This song has been subject to major re-interpretations which in some cases have lead to a situation where the song itself does not make much sense.
These are the original lyrics which make sense and follow a logical story line, bringing the real beauty of this wonderful song.
Original Bosnian lyrics
Sejdefu majka budila
‘Ustani
kćeri moja Sejdefo’
‘Sunce je davno
granulo
Jutro je davno
svanulo’
‘Ti misliš majko
Da ja spim
Ja ti se
mlada s’ dušom dijelim’
‘Zovi mi majko
hećima,
I prvo
moje gledanje.’
‘Što smo se majko
gledali,
U šajki lađi na more,
Mogla bi boljka da mine.’
English translation
Mother was waking up Sejdefa
‘Wake up my daughter Sejdefa.’ [mother says]
‘Sun has long risen,
Morning has long dawned.’ [mother says]
‘You think mother
that I am sleeping,
I am young, parting with my soul.’ [Sejdefa says]
‘Call for me mother
a doctor,
And my first love.’ [Sejdefa says]
‘Oh how we looked at each other,
On a boat in the sea,
The illness could be cured.’ [Sejdefa says]
Reference: Isaković, Alija (1990) Biserje: Antologija muslimanske književnosti. Opatija: “Otokar Keršovani”.
Published on 19th September 2009