# Grbavica (song)

"Grbavica" is a Bosnian patriotic song recorded by Bosnian rock vocalist Mladen Vojičić Tifa for his fourth studio album of the same name (1997). It was written by Dragan Jokić and composed by Mustafa Čizmić.

## Writing, composing and recordings

"Grbavica" was first recorded in 1993 by prominent Bosnian rock vocalist Mladen Vojičić Tifa, in Sarajevo under the siege, during the Bosnian War. After the war in 1997, following the song's huge popularity especially among Sarajevo residents, Tifa included Grbavica as the title song of his eponymous solo rock-album of the same name. The song also became the unofficial anthem for Sarajevo-based football club FK Željezničar Sarajevo, and the most popular chant amongst the club's main supporti group.

## Popularity and receptions

Željezničar's main support group, The Maniacs, and its many affiliate sub-groups, perform Grbavica before the kick-off in every game at home stadium Grbavica.

## Background

Grbavica is an urban neighborhood in the city of Sarajevo, across the Miljacka river which cuts through the city's longitudinally. During the period of the siege in the war, from 1992 until reintegration in 1996, the neighborhood saw heavy fighting, with all of its non-Serb population murdered or expelled, while its many urban parts with architectural and public landmarks, such as the iconic Hotel Bristol and Grbavica Stadium, ended being burnt or razed to the ground. The stadium, home-ground of FK Željezničar, was hit by numerous large caliber and incendiary ammunition and ordnance from Bosnian Serb forces positions with heavy artillery, getting eventually incinerated. After initially bombing its pitch, it was turned into the front line and laden with many land-mines by Serb militias.

## Lyrics

"Grbavica" lyrics in Bosnian and English.
| Lyrics in Bosnian | English translation |
| Hej Grbavice, rano ljuta Pritisla me teška tuga Na trenutak i pomislim Da si sada neka druga. Hej Grbavice, bolna si mi Iz daleka gledam ulice tvoje Tamo su slike djetinjstva moga Tamo je sve što je moje Ko život cijeli Miljacka dijeli Mene od krila tvog I ne znam kad ću al' znam da ću Doći do doma svog A onda Željin, stadion gledam Vidim ponos tvoj Život ću dati, al' tebe ne dam Jer ti si život moj Ne budi tužna kad čuješ pjesmu Bol što naša srca mori Jer svaki od nas što pjesmu pjeva Do zadnjeg se za tebe bori Zbog toga bola kad sa Bristola Na tebe gledamo Zbog ove pjesme, nazad se ne sm'je Nikom te ne damo | Hey, Grbavica, open wound A heavy sadness presses me down For a moment I presume That you're different now. Hey, Grbavica, you're ailing At your streets I gaze from afar Where I left my childhood pictures All is left there that is mine. Whole my life, the Miljacka splits apart Me from your lap And I don't know when, but I know that, I will come to my home. And then I gaze at stadium Željo's I behold your pride I'll lay down my life, but never give up on you For my life is you. Don't be sad when you hear a song The pain that slays our heart Because each of us sings the song Fights for you to the last. For that pain, when from Bristol We gaze upon you For this song, there is no going back We won't give you up to no one. |