Oj nismo ni mi divlji ljudi (orzenje) – Nadin, HR

KUD “Sveti Ante” Nadin
Marko Mitrović – Lead Voice (poziv)
Šime Glavić – Orzenje
Miljenko Nimčević – Second Voice (pratnja)

Mirjana Vrsaljko – Co-organizer

Lyrics (ENG)
We are not wild people who don't know where to kiss
Old grandmas between the eyes, and young women between the breast

It's easy for a drunk to sing
And for a grieving mother to cry

It's hard to be a hat on a fool's head
And to be gold on a dirty neck

It's hard to be an uncle who feeds his nephew
It's hard for a girl to marry a widower

A wolf is not well when crows feed him
A hero is not well when women protect him

It's hard for a barrel that runs dry
It's hard for a donkey in a severe drought

It's hard when the house has a leaky roof
It's even harder when you have a nagging wife

Patch the roof so it doesn't leak
Kiss your wife so she doesn't nag

Oh, three girls had stolen a kid (baby goat)
One was skinning the animal, the other was collecting the branches

The third girl was stoking the fire so it burns better
Suddenly, the devil brought my aunt there

She found horns and a wineskin
I swear to God
Those were the horns of my dark horse


Lyrics (HR)

Oj nismo ni mi divlji ljudi da ne znamo di se ljubi
Stare bake među oke, a divojke među dojke, joj

Oj lako ti je pijanu zapivati
I žalosnoj majci zaplakati

Teško j' kapi na šašavoj glavi
Biser zlatu na prljavu vratu

Teško j' stricu kad 'rani sinovca
I curici poći za udovca

Teško j vuku kojog vrane 'rane
I junaku kad ga žene brane

Teško j' bačvi koja se rasuši
I magarcu na velikoj suši

Teško j' kad je kuća kapavica
Još je teža žena lajavica

Pokrij kuću pa neće kapati
Ljubi ženu pa neće lajati rano, joj

Oj, tri divojke ukradoše jare
Jedna dere, druga granje bere
Treća jari da se bolje vari
A tu đavo donese moju strinu
Ona nađe roge i mišinu
Jest tako mi sina i Boga
To su rozi od mrkova moga, joj

KUD “Sveti Ante” Nadin was founded in November 2006 to cherish and preserve the local heritage and folklore of Nadin village, as well as the entire Ravni Kotari region. The ensemble represents the Dinaric ethnographic zone and the distinctive style of the area. The group has three sections: singing, dancing, and a section dedicated to traditional customs. The group is made up of people of different ages, with special attention paid to passing on traditions to younger generations. This approach allows not only to develop the artistic skills of children and young people, but also to strengthen their bond with local traditions and respect for the cultural heritage of the region.

Nadin is a village located in the Ravni Kotari region of northern Dalmatia, near the city of Zadar. It is located in the fertile hills of the region, which is famous for its climate and soil perfect for growing grapes and olives. Agriculture is the main source of livelihood here, and wine and olive oil production are key components of the local economy. Nadin is known for its production of high-quality wines, especially from autochthonous varieties that have won acclaim both in Croatia and abroad. Residents of the village cultivate rich musical and folk traditions, which are an integral part of the local identity.

Ravni Kotari is a region in northern Dalmatia, Croatia, stretching between Zadar and the Krka River. It is an area with an unusually rich history and tradition combining many cultures. The fertile plains located here have been conducive to settlement and agriculture for centuries, making Ravni Kotari a place where Slavic, Venetian, and Ottoman influences mingled. The region is known for its strong folk traditions, expressed mainly through music, dances, and crafts. Traditional music includes distinctive ojkanje songs and kolo dancing, performed during festivals and events. These art forms not only provide entertainment, but also express identity and belonging to a region that has gone through various political and cultural transformations over the centuries.

Orzenje (also called ojkanje) is a traditional style of polyphonic singing, cultivated in Dalmatia, Velebit, Lika, Kodurn, and Karlovac. As described in the Harvard Dictionary of Music: Ojkanje is a particular style of melismatic singing with sharp and long-lasting voice-trembling on syllables “oy” or “hoy”. According to experts, ojkanje is a relic of singing from the Ilirian region of ancient Dalmatia (modern-day Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro). In 2010 this style was included in the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage as “Ojkanje singing”, in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.

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About us – Balkan Polyphony is a field research project that collects traditional music from the Balkan area. We are not interested in any ideologies, we don’t take sides in any historical conflicts. What interests us is traditional culture and its musical intricacies.
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Our Partner: Narodni muzej Zadar, Etnološki odjel (National Museum Zadar, Ethnological Department)