Punk Opera. A beatbox/trip version was released by French band "Plume Tribu" on their 2010 album Le Chainon Manquant.

## In popular culture

Goran Bregović's version titled "Ederlezi (Scena Djurdjevdana Na Rijeci)" was famously used in Emir Kusturica's movie Time of the Gypsies. It was performed by the Macedonian singer Vaska Jankovska.
"Ederlezi (Scena Djurdjevdana Na Rijeci)" also appeared in the movie Borat, although it has no connection to the authentic music of Kazakhstan. The text in brackets in Serbo-Croatian means: "The scene of Đurđevdan on the river", a description of a Đurđevdan celebration on a river in the movie Time of the Gypsies where that song was used. Sacha Baron Cohen's movie does not have a Đurđevdan river scene. 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 arranged the song.
A.I. Rising (2018), a Serbian science fiction film, was originally entitled Ederlezi Rising.
A portion of "Ederlezi (Scena Djurdjevdana Na Rijeci)" was also featured in Lazy Square's (or Lenivko Kvadratjić) unofficial "Russian art film" reimagining of The Simpsons popular opening sequence "couch gag".
Ederlezi is used as OST for the map "Outpost" in Wargaming's video-game, World of Tanks. This version is composed by Andrey Kulik and Ivan Kucherenko, with beats by Ilya Tereshchuk and vocals by Aleksey Vanchuk.

