Ciganska je tuga pregolema

"Ciganska je tuga pregolema"
Song by Narodna
English title	A Gypsy's Grief is too Great
Released	1940's
Genre	Contemporary

"Ciganska je tuga pregolema" (Serbian Cyrillic: "Циганска је туга преголема", lit. "A Gypsy's Grief is too Great") is a folk song of unknown origin. Its earliest `documented appearance on an album was for the soundtrack to the 1968 film Biće skoro propast sveta. It would also appear in the 1972 reissue of the Italian album Il Canzoniere Internazionale Dei Ribelli. An adapted version would appear in Veselin Grujić's debut album, Dobro jutro, moj Srbine.

Music and lyrics

While its author remains unknown, the origins of the song allegedly went as far back as the early 1940's as the second verse is a direct reference to Operation Retribution. The song's subject matter is the genocide of Gypsies in Nazi-occupied Yugoslavia in World War 2. The supposed original lyrics mention of the deportation to the Marinkova Bara ghetto and the liquidation of Gypsies in the Banjica forest. At the end of the song, the Partisans come in and save the day, with calls to join them in their fight.

Lyrics

Lyrics: Ciganska je tuga pregolema Niko nezna šta se njima sprema Ili logor ili šuma gusta, Ostaće nam cigana mala pusta. U aprilu a sedmoga dana Pošlo Hitler mnogo aeroplana Da razruši Beograd na Savi Jer tog dana i rat nam objavi. A u jutro oko 4 sata Svakom cigi lupaju na vrata Sve ih redom jadne potovari Otera ih Marinkovoj Bari. A iz Bari na Banjicu u stu Ostaviše cigonji pustu Streljaše ih sve po desetinu A svu malu deću u vruću mašinu. Ko je hteo glavu da izvuče Mora ga je karabin da stuče Sve se tako potiše cigani Dok stigoše mladi partizani. Kad stigoše mladi partizani I cigane u borbu su zvali Da u borbi zajedno ratuju Da slobodu kao braća skuju. Tad je bilo a sada se peva Ostaće nam u sećanju za cela vremena.

Lyrics (English): [TBA]

"Ciganska je tuga pregolema"
Song by Narodna
from the album Ciganski pesme iz filma „Biće skoro propast sveta“
English title	A Gypsy's Grief is too Great
Genre	Romani
Length	3:23
Label	PGP RTB

Ciganski pesme iz filma „Biće skoro propast sveta“

1969 version (Biće skoro propast sveta)

While the 1968 film has nothing to do with World War 2, it contains an abridged version arranged by Vojislav Kostić and the film's director Aleksandar Petrović. Although brief this version is unique compared to the original as it mentions both Jews and Gypsies being targeted. The holocaust theming is toned down greatly, however. While the melody remains the same, its style is more akin to Romani music.

Lyrics

Lyrics: Ciganska je tuga pregolema Ciganska je tuga pregolema Aj, niko ne zna što se Cigi sprema Ili logor ili šuma gusta Aj, ostade im sva Čubura pusta Sastali se Cigani i Jevreji, Aj, pa divane kako da se brane Ustaj Cigo iz kreveta svoga Aj, ustaj Cigo iz kreveta svoga Aj, ustaj, Cigo, tri ti boga tvoga Jooj!

Lyrics (English): [TBA]

"Циганска је туга преголема"
Song by Веселин Грујић Веса
from the album Добро јутро, мој Србине
English title	A Gypsy's Grief is too Great
Released	1992 (1992)
Genre	Novokompovana
Length	4:55
Label	PGP RTB
Producer(s)	Бранко Маринковић-Лалић

Dobro jutro, moj Srbine

1992 version (Dobro jutro, moj Srbine)

This version serves as the last track of the album and shares similarities in composition with the version heard in Biće skoro propast sveta. Both versions were coincidentally published by the same company. While not an exact copy of the original version, it retains its holocaust theming. Any references to Nazi occupation is replaced with Ustaša. For example, "On April 7th/Hitler sent many planes" is changed to "One morning, at seven o' clock/Ustaša knocked on the door". Instead of Jews and Gypsies being targeted as heard in the 1969 version, it is replaced with Serbian children and Gypsies being targeted in Zagreb.

Lyrics

Lyrics: Ciganska je tuga pregolema Aj, niko ne zna šta se cigi sprema Da li logor ili šuma gusta Aj, ostaće nam sva Čubura pusta   Jedno jutro oko sedam sati Aj zakucaše ustaše na vrati Ustaj cigo tu ti mesto nije Aj već u logor gde se maljem bije   Aj čekaj malo da upalim sveću Aj da izljubim svoju sitnu decu Čekaj malo da upalim lampu Aj da izljubim i oca i majku Kad ujutro kamioni jure Aj i odoše pravo za Čubure Dadoše im lopate i krampe Aj sami sebi da kopaju rake U Zagrebu na Jelačića placu Aj srpska deca i ciganska plaču Deca plaču a majke kukaju Leba ištu ustaše ne daju Aj, leba ištu ustaše ne daju

Lyrics (English): [TBA]