Zajdi, zajdi, jasno sonce

Zajdi, zajdi, jasno sonce ("O Set, O Set, Clear Sun", Template:Lang-mk) is a Macedonian-language folk-style song composed by Aleksandar Sarievski. In recent times, it has gained popularity throughout the Balkans. In the past sixty years, it has become one of the songs the people of the former Yugoslavia most often associate with the Republic of Macedonia.

Slight differences in the text can be attributed to dialectal variation. Indeed in the earliest recordings, Sarievski himself sings the song in his native dialect.

Origins

The song was written and composed by Macedonian singer-songwriter Aleksandar Sarievski in the style of newly composed folk. Though Sarievski composed the melody, he did acknowledge that the text of Zajdi, zajdi was adapted from another source, saying:

The song "Zajdi, zajdi, jasno sonce" emerged from the folk song "Černej, goro, černej, sestro". In listening to that song and occasionally singing it, I came up with the idea to make something similar in terms of content, but with a completely different melody. So, I gradually began to sing the song, which would soon after become very popular everywhere I sung it. That song means a lot to me because it was received well by many individuals interested in folk music, but above all it means a lot to me because it was accepted by the people. Every time I'd go somewhere I think everyone present expected me to sing it.

The songs Sbirajte sa, momi, bulki and Bulka vărvi from Lyuben Karavelov's collection of folk songs (published in 1878) each have lines which are similar to those of Zajdi, zajdi, and are possibly related to the song Sarievski alluded to.

Lines 10–12 from the former are similar to lines 2–4 from Zajdi, zajdi:

Zajdi, zajdi Zajdi, zajdi, jasno sonce (sl'nce) zajdi, pomrači se i ti, jasna le mesečino begaj, udavi se.

Translation: O set, o set, clear Sun, Set, go dark, And you too, clear Moon, Begone, drown yourself.

Sbirajte sa, momi, bulki Slănce jarko, slănce svetlo, zajdi, pomrači sa; a ti, jasna mesečinko, bjagaj, udavi sa!

Translation: O burning Sun, o bright Sun, Set, go dark, And you too, clear Moon, Begone, drown yourself.

The following two stanzas are similar to lines 21–28 from the latter:

Zajdi, zajdi Crnej (crni), goro, crnej (crni), sestro dvajca (dvata) da crnime (crneeme) ti za tvojte (tvoite) lisja le, goro jas za mojta mladost. Tvojte (tvoite) lisja, goro sestro pak ḱe ti se vratat (a) mojta mladost, goro le (sestro) nema da se vrati

Translation: Darken forest, darken sister, Let us both get dark, You for your leaves o, forest, Me for my youth. Your leaves forest, sister, Will be back again, My youth o, forest o, sister, Will never return.

Bulka vărvi Černej, goro, černej, sestro, dvama da černejme, ti za tvojte listi, goro, az za părvo libe. Tvojte listi, goro-le sestro, pak štăt da pokarat, mojta mladost, goro-le sestro ne šte se povărne.

Translation: Darken forest, darken sister, Let us both get dark, You for your leaves o, forest, Me for my first love. Your leaves forest, sister, Will grow again, My youth o, forest o, sister, Will never return.

There is also a scholarly dispute as to the origin of the song. According to folklorist Nikolay Kaufman, who claims the melody is identical to that of an earlier Karavelov song, it is based on a Bulgarian folk song. Professor Georgi Kraev, on the other hand, views it as more of Balkan song, originally popularized in Bulgaria and only later in the rest of the peninsula.

Cultural references

• The song has been included in numerous anthologies and has been covered by many singers from the Balkans, including Toše Proeski (probably the best known version), Haris Džinović, Šerif Konjević, Karolina Gočeva, Gloriya, among many others.
• An instrumental version of the song was recorded by the Serbian rock band Smak on their album Zašto ne volim sneg, and was later re-released on the band's guitarist Radomir Mihajlović's solo album Byzantine Blue. Serbian rock band Neverne Bebe recorded a cover of Smak song "Daire", incorporating a part of Smak version of "Zajdi, zajdi" into the song.
• A version of the song influenced by rock music is due to be released by Bulgarian singer Rosi Pandova.

External links

• pesna.org: at least 9 different versions of the song, lyrics, Latin transliteration, English, French and German translation, mp3 download
• Zajdi, Zajdi performed by Aleksandar Sarievski
• Song as originally performed by the late Aleksandar Sarievski
• Video of the song performed by the late Macedonian singer Tose Proeski
• Video of the song performed by Bulgarian singer Iva Davidova
• Bulgarian singer Nikolina Chakardakova - Zajdi, zajdi...