Songs from the Exotic

Sevdalino, my little one,
are you still at home, my sweetheart?
you took all my money away:
five thousand piastres!
Give me back a little money my sweetheart,
that I might buy a pair of trousers.
Sevdalino, my little one...

In the lovely village of Nevesinje,
Bey Lujibovic writes a letter
and sends it to the Rocky Piva,
into the hands of Bey Pivlyanahin:

"Listen you, Bey Pivlyanahin,
You bit right into my heart, 
for you killed my brother.
Ahi! Ahi!
Come out you, I dare you to fight!
I give you three choices:
First at the rocky Korita,
second on Trusina Hill,
the third, where ever we should meet by chance:
If you lack the courage to fight,
I will send you an embroidering frame and a distaff,
and moreover an Egyptian cotton reel 
with a boxwood spindle;
you may weave for me a shirt 
and a lacy apron."

When the letter reached Baya,
he understood the contents:
he reached for his inkwell,
and wrote the Bey an answer.

!Quien hubiese tal ventura sobre las aguas del mar,
como hubo el conde Arnaldos la manana de San Juan! -
Con un falcon en la mano, la caza iba a cazar
vio venir una galera que a tierra quiere llegar.

Las velas traia de seda, la ejarcia de un cendal,
marinero que la manda diciendo viene un cantar
que la mar facia en calma los vientos hace amainar,
las peces que andan n'el hondo arriba los haces andar

las aves que andan volando n'el mastel las faz' posar
alli fablo el conde Arnaldos bien oreis lo que dira:
"Por Dios te ruego marinero digasme ora ese cantar."
Respondiole el marinero tal respuesta le fue a dar:

"Yo no digo esta cancion sino a quien comigo va:
Yo no digo esta cancion sino a quien comigo va."

My love, my love, let me home to my mother;
my love, my love, let me home, let me home;
my love, my love, let me home as you found me;
I came to call the cattle home.

I heard last night that my love was surrounded;
I climbed the hill by the light of the moon;
my love, my love, let me home as you found me:
I came to call the cattle home.

Though you gave me horses on halters,
though you gave me cattle and sheep,
though you gave me servants and footmen,
I came to call the cattle home.

My love, my love, let me home to my mother;
my love, my love, let me home, let me home;
my love, my love, let me home as you found me:
I came to call the cattle home.