Content
Recordings
Laši ratji, muri gaži is an old Lovari song that harkens back to the original craft of the group, horse trading. It is considered a prison song because the protagonist wants to buy his way out of prison by selling two foals. The recording was made in 1992 at the Nikolić family home during a field research interview.
musical transcription
This is a typically old, slow song both in terms of melody and text. The lament of a man who is in prison and asks his wife to bail him out is a common motif. The song also includes specific textual formulas that characterize the old Lovari songs.
On their CD Ruzsa Shej, Ruža Nikolić-Lakatos and The Gypsy Family have published this version of Laši ratji, muri gaži. It is noteworthy that this song has not been changed from its original version for the CD production, both in terms of text and melody. Merely the instrumental accompaniment was made to be much fuller.
This recording was made by Mozes F. Heinschink in December 1968 in the Nikolić family’s caravan house. The guests are heard commenting in the background. The interactive nature of this type of singing in a traditional context is exemplified.
Commentary
(GERMAN ONLY) Ruža Nikolić-Lakatos and Mišo Nikolić explain the meaning of Laši ratji, muri gaži to ethnomusicologist Ursula Hemetek. The singer emphasizes that it is an old, traditional song.
Lyrics
Stanza 1
| Sa tumara patjivake, Romale! | All in your honour, Roma! |
| Jaj de laši ratji, muri gaži | Good evening, my wife. |
| o Del tusa, muro gažo. | God be with you, my husband, |
| De andem tuke duje khuren, | I brought you two foals, |
| duje khuren tista lole. | two foals, chestnut in colour. |
Stanza 2
| Jaj de te andan len, muro gažo, | If you brought them, my husband, |
| šude pre lo tjo sersamo. | put the harness on them. |
| Jaj de šude pre le salivari, | Put a bridle on them |
| de de le te xan kukurizo. | and give them corn to eat. |
Stanza 3
| Jaj de ande pelem aba, mamo, | I have fallen, mother, |
| ando baro vesedelmo. | into the great prison. |
| Jaj de bikjin, mamo, kodoj khuren | Mother, sell the foals |
| taj le mange fiškarušes. | and get me a lawyer. |
Stanza 4
| Jaj de taj le mange fiškarušes, | Get a lawyer for me, |
| te na den ma but beršora. | so they don’t give me many years. |
| Ke but beršora te dena ma, | For if they give me many years, |
| jaj de mamo, mindjar mudarav ma. | I’ll end my life right away, mother. |
Stanza 5
| Jaj de žutisar ma, bara Devla, | Help me, great God, |
| na muk aba te xasajvav, | don’t let me perish, |
| ke terno sim me inke, Devla. | for I am still young, God, |
| Jaj de kamav vi me slobodija. | and I too love freedom. |
Stanza 6
| Apal phendas: | Then he said: |
| Jaj de kamav vi me slobodija, | I also want to be free, |
| te šaj žav me karing khere, | so I can go home, |
| jaj de te šaj žav me karing khere, | so I can go home, |
| jaj de karing mure xurde šave. | to my little children. |
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Music and Minorities Research Center, "Laši ratji, muri gaži", Ružake gila, zuletzt besucht am Loading date..., doi.org/10.21939/1y4d-6m45