## Lyrics

| Lyrics in Romani | English translation | Bijelo Dugme's cover | English translation |
| Sa me amala oro khelena Oro khelena, dive kerena Sa o Roma daje Sa o Roma babo babo Sa o Roma o daje Sa o Roma babo babo Ederlezi, Ederlezi Sa o Roma daje Sa o Roma babo, e bakren chinen A me, chorro, dural beshava Romano dive, amaro dive Amaro dive, Ederlezi E devado babo, amenge bakro Sa o Roma babo, e bakren chinen Sa o Roma babo babo Sa o Roma o daje Sa o Roma babo babo Ederlezi, Ederlezi Sa o Roma daje | All my friends are dancing the oro Dancing the oro, celebrating the day All the Roma, mommy All the Roma, dad, dad All the Roma, oh mommy All the Roma, dad, dad Ederlezi, Ederlezi All the Roma, mommy All the Roma, dad, they slaughter lambs But me, poor, I am sitting apart A Romany day, our day Our day, Ederlezi The Roma give, dad, a lamb for us All the Roma, dad, they slaughter lambs All the Roma, dad, dad All the Roma, oh mommy All the Roma, dad, dad Ederlezi, Ederlezi All the Roma, mommy | Proljeće na moje rame slijeće Đurđevak zeleni Đurđevak zeleni Svima osim meni Drumovi odoše a ja osta Nema zvijezde danice Nema zvijezde danice Moje saputnice Ej kome sada moja draga Na đurđevak miriše Na đurđevak miriše Meni nikad više Evo zore evo zore Bogu da se pomolim Evo zore evo zore Ej đurđevdan je A ja nisam s onom koju volim Njeno ime neka se spominje Svakog drugog dana Svakog drugog dana Osim đurđevdana | Spring is landing on my shoulder Lily of the valley is sprouting Lily of the valley is sprouting For everyone, except for me The roads are gone, but I've stayed There is no Morning Star There is no Morning Star My fellow-traveler Hey, to whom does my darling now Smell of the lily of the valley Smell of the lily of the valley To me never again Here comes the dawn, here comes the dawn So I can pray to God Here comes the dawn, here comes the dawn Hey it's St George's day And I am not with the one I love Let her name be mentioned On every other day On every other day Except on St George's day |
| Greek cover | English translation | Bulgarian cover | English translation |
| Απ' τους ώμους να, η Άνοιξη περνά, γύρω φτερουγίζει, ξεχνάει εμένα. Μέρα της χαράς ποια ζωή φοράς; Δρόμο δρόμο παίρνεις χωρίς εμένα. Του ουρανού πουλιά πάρτε με αγκαλιά το βουνό γεμίζει κεριά αναμμένα Nα κι η Πούλια ξημερώνει το Θεό παρακαλώ μα το φως που δυναμώνει δε μου φέρνει δε μου φέρνει 'κείνον που αγαπώ. Το όνομα του ανθός, ευωδιάς βυθός, πείτε στα κορίτσια να μην το λένε μέρα σαν κι αυτή στ' Άη Γιωργιού τ' αφτί, που όλα τα τραγούδια για αγάπη κλαίνε. | Look over the shoulders, spring passes, flutters all around, it forgets me Day of joy, which life do you carry? Υou take the road without me. Birds of sky, take me in your embrace the mountain fills with lit candles There it is the morning star, it’s breaking, I beg God but the light which becomes stronger it doesn’t bring me it doesn’t bring me the man that I love. His name (is) flower, depth of perfume tell to the girls not to say that On the day like this one, at Saint George’s ear where all the songs weep for love. | Пролетта на рамото ми кацна, жива и зелена,(x2) скоро е Гергьовден. Слънце пак мечтите съживява, млади и горещи,(x2) скоро е Гергьовден. Припев: Е-е-е-е-е-е-е Свети Георги ще помолим с нас по пътя да върви, Свети Георги, тебе молим е-е-е-е дай ни сила с наш'та орис пак да се преборим! Други пътища ще ни повикат, заедно ще тръгнем,(х2) дойде ли Гергьовден. И над нас звезди ще се посипят, мъката ще скрият,(х2) дойде ли Гергьовден. Припев: (х3) | Spring is now upon my shoulders, Lively and green,(x2) St. George's day will be here soon. The Sun revives our dreams again, young and passionate,(x2) St. George's day will be here soon. Chorus: E-e-e-e-e To St. George we're gonna pray to guide us on our path , St. George, we beg you e-e-e-e-e-e give us strength to overcome our bad fate once again! Other path will be laid in front of us, we will go together,(x2) when St. George's day is here. And stars will strew over us, they will hide our sorrows,(x2) when St. George's day is here. Chorus: (x3) |
| Turkish cover | English translation | Polish cover | English translation |
| Bahar oldu aman Al kese astım gül dalına Adadım yarin adına İki göz oda. Dağ yeşil, dallar yeşil Uyandılar bayrama Her gönül şen Bir benim bahtım kara. Kokuyor buram buram Fulyalar vakit tamam Bir bana uğramadı Bu bahar bayram. Ağlama hıdrellez Ağlama be bana Acı ektim yerine Aşk yeşerecek, yeşerecek Başka bahara. Ne yolu var ne izi Tanıdık değil yüzü Dilerim Allah'tan Aşk sözün özü. Sevdiğim yok, eşim yok Ağardı bir gün daha Ey benim şans yıldızım Gülümse bana. | The spring has come, I've put up a red pouch on a rose's branch, I've vowed a house with two rooms In the name of the lover The mountain is green, the branches are green They woke up for the bayram All hearts are happy Only my fate is black Jonquils are smelling everywhere, It's time. This spring, I'm the only one To whom bayram has not confronted Don't cry hıdrellez Don't cry for me I've sowed pain, and instead of it, Love will sprout, will sprout In another spring. He/She has neither a way (known) nor a trace His/Her face is not familiar The long and short of it, My wish from the God is, love. I don't have anyone I love, I don't have a spouse One more day has dawned. O my star of luck! Smile to me | Zima na ramiona moje spadła Niewinnością białym śniegiem Pierwsza gwiazda już na niebie Nie ma nie ma ciebie Ogień tańczyć zaczął już w kominie A choinka się zieleni Serca ludziom opromieni Moje w kamień zmieni Śnieg zasypał dzisiaj wszystkie drogi Niewinnością białym płaszczem Twoich śladów nie wypatrzę Nie mam cię na zawsze Hej moje góry i doliny Widziałyście może dziś Dokąd odszedł mój jedyny Hej Bóg się rodzi Moc truchleje Nie ma nie ma ciebie Hej moje góry i doliny Odpowiecie może mi Dokąd odszedł mój jedyny Hej Bóg się rodzi Moc truchleje Nie ma nie ma ciebie | The winter has fallen on my shoulders With the innocence and white snow First star has blazed on the sky You are not, you are not here, The fire already started dancing in the chimney Christmas tree greens, It will brighten people’s hearts Mine will be turned into stone Snow has covered all the roads With the innocence and white coat I will not see your traces I do not own you forever Oh, my mountains and valleys Perhaps you have seen Where has my dear gone Oh, God is being born The Powers tremble You are not, you are not here Oh my mountains and valleys Perhaps you can tell me Where has my dear gone Hey, God is being born The Powers tremble You are not, you are not here |