Morem plovi jedna mala barka

"Morem plovi jedna mala barka" (Serbian Cyrillic: "Морем плови једна мала барка", lit. "A Little Barge Sails the Sea") is a traditional folk song by the Chetnik movement during World War II. Its earliest known appearance on an album is from Pesme srpski četnika (prva zbirka), released some time in the 1950's. Another notable appearance in the 1978 debut album, Srpske nacionalne pesme - Serbian Patriotic Songs by Milan Mića Petrović.

"Морем плови једна мала барка"
Song by Народна
English title	A Little Barge Sails the Sea
Released	1940's
Genre	Novokompovana

In 1992, the song's popularity would make a comeback following an adapted version by prominent Serb war singer Baja Mali Knindža.

Music and lyrics

Like most Chetnik songs made during the time, it is based off of a real event. Shortly after the Kingdom of Yugoslavia fell to German forces in 1941, King Peter II along with other members of royalty fled the country and with them, all of the country's gold reserves they could transport. Peter would move around the world, going to Greece, Egypt, and eventually arriving in England. The fate of the reserves were unknown and was assumed that the King had spent it, but with more information in the present day from archival material, it was spread across the world, though with some being looted by occupying forces and the possibility of misplaced assets in the US.

The song would be different from the official version of events. In the original version of the song, King Peter's mother, Queen Marija is on a boat looking for her son with Dražo reporting back that he has made it safely to Cairo. It is difficult to discern when the song was created as King Peter was in Cairo from the 17th of June, 1941 until the 22nd of July where he officially arrived in England, a little over a month period. Since Draža formed the Ravna Gora Movement about a month prior, it is possible that either the song was made during this time period, the authors responsible never got the news that he had since left, or was made regardless of current events, focusing more on the message than literal context.

Lyrics

Original version:

Lyrics: Morem plovi jedna mala barka, Morem plovi jedna mala barka U njoj sedi kralja Petra majka, U njoj sedi kralja Petra majka Morem plovi ne boji se mina, Morem plovi ne boji se mina Pošla majka da potraži sina, Pošla majka da potraži sina   Pošla majka sina da potraži, Pošla majka sina da potraži Pa se javi đeneralu Draži, Pa se javi đeneralu Draži Čiča Dražo gdje je moje dete, Čiča Dražo gdje je moje dete Čuvaš li mu zlatne epolete Čuvaš li mu zlatne epolete Oj, Kraljice počivaj u miru, Oj, Kraljice počivaj u miru Tvoj je Pero sad u Kairu, kralj je Pero sad u Kairu.

Lyrics (English): [TBA]

Stan'te paše i ustaše

"Морем плови једна мала барка"
Song by Баја Мали Книнџа
from the album Стан'те паше и усташе
English title	A Little Barge Sails the Sea
Released	1992 (1992)
Genre	Novokompovana
Length	2:56
Label	Nina Trejd
Producer(s)	Жељко Грујић

1992 version (Stan'te paše i ustaše)

Unlike adaptations and covers that would be featured in later works, Baja would take sole authorship of the song. It is one of two known occasions of this happening with the second occurrence happening a year later with the Rat i mir song, "Gavrilo". This rendition of the Chetnik song is the most popular version with many covers of the song using this variant. However an unintended consequence of its popularity is that all sites that have lyrics for the song including WIkisource use this version rather than the original. Discussion about the song also refer to this version. This version of "Morem plovi jedna mala barka" would retain the melody, though is shorter and has an alternate ending. Instead of mentioning that the king is in Cairo, the song ends with reassurance that Peter is in the protection of Serbian bayonets.

Lyrics

Lyrics: Morem plovi jedna mala barka Morem plovi jedna mala barka A u barci kralja Petra majka A u barci kralja Petra majka Morem plovi ne boji se mina Morem plovi ne boji se mina Pošla majka da potraži sina Pošla majka da potraži sina   Pošla majka sina da potraži Pošla majka sina da potraži Pa se javi generalu Draži Pa se javi generalu Draži Čiča Dražo gdje je moje dete Čiča Dražo gdje je moje dete Čuvaju ga srpske bajunete Čuvaju ga srpske bajunete

Lyrics (English): [TBA]